So much for fiscal responsibility: federal lawmakers push to increase budget of widlife-killing agency
Posted November 2, 2011 in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
We've written a lot about Wildlife Services, a little know agency within the federal Department of Agriculture that spends tens of millions of dollars a year killing wildlife such as mountain lions, bears, wolves, and coyotes in the name of "livestock protection" at taxpayer expense. Their favored methods include gunning down animals from helicopters, trapping, and poisons.
-thumb-225x155-4416.jpg "Wildlife Services coyote control (USDA)")
These practices are often unnecessary, environmentally destructive, and poorly studied. So back when folks were concerned about cutting federal spending (remember those days?) I hoped that Wildlife Services would have their money trimmed or redirected to more socially useful activities, such as dealing with invasive species. There was even a bi-partisan amendment introduced to the Department of Agriculture appropriations bill that would have cut the agency's budget. Alas, that bill went down to defeat.
But I am, quite frankly, flabbergasted that now it appears the livestock industry is pushing for an increase to Wildlife Service's budget, an increase they hope will be spent to subsidize the killing of even more coyotes, wolves, and mountain lio
ns, across the American landscape. The sad thing is, it looks like they may get it, to the tune of $4 million dollars.
I can think of few worse places to be spending federal dollars. But that's some people in Congress for you these days: they want to cut money to protect your health and safety and spend it to subsidize the killing of wildlife.
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Comments
Judi Dowlearn Alef — Nov 2 2011 07:55 PM
First off: The mere fact that We The People would allow the alteration of an ecosystem by killing native species for the sake of table meat is obscene. Second: Most of the land the livestock are grazing on is OURS, federal land that stock raisers use at little to no cost to themselves. Cut this one out of the budget NOW. Use some Common Sense!
Abbi — Nov 2 2011 07:59 PM
How can I help?
Andrew Wetzler — Nov 2 2011 08:50 PM
Hi Abbi, thanks for asking. If you are a U.S. voter you can take action here: https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2185&JServSessionIdr004=6tqcdg3r31.app306a
AUSTIN CARRING — Nov 2 2011 09:20 PM
It never ceases to amaze how big opinions are touted with little to back them up. First-human expansion and loss of habitat are two primary reasons the imbalance of nature exists- managed reduction of wild life is critical to maintain whatever habitat can support. Why is no one ever up in arms at developers who put up mini mall after mini mall- destroying the ecological balance of a million strip malls? Is that because it's then more convenient to purchase the meats, produce and dairy items we all love? I'm so tired of farmer bashing-it's never a good idea to "bite the hand that feeds you"but it seems a favorite pass time for folks after an evening meal-courtesy of US farmers. In NJ farmers suffer heavy losses due to wildlife-crops that go directly into the human food supply and crops that are used to feed livestock. The reason? There are dense overpopulation of certain species-and severe loss of habitat. Yet, there are those who say population management is wrong. To those folks (knowing you're really kind hearted individuals) Have you ever seen a herd of deer starving or suffering with wasting disease? Are you prepared to witness Mother Nature's remedy for reducing populations? It's far less "humane" than thinning a herd. The reality is that "relocation" of animals is not an effective means of population control and further-human intervention is essential in keeping the balance we've destroyed through our ever increasing expansions. As long as there are no shortages of "table meats" -people will continue to banter about this subject-but I suspect that if we found ourselves without the abundance of food produced by US farmers and ranchers one day-we'd be hearing a different tune. Think about it.
Conner — Nov 2 2011 09:59 PM
Austin,
There is a reason you'll see a overpopulation of deer, which can lead to starvation among other things. Its exactly because we're removing their natural predators, as this article notes.
There are multiple ways to prevent predation of your animals without killing. Loss of farm animals isn't even primarily due to predation. Its baseless that the US needs to spend this money to kill these animals.
Carissa Sommers — Nov 2 2011 11:15 PM
How can i help this organization?