Future of Pete the Moose unclear
The Vermont House Fish and Wildlife Committee voted 7-2 Thursday to require an Irasburg game-hunting park to eliminate within five years all the wild white-tailed deer and moose mixed in with its imported elk. The park is home to Pete the Moose, who could possibly die of natural causes before the deadline or be moved to another location.
....
Last year’s measure essentially gave Nelson ownership of wild deer and moose, and he planned to sell the right to hunt the trophy animals.Uproar ensued. Vermont sportsmen argued that the 2010 law violated the longstanding legal tradition that wild animals are held in trust by the government for all the people of the state. They urged lawmakers to re-establish that principle. They also want the whitetails and moose killed for fear they could spread disease if they escape.
“The most important element in the bill is that it affirms that wildlife is owned by all Vermonters, not just one person,” Berry said. [Commissioner of VT Fish and Wildlife Dept Pat Berry]
Lewis, one of those who voted no on the bill, agreed.
“They belong to the people of Vermont,” he said. Nelson is one of Lewis’ constituents.
read full article
From the AP:
Vt. House panel works on wildlife bill
NECN
Now the House Fish and Wildlife Committee is drafting a bill that would reverse that action and clarify that Vermont's wild animals are a public trust owned by all residents of the state. But the panel is still debating a provision that would have the ...
See all stories on this topic »
From the letters to the editor at the BFP
ReplyDeleteLetter: Wildlife belongs to all Vermonters
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Like many others, I have been following the story about the publicly owned wildlife being held on Mr. Doug Nelson's hunting ranch ("Will Shumlin also pardon Pete the Moose's pals?," Feb. 11). As a hunter I don't believe he has the right to profit/own these animals. Because they can't be released back into the wild herd, I think a compromise is in order. Mr. Nelson should have to let a certain number of Vermont hunters be allowed to hunt these animals at no charge other than the cost of the state hunting license. I do not feel that any exception should be given to Mr. Nelson to "own" these wild animals. As for Pete the moose, since he is partially tame I would like to see him relocated to a wildlife sanctuary.
KEVIN NILSEN
Fletcher