MARY’S STORY - A FOLLOW-UP
BY ELAINE FEALY
I wrote this because so many people wanted to know about our single
surviving doe. They were going to kill her and all females that were still
alive. She was the only one left. If you want to hear something weird it is this: I have
loved animals since I was a small child, but I had never become “politically”
involved in the defense of any animal......Boy I sure got dunked this time.... It’s
not that easy to walk away......as much as I fervently love animals—all creatures
great and small—I also fervently abhor bullies......
Mary’s story is one of courage and hope. Mary is the only surviving doe from the Columbia Heights Water Works plant. [For background, please see the
2005 Spring issue of the C.A.S.H. COURIER online.]
On December 31, 2003 the plan was carried out by the Power Brokers against the will of the people. They slaughtered 38 deer trapped inside a small fenced area that day. First, they killed the fawns, then the does and then as many of the bucks as they could before they were required legally to stop for that day.
The kill zone was surrounded by weeping citizens who knew the deer by name and had fought to allow
the deer to be transported to a safe haven. There were 3 to 4 squad cars or
undercover police cars parked in front of my house all day long. It was a horrible day
that will never be forgotten.
Somehow Mary survived that day. She was so small and so frail that
her survival was a miracle-a miracle of hope. At one point we were told that ALL females would have to be killed. We knew we had one doe.
We were told we could not use birth control because six does were
needed for a birth control project. We were told that no more babies were to be
born inside the Water Works because the plan was for zero population. Mary was to be
killed and they would allow us to keep three or four bucks until they died of
natural causes.
Mary’s slaughter was totally unacceptable to those who knew her. We
demanded that they come up with some other plan. Lee Greenly was willing to
take them and Gary Tank was willing to transport them. It was a long, nasty fight,
but this time the people won.
Mary’s Baby with Elaine
Mary was successfully transported to the Minnesota Wildlife
Connection on February 2, 2005. She is doing well.
She has an adorable baby - a girl. There is no fear. There is no
hunger. There is no harassment. She and her male companions from
Columbia Heights are doing well. They live in Peace!
Mary’s survival is a symbol of hope!
Mary’s survival is a reminder to us that we must not kill innocent
animals that WE have placed in harm’s way. Mary survived to teach us
that as grandparents, parents, teachers, friends, city officials and
government, we must protect our natural resources whenever possible.
Mary’s survival demonstrates that compassion is not wasted. The time
and effort is worth the outcome. Mary and her baby are proof that
peaceful solutions are the result of high ideals and we can all share in
that success.
Elaine wrote:
Lee teaches his young visitors about the animals, the environment and
nature’s gifts....what a great way to build a better world through our
children rather than just teaching them violence.
I will be spending the day at his place in two weeks and will follow
some professional photographers around as they do their thing.
It will be so nice to see our deer in magazines and videos instead of
in a pool of blood after a slaughter inside the water works.
Several of us are going to a Columbia Heights City Council … to do an
update on the deer and squash some rumors about the deer. Wish us luck.
In a follow-up correspondence, Elaine wrote:
First, let me thank you for the newsletters. If you would like to
send me...and if you can spare— another 10 or 12 I am going to pick and
choose some “power brokers”—legislators, Mayor Rybak, some television
folks and some of our local City Council members and send them your
newsletter and some other stuff.....
Your coverage was great and I have been told this is the first time
the urban deer issue has been covered so well and so successfully. Thank
you for that.
[C.A.S.H. thanks the excellent activists who authored the article:
Laura Hutchinson and Kelly Faris] I will send you an update in a week or
so....I visit the deer once or twice a month.
“Bob” our buck with the big antlers is now being recorded in a
Minnesota record book for his “record shed” Someone came to Lee’s place
and officially measured his antlers (shed) after they fell off. This is
the last year he could be recorded because this is the last year he can
be considered a “wild” deer. Lee Greenly can tell you more about that.
At Lee’s, I got to hold that beautiful baby...and I got to hold 4 baby
skunks and one gave me a kiss.....
