- Vassar 'Sharpshooters' Kill 44 Deer - Protesters Rally
- Poughkeepsie Journal
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- Vassar College's effort to reduce the deer population
near its main Town of Poughkeepsie campus began Thursday night and will
resume next week.
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- Vassar spokesman Jeff Kosmacher said 44 animals were
killed Thursday by professional sharpshooters. He declined to say precisely
when next week the cull will resume.
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- The state Department of Environmental Conservation issued
a permit allowing Vassar to use hired sharpshooters to kill up to 50 deer.
That's fewer than the 85 deer college officials think need to be removed
from the approximately 500-acre Vassar Farm and Ecological Preserve off
Hooker Avenue.
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- An estimated 100 deer live on the preserve, a portion
of which is in the City of Poughkeepsie. DEC officials have said Vassar
can reapply to take more deer once the 50-animal limit is reached.
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- Kosmacher said the 44 deer taken Thursday "was certainly
more than we would have imagined" for the first night of the cull.
He said no problems were reported.
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- Town Police Chief Thomas Mauro said the department received
two calls from preserve neighbors about gunshots in the area. He said officers
informed them the cull was taking place.
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- The college hopes to complete the cull before students
return from break Jan. 20.
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- College officials have said the deer population must
be reduced to protect the preserve. They said deer have decimated the preserve's
forest understory during the past decade, making it difficult for new trees
to grow.
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- Officials also have cited car-deer collisions and the
potential spread of tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, as reasons
the cull is needed. Residential properties also can be damaged by deer.
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- Cull opponents claim other deer management methods could
have been used.
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- A handful of protesters voiced opposition to the cull
Friday afternoon outside Vassar Farm.
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- Also, some residents have criticized Vassar for not informing
them about its deer management plans earlier. Many neighbors first learned
of the plan last month when they received letters from the college.
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- Vassar officials have defended their community outreach,
noting the hundreds of letters sent to neighbors.
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- College officials also met with town and city leaders
to update them on plans for the cull.
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- Venison from the cull will be donated to local food banks.
Connecticut-based White Buffalo Inc. is performing the cull for an estimated
$10,000.
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- Reach Michael Valkys at mvalkys@poughkeepsiejournal.com or
845-437-4816.
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- http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20100109/NEWS01/1090328
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- Letter from Dr. Patricia Doyle to Poughkeepsie Journal
Reporter Michael Valkys
- 1-9-10
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- Hello, Mr. Valkys...
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- I have been wondering why such a prestigious University
would not do a better job at problem solving. The solution is really elementary.
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- Instead of spending a couple of months conditioning the
deer by placing trays with food and then, as we saw Thursday, slaughter
the deer as they eat, why hasn't the College simply arranged to move some
of the deer? Really quite simple and with the help of the DEC, a mission
that could be accomplished.
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- I am sure the worry about movement of deer is Chronic
Wasting Disease. However, I have a perfect area for the deer and it is
only 15-20 miles away which means there would not be a problem with regard
to CWD.
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- This morning, I called WHVW, Mr. Joel Tyner, and suggested
that the Vassar Deer be moved to the woodland surrounding my property.
I am in the Hosner Mountain area and there is abundant woodland for the
deer on my road, Rushmore Road. Mr. Tyner seemed quite receptive to my
idea.
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- I would be willing to feed, water and care for the deer
until they get acclimated to the area and find suitable forage.
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- As far as the University worrying about Lyme Disease
and auto/deer collisions, I feel that excuse is a crock. Lyme Disease
will continue to spread with or without deer. The ticks that carry Lyme
also feed on raccoons, chipmunks, mice, skunks and a big problem, birds.
- Promed recently posted a couple of articles on Lyme Disease,
Avian Hosts. If we killed all of the deer tomorrow, Lyme Disease would
still spread. As for the auto/deer accidents, people need to slow down
on Hooker Avenue and Rt. 376 and be more vigilant. I leave my house at
least 20 minutes to a half hour earlier when I am scheduled to be somewhere.
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- Perhaps, you can interview the College representative
and ask him WHY is killing the deer the olny solution to the School's problem
with the deer? What about relocating them?
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- I intend to call the school on Monday and ask them why
relocation has not been considered. CWD is not a problem as there is no
CWD in Dutchess County. My property and surrounding woodland is in Dutchess
County. Rounding up the deer should not be problematic as they are already
conditioned to feed. Hopefully, the College will opt for life and reason
and not death and slaughter.
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- Patricia Doyle, PhD
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