To the editor:
In March 2011, I became a member of ASPCA. I believed my donations were going to help stop abuse of domestic animals, as the commercial on TV portrays. Recently, I found out that 20 percent of my donations are also applied to another cause ASPCA endorses. This cause is anti-hunting.
ASPCA endorses laws to stop all hunting for beer, moose, coyote, etc. This is not what I intended for any portion of my donation to go toward. I support structured hunting 100 percent. Without it, animal control would be seriously out of control.
The Bear Referendum currently on the table is endorsed by ASPCA. Wildlife is prevalent in Maine. To cease hunting would only allow wildlife to outrageously populate. Competition between the animals for food would no doubt be deadly for some. Perhaps, they would search for food in your back yard since food would be scarce in the woods. Maybe your property taxes will increase to cover the cost for calling the state officials to remove a bear or coyote from your yard since you would be unable to remove them yourself. If you attempted to remove them yourself, you would probably need to justify it in court. Would you be so comfortable to allow your children to play in the back yard?
Another concern is the moose. The IFWD doesn’t seem to be doing a very good job at keeping the population down. In 1999, the population was estimated to be 29,000. Today, the population is estimated at 75,000 per state deer and moose specialist Lee Kantar, (BDN 6/23/2012). Safety for both people and wildlife do not seem to be priorities for both IFWD and ASPCA.
Also affected by the anti-hunting lobbyist are our youth who aspire to become future Game Wardens. The Aroostook County Conservation Association (ACCA) used to sponsor three quarters of our youths tuition for Warden Camp at Bryant Pond, Maine. Because of the funds needed to work against the anti-hunting lobbyist, ACCA is not able to support the three quarters tuition expense this year for our youth. This money is being donated to the Maine Wildlife Conservation Council in hopes of defeating the current anti-hunting efforts.
With the aforementioned in consideration, it is critical to ensure that Mainers take a stand in keeping our hunting rights. Our safety and heritage depend on it. If you’d like more information or would like to donate, please contact Maine Wildlife Conservation Council at (207) 623-4505.
Cathie McBreairty
Tiffany Dodd, Registered Maine Guide
Caribou
