Letters to the Editor and Others
The American Turkey
Sent to several New Jersey newspapers
January 25, 2004
Before the Bald Eagle became known as the symbol of America, the great statesman and revolutionary Benjamin Franklin put his support behind the turkey being honored as the national bird. Franklin's choice would have been a good one, as the North American wild turkey was here to greet the Pilgrims as they landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620.
The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (the Division) has declared war on these birds for no reason other than to provide the state's hunters with a form of recreation. Turkeys are not overpopulated in New Jersey. In fact, since 1978 New Jersey has had a trap and transfer program in place to increase turkey populations so that hunters would have another living target to blow out of the sky.
According to the Division, 1368 turkeys from states as far away as Alabama were brought here to be released. The birds were then targeted by hunters, with obviously nothing better to do during their free time than kill harmless and helpless animals.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife is in the business to sell hunting permits, and they will manipulate hunted animal populations by breeding them, clear cutting tracts of forest to increase their food supply, and killing off their natural predators. Because the Division needs to sell more than $10 million in hunting licenses and permits just to cover the salaries of its employees, they will stop at virtually nothing to ensure an overabundance of animals to hunt - even if that means they have to breed them themselves.
Help stop this maddening slaughter of New Jersey's native animals. Reject the pro-hunting, anti-wildlife propaganda spewed forth by the arrogant Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Contact the Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting at http://www.all-creatures.org/cash/ or 845-256-1400 and help to eradicate the cancer of hunting once and for all.
Joe Miele, Vice President
New Jersey Field Office
The Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting
Box 334
Rochelle Park, NJ 07662
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