The C.A.S.H. Courier Newsletter

Dear Friends of C.A.S.H, Every so often I’ll hear from someone who wishes my approach were softer. “Joe, you tell only one side of the story. Since not everything state fish and game agencies do is harmful, why don’t you tell us about the good things they do?”

Well, let’s put their good deeds into perspective. For every “good” thing a wildlife agency does, you will find a thousand animals who are hunted, trapped, wounded and killed because of the efforts of these same agencies. And make no mistake, even the efforts that benefit wildlife in the short term (like restoring sections of wetlands or protecting the nests of endangered birds) are undertaken to pave the way for hunting those areas, and in certain cases, such as “game species” restorations, for hunting those species in the future. We must never forget that everything a game agency does is something that will benefit the hunting industry in the long run.

With warm weather upon us, and most hunting out of season, fish and game biologists are meeting with game managers to refine hunting seasons and bag limits to ensure that wildlife is hunted in perpetuity. Simultaneously, their PR departments will send out press releases of the latest baby duck rescue or the orphaned bear cub who was returned to the woods, while conveniently neglecting to inform the media that it was a hunter who orphaned these animals and made their rescue necessary.

Wildlife agencies ignore the financial needs of state-licensed wildlife rehabilitators by giving them no funding at all, despite the fact that rehabbers care for countless animals who are victims of the state’s hunting programs. Giving these tireless rescuers even a stipend would leave less money available to promote their wildlife killing programs.

Here are some recent actions that benefit state and federal wildlife agencies:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service moved to delist the gray wolf in Idaho and Montana, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon and northern Utah, leaving the states to develop their own “management” plans for the canines.

Legislation was recently signed in New York lowering the minimum age for archery hunting from 14 to 12. With this, New York joins the list of states that allow children too young to operate a motorized scooter to kill large animals like bear and deer with bows and arrows.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries accepted a $75,000 payment from a national pro-hunting foundation to expand hunting opportunities in the state.

Iowa has legalized dove hunting

It is because we know how wildlife agencies work that we refuse to highlight their positive work. It is because of the premeditated habitat destruction, the harassment of private citizens, and the systematic destruction of wildlife that we’ll stick to telling one side of the story – the truth – even if it is not the most positive thing you’ll ever hear. I do not apologize for having little or nothing at all positive to say about the wildlife serial killers who hide behind the badge of government.

C.A.S.H. will be hitting the streets this summer to let people know that we’re standing up for wildlife and countering the pro-hunting propaganda that is given far too much credibility. If you’re looking for some fun in the sun please visit CASH at the Southern New Mexico Pride Festival on June 18 at Pioneer Women’s Park in Las Cruces, NM -

http://www.southernnmpride.org/.

 Not wanting to travel to the desert southwest during the hottest part of the year? Then see C.A.S.H. in Los Angeles at the Animal Rights 2011 conference at the Westin LAX Hotel, from July 21-25th http://arconference.org/. Attend C.A.S.H.’s presentation on wildlife exploited for sport and bring your questions to “Uncle Joe.” If you’re lucky (or dopey) your question may be featured in the next issue of the Courier.

Please support C.A.S.H. so that we can continue to raise awareness and effect positive change for the environment and the animals who call it home.

Peace,
Joe Miele, President