Tuesday, December 21st, 2004
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Lynnwood WA, 98046
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Pheasants
On December 17, 2004 the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced it has to euthanize 2,200 adult pheasants at its Centralia Game Farm. Apparently, the birds have become infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum, an untreatable bacterial disease that affects the respiratory system and reproductive capabilities, as well as impacting weight gain. The disease can be passed to young in the egg stage.
This unfortunate outbreak highlights four main concerns that animal lovers, environmentalists, taxpayers and yes, even hunters, need to be aware of:
- Concerns of cruelty to animals
- Waste of taxpayer dollars
- Introduction of non-native species
- Moral and legal issues surrounding 'unsportsmanlike' hunting
Who's Paying the Price? As stated in the WDFW web site, one of the main goals of the Western Washington Pheasant Release Program is to become financially self-sustaining. There are currently around 6,500 participants who pay around $220,000 to participate in the hunt. Operation costs for the game farm are quoted as $290,000. These simple numbers identify a $70,000 deficit for the operation of the game farm itself. Who ends up paying for the deficit- the taxpayers of Washington? If the deficit quoted only covers the operation of the game farm itself, what are the other costs related to management, transportation, etc.? Why does an inhumane program that does not help our native species and habitats cater to less than .001 percent of the population- 6,500 out of an estimated 4,775,000?
Introduction of Non-Native Species: The wet, chilly climate of Western Washington limits naturally sustained pheasant populations. The birds being introduced into our wild spaces are non-native imports originating in Asia. Their introduction into our ecosystem brings serious potential consequences to native species already on the decline due to habitat loss, disease and lack of food. Scientists are becoming more concerned with the dwindling natural resources available to current native species, including those that are endangered, and the introduction of a cage-raised, possibly diseased, non-native species can only cause more damage. In Illinois, the Department of Conservation has reported the parasitism of prairie chicken nests and the displacement of male prairie chickens by male pheasants. This is a concern because the prairie chicken is a state-listed endangered species in Illinois. Does the state of Washington face a similar environmental impact?
Creating an "Unsportsmanlike" Atmosphere: Because of the way the Washington pheasant program is carried out, it in many ways reeks of canned hunting. Although the animals are not confined they are released at the same sites from one year to the next. This allows hunters to gather at the release sites to shoot down birds as they are released in large batches. Hunters, state wildlife managers and animal advocates alike have referred to the pheasant program as creating unethical and unsafe hunting. Jim Tabor, a WDFW biologist was quoted in the Tri-City Herald (http://archive.tri-cityherald.com/SPORTS/outdoors/hoop/hoop78.html) saying "what we would like to see are hunts that are more realistic. We don't want people standing in the parking lots shooting birds the second we release them from the crates. We'd like to stop these unethical hunting situations." Reportedly, several state officials have been pelted with shot by overzealous gunmen trying to shoot the birds moments after their release. The WDFW web site provides an outline of 'courtesy rules' for these hunts that includes tips on such as "Racing out ahead of other hunters to beat them to the birds is unethical and dangerous." If you have to point out how not to get shot during a pheasant release, then it is obviously not a situation that can be considered safe, ethical or humane in any manner.
Please contact your elected representatives (links at left) and let them know that the entirety of this program is unethical, inhumane and dangerous. It is a waste of money, it promotes the systematic abuse of animals, it puts native species at risk and endangers those who take part in it. Our state's money needs to be invested in progressive social campaigns that serve all of us, not .001 percent of us! Let's start the New Year out by demanding immediate change and the end of the Washington Pheasant Release Program.
WDFW Western Washington Pheasant Release Program Information: www.wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/wwapheas.htm
All rights reserved. ©2004 Progressive Animal Welfare Society
