Public Hearing was conducted
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2009 - 1:00pm
Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and
Agriculture
Excellent turnout at the state house. Thanks to everyone
who testified and voiced their promotion of this bill.
Location: Massachusetts State House in Boston, Room B - 1
For Directions, click [HERE]
This public hearing was for house and
senate Bills related to trapping and wildlife management. This hearing
included HB 736 "Safeguarding our Natural Resources".
Key Points to emphasize at the hearing, in emails
or letters:
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Current law is too
restrictive and is not allowing for the proper proactive management of
furbearers that include beaver, muskrat, raccoon and coyote
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Current law has failed
to properly protect people and wildlife and has caused tremendous damage to
both
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Division of Fish &
Wildlife is the appropriate authority to regulate nationally tested and
approved devices such as the 'Quick Kill' style device and the padded
foothold device
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The 'quick kill' style or "rotating
jaw" device is being used across the state now in "emergency permit only"
situations and should be available for use during the normal regulated
trapping season
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Devices and methods that would be employed by passing HB
736 have the welfare of the animal as a top priority
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The DFW needs authority to provide these tested and
approved devices for use during the regulated season
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As the current law is written today, it could be
considered anti-environment, anti-conservation and anti-wildlife management
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To write, email or call the Senators or Representatives click
[HERE]
Here is a sample letter:
Committee on Environment, Natural
Resources and Agriculture House of Representatives, Room 473F
State House
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Chairman Straus, Vice Chairman Guyer and House
Committee members,
Thank you for this
opportunity to provide written testimony in regards to HB 736 “Safeguarding our
Natural Resources”. I am unable to
attend the public hearing on Tuesday June 23, 2009 due to prior business
obligations.
The key point that I would
like to convey revolves around the issue that wildlife management is and should
be a state maintained activity, where our managers have the authority to
regulate and allow for use the best, most effective and tested devices available
today.
The proper state
management of furbearer wildlife must take into account and include both
proactive lethal and non-lethal means.
As we have seen over the past 13 years, attempting to “manage” beavers
using only non-lethal approaches is ineffective and actually counter productive
to the goal of obtaining balance in our ecosystems.
A reasonable approach that includes both
proactive lethal and non-lethal
methods is not only effective and selective – it has the welfare of the animal
as top priority.
Chapter 131, Section 80a
is currently written in such a way it restricts proactive management of certain
furbearer wildlife species such as beaver, muskrat, coyote, fox, and raccoon to
a point where it actually works against producing healthier wild populations.
The current law has accelerated negative ecological impacts in some
areas, produced severe health and safety concerns and damaged the publics’
perception of our beautiful natural resources, reducing them to that of a pest
that floods our septic system or chases down our beloved pet.
Please take this unique
opportunity before to today to act.
Allow HB 736 to move forward, knowing that you are supported by literally
thousands of career wildlife professionals and people who all truly care about
the environment, natural resources, wildlife and our continued positive interact
with it.
Respectfully,
Herb Bergquist
Committee for Responsible Wildlife
Management - President
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