It is that time once again to issue the not-so-coveted Black Bear Blog Golden Horse Excrement Award. This award is rare and goes only to the most deserving. In this case a group of scientists and scientist “wannabes” have signed on to a letter sent to the United States Senate asking them not to pass any legislation that “would undercut the use of best available science as the basis for adding or removing any particular species from the protection of the Endangered Species Act.” The reasons given are precious.

A Letter from 1,293 Scientists with Expertise in Biological Systems to the United States Senate Concerning Science and the Endangered Species Act

March 30, 2011

Dear Senators:

As scientists with expertise in biological systems, we are writing to urge you to vote against any legislation that would undercut the use of best available science as the basis for adding or removing any particular species from the protection of the Endangered Species Act. Allowing Congress to remove or add protections for particular species would set a dangerous precedent, as the fate of every species on the endangered species list (or any candidate for that list) would then be subject to political interference.

Because of its strong scientific foundation, the Endangered Species Act is the most critical and successful law for ensuring the protection of threatened and endangered wildlife in our country. Objective scientific information and methods should be used in listing or delisting species, subspecies, and distinct population segments as endangered or threatened. While non-scientific factors may appropriately be considered at points later in the process, their use in listing decisions is inconsistent with the biologically defensible principles of the Endangered Species Act.

We are aware that there are legislative attempts to remove individual species from the Endangered Species Act. For example, congressional proposals to delist the gray wolf forgo scientific determination of whether the species, or populations of the species, have recovered and whether sufficient regulatory mechanisms are in place to ensure the species’ survival. In the northern Rocky Mountains the return of wolves has restored key predator-prey dynamics in and around Yellowstone National Park that have resulted in changes throughout the entire ecosystem. To remove protections for wolves before the best available science tells us recovery is ensured would place one of our country’s greatest conservation success stories at risk.

Biological diversity provides food, fiber, medicines, clean water, and myriad other ecosystem products and services on which we depend every day. To undermine the careful and thoughtful scientific process that determines whether a species is endangered or recovered would jeopardize not only the species in question and the continued success of the Endangered Species Act, but the very foundation of the ecosystems that sustain us all.

We strongly urge you to oppose any legislation that circumvents the use of best available science in Endangered Species Act decision making.

Respectfully,
[Signers listed alphabetically by state]

Follow this link if you are interested in viewing, by state, the “scientists” who have signed on.

Tom Remington

The U.S. Sportsman’s Alliance is reporting that a bill before the Louisiana legislature would require purchasers of ammunition to show the serial numbers of their guns first.

Tom Remington

Senator A.G. Crowe has introduced the Louisiana Firearms Freedom Act as SB 175, making Louisiana the 27th state to introduce an FFA.

Don’t forget, today at 3 p.m. is another brand new broadcast of Open Air With Tom Remington. Today’s show is varied and entertaining. Topics include updates on what’s new and happening at the Black Bear Blog, Skinny Moose Media and our hunting magazine websites. I’ll also reveal some ridiculous studies on what’s causing global warming, too many wild pigs in Louisiana and an update on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear the D.C. gun ban case.

I think you’ll find the show enjoyable and entertaining, so if you can join us at 3 p.m. today. As is normal, once the show airs, you can visit Skinny Moose Radio and listen to or download this and all other previous broadcasts.

Tom Remington

We are at a point where it would be safe to say that this year’s outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is quite widespread. Here’s a list of states that have confirmed cases of the virus that is carried to deer by biting midges or no-see-ums: Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, Montana, Mississippi and Georgia. In addition, some states are waiting for test results to confirm what they already suspect – South Carolina is one such state.

To confirm the presence of the disease, blood and certain tissue has to be analyzed.

According to both the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Alabama Department of Conservation, dealing with EHD is quite routine. Charles Ruth, Deer/Turkey Project supervisor for the South Carolina DNR says flair-ups in that state seem to run in cycles of 3-5 years and there’s a reasonable explanation.

“This is probably related to the fact that once deer are exposed to the disease they are more resistant to it. Therefore, if you have disease one year the deer become exposed or inoculated to the disease and you do not see much disease activity until there is turnover in the deer population. After several years you are dealing with another cohort of deer and their systems are ‘naïve’ to the disease. The last time there was significant hemorrhagic disease activity in South Carolina was in 2002, therefore, disease activity could be relatively high this year.”

This theory is confirmed by a spokesman for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

“We have some cases every year,” said Keith Guyse, a whitetail specialist with the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division in the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “In the Coastal Plain, the virus is there frequently enough that deer have been exposed to it and have some resistance to it.

Both representatives indicate that EHD in their respective states is pretty much routine only because of the build up of a certain degree of immunity. Therefore, these southern states don’t see wide outbreaks of the disease that often. When EHD hits the more northern climes, EHD seems to grab harder. Ruth explains.

Deer likely die in South Carolina each year from hemorrhagic disease, however, there is no indication that a major outbreak has occurred in the state since the mid 1970s. The disease is part of life for deer in the Southeast and fortunately it appears that Southern deer have acquired some immunity to the disease, said Ruth. Northern deer, on the other hand, are not exposed to the disease as frequently since the insect vector is not as common in cooler climates. For this reason, significant outbreaks and mortality from hemorrhagic disease are more likely in northern deer populations.

Guyse from Alabama makes reference to the same theory.

“Typically in North Alabama and above the fall line, they’re not exposed to it as often. So over a period of time you have a population that doesn’t have much resistance. When you have (outbreaks) up there, it tends to be more noticeable.”

This helps us understand why some states may have more severe outbreaks, killing larger numbers of deer, than others but why this year are outbreaks so widespread across the landscape of the country? Some have related it to the summer heat and drought. That may be true, I don’t know. It would be logical to assume that being that the virus is carried and spread by tiny midges or gnats, a larger than normal population of that insect would be directly proportional to the spread of the disease. Of course science isn’t that simplistic and we know that there are probably many more factors to consider or it could be just merely a coincidence.

However, Guyse from Alabama eludes to the theory of increased numbers of midges, somewhat.

“Auburn (researchers) had traps out to catch the flies and they might catch a few every once in a while, and then all of a sudden they catch hundreds,” Guyse said. “Much of that still is a mystery.”

Obviously, they don’t have a good handle on it either.

Hunters and others should be aware of the symptoms they may find on deer suffering from the disease.

Symptoms of hemorrhagic disease include poor physical condition, sloughing hooves, abrasions or sores on the brisket and legs, and ulcerations on the mouth, tongue, and rumen (stomach).

As I said earlier, verification of the disease has to be done in the lab.

If you see sick or dead deer in your travels, please report it to the appropriate authorities. It is highly recommended that nobody eats any of the meat from deer sickened by EHD.

Tom Remington

Even though hunting seasons of some species are still going on, several of them are winding down or have come to a close for another year. John Davis of Nutria News, gives us his wrap-up of the seasons.

Tom Remington

Actually, now that I got your attention, John at Nurtria News down in the heart of Dixie in Louisiana, has a whole list of items he carries or has at easy disposal when he goes hunting. Check it out. If you got something you would like to add to the “poor man’s stew”, leave him a comment. Everyone has their preferences.

Tom Remington

What does expanding hunting opportunities in the Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana have to do with hunting opportunities in wildlife refuges in New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania or California? Beats me but that’s what a judge has ruled in a lawsuit filed against the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

The lawsuit filed by Fund for Animals, a division of the Humane Society of the United States, claims the USFWS violated the National Environmental Policy Act because they didn’t adequately study the cumulative national impact on wildlife and other refuge visitors besides hunters. In other words, the USFWS can’t expand hunting opportunities in the Upper Ouachita or any other refuge because it might affect a mockingbird singing in a forest someplace in Florida or Betty Birdwatcher in North Dakota.

The timing of the lawsuit is nothing more than a tactic by the Fund for Animals and HSUS to prevent hunting this year in this wildlife refuge and two others in Louisiana. It is both these organization’s goals to end hunting everywhere, even though in this particular lawsuit they say differently.

“The decision isn’t about hunting versus no hunting. It’s about whether you’re looking at the environmental impact of hunting,” Lovvorn said. “I think we have concerns about hunting on refuges because of the lack of environmental review.”

Oh, okay! And if any of you believe this, I have a bridge for sale in New York – cheap!

Unfortunately for those hunters hoping to be able to find some more hunting opportunities in Louisiana, it appears this lawsuit will tie things up for this season. The USFWS plans to satisfy the courts so as to provide hunting in these areas. The USFWS fully understands that hunting is a valuable and integral part of wildlife management and they intend to use it.

Tom Remington

A survey was sent out to 6,000 duck hunters in Louisiana. 53% of those who responded said they prefered the state to remain divided into two hunting zones – east and west. The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission announced recently that it will maintain two zones at least through 2010.

Tom Remington

Some new deer hunting regulations will go into effect this next season for Louisiana deer hunters. Here’s a brief rundown of the changes.

New this year, hunters will have to carry with them at all times when hunting, a tag harvest card. Hunters will need to write down information about every deer they take. At the end of the season, whether the card is blank or full, it must be returned to wildlife officials.

Another change is the number and species of deer that can be taken. The total limit is six deer but no more than three bucks and three does.

Louisiana is one state that is following in the footsteps of other states to use some kind of tagging process to better collect data to help in deer management.

Tom Remington