only in canada check this crap out
02-19-2003, 03:51 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: rr 1 port hope ontario canada
Posts: 47
only in canada check this crap out
Ontario' s Cavalier Wild Turkey Program Challenged
The Peaceful Parks Coalition has asked for a Full Environmental Assessment of the Ontario government' s program to introduce wild turkeys well outside of their historical range. Wild turkeys are a prized game bird for sport hunters.
This program is sweeping across the province and is moving forward with little or no public notification. Introductions are scheduled as far north as Sault Ste Marie.
Extirpated in the early 1900s because of over hunting and loss of habitat, the Ontario government began re-introducing wild turkeys back into their home range of southern Ontario in 1984. The program has been very successful and there are now over 30,000 wild turkeys in Ontario. The first priority of the program was to bring back an extirpated native species for the sake of biodiversity. But since then that aim has been corroded to promote a hunting agenda.
Our concerns are:
Since wild turkeys did not evolve with the local plants and animals outside of their historical range, forced introductions into these ecoregions is in fact introducing a non-native species.
Wild turkeys are large birds adding further pressures on local food sources. They are opportunistic feeders and could out compete other wildlife for food and habitat. In order for these birds to find their own niche, other wildlife would be displaced. This could contribute to the local extinction of another species.
Species often move into new ecoregions as climate and biodiversity permit. It is a natural process. However facilitating this process through forced introductions is not a natural process, and therefore could have unforeseen ecological consequences.
The government claims northern regions are now suitable to sustain wild turkey populations because of landscape conversion attributed to deforestation, agricultural and climate change. However there is great concern globally regarding the rapid shift in landscape ecology caused by human development. Landscape conversion is associated with the loss of biodiversity because it is a simplification of native ecosystems. It is not the government' s role to contribute to the further decline of biodiversity and impede future restoration efforts.
In 1999 the Ontario government initiated an experimental release of wild turkeys in the Sudbury region to test their survival in marginal habitat. Many of the wild turkeys released became emaciated from the lack of winter food sources and deep snow and died. The mortality rate of transmitted birds was 92% -100%.
The final report concluded that populations of wild turkeys are not likely to persist at this latitude without rigorous winter habitat improvement. Supplemental feeding may be the only means of maintaining viable turkey numbers throughout very severe winters.
According to government data, local hunting groups are engaging in landscape manipulation by planting trees and shrubs likely to produce food for wild turkeys. This could result in a southern landscape being re-created in northern regions.
It has been suggested controlling predators to encourage the propagation of wild turkeys. This can easily happen without government approval or public notification because in Ontario predators have zero protection. There are currently no limits as to how many wolves, coyotes, raccoons or foxes one can kill.
" This program is cavalier at best, and a big waste of taxpayer' s money. Wild turkeys are already colonizing their native home range in southern Ontario. The government should just leave these birds alone and let them settle and adapt, and find their own northern limit - naturally," says AnnaMaria Valastro of the Peaceful Parks Coalition
The Peaceful Parks Coalition has asked for a Full Environmental Assessment of the Ontario government' s program to introduce wild turkeys well outside of their historical range. Wild turkeys are a prized game bird for sport hunters.
This program is sweeping across the province and is moving forward with little or no public notification. Introductions are scheduled as far north as Sault Ste Marie.
Extirpated in the early 1900s because of over hunting and loss of habitat, the Ontario government began re-introducing wild turkeys back into their home range of southern Ontario in 1984. The program has been very successful and there are now over 30,000 wild turkeys in Ontario. The first priority of the program was to bring back an extirpated native species for the sake of biodiversity. But since then that aim has been corroded to promote a hunting agenda.
Our concerns are:
Since wild turkeys did not evolve with the local plants and animals outside of their historical range, forced introductions into these ecoregions is in fact introducing a non-native species.
Wild turkeys are large birds adding further pressures on local food sources. They are opportunistic feeders and could out compete other wildlife for food and habitat. In order for these birds to find their own niche, other wildlife would be displaced. This could contribute to the local extinction of another species.
Species often move into new ecoregions as climate and biodiversity permit. It is a natural process. However facilitating this process through forced introductions is not a natural process, and therefore could have unforeseen ecological consequences.
The government claims northern regions are now suitable to sustain wild turkey populations because of landscape conversion attributed to deforestation, agricultural and climate change. However there is great concern globally regarding the rapid shift in landscape ecology caused by human development. Landscape conversion is associated with the loss of biodiversity because it is a simplification of native ecosystems. It is not the government' s role to contribute to the further decline of biodiversity and impede future restoration efforts.
In 1999 the Ontario government initiated an experimental release of wild turkeys in the Sudbury region to test their survival in marginal habitat. Many of the wild turkeys released became emaciated from the lack of winter food sources and deep snow and died. The mortality rate of transmitted birds was 92% -100%.
The final report concluded that populations of wild turkeys are not likely to persist at this latitude without rigorous winter habitat improvement. Supplemental feeding may be the only means of maintaining viable turkey numbers throughout very severe winters.
According to government data, local hunting groups are engaging in landscape manipulation by planting trees and shrubs likely to produce food for wild turkeys. This could result in a southern landscape being re-created in northern regions.
It has been suggested controlling predators to encourage the propagation of wild turkeys. This can easily happen without government approval or public notification because in Ontario predators have zero protection. There are currently no limits as to how many wolves, coyotes, raccoons or foxes one can kill.
" This program is cavalier at best, and a big waste of taxpayer' s money. Wild turkeys are already colonizing their native home range in southern Ontario. The government should just leave these birds alone and let them settle and adapt, and find their own northern limit - naturally," says AnnaMaria Valastro of the Peaceful Parks Coalition
02-19-2003, 04:57 PM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Scarborough Ontario Canada
Posts: 71
RE: only in canada check this crap out
I think we have bigger problems such as a federal gun registry projected to hit the one billion dollar mark and has not (and probably never will) worked from day 1. You want to talk about a waste of money? Although countless of nature enthusiasts get to enjoy the view of a gobbler back in Ontario, it is the hunters in this province that buy licences and gear that spurt a micro economy which ensures peoples jobs. It is the hunters conservation efforts and money that will ensure a long and prosperous future for this magnificent reintoduced native bird for future generations to enjoy. I' m sorry but politicians count votes and follow the money trail. Like it or not, thats how things work.
02-20-2003, 08:11 AM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Calif
Posts: 1,894
RE: only in canada check this crap out
WANWTF,is right on the money here!!Bottomline is this is absolutely another display of power and iggnorance of those that probably no nothing more about wildlife and wildlife management than what they read in books and magazines!!Our trap and transplant program by far was one of the most successful programs working for the continued enhancment of wild turkey populations here in Calif!!The same exact ammendment was brought forth by these group of do-gooders and is still causing us to spend thousands of dollars to hire biologists and what not to develop enviromental impact reports, and so far after a year and a half study on the impact turkeys have on the plant and animal species here in Calif has proved absolutely negative that they cause certain plant and animal life to become extinct!!Our t&s(trap&transfer)has been put on hold since this issue has come about and until the air clears it wont start up again!!This year because of the finalizing of the impact reports it looks as if the transplants will begin again!!But I' m sure they will find some other issue to bitch about!This is exactly why it is important that we all get behind organizations like the NWTF!!If it wasn' t for there organizing things like these superfund banquets funds would not have been available to afford the cost of these impact reports as well as the money they spend to help in tranplanting birds!!Dont fool youself in thinking this could never happen in my state because these people are everywhere and well funded at that!!Give em hell BT,and all you turkey hunters up Canada way!![:@]
