The Potomac Highlands Watershed School 

"Oh Deer!" 2007 Environmental Forum

Points of View with Thoughtful Questions - The Others

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farmer, hunter, forester, the forest, homeowner, insurance company

 

Environmentalists Buffalo Gap HS

environmentalist                                                                                                   10/30/2007

                                                                                                                            7:44:00 AM

Although we enjoy seeing wildlife, maximizing wildlife populations so that we can enjoy them,

is not necessarily healthy for them or the rest of our ecosystem. Exceeding the natural

carrying capacity, or the population that can be supported without degradation of the

environment, is inviting disaster. Weakness, stress, disease, and even starvation are likely

outcomes to wildlife populations if the carrying capacity is exceeded for an extended period

of time. High deer populations have resulted in an increase of wildlife-related vehicle

accidents, crop damage, and animal nuisance problems. Costly feeding programs would be

required to sustain these populations. A lower population is needed to match the available food,

 as well as to improve the health of the deer, or improve the quality of the much-sought after

big rack of antlers. The old practice of not shooting doe deer is no longer appropriate but is

still adhered to by many hunters out of the traditional belief that doe hunting hurts the

population. Hunters today are accustomed to seeing more deer than is healthy for the

environment, and have an expectation of seeing deer at these levels. If they don’t see a decent

buck on opening day, they don’t think there are any deer around, yet many continue to pass up

the chance to take one of the numerous antlerless deer that wander by their stands. A balanced

herd has one buck to every three antlerless deer (one buck, one doe, one button buck, one

yearling doe). An equal kill of bucks and does will keep a population balanced, but if the area is

 mainly hunted for bucks the ratio quickly becomes skewed. Up to 85% of the legal bucks may

be harvested in a season, further skewing the population. Antler development on bucks is

dependent upon nutrition, heredity, and age. A deer harvest policy must be implemented so

bucks mature and develop into better animals. To balance the population, it is recommended that

 hunters harvest 7 to 8 antlerless deer per square mile. When the population is in balance the

harvest should take at least three antlerless deer per square mile to keep it that way. Following

a harvesting guide should keep the deer population at 30 to 40 deer per square mile (640

acres). Many foresters, trophy hunters, gardeners, and farmers suggest 20 deer per square

mile. For a smaller deer herd, harvest more does. On properties with well over 40 deer per

square mile, the habitat for most wildlife is degraded, plants cannot reproduce, food is scarce,

shelter is destroyed, deer health is reduced and it is imperative to reduce the deer herd.

 

Ask this stakeholder a Thoughtful Question or Respond

Thoughtful Questions

  From:   J.S. - Farmer - BGHS                                                                  Ask

                                                                                            11/9/2007            9:36:00 AM

     How do you plan to implement this "harvest policy" because most of us hunt and we are

     going to hunt no matter what?

                                                                                  11/9/2007                            44:00 AM

             This deer policy will not work like i said. For one thing you are partally right and

             partally wrong we do need to kill more does and less bucks so that the population

             does not get out of proportion.

       Response    Environmentalists - Other Stakeholder - BGHS

                                                                                       11/12/2007      7:59:00 AM

             The "policy" is not to  prevent hunting, or to reduce hunting. It is to keep the

             population in check by bagging correct amounts of does and bucks so that

             the population does not explode or drop drastically.

 

 

 

   

Business Hampshire High School

Business on CWD                                                                                                 10/30/2007

                                                                                                                             2:30:00 PM

Because of a disease called Chronic Wasting Disease (or CWD), a few deer in West Virginia

are getting sick. This disease is equivalent to deer like Mad Cow Disease is to cows or like

Scrappe is to Sheep. It has not been proven that people can get sick if they consume deer

infected with CWD, but it hasn't been disproven either. Many people are not hunting as much

as they used to because of this disease. This greatly affects many businesses that rely on

hunters to make a profit. Since 2002 there has been a steady decline in how many people hunt.

This causes the deer population to grow and then there isn't enough food; which results in sick

and malnurished deer who are susceptible to disease. Somehow the disease needs to be

terminated, then allow only the healthy deer to grow and reproduce. This would help out with the

 business to make a profit, since they are able to sell healthy and good meat. The West Virginia

Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has started by opening a special two day doe hunt to

do further testing for CWD. They also put some rules in affect to stop the spread of the

disease. They've separated Hampshire County into two sections North and South of Route 50.

North of Route 50 is called the Containment area. The disease has only been found in about 12

deer and West Virginia has millions of deer. So right now it's small scale. As hunters we all

need to do our part to keep this deadly cervid (deer) disease in check til it can be eliminated

from West Virginia. The disease is also found in several other states like Wisconsin and

Colorado. It can infect all cervids including; White Tail Deer, Mule Deer, Black Tail Deer, Elk,

Moose, and Carabou. In our area we only have White Tail Deer. Biologists aren't sure where

the disease comes from or what causes it. Their not even sure how it is spread, but they think it

 could be from saliva, and they know the disease lives in the brain, spinal colomn, and

lymphnodes of an infected animal. If biologists in West Virginia can figure it out they could

help the other states with problems with the disease.

 

Ask this stakeholder a Thoughtful Question or Respond

Thoughtful Questions:

Environmentalists - Buffalo Gap HS                      10/31/2007

So how much would this cost to research and develop a "vaccine" or way to cure CWD?and if there was a vaccine how would it be administered to the deer?

       Response    Business - Other Stakeholder - HHS

                                                                                       11/7/2007        8:09:00 AM

             To administer the vaccine to the deer it could be sprayed like an aerosol, or put

             in food like they did with birth control for pigeons in california to control the

             population.  The intitial cost of developing the vaccine would be high, but in the

             long run it would be worth it because CWD is affecting how many people hunt,

            and it's a very important industry

 

 

 From:    Corny Biologists - Other Stakeholder - RHS

                                                                                            11/5/2007            7:53:00 AM

     How often does a person become affected by CWD because they consumed the venison

     that was infected with it?

       Response    Business - Other Stakeholder - HHS

                                                                                       11/7/2007        8:13:00 AM

             It isn't known if the disease can be transferred to people through consumption

             of meat, but it is recommended to not eat meat that you know is infected simply

             because they are not sure if it can make you sick or not. 

 

 

 

 

Corny Biologists Rappahannock High School

Wildlife Biologist                                                                                                   11/1/2007

                                                                                                                            6:46:00 AM

Deer are not as big a deal that everyone makes them, or are they? Sure their population,

whether big or small, affects the forest, but so do all animals.  Its like a food web; take away

one thing, everything is affected, not just one certain thing.  PETA members may believe killing

 deer is wrong, but hunters are only helping to control the population.  Over population can be a

bad thing with deer, but overpopulation of any animal can have negative outcome.  We don’t

need to be making a big deal about deer; they are only one species of animal in a world of a

wide variety of species. Though deer are a small part of the environment, they do have an

impact on it.  Deer don’t necessarily hurt an animal itself, but it may hurt its environment by

eating the wide variety of shrubs that host that certain species of animals.  Particularly cedar,

oak, and Canada yew are the favored shrubs of the whitetail deer species. Deer kill some trees

during the rutting season when they start mating. The bucks use their antlers to rub the bark

off the trees to mark the area their own.  Deer also control the overgrowing of certain plants

by eating them and keeping them from taking over.  Deer also serve as a reservoir for Lyme

disease. They even affect biodiversity through intensive browsing of the forest under story in

some locations. So are deer a big deal to your environment or not? 

Ask this stakeholder a Thoughtful Question or Respond

Thoughtful Questions:

 

Bambi Lovers Rappahannock High School

PETA                                                                                                                      11/1/2007

                                                                                                                            6:50:00 AM

   We are the deer lovers. We are trying to find a solution to keep deer alive. Even though they

may destroy some of the farmers crops, mess up drivers cars, cost insurance companies money

and invade homeowners space doesn’t give you a reason to shot them. When deer establish a

territory they will not leave, so why should hunters run them out of their habitat. Some may

think that deer’s are pests but they are not. Some think its fun to kill deer, but its not. Deer’s

have feelings just like humans.   Hunting is a violent form of recreation. Our main priority for

 controlling the population is to make sure people do it in a humane way. We can do this by

giving them birth control so they won’t over populate and to stop using dogs to run deer out of

their habitat, which causes them to harm our community. If we could find the perfect diet that

provided all the necessary nutrients, then maybe they won’t starve and we could get them to not

destroy other habitats.

Ask this stakeholder a Thoughtful Question or Respond

Thoughtful Questions:

  From:    The 3 Hunters - Hunter - HHS

                                                                                            11/2/2007            8:26:00 AM

     How are you positive that deer have feelings? If so, all animals have feelings, then

     throw away your sponges because they have feelings too. Deer don't stay in the same

     spot as they tend to wander. Hunting is a violent form of recreation? If all living things

     have feelings, then farming must be just as violent as plants are living. What site have

     you found that contains deer birth control? I'd like to see this. How would you find the

     funding for the birth control and the necessary diet? You can't control exactly what a

     deer eats, so how are you going to control where they go to eat?

  From:    HillbillyHunters - Hunter - HHS

                                                                                            11/2/2007            8:28:00 AM

     How in the world are you gonna give all the deer.......all 12 million or more birth control

     and where are you gonna get the money for it

  From:    Amsey's Fantastic Foresters - Forester - CSHS

                                                                                            11/2/2007            11:41:00 AM

     I was just wondering if you could give me some more information on how deer birth

     control works. Such as how effective it is and is it cost effective.

  From:    All Hunter Stakeholders Clear Springs

                                                                                            11/2/2007           11:50:00 AM

     so deer have feelings too huh ?? well ive hunted for 12 years and have yet  to see a deer

     or any animal cry or laugh. maybe im just not looking hard enough. but back to my

     question is it more humane to let deer become over populated and starve for months then

     die or to shoot them and the die withen seconds ? . and you said if we find the perfect

     habitat for deer then the population will be under control but if the habitat is perfect

     wont the deer population sky rocket? and it isnt all about killing its about being in the

     outdoors and the thrill of the hunt. also i feed my family with deer meat its a cheap fun

     way to keep my family fed. 

From:      Ye Ol' Animals - Other Stakeholder - PHS

                                                                                            11/6/2007            8:20:00 AM

     PETA= People Eating Tasty Animals

  From:    Ye Ol' Animals - Other Stakeholder - PHS

                                                                                            11/6/2007            8:28:00 AM

     So let me get this straight, Bambi Lovers, You as PETA people of the world are going

      to spread deer birth control around the forest. I think that is the most unpractical

     and biggest waste of money that this in debt government could do. What is keeping

     the other animals from not eating the birth control and becoming sterile themselves?

      So not only are there going to be no more deer, but no more little cute squirls,

     fluffy bunnies, or chubby cheeked chipmunks. So if we follow through on you plans

     then the only animal you will see in the world is the stuffed one you cuddle up at

     night as you're crying because you just realized that you've created a deer genocide.

  From:    Better'N You - hunter - NHHS

                                                                                            11/7/2007            8:56:00 AM

     How do you Know that deer have feelings? Can you talk to them?  How do you know that

     it is not FUN to shoot deer? because I absolutely love killing deer i do it everday of my

     life and nothing makes me happier. Don't get me wrong im all about sitting in the woods

     and watching nature but when a deer walks in front of me it's going to die.

  From:    Farming The Future - farmer - NHHS

                                                                                            11/7/2007            8:57:00 AM

     "Even though they may destroy some of the farmers crops, mess up drivers cars, cost

     insurance companies money and invade homeowners space doesn’t give you a reason to

     shot them."  Doesn't that give you four reasons right there?  You also said that some find

      it fun to shoot deer and that is not fun.  So that's your opinion, it's not fair to say it's

     not fun.  Some people find it fun, just not you.

  From:    Farmer John - Farmer - HHS

                                                                                            11/7/2007              1:41:00 PM

     where did you get your info and how do you know the deer have feelings

  From:   Happy Houses - homeowner - NHHS                                            Ask

                                                                                            11/9/2007             7:17:00 AM

     I can understand the fact that you dont like killing deer, but can you explain how birth

     control would work. How would you be sure that when you gave them the birth control? If

      it failed or when they need the next dose? Wouldn't that be more trouble than just

     killing them?  Birth control is expensive and it would hurt the economy.

  From:   We Speak For the Trees - forester - NHHS                              Statement

                                                                                            11/9/2007            8:00:00 AM

     "Hunting is a violent form of recreation"  Okay that's your opinion, to some people

     hunting is a form of survival.  there could be some people who can't afford to buy meat

     from a grocery store and depend on hunting to bring meat to the table.

  From:   Buffalo Gap HS                                                            Ask

                                                                                            11/9/2007            9:47:00 AM

     huting is a sport. lots of people love to hunt. a lot of people feed their families with the

     deer meat they harvest. why do you want to stop these people from eating what they

     want. do you really think that you and all of your peta buddies are going to walk over

     thousands of acres of land to throw birth control around the forest

  From:   J.S. - Farmer - BGHS                                                                  Ask

                                                                                            11/9/2007            9:56:00 AM

     how do you plan to spread the birth control walk up and catch the does? Or do you plan to

      put it in a salt block?

  From:   Buffalo Gap HS                                                            Ask

                                                                                            11/9/2007           10:03:00 AM

     if you stop hunting then in a few years just watch and see how many deer there would be.

      in two years the population would average out to double in size. do you really want to

     see the deer starving to death. let me put it like this if there were a thousand acre farm

     and no one huted it, thre would a lot of deer. say the farm had 500 deer on it that were

     starving, wouild you rather see 500 starving deer or 250 healthy deer. put some thought

     into it.

       Statement:    J.S. - Farmer - BGHS

                                                                                       11/9/2007        10:02:00 AM

             Fine I will believe everything you say "IF" you can prove that deer have

             feelings. Do that and I will believe you.

  From:   Farmers Milleevets - Farmer - BGHS                                            Ask

                                                                                          11/12/2007            7:50:00 AM

     What proof do you have that deer have feelings like humans?

  From:   Buffalo Gap HS                                                            Ask

                                                                                          11/12/2007            7:53:00 AM

     how are you gonna be able to find every deer and give them birth control

 

 

 

 

Bunnies have rights too Rappahannock High School

Wildlife Biologist                                                                                                   11/1/2007