• Latest

Guest Opinion: Think VT’s Wildlife Policies Are Formed in the Best Interest of Wildlife and the general public? Think Again

June 11, 2018

News From The Forty & Eight (40&8) Voiture 646

January 31, 2023
The Winter Renaissance Faire is Back for Its 6th Year

The Winter Renaissance Faire is Back for Its 6th Year

January 31, 2023

Investment in Women is Needed to Grow Workforce for Infrastructure Projects

January 31, 2023

Cancer-Fighting Advocates Call on Gov. Scott to Protect VT Kids; Increase Tobacco Control Program Funding

January 31, 2023
African Queen (1951)

Notorious (1946)

January 31, 2023

RAD Denounces Threats to Organizing for Safe and Inclusive Schools

January 24, 2023
African Queen (1951)

The Heiress

January 24, 2023

Meet Your Chamber

January 24, 2023
Just Some Thoughts

The Purpose of Pendulums

January 24, 2023
Capital City Concerts offers a Free Family Concert on Saturday, January 28 in Montpelier

Capital City Concerts offers a Free Family Concert on Saturday, January 28 in Montpelier

January 17, 2023

VSAC’s College & Career Pathways Events Offer Workshops on Campuses Across Vermont

January 17, 2023

National Endowment for the Arts Announces Grants to Support the Arts in Vermont

January 17, 2023
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Monday, February 6, 2023
The World Online
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

Guest Opinion: Think VT’s Wildlife Policies Are Formed in the Best Interest of Wildlife and the general public? Think Again

vt-world by vt-world
June 11, 2018
in Letters & opinions
0

By Brenna Galdenzi, President, Protect Our Wildlife

Both Governor Phil Scott, and the Fish & Wildlife Commissioner who was appointed by Scott, did not support the ban on coyote killing contests, even though Scott let the bill pass without actively signing it. Killing contests and the year-round​,​ open killing season on coyotes are not based in sound wildlife management practices – in fact, these activities are antithetical to the science behind good management. Vermont Fish & Wildlife is allowing emotion (hatred towards coyotes) to dictate​ wildlife “management” policies.

The open killing season on coyotes does not reduce their populations. Rather, studies show that it can cause increased breeding, via something called a compensatory breeding response where coyotes produce larger litters with higher survival rates. Females may also come into heat at a younger age than normal. Further, the open killing season creates pack instability, which may cause problems with coyotes preying on livestock. If people are living among coyotes that aren’t causing any problems, they should embrace that pack’s presence since they are defending that territory against other coyotes that may be problematic. Randomly killing every coyote one sees causes the very problems that coyote killers use to justify their all-out war on th​is intelligent canid.

Killing coyotes is a prime example of wanton waste of wildlife. Coyotes carcasses are left to rot where the​y are killed. No one eats coyotes, and their pelts are only marketable if the animal was killed during the winter months when the fur is prime​ (normally late November through early February.)​ There is no colorable argument in support of killing coyotes. This wasteful killing violates hunter ethics and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation that Fish & Wildlife purports to adhere to.​ ​What’s most concerning of all is that Fish & Wildlife knows this, yet continues to pander to special interest thrill-killers and those who are willfully uninformed.

Most problems that people experience with coyotes are not the fault of the coyote, they are the fault of humans, whether intentional or not. Studies show that coyotes, bears, and other carnivores can become habituated to people, and subsequently lose their aversion to getting close to people, due to humans providing food. Therefore, not properly disposing of livestock carcasses, or leaving​ ​livestock unprotected, not securing garbage, leaving bird feeders out, are inviting problems.

Wildlife advocates have asked Vermont Fish & Wildlife to​address the deep hatred that more than a few in our state have towards coyotes and the wanton and cruel killing that follows. Yet Fish & Wildlife refuses to take action, so these wasteful slaughters continue. If Fish & Wildlife refuses to elevate its policies to meet sound management practices and to accommodate a changing culture that demands better protections for wildlife, then it is their credibility at stake. To continue to unabashedly stand behind a vocal minority that’s routinely heard proclaiming, “the only good coyote is a dead coyote” or “kill ‘em all”, is an abdication of their statutory responsibility to conserve wildlife for the people of Vermont, and yes, that means us wildlife advocates too. The time has come to start holding those in power accountable. We will continue to speak out against the special interests that are exerting undue influence over Vermont’s wildlife “management” policies.

“What you do not know you will fear. What one fears, one destroys.” – Chief Dan George

Previous Post

Gifford Nurse Effie Farnham Retires After 51 Years of Service

Next Post

Pope Francis: A Man of His Word:**1/2

Next Post

Pope Francis: A Man of His Word:**1/2

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This Week’s Ads

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Fall Guide
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Testimonials
  • The World Coupons
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Deadlines
  • World Distribution Map
  • World Rate Card
  • World Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In