Search the Community

Fish and wildlife agencies nationwide are under increasing pressure to respond to calls and situations related to problems with wildlife. Yet many agencies receive no funding for these activities--it simply constitutes an added-on, unfunded responsibility. Furthermore, there are varied opinions and divergence in public opinion, and even among agency personnel, regarding common dilemmas related to wildlife problems, funding, and public expectations. What level of involvement should fish and wildlife agencies have in managing nuisance wildlife? Dennis Hamilton, Creative Commons License A scientific survey conducted for the Northeast Wildlife Damage Management Research and Outreach Cooperative (hereinafter referred to as the Cooperative) helps wildlife professionals better understand public attitudes toward and expectations regarding management of problems caused by wildlife in the Northeast United States. The ultimate goal of this project is to help state fish and wildlife agencies develop sustainable nuisance wildlife management strategies and viable solutions--in short, to help ensure that agencies are allocating their limited resources and funding based on the priorities and programs that best meet the needs of their constituents. The Cooperative was established in 1999 as a partnership between state and federal wildlife agencies and universities in the Northeast, including Cornell University and Penn State. The Cooperative consists of, and the survey was conducted in, 13 Northeastern states. For this study, Responsive Management obtained a total of 3,962 completed interviews overall. The states surveyed, with the number of completed interviews, are Connecticut (307), Delaware (302), Maine (300), Maryland (300), Massachusetts (303), New Hampshire (308), New Jersey (302), New York (311), Pennsylvania (302), Rhode Island (305), Vermont (320), Virginia (301), and West Virginia (301). The study entailed a scientific telephone survey of residents of those 13 Northeastern states (random digit dialing sampling with supplemental cellular telephone numbers in representative proportions). The study culminated in a full report with state-level data. Two versions of the final results are available: • a complete pdf newsletter summarizing the results and highlighting important findings • the full report of the study, which includes state level findings, can be accessed on our website here Responsive Management is an internationally recognized public opinion and attitude survey research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues. Our mission is to help natural resource and outdoor recreation agencies and organizations better understand and work with their constituents, customers, and the public. For more information about Responsive Management, visit www.responsivemanagement.com. READ ON: http://www.responsivemanagement.com/download/newsletters/RM_NE_Nuisance_Newsletter_2013.pdf http://www.responsivemanagement.com/download/reports/NE_Nuisance_Wildlife_Report.pdf

Staten Island Turkeys Will be Culled Despite Delay, Officials Say By Nicholas Rizzi on August 22, 2013 12:28pm | Updated on August 22, 2013 12:28pm@nickr15 twitterfacebookgooglepinterestredditstumbleuponemailshare Slideshow Staten Island Turkey Cull Will Continue OCEAN BREEZE — Despite facing building pressure to scrap a turkey cull on Staten Island, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it hasn't turned chicken. A round-the-clock guard of protectors watching the birds at South Beach Psychiatric Center reported USDA officials hadn't hauled away any birds since Aug. 13. But a department spokeswoman said they still planned to send surviving turkeys to the slaughterhouse. “The (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) permits allow for all to be removed, which would require several visits over some time,” said spokeswoman Carol Bannerman. “Biologists and specialists have been working on other projects and haven’t been to Staten Island this week.” Bannerman said the USDA hasn't scheduled when workers will start to round up the rest of the turkeys. The USDA started to round up the nearly 80 turkeys that live on the grounds of the psychiatric center and sending them to the slaughter house earlier this month. Workers had complained the birds were aggressive to staff, patients and visitors. They also said turkey feces were scattered around the grounds and traffic problems were caused by the fowl crossing Seaview Avenue. Nearly 50 people took to the grounds last week to protest the cull and an online petition to save the turkeys garnered nearly 6,000 signatures. Residents also started a 24-hour watch to keep an eye on the birds. “We’re just trying to keep this from happening,” Elisa DiSimone, an environmentalist who helped organize the watch, told DNAinfo.com New York. “We're really trying save this piece of Staten Island history.” DiSimone said they had three animal sanctuaries willing to take in the remaining turkeys that haven't been sent to the slaughterhouse yet. Because the flock contains hybrid turkeys — domestic turkeys which bred with wild turkeys — the state's Department of Environmental Conservation ruled that they could not be relocated. The DEC did not respond to request for comment.