Pheasants Forever’s Post

Backstory: In the late summer of 2023, 4 scrappy and fiercely determined citizens came together to establish The Tega Cay Wildlife Conservation Society with the mission to give voice to the voiceless in Tega Cay South Carolina. 🦆🌳🐝🌸🦊 Over these last few years, the city made decisions to remove all the coyotes in Tega Cay along side approving large scale clear cutting projects to make room for development. With no predators (except humans) and loss of habitat, our deer numbers have BLOOMED! ⏫While MOST residents enjoy the deer ALL agree that reducing the herd needs to be done to maintain a healthy herd. 🦌🦌🦌Estimates are about 1000 deer on our 3 mile peninsula! Culling-an annual killing program that includes spending nearly $65,000 of taxpayer's funds to bring in an active sharpshooter to remove 80 deer. Despite the fact that we typically see over 200 new fawns in the spring and now have a city torn apart (Spoiler Alert 🚨) the leaders of Tega Cay have chosen to move forward with killing deer in the next few weeks.🩸 Sadly, this waste of time, money, and energy to bring a sharpshooter into residential neighborhoods is the story of too many cities. It is a short-sighted fix to "look like" something is being done to manage the deer ❌ Unsurprisingly, our city is even MORE on fire 🔥 and it is a dark mark that reflects poorly on the respect for life and kindness our community states they value and stand for❌ Bottomline: 📣We can NOT kill our way out of this. There is another option. PZP (also known as ZonaStat-D) is a protein-based dart-delivered birth control that breaks the cycle of reproduction. When very few fawns are born, the herd size stabilizes and attrition reduces the herd naturally. Typically, herd sized experience around 50% less deer in 5 years!!!🎯 Moving Forward: Once the Tega Cay Wildlife Conservation Society learned about the option for a non-lethal, affordable, and sustainable option we have been on a tireless mission to bring the #science of PZP developed by the The Humane Society of the United States to the deer of Tega Cay South Carolina. ✅Our first win was bringing all the passionate leaders to the table to establish our #nonprofitorganization. Starting with Ruthie Smith, Mary Ickert, Stephanie Kessl, Alicia Formato, RVT, and Maureen Norcutt. Knowing sustainable change needs to be backed by smart #policy. We immediately began by building #relationships with each of our city councilmen and SCDNR. We diligently continued to #research our next steps while expanding our #collaborations to include experts in the #wildlife and deer fertility circles. ✅Our next win was facilitated by John Griffin who helped us gain approval for ZonaStat-D in the state of South Carolina! We now have a long-term solution and ability to begin darting deer in Tega Cay! Though there is more work to be done-we are optimistic that in 2024 we will reduce the herd with PZP! Support us by following, donating, and sharing our story!

ANNUAL REPORT: PHEASANTS FOREVER DELIVERS RECORD ACRES IN FISCAL YEAR 2023 THE MISSION IS FOREVER Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are proud to announce the organization’s 2023 Annual Report, highlighted by a record-setting 2.5 million acres of wildlife habitat conservation delivery over the past year. The new mission benchmark was made possible by a strong network of local chapters, partners, and team members helping complete 5,195 habitat projects and working with more than 37,000 landowners to meet their voluntary wildlife objectives.   “Habitat, heritage, and harmony are the themes of this year’s Annual Report,” stated Marilyn Vetter, president and CEO of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “Habitat is our mission, we foster outdoor heritage through this critical work, and we continually strive for harmony – a balanced landscape for wildlife, landowners, hunters, and Mother Nature. We delivered in spades on these themes throughout 2023.”   The Habitat Organization and its passionate community of volunteers and partners generated critical dollars for upland wildlife conservation over the past year – more than $114 million, with $97.6 million going directly to the nonprofit’s mission. This equates to one of the highest efficiency ratings of America’s conservation groups at an impressive 89 percent. Read the full report at https://lnkd.in/gRYv4cCY w/ Quail Forever & Marilyn Vetter

#poison #wildlifepoison #wolves #eagles #coyotes #cougars #humanvillainy #anthropocentrism #hubris #stewardship #service #life #love #reverenceforlife #loveofJesus My dear friends, the infliction of human villainy (yes, I know, that is the consummate tautology) on God’s creation is wrought in a myriad of ways. When it comes to depredation, our imagination and ingenuity are unbounded, clearly unbounded by any sense of decency, mercy, or compassion. The item infra points up two examples of our treachery, one somewhat isolated and cretinous yet in any event lethal. The other equally mindless, bur pervasive in its application and thereby far more insidious. First the lesser of the two evils. In the US state of Oregon several animals were found poisoned. Apparently, they dined on an infected carcass, strategically planted to lure the animals to the toxic feed. Ostensibly the carcass was so contaminated in an effort to kill the wolves, undoubtedly because of their perceived threat to livestock. The heinous logic of mankind’s comportment is palpable and nearly unbearable. In order to protect animals whom, as a result of our cupidity, we breed, restrain, confine, torture, slaughter, and finally butcher for our bloated bellies, we inflict untold misery and death on other creatures who might deprive us of our ROI, property, or appetitive pleasure. Despicable enough, I grant you. But far more malevolent is the behavior set forth towards the conclusion. “Wolves living west of Highway 395 are listed on the federal Endangered Species Act and are protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, while wolves east of Highway 395 are federally delisted and managed under the Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. The dead wolves were found east of Highway 395, meaning they were protected by state law.” My God, the construction of a human highway, itself a ribbon of carnage for wildlife, is utilized to demarcate the care and protection to be accorded to one of God’s creatures. Cross that manmade frontier, and your "management" plan and accountable Homo sapiens entity magically and inexplicably metamorphose. My dear friends, as regards our treatment of God’s creation, our treachery and inadequacy are as limpid and unambiguous as they can be. First is the wholly indefensible notion that an artificial landmark should serve to denote accountability for beings residing on one side or the other. Worse is the concept of management of God’s creatures, of the fallacious, hubristic, and lethal concept that mankind may govern and dictate the actualities of other denizens of our shared home. Humans forget our own animalistic makeup and promote ourselves to deity status, imbued and emboldened by that self-bestowed promotion with the right to act as overlord to the rest of nature. That is the most unforgivable offense of all. Let us seek to serve nature, to serve life, regardless of the side of road it inhabits. Cum meo maximo amore.

PRESS RELEASE: DWR AWARDS MORE THAN $150K IN GRANTS AND LAUNCHES ENHANCED PARTNERSHIPS WITH FOUR ORGANIZATIONS RICHMOND, VA — The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) in partnership with the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia (WFV) announce an exceptional year for supporting our outdoor recreation and conservation partners. This year the Virginia Wildlife Grant Program (VWGP) received a record breaking 178 grant applications. The VWGP not only funded 10 organizations that had never received a grant before, but also entered into multi-year partnerships with four additional organizations. Close to 60% of all grant applicants were new to the program which reinforces the need that exists throughout the Commonwealth to connect residents to the outdoors. The VWGP is a joint effort of DWR and WFV. It provides funding to organizations with a common mission of connecting people to the outdoors and supports activities such as archery, boating/paddling, fishing, hunting/recreational shooting, and wildlife viewing. The grant prioritizes programs that are aligned with DWR’s R3 Plan as well as the Inclusive Excellence Plan. During the 2024 grant period, a total of $150,000 was awarded to the following 10 recipients. 🏆Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society 🏆Bat Conservation and Rescue of Virginia 🏆Boys Home of Virginia 🏆Ferrum College (Outdoor Adventures) 🏆Henrico County Recreation and Parks 🏆Reel Connections for Kids 🏆Skyline Middle School 🏆Tidewater Council, Boy Scouts of America 🏆UVA Recreation (UVA Outdoor Adventure) 🏆Valor Ranch In addition to the 10 organizations that received grants, four became Better Together Partners. These partners have received grants multiple times and each time exceeded program expectations. The Better Together Partnership is a new collaboration where DWR and the aligned organizations will develop opportunities for storytelling, engaging new audiences, and promoting conservation through outdoor recreation over a multi-year period. This program will allow these organization to continue to expand their outreach efforts and better plan for future projects. 🏅Backwoods Warriors 🏅Beyond Boundaries RVA 🏅James River Women 🏅Shenandoah Reel Woman Check out the full release at https://lnkd.in/ePiGfXPJ. #TheOutdoorsAreBettertogether #grantrecipients #partnership 📸= DWR

Zimbabwe defends elephant cull as easing drought pressure Zimbabwe's wildlife body has defended its decision to cull 200 elephants, citing overwhelming evidence of overpopulation and devastating drought effects on the country's wildlife. This measure aims to maintain a healthy and sustainable elephant population, ensure the well-being of other species, and safeguard human livelihoods. It will be Zimbabwe's first elephant cull since 1988 and is set to occur in the Chiredzi, Hwange, Mbire and Tsholotsho districts. The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) says the cull was necessary as the country was struggling to cope with an overpopulation of elephants along with a withering drought that has left thousands facing food shortages. Tinashe Farawo, spokesperson for the ZimParks, confirmed that the plans are moving forward. "We have already identified the areas where this process will take place, and what we are simply doing now is to operationalize the process," Farawo Said. The nation is grappling with one of its worst droughts in years, driven by the El Niño weather phenomenon. The drought is expected to leave 7.6 million people at risk of hunger in the coming months, according to the World Food Programme. The growing human need for resources has escalated tensions between Zimbabwe's burgeoning elephant population and its fragile ecosystems. "If you look at our ecosystem, what it can support, and what we have on the ground, it doesn't match," Farawo said. Zimbabwe is home to around 84,000 elephants, far exceeding the 55,000 Farawo said the country can sustainably support. While animal rights groups have been vocal in their opposition to the cull, Farawo argues that 200 elephants are a minimal target given the scale of the issue. "200 out of a population of 84,000 is a drop in the ocean. If it were up to me, we'd do more." Elephant populations have risen in recent years, as have human-wildlife conflicts. In 2023, elephant attacks claimed the lives of 60 people in Zimbabwe. Overpopulation is also having a damaging effect on other wildlife, with vultures being particularly vulnerable as elephant

The importance of interconnected habitat cannot be overstated. While our urban landscapes present complex challenges with property rights and connectivity, the work we’re doing with the CLAW is an inspiring start to conserving and sustaining both human and non-human relationships with our living environment.

STATE LEVEL ADVOCACY A KEY MISSION FOR PHEASANTS FOREVER AND QUAIL FOREVER By Jim Inglis, PF & QF Government Affairs, Retired   Mark Twain said, “There are two things nobody should ever have to watch being made, sausage and laws.” With all due respect to the beloved Twain’s statement, while the science of law-making may be messy and chaotic, it’s imperative that organizations like Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever take a meaningful part in the process.  The Habitat Organization has always been at the forefront of creating and defending sound wildlife and conservation policy. We’ve had many wins along the way, and are not afraid to jump into a fight to push back on policies that would harm wildlife and hunting heritage. Unfortunately, we’ve seen a number of new approaches in government lately that could limit the tools we have available to further our conservation mission. No where is that more true than on the state level, which has a major hand in shaping conservation policy. With the 2024 state legislative sessions mostly wrapped up for the year, below we’ll highlight state-level policies we’ve recently engaged in, and outline the defensive and offensive approaches we need to be prepared for each in years to come. Read the full story at https://lnkd.in/g4DpT4qa

US Wildlife Officials to Cull 450,000 Barred Owls: A Controversial Plan to Save Spotted Owls The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently announced a controversial plan to cull nearly 450,000 barred owls over the next 30 years. This decision, aimed at saving the endangered spotted owl, has sparked heated debate among conservationists, wildlife advocates, and the general public. Barred owls, originally from the eastern United States, have displaced native spotted owls from their habitats in the Pacific Northwest. The population of spotted owls has plummeted, with some regions experiencing a decline of over 75%. The USFWS believes that without intervention, the spotted owl could face extinction in significant portions of its range. The culling plan involves sending trained shooters into dense forests to target barred owls, using recorded owl calls to lure them, and then eliminating them. This method, tested on a smaller scale since 2009, proposes the removal of up to 450,000 barred owls over 30 years. Reactions to the plan are mixed, with some conservation groups supporting it as necessary to save the spotted owl, while animal welfare advocates and public officials express concerns about its feasibility and ethical implications. As this debate continues, it highlights the complexities and ethical dilemmas in wildlife management. The outcome of this contentious plan will set a significant precedent in conservation policy, shaping future strategies for managing invasive species and protecting endangered wildlife. Dive deeper into the details and implications of this plan in our blog post here. https://lnkd.in/e3atQyDR #Conservation #WildlifeManagement #SpottedOwl #BarredOwl #USFWS #EnvironmentalPolicy

#owls #slaughter #redux #butchery #killing #cull #cultureofdeath #perfidy #accountability--not #life #love #reverenceforlife #loveofJesus HUMAN PERFIDY REDUX: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a final proposal to kill around 450,000 invasive barred owls in the Northwest, in an attempt to save two native species. BUT HUMANS FACILITATED THEIR ARRIVAL AND EXACERBATED THE SITUATION FOR ALL: In the early 20th century, these owls started moving west of the Mississippi River following "human-induced changes" to the Great Plains and northern boreal forest, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Both native species have also been impacted by extreme logging activity over the last few decades, which has majorly reduced their range, according to California's Santa Clara University. AH, BUT ALL IS WELL... The cull will only be carried out by licensed hunters, and members of the public will not be permitted to shoot barred owls. The FWS report also notes that lead ammunition will not be used in the cull because of its impact on the environment. [Ed. comment--no doubt the owls will be grateful for these conditions of their injury, impairment and slaughter.] WE MUST COUNTER AND ELIMINATE THE CULTURE OF DEATH: There is but one path forward to salvation, ours and that of all other denizens of our shared home; namely, the acceptance and adoption of a reverence for life as our ethos. This is the ethos imposing upon mankind a sacred duty to serve as stewards of nature, of life, of all God's creatures, not their executioner. Rather than naively, injuriously and lethally playing God, let us assist and enhance His creation through works of beneficence to assist life. That is the impact we should impose on the environment. That is bestowing the love of Jesus universally. That is a reverence for life!

We’ve got the latest news and updates about wildlife conservation across the globe in one spot for you. Take a look at this month’s Frontline Dispatches to stay informed 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/eC3S_QsX #ConservationFirst #Wildlife #WildlifeNews #ConservationNews