I just signed the petition "Mt. Lebanon Deer Culling: Stop the deer culling!" and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.
Our goal is to reach 500 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:
Thanks!
Elaine
Update February 3, 2015 6:42 AM As of 6:42 AM, there are 973 signatures. Thank you!
Update February 3, 2015 11:56 AM As of 11:55 AM, there are 1061 signatures. I am posting Kristen's response to an email that was sent by a resident. Didn't someone say that the deer running into Create-A-Frame never occur? The wildlife expert that Kristen is quoting wants nothing to do with Mt. Lebanon. I am asking for the letter which states that the sterilization permit was denied. The Lyme Disease figure is another big, fat lie. How many lies can you spot in Kristen's email?
Update February 4, 2015 5:44 AM As of 5:42 AM, there are 1,248 signatures. Thank you!
Update February 4, 2015 9:49 AM I wanted to share an email from our police chief, Coleman McDonough, with Lebo Citizens readers. Inaccuracies I reread the email string and can see how it can be interpreted either way. Thank you for the clarification. I do apologize.
Chief, I do hope that you release the specific deer culling locations before any corralling begins.
Update February 3, 2015 6:42 AM As of 6:42 AM, there are 973 signatures. Thank you!
Update February 3, 2015 11:56 AM As of 11:55 AM, there are 1061 signatures. I am posting Kristen's response to an email that was sent by a resident. Didn't someone say that the deer running into Create-A-Frame never occur? The wildlife expert that Kristen is quoting wants nothing to do with Mt. Lebanon. I am asking for the letter which states that the sterilization permit was denied. The Lyme Disease figure is another big, fat lie. How many lies can you spot in Kristen's email?
Commissioner, Ward 3
Dear xxxxxxxxx,Thanks for taking the time to contact the commission with your concerns. The fact is that the commission is implementing a cull because of the large number of car accidents that have been reported, and the fact that the number is on the rise. We are dealing with a major safety issue, unfortunately. A wildlife expert has estimated that we have nearly 100 deer per square mile in Mt. Lebanon. They have no known predators other than cars, and the population has remained unchecked. Numerous experts have told us that there is no non-lethal method that would solve our problem because the numbers are currently so high. The commission did support a two-pronged approach of an initial cull to quickly reduce the numbers, and then a sterilization program to keep the numbers in check. However, sterilization is not approved in the state of PA, and our application to the game commission for sterilization was denied. We hope that once our numbers are lower, the game commission will reconsider.This is not about gardeners. This is about safety. It is not just about speeding cars either. One resident was severely injured in my ward when stopped at a light. A deer crashed through her driver's side window. The deer's antlers mutilated the woman, severely injuring her as the deer thrashed about. She was not speeding. She was not even moving. This is not the first incident of a non-moving car being struck by deer. Another deer recently crashed into the window of Create-a-Frame on Washington Rd, and last year a deer crashed through the window at Stout Flooring on Castle Shannon Blvd and caused significant damage. Deer have also jumped through large windows and sliding doors in residents' home causing major damage. Unfortunately, the number of deer/vehicular accidents is too high. The risks are too great. We must do something as it is a public safety issue. Lyme Disease - which is up almost 300% is, of course, also an issue.We have spent years investigating this issue, and have come up with a plan that we hope will reduce car accidents. This is our goal - to reduce car accidents with deer by 50% in the next 3-5 years. If there are less deer on our roads, the risks will be reduced. Again, they have no known predators. This is not a natural environment for them either. Because those predators don't exist here, we must find a way to keep ecology in balance.Answers to your specific questions: Yes, the police will continue to track deer incidents as they have done for the past several years. All of those stats are available to the public.
Yes, the municipality will inform the public of the locations of the corrals.
The corrals will be monitored for deer, and also for human tampering. Yes, the company awarded the contract will clean the area of any blood, etc.I disagree with your assessment that this is a "mockery of leadership". Public Safety must be the #1 concern of every municipality. Deer management falls into this category. I recognize that this is an emotion issue for some, but safety must remain a top priority, and the extreme overpopulation of deer is putting our residents at significant risk as shown in the data we have collected over the past several years.Thanks again for taking the time to write.
Yours truly,Kristen Linfante
Update February 4, 2015 5:44 AM As of 5:42 AM, there are 1,248 signatures. Thank you!
Update February 4, 2015 9:49 AM I wanted to share an email from our police chief, Coleman McDonough, with Lebo Citizens readers. Inaccuracies I reread the email string and can see how it can be interpreted either way. Thank you for the clarification. I do apologize.
Chief, I do hope that you release the specific deer culling locations before any corralling begins.
90 comments:
Spread the word on Facebook and Twitter!
Is there any way to tell how many of the signers are from Mt. Lebanon? Getting national signers (there seem to be lots of those) doesn't tell us anything about how Mt. Lebanon folks feel about this.
The commissioners will know.
Elaine
So you will have access to the zip code of signers to extract the number of people with Mt. Lebanon zip codes?
That would be a good thing.
I won't. It isn't my petition. The commissioners will have access.
Elaine
It looks like Ashley Bouvy created the petition. I'm pretty sure she isn't a Mt. Lebanon Commissioner.
Is she a Mt. Lebanon resident?
I don't know Ashley Bouvy. She is definitely not a Mt. Lebanon Commissioner.
Elaine
Some questions about this proposal for culling that petitioners may want to ask at the Commission Meeting:
1. When will Mr. Benner define the "acceptable number of deer from the local population" required to trigger the trap and capture the deer in the corrals? This number will determine how many deer are going to be killed in the same corral.
2. What is the caliber of the weapon Mr. Benner will use during the euthanasia? Will Mr Benner match the caliber of the weapon with the age and sex of the deer to ensure successful penetration of the deer's skull?
3. When will the shooting platforms be erected and atwhat height?
4. What is the distance between each platform and corral? Will Mr. Benner also alter the caliber of the weapon based on distance from the corral?
5. Will the deer in the corral be shot sequentially or simultaneously?
6. What will be the deer:personnel ratio for the corral kills?
7. How will personnel avoid shooting each other?
8. What type of bullet will be used?
9. How accurate are these sharpshooters "under the cover of darkness"? What experience do they have shooting groups of captive deer in the brain under these conditions?
10. What is the name/address of the local commercial processor that will process the meat? Will they process the meat for free?
11. Which food banks wish to except the meat from the "Deer Trap & Euthanasia Program"?
11:33 PM, Lebo website Q & A says, "The very close range will prevent misses or wounding." We are being told (led to believe) that the shooting will take place at VERY CLOSE RANGE, giving the impression that the platforms will be right next to the corrals shooting at a 45 degree angle toward the ground. If the platforms are any further away from the corrals, then how is that any different, more humane, or safer that regular bait and shooting culling w/o the corrals?
When the petition is presented to the commission they should also send the count to Santonu at the Trib.
Ask him to ask Linfante how many signatures she got on her Giant Eagle petition attempt.
I'm sure the answer will be more than the Stop the Cull number though the signaures will never be made available.
Correction - Santoni
This is starting to receive national attention. I have been contacted through the blog. Requests have been made for residents to video this cruel and barbaric plan. Send the footage to EGillen476@aol.com and I will pass it on. It will go viral.
Elaine
So much for:
"Mt. Lebanon
Pennsylvania
A Community with Character"
Interesting!
http://www.cayugadeer.org/rational.htm
Today is February 2nd, the corral & kill was to start on February 1st.
Have the corrals been put up? How many deer were taken last night?
Anyone seen any bloody snow? The deer need to be gutted almost on the spot if the meat is to be edible.
The corral and kill WAS to start Feb. 1, but the Game Commission threw a curve ball when they asked Lebo to submit another permit application for this process.
Technically, it cannot start without PAGC's approval.
The Trib reported that "once the program is approved and the sites are chosen, Wildlife Specialists will put bait out without the corrals for about a week. Once deer have started regularly coming to the bait, the corrals will be built without their gates, and after the deer are accustomed to entering the corrals — about another week, Benner said — the gates will be attached and closed when deer enter."
Read more: http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/7650421-74/deer-corrals-lebanon#ixzz3QakzZaRz
Elaine
From Santoni's article:
"Benner said Mt. Lebanon police will help his company select where the corrals can go on public land, possibly including the municipal golf course; a property off McNeilly Avenue; a conservation property off Connor Road; and Bird, Robb Hollow and Iroquois parks."
So not only does the municipality look the other way when their silly ordinances are being broken, the police dept. will actually be complicit in violating them. See part 5
http://mtlebanonpd.org/ordinances/
"Chapter VII: Health and Safety
Part 1: Health and Safety (authority of County Health Department)
Part 2: Grass and Weeds (prohibited yard vegetation; responsibility for removal or cutting; penalties)
Part 3: Unsanitary Matters and Wastes (prohibitions on dumping, depositing, or accumulation of unsanitary waste, debris, etc.)
Part 4: Environmental Conditions of Property (minimal environmental conditions of properties, such as requirements for yard sanitation and drainage and building construction and maintenance)
Part 5: Feeding of Deer (knowing or intentional feeding of deer prohibited)"
This is interesting as well: see part 2 and what about part 11. Haven't we heard about alcohol at youth sports games.
Chapter III: Conduct
Part 1: Destruction of Notices (tampering with official notices prohibited)
Part 2: Firearms and Other Weapons (discharging firearms, blank cartridges, air guns, sling shots, beanies; weapon sales; exceptions)
Part 3: Littering
Part 4: Malicious Mischief (entry or refusal to leave public property in violation of regulations)
Part 5: Obscenity and Pornography
Part 6: Curfew for Taverns
Part 7: Drug Paraphernalia
Part 8: Warrantless Arrests/ Summary (when arrests may be made without arrest warrant)
Part 9: Regulations of Commercial Leaf Blowers
Part 10: Barking Dogs (when barking dogs are illegal; penalties)
Part 11: Alcoholic Beverages (prohibitions and permissions surrounding alcoholic consumption and events involving alcohol)"
I checked the municipal website and they are burying the "Deer Management Program." It is the second item, under "News & Announcements" at the bottom of the home page.
mtlebanon.org
Elaine
So let me get this straight.
To reduce the chances of residents being hurt in a deer/vehicle accident, the municipality is going to spend two months LURING DEER INTO Mt. Lebanon with food.
Brilliant, just brilliant. And where do you suppose those attracted deer that didn't get shot are going to go to browse when the smorgasboard corrals are taken down at the end of March? People's landscaping.
Can you say -- dimwits!
One reason this is gaining national attention is that this is a new "method". Another sharpshooting company already tried it and abandoned it, finding it "inefficient". That makes sense: you close the gates and trap deer, the deer are going to panic and when deer panic, they get hurt… meanwhile the "shooters" are god knows where waiting for the triggered email to reach them so they can trundle off to the site. By the time they get there - according to those who have tried the method - the deer will have suffered broken limbs and necks trying to get out. I'm also wondering if they plan to post police officers to guard the cull sites? They do this at other controversial cull sites and it adds enormously to the cost of the operation (e.g. 2 police officers posted at a Westmoreland county park to protect a group of 8 hunters attempting to shoot 2 Canada geese - yes, that was 2 geese, not a typo… And the geese got away.) Anyway, that might be something to ask commissioners too...
Wanna hear a joke?
Q. Why did the deer cross the road?
A. To get the free corn being put out by the municipality?
RReid,
That is probably why Benner was the only one to submit a proposal. Nobody else wanted any parts of it.
Elaine
RReid, another good question.
Oncea deer is lured into the corral and the gate is triggered where do the deer go that were lured by the food but didn't immediately go into the trap?
Won't they wise up and avoid the corrals eventually?
If you've observed deer behavior, they usually browse feet, if not yards apart.
If one deer goes into the corral how fast does the gate close?
Lower-Upper Class Mentality continued:
1) In trying to generate more (excessive) revenue, they go after people buying houses in the municipality. A backwards plan being abandoned across the nation.
2) To position themselves as the most sports-oriented community in the South Hills, they turf beautiful grass fields with toxic materials so a few kids can "play when it rains" (crime against nature #1) -- even while more current communities are abandonding turf.
3) To reduce the deer population -- which is a mild annoyance at worst -- they come up with numerous murderous plans until one slips through. They call it "euthenizing" (crime against nature #2) like fascists through history have euphemized murder - e.g., ethnic cleansing, the Jewish Solution.
This renegade, reckless Commission must go ... Now, this goes against my increasingly-Libertarian leanings (nurtured by living here), but it might be time for the State to take over this town until it is "cleansed" of corruption.
- Jason M.
8:52. They aren't closing the gate on one deer. They Re waiting for an "acceptable number of deer" to enter the corral so they can shoot them like the killers we try to keep out of school cafeterias. But we are paying them to do it in our parks.
How come Twin Hills Park isn't mentioned as one of the public areas for the corralling?
Could it be a Virgina Manor NIMBY (not in my back yard) attitude?
Thank you 9:15, upon checking the Benner bid it states the gate will be remotely closed.
That has to be a fun job, monitoring a video feed of an 8 x 30' corral.
9:42 I don't know but Bendel reassured a concerned Ward 1 VA Manor citizen (in the RTK posted on another blog entry) that there will be culling in Ward 1. So where will that be? What other park is there in Ward 1? They can't put corrals in the Scott Conservancy, right?
9:42,
Bringing up Twin Hills Park provides addional brilliance in this town: why purchase park property in an adjacent (though contiguous) township? Twin Hills is owned by MTL but resides mostly in Scott Twp.
The brilliant also purchased the McNeilly project at a wildly inflated price!
I think they should put up a corral on that little traffic island at the corner of Cochran & Scrubgrass.
They could put a sign on it... "Your Tax Dollars At Work Euthenizing Animals These People Don't Like!"
A side note.
Isn't it interesting that Lebomag's latest inane poll that has been up for almost a week has 47 votes.
The top item - Artsmith's
The bottom two - deer control with one vote and turf two.
Isn't it funny that the two items that the commissioners have focused on lately don't generate much interest?
Of course we can rest assured those numbers will change rapidly since the poll is mentioned here on Mt. Lebanon's "unofficial" public information source.
Kristen Linfante claimed that in a telephone conversation with Anthony DiNicola, one of the deer experts who came to the deer forum, that Tony estimated that there were 100 deer per square mile in MTL. Where is Tony now? Why didn't he submit a proposal? Kristen doesn't mention his name anymore. I think Tony was on to her antics.
Elaine
We just had 8 or 9 people injured in violent crashes on MTL roads.
Since reducing carnage and fatalities seems to be Commissioner Linfante's area of expertise, we can rest easy that she'll come up with a solution to the problem.
What do you think it'll be - killing squirrels or rabbits next?
http://accidentdatacenter.com/us/pennsylvania/pittsburgh-pa/mount-lebanon/15/01/31/four-injured-car-accident-mt-lebanon-boulevard-and-us-19-mt-lebanon-pennsylvania
But, noooooo, rather than doing traffic calming duty, our police will be helping select deer corral sites. And rather than the commission improving lighting and pedestrian crossings on Washington Road, we'll hunt deer.
11:55 Traffic Board meets on Wed. No sign of the agenda yet though...
Interesting data!
http://www.city-data.com/accidents/acc-Mount-Lebanon-Pennsylvania.html
11:55 am - A comment to the PG article from Sat re: the Route 19 accident indicates that there was another 2 car accident in the same spot on Sunday morning.
Sigh. Shaking head. I'm moving to the mountains in another state.
Merlin Benner sure is wishy-washy. Just eight months ago, Benner said that aerial surveys are state-of-the art. He attributed the drop in numbers (from 342 to 196 deer in February 2014) could be due to the harsh winter or a result of the feeding ban. If the 196 state-of-the-art number is used as a baseline, and factoring out live births, vehicular accidents, and a percentage of bucks in that count, how did Merlin and Linfante come up with the 150 deer death sentence? With the PG reporting that we have THOUSANDS of deer in Mt. Lebanon, it is no wonder that we are in the mess we are in.
Elaine
You're right, Elaine, and Benner is suppose to be our "expert!"
Here's most of the text of that Santoni article.
"An apparent drop in Mt. Lebanon's deer population left commissioners confused on Tuesday night heading into another debate over whether and how to thin the herd.
J. Merlin Benner, president of Tioga County-based Wildlife Specialists LLC, told the commissioners via phone conference that it's possible the deer migrated outside municipal borders since they last were counted, perhaps driven by the harsh winter to seek more sheltered areas or more food now that a deer-feeding ban has been enacted.
Counting deer from an airplane with an infrared camera, contractors saw 196 in February 2014 compared with 342 at about the same time last year.
Because the commission hadn't approved any deer-culling activities between surveys, officials wondered whether there was a fluke in the count.
“(Aerial surveys) are considered the best you can do for deer, and sometimes the best you can do isn't the most accurate,” Benner said. “For a fairly rapid and inexpensive survey, this is considered state-of-the-art.”
Commission President Kristen Linfante, one of the strongest supporters of hiring a company to shoot deer and thin the herd, wondered where the drop came from.
“Did they leave? Did we hit that many with our cars?” she said.
“I was surprised, I have to say. ... Usually the results are more consistent than that,” Benner said.
Benner said harsh conditions like this winter's extremely low temperatures might drive the herds to find lower ground more sheltered from the weather, sometimes a mile or two outside their normal range. The municipality's ban two years ago on feeding deer might have led them to range farther in search of food, he said.
But with the number of deer unclear, commissioners couldn't draw conclusions from the count over whether a culling should be done this year. The program has been controversial because of hired hunters' proximity to residents' homes."
So, what this Trib article tells us, is that we had a "best you can do" aerial survey that told us we had a drop in the deer population from 2013 to 2014 of 146 deer and we didn't spend $500/deer shooting or corraling one of them!
Furthermore, "Expert" (sure I'll take your money) Benner states the reduction could be "possible the deer migrated outside municipal borders since they last were counted, perhaps driven by the harsh winter to seek more sheltered areas or more food now that a deer-feeding ban has been enacted."
So if the deer migrated OUT of Lebo, it is very possible that even though we attempt to cull 150, 146 or more could migrate back INTO Lebo as well. Leaving the commissioners to scratch their heads once again and wonder why our $75,000 investment achieved absolutely nothing!!!
Isn't it also curious that Commissioner (oh, the humanity) Linfante, doesn't know at the time of the article how many deer have been eliminated by cars.
She ask: "did we hit that many with our cars?"
Shouldn't she know the tally since she's consistently claiming vehicle collisions as a rational for trimming the deer heard? Does she make the death and mayhem up as she goes along?
The more your follow this circus the more ludicrous it becomes!
Benner's a hack. Your paying $75000 for a hack.
I filed a RTK today for Benner's invoices to date. Nobody came forward to tell me that they filed a RTK for this information. Feller is on vacation today, so if there are no 30 day extensions, I should know by Monday, provided I pay my outstanding RTK bill of $66.25 which I was hoping to receive some help. One person offered to help and I said thanks, but no thanks, since this person has helped many times in the past.
2:06 PM, we will find out soon enough how much money Benner is really costing us.
Elaine
10:07 am, reg. Virgina Manor
ex-Commissioner Barbara Logan launched the 2006/07 and 2007/08 deer killing program hoping to kill the deer in her yard. (see her press quotes below, no car-deer collisions mentioned). She lives in Virginia Manor. She is the puppet master behind today's deer killing program. Logan trys to leverage her power and influence in Mt. Lebo's Democrat party (BTW, I'm Democrat) with new candidates to get them on her deer killing bandwagon. Commissioner Linfante is her hired gun. Linfante's mission from day one was to launch another and ongoing deer killing program. Barbara Logan endorsed Linfante, served on Linfante's executive committee during her campaign, and I believe donated to her campaign fund too. Linfante has accomplished her mission.
ex-Commissioner Barbara Logan in her own words:
"My shouting and screaming at them does nothing," she said.
"My concern is that if, or when, this plan happens, many of us will be disappointed because our deer are not in an area where we can cull them," said Commissioner Barbara Logan.
"I'm afraid that once we start culling them, they'll lay low until it is over,"added Logan
Ms. Logan said she understood that some people are upset at the thought of killing deer, but whether they die from old age, disease, hunger or hunting, "One way or another, the deer are going to die."
So rest assured 10:07 am, by hook or by crook, Barbara Logan is going to get deer killed in Virginia Manor.
1:39 PM, the four commissioners are blithering idiots whose idiocy has been unquestionably described and confirmed by documents, facts and opinions both historical and current posted on this blog and in some independent print and TV media.
The culpable Muni staff, particularly Manager, C.O.P., Solicitor & PIO have seemingly prostituted themselves (within the meaning of selling their talents to an unworthy cause to protect their employment and income) with behavior that is beyond shameful.
Benner is beyond allowable characterization on this blog.
If petition goal was 500, I'd raise that goal to 1,000, i.e. the petition just hit 582 supporters at 2:30 p.m.
"The municipality's ban two years ago on feeding deer might have led them to range farther in search of food, he [Benner] said."
Hmmmm, if the 146 deer reduction may be due to the municipality's feeding ban, is it not possible we could easily lose another 150 deer by having residents plant deer resistant flower beds and shrubs?
You can be sure that Linfante, Brumfield and Morgans will discount the petion because a number of signers don't live in Mt. Lebanon.
What these dolts can't comprehend is that if the turf project is our "crown jewel", killing deer is the municipality's throne (as in -toilet).
Doesn't matter if the petition is signed by outsiders. What matters is how people perceive our community.
Right, now we're looking like a bunch of pompous, selfish elitists with more money than brains that don't give a shit about lives (other than our own) or the environment.
Currently, there are 667 signatures. There are many from Mt. Lebanon who have not made their signature public.
I have gotten a few emails from residents who told me that they signed the petition and their names do not show up.
Elaine
February 2, 2015 at 3:01 PM
EXACTLY!!!!! Why don't the Commissioners get this. Mt. Lebo plants flowers that deer find irresistible in 30+ flower islands throughout the community. These are salad bars for the deer, and draws them into the community. Laura Simon, Humane Society's (HSUS) wildlife biologist, has repeatedly told them that this is a major food attractant drawing deer, crossing roads, into the community. Mt. Lebo has made no effort to plant deer resistant flowers and plants in these 30+ islands.
They also have made no effort to track deer crossing hot spots, and put up flashing light deer crossing warning signs.
In addition, they have not reached out to residents and asked them to please plant deer resistant flowers and plants, or held any educational seminars to teach residents how they can have beautiful gardens using deer resistant flowers, and to show them how to effectively use repellents and deterrents.
Mt. Lebo has done absolutely NOTHING that HSUS'deer expert has repeatedly recommended, that are proven effective solutions.
They have been given scientific studies proving how hunting and culling actually triggers an increase in deer reproduction (compensatory reproduction), which will just replace the deer killed, and how if you kill local deer, that deer from the surrounding areas will migrate in to replace them. They have ignored all of these studies.
So they have not implemented one recommendation from HSUS' deer expert, and have ignored all the scientific studies presented to them.
After doing nothing, and ignoring the scientific studies, they decide to bring high powered rifles back into the community (which Brumfied promised he would never do to his constituents)to shoot and kill deer.
There are NO safe places to shoot high powered rifles or bow hunt in our densely populated and developed community, which is also a student walking community, where the kids are constantly cutting through the parks day and night.
I just don't understand their reckless and bad judgement. It's truly incomprehensible.
4:37, I hope the commissioners are visiting the petition page and reading what people are saying about them and the community.
But they won't or at least they won't admit to reading them.
Brumfield pulled the same thing on turf... he never saw anything negative about it too.
Don't worry, 6:12 PM. One of the organizers of the petition told me that the commissioners will get an email every time someone signs the petition. Looks like they have received 745 emails so far. Including Brumfield.
Elaine
Mt Lebanon has failed to protect its wildlife habitat.
http://waterlandlife.org/aboutwpc/news/allegheny.pdf
Why does Lebo pass a deer no feeding ordinance, and then plant 30 flower islands (salad bars for deer) throughout the community with flowers and plants that are irresistible to deer?
If Lebo is so concerned about car-deer collisions, why won't they launch a campaign asking residents to deer proof their gardens and landscapes, and hold deer proofing seminars to help teach them how to do it?
Why not have a garden tour of homes highlighting deer resistant plants and flowers?
They must know that this abundant food source is the core reason for deer coming into the community to browse. This isn't rocket science?
How can they resolve the deer "problem" if they ignore the core reason there is a "problem"?
They obviously aren't that stupid. (I don't think.) These are intelligent people. So what explains it?
The only rational answer that I can think of is that the Commissioners are killing the deer for this handful of elite political power brokers, and gardeners that want them to kill the deer that are eating their flowers, because they don't want to plant deer resistant flowers or use repellents and deterrents; i.e. that might restrict their choice of flowers they can plant, and they also feel that would make the annual library garden tour less (I don't know) interesting. I actually think it would make the library tour more interesting.
So the Commissioners decide to introduce bow hunting and rifle shooters into our community, which threatens the safety of all Mt. Lebo families, children, and pets, because of a handful of elitist political manipulators, and gardeners.
What else explains the current situation playing out right now?
2/2/15@ 9:15...regarding the subject of closing the gates, Santoni writes in the Trib--
"Once remotely monitored cameras confirm a deer or two has wandered into the corrals to feed on fermented corn bait, Wildlife Specialists staff will send a text message to shut an electric gate, then arrive to shoot the deer with rifles equipped with silencers."
http://triblive.com/mobile/7650421-96/deer-corrals-lebanon
Did Santoni make up the gates will be remotely closed AFTER one or two deer enter the coral?
Why is there so much conflicting information circulating about this cull?
Isn't it the PIO's responsibilty to set the record straight for the public?
10:40 PM, we have Kristen Linfante to thank for this mess. Dave Brumfield, John Bendel, and Steve Silverman, the three spineless commissioners, will not challenge Kristen when she makes outrageous statements. When Kristen exclaimed that aerial surveys can be off by 80%, did any of the "men" question her on that? No. When Kristen casually mentioned that a neighbor told her that there is private hunting going on, the guys just sat there. In one of her rants, Kristen claimed that Tony DiNicola estimated that there are close to 600 deer now. Did DiNicola submit a proposal to kill the deer? No. If Kelly doesn't say something, it just slides by.
5:04 AM, the PIO's responsibility is to sugar coat everything about Mt. Lebanon. Setting the record has nothing to do with it. It is tragic that we have to rely on one reporter (Matt Santoni) for any information he can uncover.
Someone recently asked me to describe Kelly with one word. My answer was, "Integrity." I wish I could say the same of the other four commissioners and the PIO.
Elaine
Petition just broke 1,000 supporters, i.e. 1,016 at 9:30 am.
9:41 at 9:42 Linfante probably personally talked to or heard from 1,017 pro-cull supporters.
10:09 AM, the pro-kill women claim that they have 1400 signatures, going door to door, harassing people outside of Market District, and on Washington Road.
I noticed something about the petition. I can't see it on my iPad, but on my laptop, I can scroll down to the bottom of the petition and read the "Reasons for Signing." You can "like" a comment. Click on the "Most Popular" tab and they are ranked by likes. James Cannon's is at the top of the list.
Elaine
@Elaine
Another lie - Another deer recently crashed into the window of Create-a-Frame on Washington Rd
Why do they call it trap and euthanize? I mean, by every definition the word euthanize is inappropriate.
Other words that make sense?
Murder
Kill
Slaughter
I am reprinting a comment that I just received through the blog. I have approved all comments that were submitted in the past week or so.
Ms Gillen:
Several times yesterday and again earlier today I submitted a comment,
which you've not approved, containing the following two citations, which
dispute the claims of HSUS and their spokesperson.
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/10/cornell_university_deer_population_buck_magnets.html
http://www.cayuga-heights.ny.us/doc/2006JoWM.pdf
It is your blog & your privilege to run it as you wish. If, as it seems, you desire an echo chamber and a place for the the like-minded to enjoy the fragrance of each others exhaust fumes, that is your right.
Just make it clear that difference of opinion is not tolerated on your forum.
Sincerely,
Chris Durkin
Regards,
Chris Durkin | cdurkin5@verizon.net
Note: This email was sent via the Contact Form gadget on
http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com
Another email from Chris Durkin.
I tried again to put through my comment as originally written as noted here:
Anon Feb 2 at 4:37
The HSUS position put forth by Laura Simon regarding sterilization's
effectiveness does not comport with case studies or published science, to
wit:
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/10/cornell_university_deer_population_buck_magnets.html
snip: "The method of contraception chosen by Cornell was tubal ligation,
in which a doe's fallopian tubes are either blocked or severed. This
prevents egg cells from reaching the uterus.
The program worked in one category: the birth rate went down. But over the
course of the five-year program, the total number of deer stayed the same.
While the sterilization decreased fawn and doe numbers, an increase in the
buck population offset the population change. By 2013, around 100 deer
lived on campus--the same amount as when the program started.
Scientists discovered that their program accidentally created "buck
magnets" by preventing doe pregnancy. From the Post:
"Under normal conditions, all female whitetails go into heat within several
weeks of each other and become pregnant at around the same time. However,
if a doe is not impregnated during the rut, it will enter heat again the
following month and again the month after that. Because the ligated does
were unable to become pregnant, they continued to produce chemical signals
of readiness to reproduce -- signals that can attract bucks from miles
away."
The result should've been expected, Bernd Blossey, chair of the Cornell
Deer Research and Management Committee, told The Post. "I'm an ecologist
looking at the literature," he said. "I thought that sterilization in an
open population where things can move in and out won't work. Maybe it was
worth doing it in a sophisticated way to say we tried in the best possible
way and it didn't make a difference."
From The Journal of Wildlife Management:
"Managing an Overabundant Deer Population by Sterilization: Effects of
Immigration, Stochasticity and the Capture Process"
http://www.cayuga-heights.ny.us/doc/2006JoWM.pdf
Conclusion:
In an open population, sterilization alone probably will not be
effective at controlling deer overabundance, especially if immigration
increases as population size decreases. While stakeholders may be averse to
hunting, consistent lethal control—either alone or in combination with
fertility control —may be the only way to sustainably reduce a local deer
herd below current levels."
Regards,
Chris Durkin | cdurkin5@verizon.net
Note: This email was sent via the Contact Form gadget on
http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com
My response to Chris is that I still haven't received anything from him/her. I asked if the comment was submitted in the comment section and did the code to verify that Chris is not a robot appear. I can't be responsible for people who do not know how to submit a comment properly.
Chris, I can't keep posting your comments for you. I posted them twice for you. Yeah, you're welcome.
Elaine
"Chris" is obviously a man. He won't read the directions on how to submit a comment.
Testing, testing yet again.
If this gets thru thanks for printing my comment.
CD
Durkin send a thanks, but no apology for insinuating that Elaine cherry picks comments for posting.
If you've followed Elaine's blog for any length of time, Chris, you'd be aware that she takes every effort to publish everyone's "exhaust fumes"-- even yours.
Which is more than we can say for some other blogs, past and present, in this community.
I have evidence that Kristen lied when she said "Another deer recently crashed into the window of Create-a-Frame on Washington Rd."
I used to think she was just misguided on many issues, but now I am beginning to come around to Elaine's way of thinking: There may be political pathology here.
- Jason M.
I'm not defending the angry deer commenter but I have had a few lost... something weird happens when you submit via your phone. Just resubmit.
To the unapproved comment, I had said that I will approve negative, personal comments about me only if you sign your name. Too bad you didn't sign your name.
Elaine
Ah, this explains it! (from http://www.borough.castle-shannon.pa.us/03-24-14.htm):
"Chris Durkin, 3163 Maplene Avenue – urged council to contact Mt. Lebanon Commissioner Kristin Linfante regarding nuisance deer control. Mr. Durkin added that sterilization methods will not immediately eliminate the over-population problems of vehicle accidents, landscape damage, deer feces accumulation, etc. and only lethal means will achieve effective and immediate control. Upon the advice of experts, and due to the close proximity of housing in the borough, Ms. Kovach stated that borough council will not authorize a deer hunt. Mr. Hartswick will send Mr. Durkin a copy of an article from the Mt. Lebanon Magazine regarding an upcoming public hearing on deer control."
Elaine
It looks like Castle Shannon is a lot more sensible than Mt. Lebanon when it comes to "deer management":
"Upon the advice of experts, and due to the close proximity of housing in the borough, Ms. Kovach stated that borough council will not authorize a deer hunt."
On Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, I sent an email to Kelly Fraasch and cc'ed the commission and Feller.
"Hi Kelly,
I had filed a RTK about the archery program in December and it was granted on January 29. It included some enlightening information concerning the sterilization program you have been advocating. I never say any conclusive evidence where the sterilization permit was denied. What I did see were conflicting statements made by Kristen concerning the status of the sterilization. Kristen was saying that the deer sterilization program was denied, at the same time she was telling Dan Miller that it was neither accepted or denied.
Is there something in writing from the Game Commission stating that the sterilization program was denied?
Thank you for being the only commissioner I can trust.
Elaine Gillen"
She has not been able to give me an answer. Nobody can. Dave Brumfield said at the last commission meeting that the sterilization program was denied. Can he prove that or was he relying on Kristen's b.s.?
Elaine
I think Mt Lebanon needs an "I grew up with deer" panel to explain how coexistence works.
Are people maybe not home enough to actually get the deer to make their homes outside of their yards? The deer wouldn't be in someone's yard without a) access to great food and b) the absence of fear.
Deer actually don't like dogs, kids playing in the yard, loud noises, sprinklers, fences, etc.
It concerns me that people cannot manage these things. Maybe the adults are just indoors too much... I know children are. The adults need to get outside!
I'm not a lawyer but if they would stop this could anyone injured or involved in an accident with deer sue the township? The commissioners, the police chief, the State all say that the deer are a problem. Is this all setting up us taxpayers for the next "lottery" winner? Could Brumfield be the one filing the lawsuit(s)?
Don't ya just love Durkin.
Living close to the MTL golf course he'll get his deer culled without blood on his hands or money out of his pocket.
Nice try, Kristen. Sign your name and I will publish your "opinion." You aren't going to use my blog to push your agenda. You know how to blog. Reinstate your valuemtlebanon blog.
Elaine
This is a note from a non-mrtsa, non-fire department, non-police officer observant citizen.
At the very minimum, this is a 24-hour lowdown on Mt Lebanon traffic safety from the last weekend beginning sat morning and ending sun morning and not listed in sequential order:
1. 4 car crash washington road - 4 injured - 1 critical
2. 2 car crash same spot next morning
3. 3 car crash with drunk driver arrested on mt lebanon blvd after crashing into 2 parked cars, one of which was brand new
4. 4 car crash mapleton and bower hill
5. 2 car crash n meadowcroft, one car blew through stop sign
The story on Mt Lebanon is reckless driving by motorists and lack of enforcement. The commission should take responsibility and address this problem instead of pursuing more talk about deer culls.
I'm the one asking if the township would be responsible if any deer related accidents happened and I'm NOT your BFF Kristen. I couldn't point her out of a crowd if offered a million dollar reward to do so. I ask the question because I personally know that Brumfield and his very vocal wife are pro-deer. I've witnessed some heated discussions on this topic where people felt bullied for asking questions. There has to be a reason why he changed his vote on this issue. Could it be money? I realize it would be a conflict for him but he could shift it to another in his office. Or did he give on this so your BFF would support one of his pet projects?
Jake S. Sunset Hills
11:00 am MTL does not concern itself with being sued.
Ms. Linfante,, even though she spent time in liberal progressive San Fran..she has a very authoritarian manner..there is no consultation with her constitutes..our present leadership is really really ineffective.. starting to roll up the carpet and will get the heck out of here before lebo implodes
Regarding Chris Durkin's posts.
BTW, he also had a letter published in the Post-Gazette attacking Laura Simon, HSUS' wildlife biologist.
I did a quick search on Mr. Durkin, and he apparently goes to just about every Castle Shannon council meeting whining about deer. This guy needs to get a life.
I also didn't appreciate his rude remarks to Elaine about posting on this blog. It's not her fault that he can't figure out how to post a simple comment.
First, Laura Simon is an internationally renowned wildlife biologist and ecologist from Yale University, and an expert in deer reproductive science and resolving deer-human conflicts. Maybe Mr. Durkin can share his credentials and expertise with this blog, so we know how to better assess his comments.
Second, I've very familiar with Paul Curtis and Bernd Blossey's junk science "studies" at Cornell University. BTW, Blossey's not even a wildlife biologist. You have to understand some background first. The Dept. of Natural Resources at Cornell is basically a bought and paid for extension of New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which is the same as our Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC). Hardly unbiased or objective. Cornell's "studies" are totally biased promoting hunting and other lethal solutions to deer management, just like the recommendations we get from the Pa Game Commission. In addition, these are not peer reviewed studies published in respected scientific journals.
Third, the studies that Mr. Durkin refers to aren't even applicable to today's sterilization methodologies. Cornell used an old tubal ligation sterilization method. What's used today are ovariectomies. So the anecdotal findings in the "studies" that Mr. Durkin posted aren't even relevant.
That said, while deer ovariectomy sterilization projects are a fairly new population control methodology, i.e. there are around 7 or 8 current suburban projects going on right now, they should prove to be just as effective or more effective that the PZP deer contraception studies. "Suburban deer populations have been stabilized and reduced over time by 35-50%. The most dramatic reduction so far has been with the use of the one-treatment PZP vaccine, which has been associated with a population reduction of 44% in five years." Dr. Allen Rutberg, Tufts Center for Animals and Public Policy. BTW, these PZP studies are peer reviewed studies that are published in scientific journals.
In Mr. Durkin's letter he appears to refuse to plant deer resistant plants and flowers, and maintains a vegetable garden and orchard in his back yard. I guess he also refuses to implement any deterrents for his garden and orchard too. So it appears that he is planting a smorgasbord of irresistible plants, flowers, vegetables, and fruit trees in his backyard, and he wonders why he is getting deer visiting his back yard. He would have to kill every deer in Allegheny County to resolve his deer browsing conflicts. I guess then he would be crying to Castle Shannon council about the rabbits and the groundhogs.
Mr. Durkin, please go back to bothering your Castle Shannon council members, or move to Mt. Lebanon, and then you will at least have some standing for bothering us on LEBO CITIZENS. Thank You.
Maybe deer hate is the new road rage.
After reading the latest update I've come to the conclusion that this (blog , RTKs) would be unnecessary if the Commission (and school board) tackled every issue like they're working on the Manhattan Project.
That and if the PIO quit spinning information.
Yesterday, I wrote a check for $66.25 for the RTK and today, renewed the web hosting fee of $190.80 for the Lebo Citizens website for two more years.
I really wish I could get some help from you guys.
Elaine
http://oilpro.com/merlinbenner
No wonder Benner is hot on aerial surveys!
Please continue to write to the PA Game Commission. As of today, Benner's corral plan has yet to be approved.
Welcome all new Lebo Citizens readers! Thanks to all who have signed the petition. There are over 1,300 signatures.
Elaine
Correction to 11:20 am
Mt Lebanon doesn't worry about lawsuits because they have personal injury attorney, Dave Brumfield, as a commissioner. He works hard to understand and address how to avoid being sued... when he can.
Do you recall the argument he had at a commission meeting with the Allegheny County Council member Heather Heidelbaugh? It was ugly and he was prepared to defend Mt Lebanon's lack of a deer cull (at the time).
Brumfield enjoys the high speed traffic and crash data on Mt Lebanon because a) his children are driven to school and b) he benefits when people are hurt in motor vehicle collisions.
He knows the heinous deer cull won't make a difference on the streets of Mt Lebanon, so he protects his income by voting for it (diverting attention away from real public safety issues) but maintains the appearance of having a concern for public safety.
Bravo, Mr. Brumfield! Bravo!
I drove past another accident, two cars, this evening at the intersection of Mt. Lebanon Blvd. and Washington Road.
There wasn't a deer in sight.
On a somewhat related note, does anyone happen to know who currently sits on the Mt. Lebanon Zoning Board? It seems that Lebo's website omits this information and directs information seekers to call the zoning office directly. The zoning office is never in a hurry to return phone calls.
In my opinion, Brumfield voted for the deer kill in exchange for Kristen voting for the artificial turf. Simple quid pro quo. Does anyone else see it this way?
2:29 Brumfield likes car accidents and lacrosse. For lacrosse, he wanted turf. Kristin wanted dead deer. This is where we are now.
IMO Brumfield votes the party line or in his best interest, not on what is fair, rational or prudent.
Post a Comment