"Good morning. My name is Kim Van Fleet. I am an Important Bird Area Coordinator
with Audubon Pennsylvania, the state office of the National Audubon Society. As you probably
know, Audubon has enjoyed a productive relationship with Game Commission staff since we
established the IBA program as the first of its kind in the nation over ten years ago. To date, the
Ornithological Technical Committee has recognized 85 Important Bird Areas in Pennsylvania,
and Audubon staff are actively working to promote local efforts at many of the locations to
monitor and protect these areas. I regularly work with Commission staff to achieve our mutual
goals of bird and habitat conservation.
On behalf of our 30,000 statewide members, I am here today to ask for your support of
science-based management of white-tailed deer and the eradication of feral swine.
Audubon has welcomed the Game Commission’s efforts to help reduce the impacts of
historically overabundant white-tailed deer across the Commonwealth. We applaud the
Commission for moving in the direction of a more science-based deer management program
focused on indicators of both forest and deer health, and we are appreciative of your commitment
to putting the long-term interests of forested ecosystems and wildlife at the forefront of your
decision-making. You have stood up for Pennsylvania’s wildlife and habitat resources, and we
are grateful."
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Nope. Sorry. But I dont see the disappointment of their dream being shattered there either.
On a happy note though, Pa "the first". Gee imagine that. What an honor. Whatever are the other states waiting for??