Thursday, December 6, 2012
An open mind is needed
It's deer culling time again, let's reflect on this a moment.
An open mind is needed and that hasn't been found at city hall. It takes courage to do something different. It's easy to follow the advice of the average moron who says "kill them all" even though that is against the law that ensures a never ending funding source for the ODNR who makes the rules.
As just one example, you really would have to kill all the deer to prevent serious accidents on I480, it only takes one deer crossing the road to guarantee a serious accident. In this case high fencing and roadside reflectors are far more effective and less costly. If safety is REALLY the issue, that's what you'd do.
What did city hall do? Did they follow the lead of the "kill them all" morons, NO, they don't even have kill sites near I480, they are mostly at our borders ( see kill sites here ) so the moronic taxpayers are paying to kill our suburban neighbors deer.
But being effective isn't really what politics is all about, its doing something (anything, no matter how ineffective) just to keep the moronic voters happy. Hope you're happy blowing at least $150K every year.
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Cross posted to the Solon Forum here.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Killing to start Jan 23
USDA Wildlife Services is to start killing Jan 23rd at the following kill sites.
Solon Kill Sites
Red areas are kill zones, orange areas are open city or adjoining lands that can be hunted from.
This list was obtained from an Open Records Request, but it is much shorter than prior culling kill site lists. If you become aware of a kill site not on this list please inform us immediately by email to SolonDeer at gmail.com.
Be aware that the city aggressively acts to prevent citizens from observing, filming, or interfering in culling activity in any way. Being anywhere near a kill site can be dangerous to your safety and can result in arrest on a variety of charges.
Stanek who has led this plan has abruptly retired, his former asst who also retired is expected to be brought back to manage the plan. See discussion here, Solon Patch coverage and Solon Sun coverage.
NOTE: Kill Site List last revised 1/17/12, First Draft Kill Site Map revised 2/04/12.
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Solon Kill Sites
Red areas are kill zones, orange areas are open city or adjoining lands that can be hunted from.
This list was obtained from an Open Records Request, but it is much shorter than prior culling kill site lists. If you become aware of a kill site not on this list please inform us immediately by email to SolonDeer at gmail.com.
Be aware that the city aggressively acts to prevent citizens from observing, filming, or interfering in culling activity in any way. Being anywhere near a kill site can be dangerous to your safety and can result in arrest on a variety of charges.
Stanek who has led this plan has abruptly retired, his former asst who also retired is expected to be brought back to manage the plan. See discussion here, Solon Patch coverage and Solon Sun coverage.
NOTE: Kill Site List last revised 1/17/12, First Draft Kill Site Map revised 2/04/12.
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Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Welcome
Welcome to the SolonDeer article site. This site is a companion site to the solondeer web site to offer greater depth of information.
You can view articles in reverse chronological order (newest first) or by category when you select a Label on the sidebar to see all posts within that category. For an explanation of the labels, click here.
Some posts are long and have a "read more" link to read the whole post. To comment on a post, click the post title and you will see just that post along with instructions in how to comment.
At the bottom of each article you will see Labels that identify what category this article is in, clicking a Label at the bottom of the post (or on the sidebar) will display a list of articles on that topic.
You can follow this blog by email by filling in your email address at the bottom of the sidebar and clicking submit. It will send you and email and you will need to click a link in it to verify your subscription.
Any questions, comments, suggestions, or if you'd like to know how you can help us, send an email to solondeer@gmail.com.
You can view articles in reverse chronological order (newest first) or by category when you select a Label on the sidebar to see all posts within that category. For an explanation of the labels, click here.
Some posts are long and have a "read more" link to read the whole post. To comment on a post, click the post title and you will see just that post along with instructions in how to comment.
At the bottom of each article you will see Labels that identify what category this article is in, clicking a Label at the bottom of the post (or on the sidebar) will display a list of articles on that topic.
You can follow this blog by email by filling in your email address at the bottom of the sidebar and clicking submit. It will send you and email and you will need to click a link in it to verify your subscription.
Any questions, comments, suggestions, or if you'd like to know how you can help us, send an email to solondeer@gmail.com.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Dear Neighbor,
Dave Hromco reported last Thursday, February 23, the death count was up to 169. This morning, Friday, March 2, Dave Hromco reported the death count is now at 198. We asked if they would be pursuing the entire targeted number of 300. He replied -- YES !
Our attorney submitted an Open Public Records request to Greg Miller, Solon's animal control officer, who conducted the deer population count. Never mind that he is on the payroll of the city of Solon and has no qualifications to conduct a count. Greg Miller did not have the guts to respond and sent our attorney a reply saying he had forwarded the request to the proper person.
Below are the questions (in blue) regarding the count that were submitted.
a) Dave Hromco's responses are below (in black)
b) Our Ph.D Wildlife Biologist's analysis is below that (in red).
__________________________________________________
1)What methodology are you using?
The methodology that was used in recent deer counts in the City of Solon is a surface count.
That just means it wasn't and aerial count, what "surface" method was used.
2)Is it random or stratified?
The count was stratified in that the City's Animal Warden sectioned off sections of the City of Solon into about 15 to 20 sections (the actual number has varied depending on the year that it was performed). Each section is counted individually. A multiplier has been used in accordance with recommendations. The multiplier is 1.55.
If the number of sections varies from year to year how are you forming trends in changing areas? Who recommended the 1.55 mulitper and how was that number arrived at. It increases the count by 55%. Is this a correction factor for deer not counted and if so how do you know what you missed.
3)How do you account for double counting?
To limit double counting as much as possible the deer are counted between 7 AM and 11 AM. This is a time when the deer are less active and should be in their natural habitat. However, double counting is a possibility.
Shouldn't you count when deer are most active to give you a truer representation of the density.
4)How do you account for deer coming in and out of the neighborhoods and neighboring cities?
The answer to question 2 applies to this question as well.
5)What percent of the count is this?
We have not counted or calculated the number of deer that may also immigrate from or emigrate to other neighboring communities.
So Solon is willing to fund at least partially the culling of surrounding communities.
6)What is the standard error and confidence interval for your count?
No standard error or confidence interval has been calculated for these counts
How do you know if there are any statistically significant differences from year to year or any time frame for that matter.
7)What is your formal training of those conducting the counts?
There is no formal training that personnel received.
no comment the response from the town speaks for itself.
No record of a worksheet for the 2010 count exists in our files. So they do not keep historical data?
Please note that counts for 2004 and 2005 were done by aerial survey. All other counts were performed in accordance with the information in this "e" mail. It appears that they are managing for MSY maximum sustanable yeild which means this will be a problem for an indefinite time period. Look the term up on the internet. It is about 1/2 the carrying capacity of the landscape.
The summation here is that Solon has simply rubber stamped the deer mismanagement plan and continue to squander our tax dollars on a failed plan rather than implement long-term, science-based, proven solutions. Experts on non-lethal alternatives contacted councilman Russo, chair of the Safety Committee, but he ignored and rejected them opting to continue to waste money and endanger the residents.
Bow hunting will be added to the mix next year. UNLESS, we the residents speak up and stop it.
Bow hunting will be added to the mix next year. UNLESS, we the residents speak up and stop it.
While modern technology marches on in all other aspects of life why does Solon still manage wildlife as we did in the horse and buggy days. Ask them why, when modern technology offers many non-lethal alternatives, they are choosing mass slaughter. Science calls into question the efficacy, ethics and economics of killing hundreds of deer. In spite of science proving clear futility and counter-productiveness Solon decision makers continue to thwart contemporary solutions and conservation biology practices.
Thank you for your continued kindness and support.
SolonDeer.com
For City Contact Info click here and for media contact info click here.
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Sunday, February 26, 2012
Solon Animal Laws
Solon has both laws to protect animals and to protect its deer killing program.
Just because an animal killing program exists doesn't mean that anyone can take matters into their own hands and kill deer or any other animal like coyotes too.
Section 618.12 and 618.20 clearly prevent anyone from hunting or setting traps in the city. Section 618.04 prevents any poisoning of animals.
Section 618.125 authorizes an exception to 618.12 for the purpose of controlled killing of deer by city authorized personnel, which of course does not include residents who don't like deer.
Sections 618.126 and 127 criminalize residents who don't agree with the deer killing program. The first one makes it a crime to interfere with a culling activity and the second makes it a crime to feed deer.
Some deer activists have attempted to document the killing process and have been accused of other crimes like criminal trespass.
The police can be very aggressive in interpreting and enforcing laws against residents who disagree with the deer killing program. The police chief insists that anyone caught taking things into their own hands will be investigated and prosecuted. Anyone caught poaching can be turned in for an award, find details here.
Solon laws can be found here. Section 618 deals with animals. A summary can be seen below.
Solon Animal Laws
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Just because an animal killing program exists doesn't mean that anyone can take matters into their own hands and kill deer or any other animal like coyotes too.
Section 618.12 and 618.20 clearly prevent anyone from hunting or setting traps in the city. Section 618.04 prevents any poisoning of animals.
Section 618.125 authorizes an exception to 618.12 for the purpose of controlled killing of deer by city authorized personnel, which of course does not include residents who don't like deer.
Sections 618.126 and 127 criminalize residents who don't agree with the deer killing program. The first one makes it a crime to interfere with a culling activity and the second makes it a crime to feed deer.
Some deer activists have attempted to document the killing process and have been accused of other crimes like criminal trespass.
The police can be very aggressive in interpreting and enforcing laws against residents who disagree with the deer killing program. The police chief insists that anyone caught taking things into their own hands will be investigated and prosecuted. Anyone caught poaching can be turned in for an award, find details here.
Solon laws can be found here. Section 618 deals with animals. A summary can be seen below.
Solon Animal Laws
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Saturday, February 18, 2012
SOLON CITY LEADERS LEGACY
We're cruel and benighted and proud of it!
Discarding logic, compassion and justice for the sake of some ornamental bushes, bloodlust and expediency.
 |
CURRENT BODY COUNT:
146
How long will we continue allowing Solon's elected officials (who are public servants in fact) to persist in squandering public dollars to satiate their obscene blood-lust, slaughtering innocent, semi-tame deer in a blood-drenched, deeply depraved annual canned hunt?
How long will we continue to swallow their lies, distortions and perversions of the truth, as they insist that the gun and hunting lobby-driven mantra that killing is the ONLY means of managing human-caused white-tailed deer over-populations is the Gospel truth?
How long will we swallow the lie that slaughtering sentient beings is somehow “humane,” despite the facts that we humans caused the overpopulation of deer and that there are many alternatives to killing?
Please be sure to join our Solon voting bloc. Go to www.lohv-ohio.org and click on join us.
Email our elected officials to voice your opposition.
Please continue to spread the word to everyone.
Thank you,
Solon Deer.com
For City Contact Info click here and for media contact info click here.
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Monday, January 16, 2012
Join LOHV
Dear Neighbor,
On January 23, 2012, the Solon deer slaughter will continue. The notorious USDA Wildlife Services (WS) will be shooting deer lured to bait. Solon is now known as the city who kills it's wildlife. It is a town of politics without principle and science without humanity.
Solon leaders are once again dragging the reputation of the city of Solon into the gutter. USDA Wildlife Services litters the American landscape with deadly poisons and traps and often kills pets and endangered species. Between 2002-2006 Wildlife Services failed numerous federal audits. WS aerially shoots wolves and coyotes and their gunning program has caused ten human fatalities and 28 injuries. They are known to be environmentally abusive and unethical. No wonder WS likes to stay under the radar.
They spend over 100 million annually to kill more than one million animals. Americans foot the bill for this ineffective, wasteful, ecologically unsound and unethically indefensible agency. The Obama administration recently proposed a ten million dollar budget cut for USDA Wildlife Services. Costly and inhumane killing of our wildlife are wastes of tax dollars. And remember, if they aren't killing animals they aren't being paid.
Wildlife Services war on wildlife knows no bounds!
Not only do we need to get the federal government out of the wildlife exterminating business but out of Solon. An Open Public Records request in 2006 reveals a letter from USDA Wildlife Services to Dave Hromco, wanting in on the deer killing gravy train. They asked to kill 300 deer, the same number targeted now. They have been waiting in the wings for this day.
From our friends in Solebury, PA whose town was invaded by WS to kill deer :
By Freda R. Savana -- The Intelligencer. An update on the deer culling operation Tuesday night angered about a dozen property owners who argued trapping the animals is inhumane and should be stopped. Dave Dubnanskui said, "a trap on a property there has upset passers-by who have seen a deer suffering in the small, fenced-in area. Deborah Ongara said she and her dog walked by the trap and witnessed the deer thrashing and screaming.
Reported in Mt. Lebanon, PA, where WS killed deer:
They have killed over 200 plus deer in two years. Just about every deer in our community. They shoot everything - does, fawns and bucks. They have been given permission to override all safety buffer zones, and shoot rifles in our small parks which are less than 100 yards wide, and surrounded by homes. They also shoot without notice to residents in the community.
From a 2008 news report in Mt. Lebanon, PA: When Micha Wolf walked out his front door to head to work March 7, he was saddened to see a dead deer lying in his Lindendale Dr. yard. There was a good size pool of blood about half a foot from his house. An interview with Mt. Lebanon residents revealed this. There is a conflict between USDA, Wildlife Services and the PA Game Commission, because the hunters don't want the USDA to kill all of "their" semi-tame deer. The USDA needs the PGC's approval to shoot deer in the suburbs, and to override safety ordinances. So typically the local government (councils), the USDA WS, and the PGC (Ohio Division of Natural Resources) will allow the WS to come in if the local government will commit to letting bowhunters come in the following years.
On January 23, 2012, the Solon deer slaughter will continue. The notorious USDA Wildlife Services (WS) will be shooting deer lured to bait. Solon is now known as the city who kills it's wildlife. It is a town of politics without principle and science without humanity.
Solon leaders are once again dragging the reputation of the city of Solon into the gutter. USDA Wildlife Services litters the American landscape with deadly poisons and traps and often kills pets and endangered species. Between 2002-2006 Wildlife Services failed numerous federal audits. WS aerially shoots wolves and coyotes and their gunning program has caused ten human fatalities and 28 injuries. They are known to be environmentally abusive and unethical. No wonder WS likes to stay under the radar.
They spend over 100 million annually to kill more than one million animals. Americans foot the bill for this ineffective, wasteful, ecologically unsound and unethically indefensible agency. The Obama administration recently proposed a ten million dollar budget cut for USDA Wildlife Services. Costly and inhumane killing of our wildlife are wastes of tax dollars. And remember, if they aren't killing animals they aren't being paid.
Wildlife Services war on wildlife knows no bounds!
Not only do we need to get the federal government out of the wildlife exterminating business but out of Solon. An Open Public Records request in 2006 reveals a letter from USDA Wildlife Services to Dave Hromco, wanting in on the deer killing gravy train. They asked to kill 300 deer, the same number targeted now. They have been waiting in the wings for this day.
From our friends in Solebury, PA whose town was invaded by WS to kill deer :
By Freda R. Savana -- The Intelligencer. An update on the deer culling operation Tuesday night angered about a dozen property owners who argued trapping the animals is inhumane and should be stopped. Dave Dubnanskui said, "a trap on a property there has upset passers-by who have seen a deer suffering in the small, fenced-in area. Deborah Ongara said she and her dog walked by the trap and witnessed the deer thrashing and screaming.
Reported in Mt. Lebanon, PA, where WS killed deer:
They have killed over 200 plus deer in two years. Just about every deer in our community. They shoot everything - does, fawns and bucks. They have been given permission to override all safety buffer zones, and shoot rifles in our small parks which are less than 100 yards wide, and surrounded by homes. They also shoot without notice to residents in the community.
From a 2008 news report in Mt. Lebanon, PA: When Micha Wolf walked out his front door to head to work March 7, he was saddened to see a dead deer lying in his Lindendale Dr. yard. There was a good size pool of blood about half a foot from his house. An interview with Mt. Lebanon residents revealed this. There is a conflict between USDA, Wildlife Services and the PA Game Commission, because the hunters don't want the USDA to kill all of "their" semi-tame deer. The USDA needs the PGC's approval to shoot deer in the suburbs, and to override safety ordinances. So typically the local government (councils), the USDA WS, and the PGC (Ohio Division of Natural Resources) will allow the WS to come in if the local government will commit to letting bowhunters come in the following years.
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
Next year Solon intends on bringing in the bowhunters.
Next year Solon intends on bringing in the bowhunters.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Over 3,000 residents voted NO to the continued bloodbath in our backyards. Though we were defeated at the polls we will not be deterred and we will not give up.
Remember, it is the job of council members to represent their constituents. Have they done that? They work for you. You voted them in and you can vote them out. The only Solon councilman to vote NO to the continued, senseless, cruel, deer slaughter was Rob Pelunis. The League of Humane Voters and Solon Deer commend him for his leadership, courage, conscience, ethics, and for holding the city of Solon to higher standards.
Animal advocacy translates into votes -- the only language politicians understand. They pay attention to groups like the League of Humane Voters (LOHV), because they know that our numbers translate into votes for them - or for their opponents. And when they're aware of our presence and our voting bloc they make what matters to us matter in Solon.
You can help the deer simply by joining our voting bloc. If you do nothing else to help stop the slaughter please make sure to register with LOHV's Solon voting bloc. You will show every council member and Mayor Drucker who is not interested in stopping the deer kill that they will not get your vote!
You will show that supporters for the deer are a landslide voting bloc and together we will demand fair representation in Solon.
Please take one minute to join our voting bloc today. Vist www.lohv-ohio.org and click on Join us now.
Thank you for your continued support,
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