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Megan
Skeptic Friend
USA
163 Posts |
 Posted - 02/25/2002 : 17:07:08
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Badger
Skeptic Friend
Canada
257 Posts |
 Posted - 02/25/2002 : 17:41:05 [Permalink]
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They're probably shooting the 75 to 140 deer to get a representation of the population in that county. Then, they'll test them for the disease, to see how widespread it is in that area. They will then adjust the number of animals that hunters can take, next hunting season, to try to minimize the spread of the disease.
If the disease is widespread, they will probably allow more deer to be hunted in the coming season, as "officials do not think it can be transmitted to other wildlife, domestic animals or humans.
"
By allowing more animals to be killed during hunting season, population density is decreased, and chances of disease being passed from one animal to another is decreased.
I'm stumblin through the parking lot of an invisible 7-eleven. ZZ-Top |
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2002 : 19:15:44 [Permalink]
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Megan, why on earth did you put this on the astronomy forum?
Anyway, here's a few reasons why we should be concerned:
To many people in this state, deer hunting is a major way of putting food on the table. Hard to do when the deer are wiped out.
This state does a good job of wildlife management. While I'll concede the deer can be a nuisance (why else would Carol need a 5' fence around her veggie garden), they're part of the local ecosystem.
This disease can spread. Let's get a handle on this before it spreads to the entire midwest.
Where the disease started, how its spread, and how to stop it is good research. The information can help us with future outbreaks.
Face it, this state gets huge bucks for out of state licenses. Economically, we'd take a financial hit if the deer and elk were wiped out.
Probably a lot of other reason, feel free to chime in.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. At the beginning of the outbreak of mad cow disease, wasn't there doubt as to whether it could be passed to humans? I can't remember.
Lisa
ps. Megan, speaking of deer, I'm making a big pot of venison chili this week. If you want, I'll divide it up, so some won't be quite as nuclear.
L
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room. |
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2002 : 07:20:47 [Permalink]
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quote:
I saw this on the news and thought, "Why the hell shoot all these deer just to test them." I mean, if the disease is already out there then how can they prevent it by shooting the deer. Soo confused, maybe it's me.... but here's the info on it...
Shooting deer to prevent diseases
Fall River County, SD, Feb. 24 - Officers with the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Department will begin shooting deer on Monday in Fall River County. They are trying to stop the spread of a disease they consider very dangerous.
IT'S CALLED CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE, a fatal brain disease that's related to Mad Cow Disease, but does not spread to domestic livestock or to humans. It is fatal to deer and elk, and other states such as Colorado have seen major outbreaks.
The Game Fish and Parks Department plans to shoot 75 to 140 deer in Fall River County to test them for the disease.
So far 1 deer killed in Fall River County has tested positive.
Mike Kintigh, Game, Fish, and Parks Department
"Right now we have detected it for the first time in South Dakota. The next step is to do some further sampling of deer and elk to determine just where it may have spread. And then to begin to address the problem of how to prevent it from spreading."
Chronic wasting disease is a highly contagious disease among elk and deer. But officials do not think it can be transmitted to other wildlife, domestic animals or humans.
~Megan~
Since this is a virulent strain, in order to preserve the populations, it is nessassary to find out where the outbreaks are so that those populations can be isolated. Also, it greatly reduces the area that you have to search for a cause. As Mad Cow crosses to humans by ingesting infected meat, it was not noted if ingestion was the means of transmittal. The wildlife management department will be interested in finding out which animals are infected before they show signs of infection. Usually by that time, the infection has spread outside the original contianment area.
It's not needlessly cruel. It is unfourtunately nessassary to contain this outbreak.
Lisa, you are making me hungry. I still remember how good Illinois whitetail tastes. Soooooooo Gooooooood.
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2002 : 13:27:15 [Permalink]
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Megan,
Herd animals like deer and elk have really no natural predators left, since we've hunted them to extinction in these regions. You've no doubt heard the big cry against reintroducing the wolf to Yellowstone.
As herds become to populous for the grazing land available, disease becomes an issue. In Estes Park, the chronic wasting disease is a major problem. The elk herds are so large that the park can not sustain the herds and therefore the elk travel down into Estes itself. The eat all the grass from the golf course - I guess that's supposed to be a big problem.
They've talked about opening the park up for hunting to thin out the herds, however, there's a large group of people who scream and cry that it's cruel and inhumane for us to shoot the animals. Which is more cruel, to let disease wipe out the herds, while the animals suffer with whatever disease it is this time or to hunt the herds down to a sustainable size. Realize the herds are growing so large because there are no predators. Who removed those predators from the area? We humans. We've upset the natural balance of things and as a consequence we see things like this wasting disease killing more than one or two animals, because predators take down the weakest and sickest of the herd, more for less effort. Which is more cruel? Hunting or the wasting disease.
This is the biggest contention against hunting in the region. Our wildlife management division does an outstanding job of trying to keep the herds thinned. But still, opening areas that are over populated, to hunting will do much for the herds.
Additionally, the revenue that Lisa spoke of from hunting licenses, that revenue goes back to the division of wildlife management for things like research and maintaining existing herds.
And, there was a case in Florida during a flood where they were going in and shooting deer and elk from helicopters. The problem was there was so much water and the animals couldn't find dry land that they were staying where they were and their legs were rotting. There was a scream about shooting the animals in that case also.
Anytime someone disagrees with shooting animals you have to wonder do they realize the suffering that is prevented by selective thinning of herds and hunting?
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There is no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our world. It underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've known. Sagan |
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