Wildlife management facts
It is unfortunate the York Daily Record fell into the easy trap of pulling on heartstrings instead of dealing with the hard facts of wildlife management in its June 12 issue.
Each year, hundreds of well-meaning individuals unnecessarily take wildlife out of the wild and "kill them with kindness." Indeed, fawns employ what is called the "hider strategy," whereby the doe leaves its fawn alone for much of the day, and the fawn evades predators by curling into a ball. The fawn, which is scentless, remains motionless and only moves when the doe returns to nurse it. When humans assume that it is abandoned or orphaned and remove these fawns from the wild, they are not showing kindness - despite their best intentions - and are, in fact, separating the two.
To comment on this letter, click on "Comments" below
The York Daily Record should have seized this opportunity to explain and inform its readers about the harsh facts of nature. Fawns - abandoned or orphaned - play an important part in nature, which includes predators and scavengers that maintain the balance in the "survival of the fittest." Imposing human traits and parental instincts on wildlife is off the mark.
Also buried in the article was the fact that removing wildlife from the wild is a violation of state law, and transporting wildlife across state lines is a state and federal offense. The reasons such actions are violations are rooted in protecting wildlife, as well as preventing the possible spread of diseases and parasites from wildlife to wildlife and to humans.
Chronic wasting disease has been found only 26 miles from Pennsylvania's borders, and the Game Commission in concert with other agencies is diligently working to prevent this disease from wreaking havoc with our wild deer herd. Unregulated movement of deer is one of the greatest risk factors in spreading the disease.
Lastly, I said to the reporter that our officers do not take lightly the requirement they put down a fawn. It is a regrettable act they must carry out in order to protect wildlife at the population level by sacrificing the individual animal.
In closing, I would urge the Hanover Evening Sun to assist the Game
Commission by publishing its annual plea for Pennsylvanian's to leave wildlife in the wild, outlined in Release #037-08. It can be found in the "News Release" section on our website (www.pgc.state.pa.us).
Jerry Feaser
Press Secretary
Pennsylvania Game Commission
