Stephen Feller
Municipal Manager
My observations:
Four deer were killed before 9:00 PM. Shooting isn't supposed to start until 9:00 PM.
Deer were trapped for at least 90 minutes from the time the gates closed and the shots fired.
Our Mt. Lebanon Public Misinformation Officer lists on the website that the team of trained professionals will be dispatched immediately to "euthanize" the deer. NINETY MINUTES?
Eleven bullets to kill three deer. That just sickens my stomach.
 |
| Remains of corral #2 at Golf Course |
Corn, straw, and in some corrals, tufts of fur are what were left behind.
All CORRALS ARE NOW GONE!!!! Nothing at Bird, McNeilly, Robb Hollow, Golf Course, or Conservation District.
Update will be tomorrow. I'm wondering if Mt. Lebanon gave Benner some time to remove his shit before tomorrow's update. Why do I think Benner has left the building?
97 comments:
ELEVEN shots to kill three deer?? There is NOTHING humane about that.
I know NOTHING about guns, hunting, etc. So I may be ignorant and reading the report incorrectly BUT I would have thought that Benner the "expert" would know what kind of ammunition it would take to humanly murder a deer. 11 shots for 3 deer? ALSO....Was this 3 individual deer or could it have been a pregnant doe carrying two babies? How is something like this determined? Does he get a "3 for 1" deal if he kills a pregnant doe?
11 shots to kill 3 deer?
3 TRAPPED deer?
3 TRAPPED deer at close range?
Are you kidding me?
And had to get "higher velocity ammo" as the subsonics did not "perform to specification"
WHAT SPECIFICATION? Are they chronographing velocity in the field? Are they weighing projectiles? Are these hoopie handloads?
Blaming the ammo is pathetic. That's like a golfer blaming the balls for shooting over 100*
*on the front nine
http://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/10757
The report is incomplete.
On page 10 of the contract with Benner linked above it states:
"outcome and performance standards.
The numerical goal is to trap and euthanize 150 deer before the end of March 2015. The contractor will report progress on a weekly basis with the manager or his designee on a regular basis to review performance and plan for corrective actions if necessary. Detailed records will be kept for each potential trap site, including date and baiting commenced, number of deer visiting the site by group size, timing of corral placement, and success of trapping."
The number of deer killed in the report submitted in this post does not include the number of deer visiting the site.
Unless the number visiting and number killed are one in the same in which case that would seem to indicate that the 2014 aerial survey was probably close or overestimating the number of deer in Mt. Lebanon.
One would think if we has thousands of deer like Hayes proclaims, more than 1 or 3 deer visit each trap in a night.
Info on subsonic ammo.
This professional didn't know which Ammo to use?
11 bullets seems like a lot to kill 3 deer in a confined space.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsonic_ammunition
Proper subsonic ammunition in the hands of a professional is quite lethal. The takeaway here is Benner's crew are not professionals, and do not understand ammunition selection.
A subsonic 55gr .223 round is not much more powerful than a .22LR (36 to 40gr, some subs higher). On deer it's stupid. If it's frangible, it's double-stupid (from a humane kill perspective)
If the Commissioners had the slightest clue of how bullets worked, they would have thrown the BS flag at the gitgo. McDonough too. And the other "experts" paraded out (Denicola et al)
This is AMATEUR HOUR and the real problem is these yoyo's are shooting in our neighborhoods.
Of those 11 shots, how many went sailing off into the night? How comfortable should we be now that Benner is using "higher velocity" ammunition?
I don't know where my previous comment on this topic of ammunition is... but I had noted that the these details are essential in the planning process to ensure death from one shot to the brain of the deer.
Clearly, this attention to detail is the joint responsibility of the Commission, PGC, and Benner. He did not specify the ammunition he intended to use in the contract, did he? Because he didn't know because he has never done this before.
It's a shame -- you would think a responsible person worthy of a 4-5 year lucrative contract would at the very least consult with veterinarians about their recommendations for "euthanasia" by gunshot. Further, you would think a Commission worthy of awarding such a contract would think about these matters given the impact this undertaking could be anticipated to have on the community.
https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Documents/euthanasia.pdf
.223 55 gr. is the standard used by deer culling contractors. The point is to make head/brain shots, which are the most deadly shot.
I posted earlier on that it would be impossible to get head/brain shots at close range with the deer bouncing off walls, and that this would be an inhumane shoot fest, which it apparently has become, i.e. 11 shots to kill 3 deer. That's a deer slaughter. Those are body shots to wound the panicked deer to the ground, and the follow-up to kill them.
It's not only inhumane, but 11 shots pose that much more risk for richochet, misfire, and misses.
Where is the oversight? This is a inhumane deer slaughter.
90 minutes trapped in a corral is extremely inhumane too. What's going on???
If a resident goes near a park 3 corn police are pulling them over within minutes and harassing them.
How are deer waiting for 90 minutes to be executed?
Who is going to shut this ineffective and inhumane debacle down???
The only thing I saw was the Chief saying they were using 55 grain .223 ammunition. This is the first confirmation that the ammunition was subsonic (although not surprising for work in residential areas)
The number of shots required per kill clearly indicates there is a major problem.
This also shows why Benner's crew and the commissioners are unwilling to release any videos of the actual operation in progress.
Second corral/trap has been removed from the golf course. Only one that I know of that is remaining is at Bird Park.
Elaine
Elaine. except for a couple of speakers from Avon, Jefferson and Summer Place, the majority of the Complainers are from the Markham area..so leaving the BirdPark corrals/deathtraps.. would appease those hob-snobs and their lavish gardens.. NO THERE BE NO DEER ON MARKHAM, LONGUEVUE, WOODHAVEN OR ST CLAIR DRIVES...
First of all good get the hell out of here.secondly a well placed 22 will kill a deer all day long done it.Third 90 min.is like 10.5 hours to you people that want to torture deer.you people. Suck
Bird Park corral is down. I just took a second walk there. The man who was ripping out the black tarp earlier this afternoon obviously finished the job. All that remains is a lot of corn scattered on the ground.
To all of you behind and involved in this kill...money doesnt buy class. Your money, power and possessions don't make you good or decent human beings. You are all guilty of this travesty. Anyone who, without any remorse, can brutally torture and snuff out the life of a creature who can feel fear, panic and pain, are absolutely the lowest life form on Earth. You put citizens in danger. You're completely disgusting.
I cannot believe it is 2015 and this deer killer is being paid to commit animal cruelty and somehow he cannot be stopped?
Yet, it's also OK for a PA teacher to force a special education student to wear a humiliating sign that states "I abuse animals" for hitting a goat repeatedly on a field trip.
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/easton/mc-pa-teacher-student-animal-cruelty-sign-20150209-story.html
Can we have the signs for our commissioners and municipal staff since, um, that's within the moral fabric of PA educators to do to children -- even children with special needs?
Mental note to self:
Hitting goat = animal abuse (OK)
Shooting deer in pens multiple times = $$$
These are very sick, twisted...can't say "people"...
Well, the former cull site at Bird Park was just about the only location conforming to the Federal School Zone Firearms Act, so it looks like Bird Park is off limits. I'll confirm this weekend. Are we sure the Commission hasn't resorted to Clover Traps on private property exclusively? That sure would solve the political agenda... at the expense of every tax paying Mt. Lebonite...
Brenner has misrepresented himself to the community form the start. First he calls himself and "Expert" and then isn't enough of an expert to know the federal firearms regulations. He doesn't know that his ammo is not powerful enough to murder the deer? He promises that he will take down the deer in only one shot to the head to lessen the trauma to the deer and then uses 13 total to kill 4 deer. He misrepresented himself as an expert and should be fired NOW before he inflicts more damage on the deer and the community. He is moving his traps because he didn't know where the deer are? If he was an expert he would. Now he is just littering our parks with fermented corn ad attracting rats to the park What an incompetent jackass!We need a smart attorney to file an injunction to stop this madness. Sue him for misrepresentation and the pro-cull commissioners for stupidity and mismanagement of the township's funds.
If I had to guess...
1. 11 bullets for three deer
2. Shooting deer before 9am
3. 1 deer killed at a time when they weren't supposed to close the corral without a minimum number.
I am hopeful the PGC shut him down with prejudice for violating the terms of the agreement.
Does this mean that Benner is gone and the program shut down?
I thought Feller told Commissioner Kelly Fraasch they were moving corrals to locations with more deer. Was Feller lying to Commissioner Fraasch?
So what's going on?
Can't wait to hear the PIO and Feller spin this story.
Can Benner be fined for leaving corn at the sites?
Especially since it can attract rats.
Whatever the news is, you can bet it will be Friday afternoon, when people are thinking about the weekend, and the media has 2-3 days for bigger stories to bury this one.
I'm gonna guess 3PM.
(That being said, no celebrating until the fat lady, er guy, has left the building! He may go for a shootfest tonight through the end of March rack up as many last-ditch $500 kills as possible. This ain't over until it is signed, sealed and delivered over!)
7:26 There are more reasons than that to shut this down:
1) road accident with injuries when baiting is occurring 160 feet from same road (WHERE ELSE IS THAT OK???)
2) deer dropping dead in yards from corn toxicity (THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE STARVING FOR THIS TO OCCUR -- ANOTHER MYTH)
3) resident reporting that he is hearing gunshots from his home (unlikely reason but isn't the silencer supposed to help with that?)
8:35 if they are moving from subsonic to "higher velocity" (presumably supersonic) people WILL hear the ballistic crack, even if the firearms are suppressed.
$5 says Benner never even tested his subsonics on deer before this charade. Or the hog traps for that matter. The Commissioners are 187% guilty of not requiring proof of concept before signing on the dotted line. In the business world, that would have got them canned.
I sure will enjoy vising all the corral sites posted as "No Trespassing" as the weather improves.
Think of how peaceful our parks are now, and how well we will sleep tonight.
Once the no trespassing signs are down, a little Luminol will illuminate a lot ;)
His contract specifically states corrals and describes them in detail.
If he switches to Clover Traps on private property or not he is not fulfilling the terms of the contract or I suspect the RFP.
Wouldn't the commissioners need to vote on a new contract with Mr. Benner?
Elaine why do you think he is gone?? That would be the best new of the day. Maybe I will sleep better. Maybe Benner quit on his own do you think?
lol ..... if corn killed deer I'd be eating fresh jerky all the time. Walmart, Agway, Tractors Supply all sell truckloads of deer corn .... TRUCKLOADS! There would be freakin deer dead everywhere if corn killed them. No one would not need weapons, just feed them CORN.
Nah.. I don't think Benner quit on his own. He wouldn't be swearing and throwing things if he just "decided" to take down his corrals.
9:23 PM, none of this makes any sense. There are no corrals up anywhere. Benner can't shoot deer if there are no corrals. Feller told me that there MAY be up to eight corrals. If he is waiting for PA One Call, he should still have the corrals up until he gets approval for the new locations. Benner went as high as six corrals/traps. Time is not on his side. Is this what he meant by "the minimum level of effort?"
Elaine
Don't be certain he is gone until an announcement is made.
This could just as easily be a ruse.
None of the official parties have been forthcoming, so I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw Brumfield
9:29 it's sudden introduction of lots of corn late in the winter that can kill deer. Their digestive system is tuned for woody browse, corn can overwhelm the balance before it can readjust. That's another one of the reasons Benner's plan was so messed up.
9:29 Corn kills deer LATE WINTER when they haven't been exposed to it all winter. Freakin' look it up doubter or talk to a veterinarian scientist -- a REAL ONE. Or are you using your skills as a gastroenterologist on deer?
How could Benner upgrade to higher caliber ammunition w/o requesting approval from the PGC and the Mt. Lebanon Commission. That's a significant change in the contract.
Elaine, There are some photos of what corn toxicity looks like in deer via this webpage, but don't post them if you want to avoid readers loosing their appetites.
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12150_12220-26508--,00.html
Much has been said why no attorneys in Mt. Lebanon have not filed any lawsuits/or injunctions to stop this debacle. I speculate some of the reasons might be: a). It needs to be a class action suit. 2). It costs money out of their pockets and not financially feasible. 3). They live here, and don't want a backlash against their law firm or property.4). There's not enough $$$ involved to make it worth rheir time. 5). Most importantly, when people are completely incompetent, unethical, and corrupt, they don't need anymore rope to hang themselves. Sometimes, nature will take its's course and the corruption will eventually take it's course and come to light. Keeping that in mind, I applaud Elaine and everyone in the community who have done their best to oppose the slaughter of the deer!
9:36 Benner is going to get the "we need to talk" call. Only question now is when.
Benner had a flawed program from the start. The Game Commission bending under pressure to satisfy the Mt Lebanon meatheads failed big even allowing the attempt. The Game Commission failed to determine the actual deer numbers involved. They failed to use the 2014 study and subtract the deer incident report deaths. They failed to realize that there isn't even 150 deer in Mt Lebanon to cull.
I learned a few things from all this : 1. deer will not go into fences covered in plastic they can not see through. 2. I can keep deer out of sight in my yard for long periods of time. 3. People do stupid things.
9:49 Friends of the Commission get to do exactly what they want, where they want, and how they want. They only time they don't is when citizens RAISE HELL, get involved, right letters, read laws, and cause an epic fuss.
We should be paid just to live here.
I want my tax money back, Bendel.
Capeesh?
9:49. The way I read it, it's higher velocity, not larger caliber (faster, not bigger)
9:50 Some of these attorneys charge $500/hour unless they think they are going to win you big time money and they will take a cut.
They also don't want to win you big time money from their own community.
We just need this evil administration to be fire or resign.
Feller? Do you hear that? You are genuinely evil.
If they were putting clover traps on private property in residents back yards, and shooting them with rifles, wouldn't this have to be approved at a Commission meeting? And wouldn't Feller have to notify all the Commissioners inc. Kelly Fraasch. I'm sure he tries to keep info from Commissioner Fraasch, but couldn't he be fired if he did? Shouldn't the public be notified too. I know that I don't want to have a deer trapped and shot, i.e. lethal weapons used next to my home, w/o my knowledge.
Why would someone in Mt Lebanon keep using information from Michigan to determine if corn would kill a Mt Lebanon deer? Two totally different habitats. I will continue to use my 30 years of observation and interaction with local deer herds to conclude deer love a good corn dinner. "Deerdra" a 20 year old deer who spent her entire life in the woodlot behind my house ate hundreds of dollars worth of corn, birdseed and 12% horse feed. She died fat and happy!
Just a no message bump for the evil garden harpies who started this mess that are lurking.
You too Merlin :p
Keep in mind any brief filed by an attorney costs $5,000. Any lawsuits filed against the Muni and Benner comes out of the taxpayer's pockets!
10:11 the PGC themselves put out warnings on introducing high corn diets late in winter to deer adjusted to browse.
If you are feeding them corn year-round, they are used to it.
If they have no corn in their diet and are suddenly gorging on it, acidosis and death can result. Here or in Meeeechigan or anywhere.
10:11 Here ya go:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=1725748&mode=2
If the Commissioners decide to stiff Benner on the deer he did kill, wonder if Benner would pony up for a lawyer or just go home licking his wounds. Seriously, what are the odds of him prevailing in a local court?
Not that the commissioners would pull such a stunt in order to save face. Still...
I have found deer will quit eating the corn here soon. They also will not jump right into another feed type such as the 12% protein horse feed. It does take time for their systems to adjust. I feed deer, squirrels, turkeys and anything else that shows up all year round. Deer go through other stress periods during the year such as dry summer periods. I also provide water year round.
The Game Commission provides information against feeding game animals simply because there are people who think nothing of baiting and shooting deer over corn piles. They do well busting baiters which is easier if everybody isn't feeding animals.
You see a bait pile with a treestand near it in the fall notify the Game Commission.
Amen on notifying them of anyone hunting over bait.
Critters for the most part are pretty cool. Except rats. I wouldn't feed Marty either.
"We realize this does look bad" - Benner on the number of shots it took for him to kill 3 deer.
http://triblive.com/news/editorspicks/8009224-74/deer-lebanon-ammunition#axzz3UtLbKar4
A Georgia State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator providing her input on Mt Lebanon's deer cull:
http://www.thealmanac.net/article/20150319/OPINION02/150319932
I used to enjoy feeding the birds, but in each location it was only a matter of time until I saw rats indulging at the feeders. Each time I immediately quit feeding birds.
My neighbor on Jefferson had 18 rats removed from the walls in her house. The overgrowth of invasive species in our parks create havens for the proliferation of the rat population here.
Why the hell don't our commissioners address the invasive species in our parks since rats are a larger threat all the way around then deer? How many resident have spent their own money on addressing rats on their property?
Hey Commissioners, you are stupid and out of touch with reality. Duh!
3AM and we're up!
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2015/03/20/Milder-weather-working-against-deer-cull-effort-in-Mt-Lebanon/stories/201503200223
:)
"Benner believes there may have been a problem with how the ammunition was manufactured. He said he could not recall the name of the manufacturer."
HorseHockey.
Only a low-rent BS artist would pull such a lame excuse out of his hindquarters, then "forget" what ammo it was.
Merlin, you read these posts, and right here, right now I am calling you a prevaricator of monumental proportions.
No "expert" worth his salt *forgets* what ammunition he is using. Ammunition is ESSENTIAL to doing a job with a firearm. If you don’t know what the hell you are shooting, you are a hazard.
You are a fraud. Get the heck out of our county.
According to today's PG article, the corrals are done, wont work. Sharpshooting or nothing. Benner, maybe set up 4 of those clover traps outside the Connission chambers on your way back to the sticks. I'll personally pay you $500 for each commissioner you catch. Do us all a favor and drop them off in a field somewhere.
Oh 6:30, that is so funny. If we only could, I'd chip in too. Unfortunately, there is only one way to get rid of these fools and that requires people to get active, to pay attention and to vote.
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2015/03/20/Milder-weather-working-against-deer-cull-effort-in-Mt-Lebanon/stories/201503200223
Ah duh, warming weather arriving in Pittsburgh in March and blaming the failure on that rather than on not knowing how many deer there were and not predicting the public's sentiment toward the plan.
It was a stupid plan, badly managed from the gitgo and now Benner, but especially the commissioners are trying to save face.
This was such a train wreck that Benner couldn't even figure out what bullets to use. That has nothing to do with weather or the anti-cull sentiment.
I feel sorry for a businessman that loses money (he did make $12,000 advising the commissioners to do it though), but the failure and the waste of money lies directly at the feet of the commissioners!
You know who pushed the hardest for this debacle don't you commissioners?
You screwed up, royally! Like you screwed up on the pool, the turf, the Twin Hills/McNeilly purchases, caving on the HS renovation, the parking violations and last but not least the garbage collection.
You wasted countless police time, intimidated and spoke ill of your constituents and ruined Mt. Lebanon's reputation.
Man up, tell the truth and admit you F'ed Up! Then start fixing the problems that led us into this mess.
http://triblive.com/news/editorspicks/8009224-74/deer-lebanon-ammunition
Benner's excuses aren't flying.
Don't blame the weather Benner. It was actually colder with more snow cover than average.
Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you. You got bit real bad!
People, some who never hunted a day in their lives, told you that you wouldn't reach you goal.
http://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Pennsylvania/Places/pittsburgh-temperatures-by-month-average.php
From the Trib article, the "expert" (Merlin) said he was led to believe the particular ammo would be the best solution. Led to believe? That's the expert? Has he never used that type of ammo to kill deer? He should not only have experience with that type of ammo, but also a preferred brand that has proven to be effective. Expert!? Ha. Also, if you're going to blame the ammo, name the manufacturer. He probably doesn't want to do it, because the manufacturer will catch wind of it and dispute his claims with evidence. The "expert" and his crew probably missed their targeted area of the deer and should have known of the difficulty of shooting panicked deer in a corral.
6:30 Have them take the big complainers and pro cull people too. They have no compassion.
What did they tell us he has never done this type of kill but was willing to give it try.. We were a petri for this guy's startup deer kills business.. ok ok 11 days and i guess if he drives around in his pickup and shoots deer like the Isis from the truck maybe he could reach his goal of 150..
But Damnt,, who's to blame but our Commission who instead of waiting until next fall,, they hastily chose this guy and his unproven method of deer slaughter.. Thankyou Mrs. Logan for the image of a 3 deer being shot 11 times...
It's gonna be a looooooooooong drive back to Wellsboro.
In the PG article this morning "Milder Weather Working Against Deer Cull Effort in Mt. Lebanon", paragraph 11 states, "The plan as of Thursday was to continue through March 31. That deadline was established by municipal commissioners; the Game Commission permit authorizes culling activities to continue through Sept. 31. Mr. Benner said he’d consider continuing the cull if he was allowed to use sharpshooting, which he and the Game Commission had originally recommended as the best way to quickly remove the deer." They would have to renegotiate the contract, as in Requests for Proposals document, mtlebanon.org/documentcenter/view/10721, Page 3, Section IV, Term of Contract, third sentence states, "The contract will not be extended past March 31st 2015."
“We realize this does look bad,” said J. Merlin Benner, president of Tioga County-based Wildlife Specialists LLC, the company Mt. Lebanon commissioners hired to run the program." - from the Trib regarding his ammunition
Hey Merlin, this fiasco looked bad from the start!
AnonymousMarch 8, 2015 at 12:51 PM
Shooting begins Monday...
that means Benner's two guys will have to kill, gut, load, clean up the site and transport to a processor an average of 6.52 deer every night for 23 days straight to fulfill the 150 deer killed goal.
i don't think it's physically possible under the cover of darkness."
Hate to say I told you so, Merlin.
I wonder if the commissioners will give us a precise percentage on the reduction in traffic accidents this cull achieved?
It has to be as good as the number of additional game slots we achieved putting artificial turf.
Is there a big demand for culling hogs in Pennsylvania? Wonder what Benner is going to do with those corrals?
Hope not try to convince another PA community to try culling deer this way.
The corrals may be needed for giant rats if someone doesn't clean up all the corn he left all over the place.
Will the commissioners deduct the clean-up costs from his $3K fee?
I was traveling on Washington Road last evening about 8pm & a piebald deer crossed Washington Road from the Main Entrance area and ran into the top of Bird Park. This is the first time I've ever seen a piebald deer. It was just beautiful - I'm so glad I got to see it - although it almost hit our car. Some hunters consider them a bad omen. Has anyone else seen this deer?
Is't this priceless?
Hayes from the PG reports the cull failed due to the warm weather this morning and what is it doing outside... SNOWING!
You crack me up Mr. Hayes.
9:23 the piebald deer is said to be a sign of change
"Game Commission biologist and deer expert Jeannine Fleegle, who observed the culling, said Wildlife Specialists “followed the conditions of the permit to the letter,” and that deer appeared calm and “waiting” in the corral after the gate was closed."
I don't believe this statement at all. All evidence suggests otherwise. All other videos of deer caught in clover traps etc. show deer bouncing off the walls. Even the video of this corral show the wild pigs bouncing off the walls. In addition, it wouldn't have taken 11 shots to kill 3 deer in the corral with head/brain shots if they were calmly waiting in the corral. The .223 55 gr ammo is the standard ammo used by deer killing contractors. 11 shots to kill 3 deer!!! That tells me that the deer were bouncing off the walls and that Bender's shooters were shooting them anywhere to take them down, and only got brain shots after they wounded enough times to take them to the ground, and then they shot them in the head at close range likely while in the corral. I and others posted this concern a number of times when the corral procedure was explained, and we were right. It wasn't deficient ammo, it was a misguided and inhumane killing program.
We need to get video evidence of this killing program to see the reaction of the deer when the gate shut, and the slaughter of 3 deer with 11 shots. We need evidence for the public and independent third party humane experts and veterinarians to review.
How do we get this video evidence?
With the expense of paying his crew and the bad press I would think Benner should be thinking about headin back home. What he failed to understand that this isn't Clearfield or Clarion county. To a lot of the residents of these affluent communities Deer are more than target practice..
"The operator of Mt. Lebanon's controversial deer culling program cut short the first night after contractors needed 11 direct shots to the head to kill three deer at close range, according to information released Thursday by Mt. Lebanon officials."
This is a bald face lie. There is no way that it would take 11 direct shots to the head to kill three deer. These were not head shots. The deer had to be bouncing off the walls and the 11 shots were body shots to take the deer down, and then brain shot were given at close range. This was an all out shoot fest slaughter as we all predicted when the misguided program was presented.
Again, we need video evidence of this "11 direct shots to the head" to be believed. We need and demand evidence
"Benner said other contractors have used subsonic ammunition in similar settings without problems. ... “We were led to believe that would be the best solution, but it wasn't effective enough. So we switched,” he said."
Benner, i.e. Wildlife Specialists LLC, had no friggin experience bait and shoot killing deer. NO FRIGGIN EXPERIENCE!!! Mt. Lebanon paid him 12,000 as an "EXPERT" to recommend a solution, and awarded him the contract. NO EXPERIENCE!!! And the Commissioners allowed him to bring lethal weapons into our densely populated and developed community to shoot high powered rifles with NO EXPERIENCE!!!! Benner was led to believe!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!!
I wonder who authored the spin in Hayes' article... Ms. Morgans, the commissioners or Mr. Hayes himself?
He wrote: "With just six deer killed since the first shots were fired in the Mt. Lebanon deer cull, the program will not reach commissioners’ goal of significantly reducing the whitetail population by March 31, according to the contractor hired to kill the deer."
Significantly reducing the whitetail population? Hell culling six deer is like spitting in the ocean.
If Hayes were a real reporter and the PG were a real paper they'd be asking for an accounting of what travesty cost us.
Start with the $12,000 paid to the consultant for sending the commissioners down this road. Then total up the countless paid hours put in by the corn police guarding protest and commission meetings and harassing MTL citizens.
Then add in the paid hours municipal staff put into meetings, paperwork, writing PR spin stories that could've gone toasted more productive goals.
Then evaluate the hit the communities reputation took. What harm did all the negative press do to our home values? And don't tell me it is the anti-cullers fault, they wouldn't have been there if the plan made sense.
How many potential homebuyers have crossed Lebo off their list as a place to raise their families.
Mr. Hayes, the cull had a significant impact unfortunately it had nothing to do with deer!
"Mr. Benner said he’d consider continuing the cull if he was allowed to use sharpshooting, which he and the Game Commission had originally recommended as the best way to quickly remove the deer."
RIGHT!!! The gang that couldn't shoot straight at close range, and who has no experience - Let's allow them to shoot deer from a distance. Sounds like a great plan to me
"The contractor decided the special ammunition used in the cull was not working and switched to more powerful ammunition when the program resumed a few nights later."
And they switched to more powerful ammunition w/o getting a special permit addendum approval, or approval from the Commission? Who gave him approval to switch to more powerful and dangerous ammunition? I didn't see any requests and approval given? And which ammo did he switch to? Or did he forget that too. It seems like Benner might be suffering from dementia or selective amnesia. We need to get authorization and who approved this switch of ammunition, and to what ammunition.
Anyone call Morgans asking for the weekly update? It's supposed to be March 20th.
:)
Why didn't the RTK that the newspaper was granted include info about the food banks that received the deer meat?
Where is evidence of the donated meat?
Stay alert, you can bet that Ms. Linfante isn't going to let this go. She's like a dog on a bone when it comes to deer. Something no one ever mentioned when they referred to the deer incident reports.Deer need to eat about 5 to 8lbs. of food/day. That is a lot of buds, leaves and flowers which requires them to range quite bit.
So more than likely a number of these reports are reports for the same deer moving from location to location.
It doesn't necessarily mean each incident is a new and separate deer.
The only way to realistic reduce accidentsand incidents is to institute a comprehensive control plan with surrounding communities along with enforced feeding bans, smart landscaping and attentive driving in my opinion.
You can be sure they'll be inflating the reports once again to justify bringing in sharpshooters.
As a golfer, I am very happy that the pen is gone from the golf course.
Ms Linfante is out of her friggin' mind. Definitey has priorities screwed up. Ms Linfante, how is that painted basement? Have you sought much needed psychological help?
When I emailed Kristen Linfante today about the 11 shots to kill 3 deer, and some of this being outside of the allowed time window and outside of the hunting season, and how we are the joke of the Pittsburgh media...when I asked for the commission to make a statement today and shut the program down...she said..
"You might just get your wish. I would not be opposed to stopping it now. I was skeptical all along.
Kristen Linfante -
Commissioner, Ward 3"
https://m.facebook.com/fakelebo/photos/a.349319009928.151980.302688029928/10153150455509929/?type=1&source=48&refid=17&_ft_&__tn__=E
There has to be some sort of award for well done satire. FakeLebo deserves a lifetime achievement award.
11:34 AM, Kristen is such a bullshitter. We asked her to stop it and we have video asking her to stop and she wouldn't.
I'm going to be on KDKA Radio at 1:05 PM. She seems to think I like all the attention, but I really don't. I just want my life back.
Elaine
that cray b*^ch voted for it, now she wants to be on the other side of the coin. Screw her, I can send you emails she responded to, justifing the debacle!
I hope the voters in her and the gang of five wards remember this, the turf, the high school and the disaster that is Robb Hollow Park.
Skeptical all along, Kristen?! But you voted for it anyway, which is why we'd all like you and your buddies, Bendel and Brumfield to step down.
Skeptical, hey it's only taxpayers money, what f*k do I care, right Kristen?
I guess we do have to give Silverman some sort of credit for pushing for $500/deer bounty otherwise we'd be out $75,000 for six lousy deer.
Lay off the lawyers, huh? First, the person who writes about class actions is plain wrong. Second, for the past month, Mt. Lebo lawyers have worked the back channel and caused the delays to Mr. Benner's deer kill. Foolish lawyers run to the court house. The law and the facts here did not warrant the issuance of injunctive relief. A few Mt. Lebo lawyers now have target signs on their foreheads for working against the kill. The commissioners know those lawyers worked tirelessly to help bring this slaughter to an end.
12:54 I will not criticize anyone that worked on this anti-cull project. However, no single person is responsible for helping to ensure this wasn't effective or didn't go down without serious protest. This was a TEAM, COMMUNITY VICTORY. Thank you, GOOD people, thank you. Also, don't worry about being targeted by the Commission; they don't have good aim either.
12:54, targets on foreheads.
Hope the people that constantly berate anonymous commenters can grasp what you're saying.
Linfante managed this episode the same way she managed the San Jose Symphony! Why is this shitbird still around???
12:54. THANK YOU and a big THANK YOU to everyone who contributed in their own ways.
The commissioners opened Pandora's box this time, and they may expect new and interesting challenges to their reign of oppression! Best part is, THEY HAVE NO IDEA how many people they deal with were working on this. NO IDEA.
:-)
Thank you. Well said. Heartbreaking.
http://www.wildlife-specialists.com/merlin-benner---president.html
Merlin Benner worked for Penna Game Commission. So they are going to say he was doing a good job.
Five dollars says that Kristen returns now, rested and refreshed after her "medical" break from this train wreck she started and just in time to push for the next debacle! I pray that her three co-conspirators on the Commission have learned something from the nightmare we have all just lived through--and that they develop some sorely-needed backbones to stand up to her brand of evil. I also hope they learn to stand up to the whiney gardeners in their wards. But, mostly, I hope they think really hard about the issue of the public trust and that they stop worrying about their sorry political behinds. After this horror in our community, they don't even deserve to have political behinds!
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