Bad NY legislation Pending and RGS sues USFS

[mike rossi]

1) A NY bill in both chambers relating to feral cats is pending.

The New York State Legislature is currently considering the fate of Assembly Bill 2728 and  Senate Bill 01081  that, if enacted, would authorize the systematic abandonment of feral cats through the program known as Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR). As written,legalizes the release of feral cats into the environment and uses public money to fund the program. This bill threatens wildlife and undermines public health.
An abundance of scientific studies have shown that TNR does not effectively reduce feral cat populations, facilitates the predation of wildlife by non-native cats, and raises considerable human health risks. Here are a few facts.
Outdoor cats kill an estimated 2.4 billion birds and 12.3 billion mammals in the United States every year. Unfortunately, feeding cats does not suppress their instinctive predatory drive.
Cats have been the number-one carrier of rabies among domestic animals since 1992.
Cats are the only definitive host of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which causes toxoplasmosis in humans and other warm-blooded species when ingested or inhaled. Toxoplasmosis has been linked to schizophrenia and can lead to miscarriages, memory loss, and death.

Please take a moment to contact Assembly Members to let them know that you support responsible cat management and to VOTE NO on Assembly Bill 2778 and Senate Bill 01081!

 

Here are the actual bills:

 

http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=S01081&term=2015&Summary=Y&Text=Y

Bills

http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=S01081&term=2015&Summary=Y&Text=Y

 

2) The Ruffed grouse Society has filed a legal challenge to compel the Forest Service to follow the law.

 

http://ruffedgrousesociety.org/USFS%20petition#.VVG6R_lVikp

 

Coraopolis, PA – The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) has filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) due to the agency’s consistent failure to provide the young forest habitats required by the ruffed grouse, American woodcock, golden-winged warbler and other game and nongame wildlife on national forests throughout the eastern United States.

“The failure of national forests in Regions 8 and 9 to meet even their own minimum goals for young forest habitats has contributed to substantial declines in the populations of game and nongame wildlife that depend upon these habitats.” said RGS President and CEO John Eichinger. According to Ryan Woody, an attorney representing RGS on the Petition from the firm of Matthiesen, Wickert and Lehrer, S.C., “The failure of the U.S. Forest Service to sustain young forest habitats sufficient to support viable populations of ruffed grouse and other wildlife that require these habitats on the Chattahoochee (GA), Hoosier (IN) and Sumter (SC) National Forests is a clear violation of regulations promulgated under the National Forest Management Act.”

On other national forests in the east, wildlife populations that thrive only in young forests continue to decline. For example, the Wayne National Forest in Ohio has established only 2 percent of the young forest acreage identified as a minimum goal in its forest plan. The Jefferson National Forest in Virginia has established only 12 percent of the young forest acreage identified as a minimum goal, while the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee has established only 13 percent.

“From the heart of ruffed grouse country in the Great Lakes region, to the historic covers of New England and the hills of the Appalachians, ruffed grouse and other wildlife of young forests have been poorly served by the Forest Service. RGS takes this step reluctantly, but has little alternative due to the Forest Service’s lack of response to our repeated efforts to work collaboratively,” continued Eichinger. “These deficiencies indicate a systemic problem that demands the attention of our most senior officials within the Forest Service.”

Established in 1961, The Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society is North America’s foremost conservation organization dedicated to preserving our sporting traditions by creating healthy forest habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and other wildlife.  RGS/AWS works with landowners and government agencies to develop critical habitat utilizing scientific management practices.

Information on RGS/AWS, its mission, management projects and membership can be found at: www.ruffedgrousesociety.org.

Media Contact:

Matt Soberg
RGS/AWS Editor & Director of Communications
(218) 232-6227
[email protected]

[b3h]

Add the Shawnee nf in Illinois which has abandoned wildlife openings for years. There are others that should be listed also. Every NP in the country is being mismanaged by the FS and BLM.

Ol dog on a stray