An open letter to the commissioners

Commissioners,

As promised, I am sending the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services Firearm Safety Review.   http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/Safety_Review/content/Firearms_Report.pdf I don't think I saw this in your deer management status report. It was discussed at length during several meetings. I had sent this to the prior commission.

Seven accidents were reported, from shooters shooting themselves in the foot to shooting through floor boards of their vehicles, all classified as Negligience, Ignorance or Carelessness.  On page 9, only 2% were randomly drug tested. Page 13, "firearm safety incidents were perceived as "no big deal." Check out page 14, 100% of the employees could not list all four WS fundamental gun safety rules. Notice on page 28, "Wildlife Services is being faced with the possibility of hiring Biologists or Field Employees with little or no firearm experience." THEY ARE NOT SHARPSHOOTERS!   As Tom Kelley reported last night, Wildlife Services shot from the back of pick up trucks. Page 30 indicates that WS Directives should clearly address whether shooting out of vehicles is allowed.  The recommendation is terra firma.

Now let's bring this back to Mt. Lebanon. Wildlife Services provided no insurance.  They take no responsibility. It would have been Mt. Lebanon's responsibility. As Dan Miller said, he would never use Wildlife Services again. They mishandled the Lindendale incident.  They lied to our police. They lost all credibility with our former commission. Craig Swope, from Wildlife Services was asked every year by Dale Colby, were there ever any accidents and Craig Swope would answer, "No sir."  I found SEVEN.

Kristen, you are doing a great disservice to the community by "reinventing the wheel." We have spent thousands of dollars doing surveys and studies on deer culling. As Dave Brumfield suggested last night, you have not explored all options. We know that there are deer here.  You will NEVER get rid of every single one. The ones that are permitted to stay could be the ones that jump in front of cars. They could be eating your neighbors' hosta (which by the way are their favorite food, so why plant hosta?) You mention that there was a herd of deer in Rockwood Park, which as you know is next to my house.  Come over some time and look at my untouched hosta. If there are so many and hosta are their favorite food, why are mine untouched? You are afraid of guns, Kristen? Try having men literally outside your bedroom window shooting deer. 

Elaine Gillen

Update May 30, 2012 12:10 pm
From: Kristen Linfante <klinfante@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, May 30, 2012 11:22 am
Subject: Re:

Thanks for the link, Elaine.
Kristen

Update May 30, 2012 4:44 pm
From: Kelly Fraasch <kfraasch@mtlebanon.org>
Date: Wed, May 30, 2012 at 4:12 PM
Subject: Re:
To: commission@mtlebanon.org, "Weis, Philip" <philip.weis@bipc.com>, Stephen Feller <sfeller@mtlebanon.org>, Tom Kelley <tkelley@mtlebanon.org>

Ms. Gillen,

Thank you for the information.

I do think we made a positive step forward last night by having all present Commissioners share support in having Phil draft an ordinance against the feeding of deer.

I firmly believe we need to stop feeding the deer immediately.  It's truly not helping the deer and actually hurting them in the long-term.  Not to mention, putting humans and deer at risk.

Secondly, I do have safety concerns about culling. 

I've had lengthy conversations with the previous Ward 5 Commissioner and find that services rendered for culling were alarming at best.

As a community, we can do better to co-exist with our wildlife and I would like to invest in those methods and educate our community before jumping into a management program.

Kelly