Trap and Bolt anyone?

From the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon website:

FINAL SHARPSHOOTING REPORT 2019 Deer Management Program 


Tony DeNicola killed 44 deer this year for $59,605 or $1,354.66 per deer. Twenty-eight deer (64%) were "harvested" from private properties while 16 (36%) were "removed" from the four public properties available.

The original plan:

In 2014 in the interest of public safety, Mt. Lebanon’s elected officials set a goal of reducing the deer/vehicular crashes by 50 percent over five years. http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/15824/final-Deer-FAQ-January-2018?bidId=

Do the math, Folks.
Deer Pick-up/Vehicle Data

The spin this past year, according to Sharpshooting 2019 FAQ:  In the interest of public safety, Mt. Lebanon’s elected officials implemented a comprehensive deer management plan with the goal of reducing the number of deer/vehicular crashes.

They forgot to include "a goal of reducing the deer/vehicular crashes by 50 percent over five years."

We just completed season six and there is no end in sight. DeNicola now wants to kill deer in Williamsburg Park. He is suggesting trap and bolt but it sounds so much better when he calls it "non-traditional lethal management activities in very tightly developed areas (i.e., capture and euthanize)."

DeNicola is claiming four years, but we have actually had SIX killing seasons of high powered weapons in Mt. Lebanon. Don't forget Merlin the Magnificent who got in so much trouble when he used the trap and bolt method.

We're talking "scary deer." Not alligators, Commissioners.

THREE Deer died last night UPDATED

I don't know how many yet. Three deer were killed early this morning. I am sick over this.

Deer killed in Mt. Lebanon cull, contractor says

“Deer were killed and delivered safely to the processor,” J. Merlin Benner of Tioga County-based Wildlife Specialists LLC said in an email, declinging [sic] to provide more details.

We need to find out who the processor is. Feller said that Benner is not required to say until the culling is over. 

At the high school this morning, someone released crickets inside the school. Pretty symbolic and creative, guys!!!

500 crickets loose near the 5th floor domino lockers

Update March 11, 2015 10:45 AM Don't bother writing to Governor Wolf. All letters are being forwarded to the PA Game Commission. Yes, we are living in hell.

Update March 11, 2015 10:53 AM Wait. What? Merlin Benner is using aerial thermo-imaging survey today to locate the killed deer?

Contractor reports first kill in Mt. Lebanon deer cull

Update March 11, 2015 5:46 PM Amended Game Commission Permit listing the five who may conduct field work. Thank you, Nick Meduho for requesting the amended permit last night.

Update March 11, 2015 6:57 PM Essential Pittsburgh: A Controversial Approach to Deer Control in Mt. Lebanon

Update March 11, 2015 7:04 PM The Almanac | Disgusted with Mt. Lebanon commissioners

Update March 11, 2015 8:17 PM Citizen Comments on youtube. Mt. Lebanon deer culling comments 3-10-15

Update March 11, 2015 8:27 PM Very disturbing comment submitted concerning the amended Game Commission permit:

I would like to reference condition six of the revised Game Commission Permit amendment approval 03/09/15. “Listed sub-permittees, acting under contract with the township may remove deer from the project area by capturing deer using baited clover traps and/or portable corral traps and subsequently shooting the deer. Listed sub-permittees may utilize SEMI AUTOMATIC RIFLES IN .223 CALIBER TO SHOOT THE DEER.  The lie the commissioners told the public was it was going to be a bolt action rifle.

No way you can kill six deer in a small pen with six bolt action shots; PERIOD!

The PGC authorized the use of MILITARY style assault weapons to cull the deer and the commissioners were OK with it.  THIS is complete BS!  I’m tired of the municipality trying to “sanitize” the slaughter. They are losing the PR war, we need to keep increasing the pressure!

Update March 11, 2015 8:37 PM

	WTAE-TV Pittsburgh (@WTAE)
3/11/15, 8:10 PM BREAKING NOW Suspicious Package Green Tree & Cochran Rd in Mt. Lebanon. The latest- Pittsburgh's Action News 4 at 11 pic.twitter.com/NC0SJbwvZy

They have a larger area blocked off now. It goes from about Taco Bell on Cochran all the way to Swallow Hill by Denny's. The Manor Oak Giant Eagle parking lot is closed off.

Update March 11, 2015 10:17 PM Officials: Despite protests, deer cull will continue

Update March 12, 2015 5:01 AM In response to Mt. Lebanon resident Marilyn Narey's criticism of  our online Stop the deer culling petition at the March 10, 2015 Commission meeting, I am sharing the link to our petition, once again, with all of the Mt. Lebanon residents reading this blog. Please take a moment and sign our Stop the deer culling petition.

Here's how Benner plans to kill the deer UPDATED

On page 3 of Mt. Lebanon's contract, Merlin Benner describes the procedure his company will be using to kill the deer. After the deer are "euthanized," the heads of the deer will be covered with plastic garbage bags to "minimize blood onsite."

On October 4, 2013, I shared a video with Lebo Citizens readers where plastic bags were used to suffocate deer. I never watched this video, and never will,  but here it is:

On Tuesday evening, the Commission will be discussing the potential locations of this horrible process during the Commission Discussion Session.

Please attend Tuesday's commission meeting and let the commissioners know during Citizen Comments if you feel this is wrong. The commission meeting starts at 8:00 PM in the Commission Chambers (the Municipal Building located on Washington Road across from Sesame Inn). 

Looking for talking points? 

• Tom Moertel has put together data of 75 weeks of car accidents and four years of deer incidents. How dangerous are deer? 
• Conflict of interest The deer expert billed Mt. Lebanon $12,000 for a deer management plan, was the sole bidder to his plan, and was awarded the contract to fulfill (execute?) his plan. 
• Close proximity to Hoover Elementary, Markham Elementary and homes. These parks are frequented by children, dog walkers, golfers, and adults who enjoy the outdoors.
• Lyme disease Mice, not deer, transmit Lyme Disease bacteria to ticks.
• Cruelty to animals and inhumane method used to kill the deer (See above for starters. More throughout this blog.)
• Why culls are expensive and haven't worked (Visit the deerfriendly.org page for examples.)
• How this is gaining statewide, national and international attention. We are an embarrassment to the world. Stop the deer culling! As of 7:52 AM, there are 2,533 supporters on the petition.
• The manipulation of data collected by the Mt. Lebanon Police with deer incidents vs. deer accidents, 2013 aerial survey counts vs. 2014 aerial survey counts, exaggerations of deer encounters by elected officials, and inaccurate Commission meeting minutes.
• Or just state your name, address, and why you are opposed to deer culling in Mt. Lebanon

Update February 7, 2015 6:39 PM I have been told that a  leaflet was dropped off to Mt. Lebanon businesses today. The Mount Lebanon Deer Killing Program

Update February 9, 2015 7:47 PM This was sent to me by a Lebo Citizens reader. Thanks, you know who you are!

Benner received $12,000 for services rendered

I filed a Right To Know on Monday, February 2, 2015 for "all invoices submitted by Merlin Benner/Wildlife Specialists LLC for services rendered to date."

Steve Feller granted my request in a timely manner. Thank you, Steve. Here is the email with the documents that were attached.

Ms. Gillen:

I received your February 2, 2015 right to know request for "all invoices submitted by Merlin Benner/Wildlife Specialists LLC for services rendered to date." There are two documents that are responsive to this request and they are attached.

Steve Feller
Municipal Manager

"When WE see the deer," Kristen? UPDATED

Mt. Lebanon Puts Plan In Place To Begin Culling Deer Population

“When we see the deer are in there, we send a text message back to the gate and it closes,” Linfante said. 

Since Pennsylvania doesn’t allow relocating the deer, a wildlife team will go to the corral at night and shoot the deer. 

“Because of the close range, it’s a very immediate result and there are very few risks or concerns involved,” Linfante says.

Update January 29, 2015 12:45 PM Wildlife Specialists, LLC proposal and signed agreement has been uploaded on to the municipal website. A link to the proposal and agreement has been added to this update.

Benner has never used corrals

Merlin Benner, paid deer consultant and hired deer killer, is a newbie when it comes to using corrals. That is what Matt Santoni uncovered in his investigative report, Mt. Lebanon awaits Pennsylvania Game Commission approval to corral, kill deer

Benner said this would be the first time the company has used corrals, though he said they're used in southern states to capture wild boars.

According to Santoni, the baiting starts tonight. Please read Matt's excellent article as he exposes the lunacy in our local government.

The deer expert will be awarded the contract!

Sigh. It is just getting worse and worse here. Remember Merlin Benner, the deer expert who was advising the commissioners with deer management plans? It turns out that he was the only one who submitted a proposal for trap and bolt.

In today's Administrative Report from Steve Feller to commission and staff:

Monday's Commission Agenda shows that Steve Silverman will be introducing:

6. Consideration of proposals to trap and euthanize white tailed deer within Mt. Lebanon. 

This contract is to provide white-tailed deer capture and euthanize services between February 1 and March 31, 2015, in public parks in Mt. Lebanon. The objective is to capture 150 deer using a baited corral trap system as an initial step to realize the goal to reduce deer/vehicle collisions in the community.

Recommended Action: Move to authorize the proper municipal officials to award a contract to Wildlife Specialists, LLC, for a total amount not to exceed $75,000.

Merlin the Magnificent knows that $68,000 was set aside this year for deer management along with $12,000 from last year totaling $80,000 for deer management. Benner also knows that $5,000 of that will be set aside for deer sterilization, which leaves a balance of $75,000. Guess who Wildlife Specialists, LLC is? Merlin Benner. Guess what his proposal was? You guessed it. Guess who told us initially that trap and bolt was illegal here and was inhumane? Yep.

This is the most despicable action to date by our commissioners. Does this remind anyone of the time that the Penn State turf expert hired to speak also had a partnership with an artificial turf company? Merlin Benner was paid for every time he spoke at commission meetings. Anyone want to file a Right To Know to find out how much Merlin Benner was paid for his advice? He was paid for his expertise.

There was an online petition that explains the heinous procedure of trap and bolt.
Cornell University: Stop trapping deer and shooting metal rods into their brains

Subjecting our children to toxic turf and now this, Commissioners, I hope fear you may burn in hell. In any event, you're going to have to answer to God someday.