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Old August 26th, 2008 #21
aherne
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I agree with environmentalists: there are way too many humans in this world. A 95% population decline would indeed be ideal, BUT when it comes to the kind of humans who must lead into the decline, it's always the Whites, not the real culprits (niggers, mestizos, muds).

As for wolves, they are apex predators that can easily kill humans (after all they regularily kill buffaloes). The fact this is extraordinarily uncommon proves there is little to fear of them if we're taking the necessary precautions: don't try to approach them, don't let yourself fooled by their dog appearance. Domesticated wolves (dogs) kill a LOT more humans, but noone would dare to call for puting down all dogs. In the end, an animal is an animal: choosing to live with it can be a risk. As long as wolves' habitat is separated from that of humans, there ought to be no problems at all!

Predators play an important part in the ecosystem because they eat grazers. When they are extinguished, pray animals multiply and due to excessive grazing, the habitat becomes barren and lifeless. This is what happened in Yellowstone before wolves were reintroduced: as a consequence of that, trees started to grow back again! In addition, predators are agents of a form of selection that helps grazers dispose of their genetic balast (weak, wounded, old animals are always sought after by the keen eye of the predator).
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Old September 1st, 2008 #22
diabloblanco92
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve B View Post
The Treadwell syndrome, itz. Maxist prop that says Grizzly bears and wolves are our friends. "Look, you can even pet them, watch!".....cue to photograph of park rangers standing over lib tard and girlfriends remains covered by bloody sheet.

I still have the link of Tim Treadwell's Month Pythonesque demise saved in my bookmarks because it is that freakin funny. Written, totally seriously, by Craig Medred, Anchorage Daily News. Comments in blue.





http://dwb.adn.com/front/story/4110831p-4127072c.html


"The fearless former drug addict from Malibu, Calif. -- who routinely eased up close to bears to chant "I love you'' in a high-pitched, sing-song voice "


Can you blame the poor bear? What would you do if some gay Hippy eased up close to you and chanted "I love you"?
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Last edited by diabloblanco92; September 1st, 2008 at 12:49 PM.
 
Old September 1st, 2008 #23
diabloblanco92
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Originally Posted by diabloblanco92 View Post
The fearless former drug addict from Malibu, Calif. -- who routinely eased up close to bears to chant "I love you'' in a high-pitched, sing-song voice


Can you blame the poor bear? What would you do if some gay Hippy eased up close to you and chanted "I love you"?

Im suprised the bear was not charged with a "hate crime"
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Old September 10th, 2008 #24
Antiochus Epiphanes
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wolves are smarter than niggers and ten times as dangerous because they can work effectively in groups. hence, I am against reintroducing them into areas where humans live. wolves that is. ha
 
Old September 11th, 2008 #25
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Default Wolf reintroductiom preferable to current coyote population

Wolves clean up the coyote problem and they do it quickly. Read about what happened in West Yellowstone.

Left-liberal Canadian wildlife biologist Farley Mowat's classic Never Cry Wolf should be read by all rather than watching the Hollywood movie.

Mowat's travels in Siberia, Sibir, is a thought-provoking book.

For those interested in studies, read The Wolves of Isle Royale.

Having lived in the Northwoods and raised livestock there where wolves routinely walked through my field, I'm not the slightest bit worried about them. Moose and grizzlies are a whole different threat however and I avoid them.
 
Old October 12th, 2009 #26
Alex Linder
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August 28, 2009 in Region
Wolves kill 120 sheep near Dillon, Mont.

DILLON, Mont. — Wolves killed 122 buck sheep in a pasture [holy fucking christ!] south of Dillon earlier this month, surpassing the number of sheep killed by wolves in the entire state in 2008, state wolf managers said.

The dead sheep were found on the Rebish/Konen Livestock Ranch on Aug. 16.

“This is one of the most significant losses that I’ve seen,” said Carolyn Sime, the statewide wolf coordinator for the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Wolves killed 111 sheep in Montana last year.

Suzanne Stone with Defenders of Wildlife, a group that supports the restoration of wolf populations, said this is the first time she’s heard of such a mass killing.

“I’ve heard of bears or mountain lions doing that, but what usually happens is the sheep panic and jump on top of one another or fall into a ditch and suffocate,” Stone said. “I’ve never heard of any situation where wolves killed so much livestock in a short period of time.”

Kathy Konen says the sheep were killed, but their carcasses were almost all intact.

Jon Konen said: “I had tears in my eyes, not only for myself but for what my stock had to go through. They were running, getting chewed on, bit and piled into a corner. They were bit on the neck, on the back, on the back of the hind leg. They’d cripple them, then rip their sides open.”

Federal trappers confirmed 82 bucks were killed by wolves while 40 carcasses were classified as probable kills, including some that had been eaten by bears.

In July, the Konens lost 26 sheep to wolves in the same pasture.

After that attack, FWP authorized federal trappers to remove three wolves that had been observed in the area.

Federal trappers shot two wolves, killing one and possibly mortally wounding the other, and were searching for a third. After the second attack, trappers shot an uncollared wolf in the Centennial pack, but declined the Konens’ request to kill two radio-collared adults and five pups born this spring.

“They’ve done enough damage to say that they need to be eliminated,” Kathy Konen said. “We have cows and sheep there right next to where the sheep were killed.”

State officials say the pups are too young to have been involved and too young to be left on their own.

Trappers are still looking for the third wolf they were authorized to kill after the July attack.

The Konens have applied to the Montana Livestock Loss Program to get reimbursement for the sheep. The program pays up to $350 for buck sheep and can reimburse more if a rancher can show the animals were worth more.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy has scheduled a hearing Monday in Missoula in a request by animal rights and wildlife groups to halt planned wolf hunts in Montana and Idaho while a lawsuit is pending seeking to restore federal protections for the wolves in those states.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/200...r-dillon-mont/
 
Old October 12th, 2009 #27
Alex Linder
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August 28, 2009 in Region
Wolves kill 120 sheep near Dillon, Mont.

DILLON, Mont. — Wolves killed 122 buck sheep in a pasture [holy fucking christ!] south of Dillon earlier this month, surpassing the number of sheep killed by wolves in the entire state in 2008, state wolf managers said.

The dead sheep were found on the Rebish/Konen Livestock Ranch on Aug. 16.

“This is one of the most significant losses that I’ve seen,” said Carolyn Sime, the statewide wolf coordinator for the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Wolves killed 111 sheep in Montana last year.

Suzanne Stone with Defenders of Wildlife, a group that supports the restoration of wolf populations, said this is the first time she’s heard of such a mass killing.

“I’ve heard of bears or mountain lions doing that, but what usually happens is the sheep panic and jump on top of one another or fall into a ditch and suffocate,” Stone said. “I’ve never heard of any situation where wolves killed so much livestock in a short period of time.”

Kathy Konen says the sheep were killed, but their carcasses were almost all intact.

Jon Konen said: “I had tears in my eyes, not only for myself but for what my stock had to go through. They were running, getting chewed on, bit and piled into a corner. They were bit on the neck, on the back, on the back of the hind leg. They’d cripple them, then rip their sides open.”

Federal trappers confirmed 82 bucks were killed by wolves while 40 carcasses were classified as probable kills, including some that had been eaten by bears.

In July, the Konens lost 26 sheep to wolves in the same pasture.

After that attack, FWP authorized federal trappers to remove three wolves that had been observed in the area.

Federal trappers shot two wolves, killing one and possibly mortally wounding the other, and were searching for a third. After the second attack, trappers shot an uncollared wolf in the Centennial pack, but declined the Konens’ request to kill two radio-collared adults and five pups born this spring.

“They’ve done enough damage to say that they need to be eliminated,” Kathy Konen said. “We have cows and sheep there right next to where the sheep were killed.”

State officials say the pups are too young to have been involved and too young to be left on their own.

Trappers are still looking for the third wolf they were authorized to kill after the July attack.

The Konens have applied to the Montana Livestock Loss Program to get reimbursement for the sheep. The program pays up to $350 for buck sheep and can reimburse more if a rancher can show the animals were worth more.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy has scheduled a hearing Monday in Missoula in a request by animal rights and wildlife groups to halt planned wolf hunts in Montana and Idaho while a lawsuit is pending seeking to restore federal protections for the wolves in those states.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/200...r-dillon-mont/
 
Old October 12th, 2009 #28
Art Cast
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Quote:
Suzanne Stone with Defenders of Wildlife, a group that supports the restoration of wolf populations, said this is the first time she’s heard of such a mass killing.

“I’ve heard of bears or mountain lions doing that, but what usually happens is the sheep panic and jump on top of one another or fall into a ditch and suffocate,” Stone said. “I’ve never heard of any situation where wolves killed so much livestock in a short period of time.”
Jesus H. fucking Christ,what a stunned cunt.Pretty much all predators get overcome with blood lust when confronted with easy prey.Any place I've ever been that had livestock always had a mass killing every once in a while (although 122 is pretty spectacular).Of course there's the proverbial fox in the hen house (I knew of a case where an entire chicken coop got cleaned out by weasels).
This doesn't just occur with domestic prey either.When the salmon are especially thick,I've seen seals and sea lions kill more than they take.I've seen killer whales kill more sea lions than they can eat (the most awesome spectacle of my entire life).Even a bear,stuffed with salmon,will occasionally swat the odd fish and idly watch its carcass float downstream.
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Old October 12th, 2009 #29
George Witzgall
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Originally Posted by reltih145 View Post
Jesus H. fucking Christ,what a stunned cunt.Pretty much all predators get overcome with blood lust when confronted with easy prey.Any place I've ever been that had livestock always had a mass killing every once in a while (although 122 is pretty spectacular).Of course there's the proverbial fox in the hen house (I knew of a case where an entire chicken coop got cleaned out by weasels).
This doesn't just occur with domestic prey either.When the salmon are especially thick,I've seen seals and sea lions kill more than they take.I've seen killer whales kill more sea lions than they can eat (the most awesome spectacle of my entire life).Even a bear,stuffed with salmon,will occasionally swat the odd fish and idly watch its carcass float downstream.
you still haven't got a new keyboard?
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Old October 12th, 2009 #30
Alex Linder
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Don't forget otters. They will clean out a stream or pond completely, just destroy all the game fish, and not for food, for fun. The Missouri Dept of Fucking up the Outdoors reintroduced otters and they went hog wild down in the Ozarks.
 
Old October 12th, 2009 #31
Art Cast
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Originally Posted by George Witzgall View Post
you still haven't got a new keyboard?
I have a new keyboard.Perhaps the problem is that I still have the same typing skills.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Linder View Post
Don't forget otters. They will clean out a stream or pond completely, just destroy all the game fish, and not for food, for fun. The Missouri Dept of Fucking up the Outdoors reintroduced otters and they went hog wild down in the Ozarks.
The trouble with otters is they like to high grade.They ignore the bullheads and other trash fish,while ripping the belly out of a salmon.
Speaking of otters and animal re-introductions we've had a massive population explosion of sea otters here lately.They've wiped out the crab population in several inlets along the B.C. coast.
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Old October 12th, 2009 #32
Mike in Denver
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reltih145 View Post
I have a new keyboard.Perhaps the problem is that I still have the same typing skills.


The trouble with otters is they like to high grade.They ignore the bullheads and other trash fish,while ripping the belly out of a salmon.
Speaking of otters and animal re-introductions we've had a massive population explosion of sea otters here lately.They've wiped out the crab population in several inlets along the B.C. coast.
I hate fucking otters, or better, I really hate the fucking idiots who pass nut-case laws protecting the damn water rats. When I lived near San Francisco in 1983, my wife and I would splurge on a restaurant meal of Abalone Dore. Abalone Dore is possibly the most delicious food on Earth. Abalone was plenty expensive, even then...I think in a seafood market it ran about $18 a pound. In a restaurant a meal of Abalone Dore with maybe 6 oz of Abalone ran $20 or more. Not too bad for something that good.

Then came the fucking otters. The waters near San Francisco, for some reason became over run with otters. The lunatics got all sorts of nut-case legislation passed to protect the damn things and their favorite food, Abalone, was put off limits for humans.

Here is the legislation now, all for the sake of otters:

"Sport harvesting of
Red_abalone Red_abalone
is permitted with a
California California
fishing license and an abalone stamp card. New in 2008, the abalone card also comes with a set of 24 tags. Legal-size abalone must be tagged immediately. Abalone may only be taken using breath-hold techniques or shorepicking; scuba diving for abalone is strictly prohibited. Taking of abalone is not permitted south of the mouth of the
San_Francisco_Bay San_Francisco_Bay
. There is a size minimum of seven inches (178 mm) measured across the shell and a quantity limit of three per day and 24 per year. A person may be in possession of only three abalone at any given time."

I don't even think Abalone is served in Restaurants now, and if it is, it ain't going for $18 a pound.

Fuck the otters, and fuck the idiots who protect otters and wolves, at the expense of humans.

Mike
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Old October 12th, 2009 #33
Alex Linder
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Missouri's Otter Disaster!

By Hank Reifeus, October 1999

Like a lot of us, Buford and Wilma Urban of Houston, Mo. worked hard to obtain their dream of a piece of Ozark land to retire. They found a beautiful spot on Arthur Creek; a tributary of the Big Piney. Buford fished in the creek. He also built a pond and stocked it with 800 catfish. Two years ago, river otters, stocked by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), moved up Arthur Creek and over the winter decimated the catfish in their pond. The otters also cleaned out the creek behind their house. I visited these people on an MDC sponsored fieldtrip and saw the pictures documenting the damage.

Three years ago Debo McKinney, a land owner and fisherman inTexas County, noticed a decline in the fishing quality in many of his favorite streams. He saw otters killing and eating fish. He also found large piles of scales from this activity. He has been fishing these streams all his life. He believes the decline in fishing quality is caused by the reintroduction of otters by the MDC.

These are not isolated incidents. Land owners and fishermen across the Ozarks are reporting fish losses due to otter predation. What's going on? The answer lies in irresponsible policy decisions and incompetent biological practices done by the MDC. These policies have threatened our Ozark fishing heritage in our streams and lakes.

This all began in 1982 when the MDC started a program of reintroducing river otters into the Ozarks. A total of 845 otters were released in 43 areas. Stocking ended in 1992. Since then, the otter population has exploded. A recent study done by the University of Missouri shows that by the spring of next year there will be 18,000 otters in our Ozark streams and the population will continue to grow rapidly and expand its range. This animal population has exploded because it was introduced into a totally unnatural habitat. The present Ozarks are nothing like the Ozarks of 100 years ago when these animals existed here naturally. Now there are thousands of fish filled ponds like Bufords that provide an unnatural food source to allow for the otters population explosion. MDC studies show that 90% of adults are breeding and they have 3 to 4 pups per litter. This is an abnormal and unheard of reproduction rate.

The streams themselves are entirely different because of excessive past and present timber harvests, bad land practices, road construction, etc. Because of this, our streams have become gravel choked. The loss of the natural deep holes in the streams has radically changed the habitat. With less places to hide the fish become highly susceptible to predation by otters. Yet knowing this, the MDC still went ahead with reintroduction. That biologically arrogant, indefensible decision is the cause of this catastrophe.

The otters diet consists of crayfish and fish. MDC data shows that during the warm months crayfish equal 60% of their diet and fish 30%. In cold months when crayfish go dormant fish become 60-70% of their main diet. When the bass, suckers, catfish and trout school up in the few holes during the cold months they become highly vulnerable to otter predation. A recent study done by the MDC shows the effects of this predation on bass and sunfish. The ages and percentage of the fish killed are as follows, 40% 1-3 years old, 40% 4-6 years old, 20% 7 years and older. Now I don't imagine that there are many 4 years and older sunfish out there, so almost 60% of these fish are probably bass. A 4-6 year old bass is 12 to 18 inches long and a seven year bass is a trophy. These are the quality fish in our streams that the otters are killing. This is an unprecedented disaster in the making for all Ozark anglers.

Also when these fish spawn, they become highly susceptible to harassment by otters. They are either killed or kept from completing a successful spawn. The MDC's authority on otter behavior was asked if otters would harass fish on the spawning beds. He stated that otters are animals of opportunity and would definitely attack fish on spawning beds. So the fish are not only killed and eaten but their food base is also eaten out from underneath them and then they are prevented from obtaining a successful spawn. A triple whammy! These animals pose a tremendous threat to our fishing throughout the Ozarks.

You would expect the MDC Fisheries Division to do a careful and detailed food and habitat study before introducing this large, prolific, and voracious fish killing animal into our Ozark streams. Wrong! Not one study was done before reintroduction. Out of state data from Louisiana was used. A state whose water and habitat is nothing like our free flowing Ozark streams.

The MDC is now half way through a four year study, to the end of 2001, to determine what otters eat. A study that should have been done before introducing otters into your Ozark streams. Let me give you a quote from an MDC publication, 'Missouri River Otter Update' that was handed out at the 'Otter Advisory Committee' meeting held in Houston Mo. on 6/19/99. An MDC spokesman states, "Knowledge of otter food habits is one of the essential elements missing from our current understanding of otter biology in Missouri this study is obviously a first step and a basic need." Their first step should be to gain control of this animal and the basic need must be to protect our Ozark sportfishing heritage.

The MDC will put its spin on all this like any other government bureaucracy itself. A bureaucracy always fears accountability. MDC apologists will scream for loyalty and to trust the professional 'experts'. I happen to believe that the thoughtful and reasoned questioning of poor policy and actions is much more commendable than blind faith. The days of 'Trust me, I'm the Expert' ended with Vietnam. No excuses or rationalization will change the cold hard facts. I know that the MDC does good work and I understand this problem did not begin with the present administration, but this disaster is happening on their watch. If the MDC claims the successes of past administrations, they must also accept responsibility for their failures and mistakes and move to correct them. The MDC has the right and the obligation to the landowners and sportsmen of this state to quickly correct this problem. This animal was introduced into a completely unnatural habitat. The animal is an out of control exotic species. The MDC has every legal and biological right to vigorously control it.

Imagine the MDC reintroducing cougar and wolves. Then when these animals start decimating the deer and turkey in the state, the MDC saying that they need to do a four year study to determine what the wolves and cougars eat, before they act on the problem. Deer and turkey hunters would never accept this. They would demand that the problem be fixed and fixed now! Fishermen and landowners throughout the Ozarks must demand no less. You must hold the MDC accountable for this disaster.

Now that you know the problem, what can you the Ozark sportsman and landowner do? First you must tell the MDC to take action against this animal before the end of the 2001 study. Take action before the animal becomes more firmly entrenched and your fishing is degraded even more. If they can't figure out what they're eating by now, tell them to ask Debo and Buford. The MDC has already moved to control otters that threaten their fishery. An MDC fisheries supervisor acknowledged that the state has removed otters that were threatening their hatcheries. They need to move just as quickly to protect your fishery.

Tell them you don't believe that sport trappers alone, even with an extended season, will be able to control this animal. They may have to bring in professional animal control agents to work with local trappers. Yes it will cost money but look at the alternative. And they have money. The MDC is the second highest funded state conservation organization in the country. California is first. Tell them to take the physicians oath, "Above all do no harm." and quit playing around with exotic species. When the Ozarks return to their original glory, then they can reintroduce species. But until then, tell them to get back to basics; habitat improvement and meaningful enforcement.

But to tell them all this you must have a voice. Publications like this and groups like the Mo. Smallmouth Alliance, www.smallmouth.org allow you to be heard. But to be heard you must use that voice.

You can have an immediate impact on this problem but only if you write and demand action. You should be enraged by this. Get mad. Speak up! If we don't hold this taxpayer funded department accountable for this disaster and demand action, we have lost all credibility as true sportsmen who care about the future and restoring our Ozark fishing heritage. Write MDC Director Conley now!

Jerry Conley, Director
Missouri Department of conservation
P.O.Box 180
Jefferson City Mo. 65102
E-mail: [email protected] --

http://www.smallmouth.org/MissouriOtters.html
 
Old October 12th, 2009 #34
Alex Linder
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Missouri's Otter Disaster!

By Hank Reifeus, October 1999

Like a lot of us, Buford and Wilma Urban of Houston, Mo. worked hard to obtain their dream of a piece of Ozark land to retire. They found a beautiful spot on Arthur Creek; a tributary of the Big Piney. Buford fished in the creek. He also built a pond and stocked it with 800 catfish. Two years ago, river otters, stocked by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), moved up Arthur Creek and over the winter decimated the catfish in their pond. The otters also cleaned out the creek behind their house. I visited these people on an MDC sponsored fieldtrip and saw the pictures documenting the damage.

Three years ago Debo McKinney, a land owner and fisherman inTexas County, noticed a decline in the fishing quality in many of his favorite streams. He saw otters killing and eating fish. He also found large piles of scales from this activity. He has been fishing these streams all his life. He believes the decline in fishing quality is caused by the reintroduction of otters by the MDC.

These are not isolated incidents. Land owners and fishermen across the Ozarks are reporting fish losses due to otter predation. What's going on? The answer lies in irresponsible policy decisions and incompetent biological practices done by the MDC. These policies have threatened our Ozark fishing heritage in our streams and lakes.

This all began in 1982 when the MDC started a program of reintroducing river otters into the Ozarks. A total of 845 otters were released in 43 areas. Stocking ended in 1992. Since then, the otter population has exploded. A recent study done by the University of Missouri shows that by the spring of next year there will be 18,000 otters in our Ozark streams and the population will continue to grow rapidly and expand its range. This animal population has exploded because it was introduced into a totally unnatural habitat. The present Ozarks are nothing like the Ozarks of 100 years ago when these animals existed here naturally. Now there are thousands of fish filled ponds like Bufords that provide an unnatural food source to allow for the otters population explosion. MDC studies show that 90% of adults are breeding and they have 3 to 4 pups per litter. This is an abnormal and unheard of reproduction rate.

The streams themselves are entirely different because of excessive past and present timber harvests, bad land practices, road construction, etc. Because of this, our streams have become gravel choked. The loss of the natural deep holes in the streams has radically changed the habitat. With less places to hide the fish become highly susceptible to predation by otters. Yet knowing this, the MDC still went ahead with reintroduction. That biologically arrogant, indefensible decision is the cause of this catastrophe.

The otters diet consists of crayfish and fish. MDC data shows that during the warm months crayfish equal 60% of their diet and fish 30%. In cold months when crayfish go dormant fish become 60-70% of their main diet. When the bass, suckers, catfish and trout school up in the few holes during the cold months they become highly vulnerable to otter predation. A recent study done by the MDC shows the effects of this predation on bass and sunfish. The ages and percentage of the fish killed are as follows, 40% 1-3 years old, 40% 4-6 years old, 20% 7 years and older. Now I don't imagine that there are many 4 years and older sunfish out there, so almost 60% of these fish are probably bass. A 4-6 year old bass is 12 to 18 inches long and a seven year bass is a trophy. These are the quality fish in our streams that the otters are killing. This is an unprecedented disaster in the making for all Ozark anglers.

Also when these fish spawn, they become highly susceptible to harassment by otters. They are either killed or kept from completing a successful spawn. The MDC's authority on otter behavior was asked if otters would harass fish on the spawning beds. He stated that otters are animals of opportunity and would definitely attack fish on spawning beds. So the fish are not only killed and eaten but their food base is also eaten out from underneath them and then they are prevented from obtaining a successful spawn. A triple whammy! These animals pose a tremendous threat to our fishing throughout the Ozarks.

You would expect the MDC Fisheries Division to do a careful and detailed food and habitat study before introducing this large, prolific, and voracious fish killing animal into our Ozark streams. Wrong! Not one study was done before reintroduction. Out of state data from Louisiana was used. A state whose water and habitat is nothing like our free flowing Ozark streams.

The MDC is now half way through a four year study, to the end of 2001, to determine what otters eat. A study that should have been done before introducing otters into your Ozark streams. Let me give you a quote from an MDC publication, 'Missouri River Otter Update' that was handed out at the 'Otter Advisory Committee' meeting held in Houston Mo. on 6/19/99. An MDC spokesman states, "Knowledge of otter food habits is one of the essential elements missing from our current understanding of otter biology in Missouri this study is obviously a first step and a basic need." Their first step should be to gain control of this animal and the basic need must be to protect our Ozark sportfishing heritage.

The MDC will put its spin on all this like any other government bureaucracy itself. A bureaucracy always fears accountability. MDC apologists will scream for loyalty and to trust the professional 'experts'. I happen to believe that the thoughtful and reasoned questioning of poor policy and actions is much more commendable than blind faith. The days of 'Trust me, I'm the Expert' ended with Vietnam. No excuses or rationalization will change the cold hard facts. I know that the MDC does good work and I understand this problem did not begin with the present administration, but this disaster is happening on their watch. If the MDC claims the successes of past administrations, they must also accept responsibility for their failures and mistakes and move to correct them. The MDC has the right and the obligation to the landowners and sportsmen of this state to quickly correct this problem. This animal was introduced into a completely unnatural habitat. The animal is an out of control exotic species. The MDC has every legal and biological right to vigorously control it.

Imagine the MDC reintroducing cougar and wolves. Then when these animals start decimating the deer and turkey in the state, the MDC saying that they need to do a four year study to determine what the wolves and cougars eat, before they act on the problem. Deer and turkey hunters would never accept this. They would demand that the problem be fixed and fixed now! Fishermen and landowners throughout the Ozarks must demand no less. You must hold the MDC accountable for this disaster.

Now that you know the problem, what can you the Ozark sportsman and landowner do? First you must tell the MDC to take action against this animal before the end of the 2001 study. Take action before the animal becomes more firmly entrenched and your fishing is degraded even more. If they can't figure out what they're eating by now, tell them to ask Debo and Buford. The MDC has already moved to control otters that threaten their fishery. An MDC fisheries supervisor acknowledged that the state has removed otters that were threatening their hatcheries. They need to move just as quickly to protect your fishery.

Tell them you don't believe that sport trappers alone, even with an extended season, will be able to control this animal. They may have to bring in professional animal control agents to work with local trappers. Yes it will cost money but look at the alternative. And they have money. The MDC is the second highest funded state conservation organization in the country. California is first. Tell them to take the physicians oath, "Above all do no harm." and quit playing around with exotic species. When the Ozarks return to their original glory, then they can reintroduce species. But until then, tell them to get back to basics; habitat improvement and meaningful enforcement.

But to tell them all this you must have a voice. Publications like this and groups like the Mo. Smallmouth Alliance, www.smallmouth.org allow you to be heard. But to be heard you must use that voice.

You can have an immediate impact on this problem but only if you write and demand action. You should be enraged by this. Get mad. Speak up! If we don't hold this taxpayer funded department accountable for this disaster and demand action, we have lost all credibility as true sportsmen who care about the future and restoring our Ozark fishing heritage. Write MDC Director Conley now!

Jerry Conley, Director
Missouri Department of conservation
P.O.Box 180
Jefferson City Mo. 65102
E-mail: [email protected] --

http://www.smallmouth.org/MissouriOtters.html
 
Old October 12th, 2009 #35
Alex Linder
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 45,756
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The government simply is not responsible with its land and property the way private owners are. That is the fact, regardless of your ideology.
 
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