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Letter as published on
YonkersTimes.com
May 17, 2024
Animal Defenders of Westchester (ADOW) is urging the Village of Irvington
to avoid a proposed deer slaughter, in favor of humane, non-lethal
considerations.
The village of Irvington in Westchester County is proposing a bow hunt for
deer ‘control,’ amid complaints that deer are ‘eating their plants, harming
the forest,’ etc. Local press has thus far relied on clickbait,
fear mongering coverage of this issue, one alarmingly titled, Citizens rise
up against deer population. It cites a resident ridiculously fearful that
the deer ‘stare at her.’ Another boasted about ‘deliberately hitting five
deer with his car, leaving them to suffer a painful death in the woods,’
while others laughed.
Sources say Irvington has thus far chosen extremely inaccurate, cruel
bow-hunting as the ‘overwhelmingly preferred control,’ wrongly asserting
that birth control is ‘illegal.’ Deer contraception has been used since the
1970’s; but the hunter-only staffed NYSDEC/Wildlife Services is always eager
to oblige a pro-slaughter agenda.
Some residents are worried about the ‘well-being’ of the forest; but this
‘concern’ was absent when they were chopping down its trees to make their
houses and buildings –nor will they hesitate when they want to build more
houses etc, while also destroying more animals’ habitats as well.The fact
is, every time Irvington residents use any paper products, they themselves
are destroying the forest. This lovely, bucolic ‘welcoming’ neighborhood
shouldn’t revert to Stone Age slaughter when it comes to their animal
neighbors, but instead needs to incorporate humane methods of community,
such as fencing, birth control and floral deterrent plants.
According to State Farm statistics, the number one cause of all car
accidents is speeding and distracted driving. To avoid collisions they
recommend slowing down for better reaction time, scanning the road, using
high beams when possible, using your horn and watching roads around wooded
lots, adding deer crossing signs etc.
Several articles have made the case that hunting actually increases the deer
population – and that hunting causes higher deer birth rates and the
phenomenon called ‘Twinning.’ (1) A number of towns in Easter L.I. pulled
out of a ‘kill’ contract with Wildlife Services due to the controversy and
the expense, with Easthampton moving forward with a surgical sterilization
program instead. (2) (HSUS attachment #1) U.S. scientists have also
discovered that high deer populations produce a richer soil, increasing the
number of amphibians and beneficial plants (Journal of Wildlife Mgmt –
attachment #2)
Kiley Blackman, ADOW founder, said, “A local resident reached out to us for
help to stop a proposed deer slaughter there. We contacted Irvington Mayor
Jon Siegel, requesting a meeting, saying, ‘Please kindly include us in the
next work session regarding your proposed deer cull. Irvington boasts of
being welcoming – citizens with such deep consideration for humankind need
to include the wildlife neighbors they’ve displaced, and afford them the
same decency. The cruel slaughter of these animals – in particular
inflicting the extreme suffering of bow hunting – can and should be avoided,
especially when humane, decent alternatives are readily available. Let us
all use our intelligence to ensure a better avenue of endeavor.’ Mayor
Siegel’s response was so rude we had to file a complaint.
“The world is changing: Cities are building wildlife crossings to prevent
collisions and save animals, we recognize animal sentience, studies show the
benefit of being in nature and the value of the natural world…with a wealth
of information to make humane choices from. There’s so much discord in the
world now; let Irvington be a model of compassionate and peaceful
coexistence which will benefit everyone and make them a truly welcoming and
respectful community for all.”
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