5h) Discussion and Possible Action to Adopt Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Cooperative Agreement and a Work and Financial Plan with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plan Health Inspection Services, Wildlife Services, for the Mendocino County Integrated Wildlife Damage Management Program
(Sponsors: Agriculture and County Counsel)
I would support WS if they employed non-lethal methods of predator control, but they do not. All life needs to be respected, not just those grown for profit.
I lived on a remote 320 acre farm in Jackson State Forest from 1991-98 and had to call the trapper several times to hunt down mountain lions who killed our livestock. It was devastating seeing a bunch of pregnant goats dead in the pasture. However, never once did they mention to us that we should try out other ways to protect our livestock before sending the trapper to kill the predator. We would have gladly taken that option. Please spend the money on alternatives FIRST and lethal LAST.
The old way of doing things is not the best way. Newer science and evidence support new approaches to managing wildlife, and our county should join other counties by evolving in this direction. Both candidates for the 2nd district BOS seat are publicly opposed to renewing the USDA contract. The board should vote no in recognition of the new direction that the 2021 board would like to take the county. Do not vote yes in July, only to create controversy and further debate in just a few months.
If you are a supervisor purporting to support sound environmental practices and resistance to catastrophic global climate change, a yes vote on this issue makes a liar of you. We want to be a resilient County and excellent stewards of our resources; slaughtering our apex predators destabilizes the environment. Small farms that graze rotationally to build soil are not "hobby farms" - they are key to our survival. Have the personal and political courage to do something better. Thank you.
Mendocino County should not be a party to this gruesome exercise in anti-science sadism. I don't want my tax dollars to be spent destroying wildlife so that some ranchers may save a little money. Time to listen to experts who know how to co-exist with natural predators.
Poor leadership and bad decisions consistently cause pain and suffering in the world! It is necessary to support a nonlethal wildlife management program! Further brutality to animals degrades society as a whole. I find it appalling that legislative administrators have been told trillions of times cruelty to animals is wrong, and yet they still can not figure out how to make a proper decision beyond that!
As a cattle rancher that is currently undergoing RABIES treatment with my 14 yr old son after we where exposed to a cow that was attacked by a wold hybrid, I urge this county to keep Wildlife Services. The ranches in our county are large with herds that are to big for night corral situations like Hobby farmers use. For generations we have relied on the proven methods used by W.S., they will continue to keep our livestock safe from predators and any disease that they bring in.
I strongly support an Agreement with USDA Wildlife Services. It is a program based on science that allows the management of wildlife to be done legally and professionally. If you remove this valuable service than the general public will be forced to take maters into their own hands. I think our wildlife would be better off being managed by science and professionals instead of the general public. Thank you
The IWDM program could be easily administered as a non-lethal alternative contract with US FWS.
The County is at substantial risk for an expensive lawsuit because its consultant did not address all comments to the DEIR, like 1.) how will lethal traps prevent non-target kills to endangered species?; 2.) how will it prevent injury and death to pets on public land?; 3.) how is air quality impacted due to overgrazing from greater number of ungulates who now will have less natural predators?
The Mountain Lion Foundation is strongly opposed to this contract with Wildlife Services. We ask the Board NOT to approve this contract & instead to work with the CDFW and with community members to resolve wildlife conflict. Studies have shown that the indiscriminate killing of wildlife does not reduce conflict and often leads to increased conflict. The use of secure enclosures & livestock protection measures are far more effective for resolving conflict. -Diana Lakeland, M.S. Wildlife Biologist
I do not want my taxpayer money going towards this outdated and inefficient program of "predator management". If ranchers insist on using lethal methods for "controlling" predation, they should have to pay out of their own pocket. WS hasn't been operating in this county for several years now and the sky has not fallen. This fall, 2nd district Sup. McCowen will be replaced by one of two run-off candidates. BOTH have publicly stated they will not support WS. Let it rest now, please!
I support the IWDMP. This program is decades proven and represents the best science and technical assistance for the investment.Public health and Safety is best done by experts, not Hobby farmers who dont have experience dealing with rabies, roundworms,distemper,mange, and thousand acre ranches of commercial cattle and sheep to manage.Hobby farms are not ranches with miles of fence to maintain,there are no pens to bring your sheep and cows in at night.This federal program is solid.
I am highly concerned over reports that our engagement with USDA Wildlife Services does not adequately utilize effective and affordable non-lethal wildlife control methods that have proven successful elsewhere and in our own county. As a county resident, I urge the Board to redirect public funds towards the maximum implementation of proven non-lethal methods, thereby addressing stakeholder concerns while stating clearly where we stand as a community on values of humaneness and non-violence.
With 18 years experience as a Veterinary Technician & volunteer at wildlife hospitals in several states, I have experienced first hand the harm done to both domestic and wild animals when lethal means such as traps & poisons are utilized to manage wildlife. I strongly urge Mendocino County to terminate its $170,000 contract with Wildlife Services & to redirect that funding into education & the implementation of non-lethal, humane, intelligent & research-based solutions. Thank you!!
I am asking that the Board of Supervisors disapprove the Cooperative Service Agreement with USDA Wildlife Services. In the alternative, I am requesting that this important decision be continued to a time when covid-19 cases within the County of Mendocino are not rapidly accelerating and the public has a better opportunity to fully comment on your proposed action.
I am asking that the Board disapprove the Wildlife Services Contract, which, if approved, would employ cruel and lethal methods to address human-wildlife conflicts, such as ground based shooting and snares, and instead allocate funds to education and the implementation of a program that uses non-lethal techniques. There are myriad cost-effective, non-lethal program alternatives that should be further explored by the County of Mendocino and, accordingly, the contract should be disapproved.
I stand by my submissions of December 2019 in support of an Agreement with USDA Wildlife Services. Based on my 27 years as Director of the UC Hopland R & E Center, I found the WS program to be ecologically sound, professional, and effective in protecting livestock as well as wildlife populations. Those who label it as solely a lethal control program are mistaken; WS uses integrated strategies to prevent and solve human-wildlife conflicts. – Robert M. Timm, PhD., Certified Wildlife Biologist
I urge the Board to vote to permanently terminate your contract with Wildlife Services, and use the $170,000 saved each year to educate about and implement nonlethal techniques which are working well in many other counties. Thank you!!
I am opposed to renewing a contract with Wildlife Services. There are better ways.
Both Marin and Sonoma Co. have successfully operated non-lethal methods of managing wildlife without Wildlife Services for 20 and 7 years respectively. Further, our neighbors in Humboldt county have just decided that while they will contract with Wildlife Services program in a way that reduces killing of wildlife by prioritizing non-lethal measures.
End your contract with the killers!
I would support WS if they employed non-lethal methods of predator control, but they do not. All life needs to be respected, not just those grown for profit.
I lived on a remote 320 acre farm in Jackson State Forest from 1991-98 and had to call the trapper several times to hunt down mountain lions who killed our livestock. It was devastating seeing a bunch of pregnant goats dead in the pasture. However, never once did they mention to us that we should try out other ways to protect our livestock before sending the trapper to kill the predator. We would have gladly taken that option. Please spend the money on alternatives FIRST and lethal LAST.
The old way of doing things is not the best way. Newer science and evidence support new approaches to managing wildlife, and our county should join other counties by evolving in this direction. Both candidates for the 2nd district BOS seat are publicly opposed to renewing the USDA contract. The board should vote no in recognition of the new direction that the 2021 board would like to take the county. Do not vote yes in July, only to create controversy and further debate in just a few months.
If you are a supervisor purporting to support sound environmental practices and resistance to catastrophic global climate change, a yes vote on this issue makes a liar of you. We want to be a resilient County and excellent stewards of our resources; slaughtering our apex predators destabilizes the environment. Small farms that graze rotationally to build soil are not "hobby farms" - they are key to our survival. Have the personal and political courage to do something better. Thank you.
Mendocino County should not be a party to this gruesome exercise in anti-science sadism. I don't want my tax dollars to be spent destroying wildlife so that some ranchers may save a little money. Time to listen to experts who know how to co-exist with natural predators.
Poor leadership and bad decisions consistently cause pain and suffering in the world! It is necessary to support a nonlethal wildlife management program! Further brutality to animals degrades society as a whole. I find it appalling that legislative administrators have been told trillions of times cruelty to animals is wrong, and yet they still can not figure out how to make a proper decision beyond that!
As a cattle rancher that is currently undergoing RABIES treatment with my 14 yr old son after we where exposed to a cow that was attacked by a wold hybrid, I urge this county to keep Wildlife Services. The ranches in our county are large with herds that are to big for night corral situations like Hobby farmers use. For generations we have relied on the proven methods used by W.S., they will continue to keep our livestock safe from predators and any disease that they bring in.
Dear Board,
I strongly support an Agreement with USDA Wildlife Services. It is a program based on science that allows the management of wildlife to be done legally and professionally. If you remove this valuable service than the general public will be forced to take maters into their own hands. I think our wildlife would be better off being managed by science and professionals instead of the general public. Thank you
The IWDM program could be easily administered as a non-lethal alternative contract with US FWS.
The County is at substantial risk for an expensive lawsuit because its consultant did not address all comments to the DEIR, like 1.) how will lethal traps prevent non-target kills to endangered species?; 2.) how will it prevent injury and death to pets on public land?; 3.) how is air quality impacted due to overgrazing from greater number of ungulates who now will have less natural predators?
The Mountain Lion Foundation is strongly opposed to this contract with Wildlife Services. We ask the Board NOT to approve this contract & instead to work with the CDFW and with community members to resolve wildlife conflict. Studies have shown that the indiscriminate killing of wildlife does not reduce conflict and often leads to increased conflict. The use of secure enclosures & livestock protection measures are far more effective for resolving conflict. -Diana Lakeland, M.S. Wildlife Biologist
I do not want my taxpayer money going towards this outdated and inefficient program of "predator management". If ranchers insist on using lethal methods for "controlling" predation, they should have to pay out of their own pocket. WS hasn't been operating in this county for several years now and the sky has not fallen. This fall, 2nd district Sup. McCowen will be replaced by one of two run-off candidates. BOTH have publicly stated they will not support WS. Let it rest now, please!
Dear Board
I support the IWDMP. This program is decades proven and represents the best science and technical assistance for the investment.Public health and Safety is best done by experts, not Hobby farmers who dont have experience dealing with rabies, roundworms,distemper,mange, and thousand acre ranches of commercial cattle and sheep to manage.Hobby farms are not ranches with miles of fence to maintain,there are no pens to bring your sheep and cows in at night.This federal program is solid.
I am highly concerned over reports that our engagement with USDA Wildlife Services does not adequately utilize effective and affordable non-lethal wildlife control methods that have proven successful elsewhere and in our own county. As a county resident, I urge the Board to redirect public funds towards the maximum implementation of proven non-lethal methods, thereby addressing stakeholder concerns while stating clearly where we stand as a community on values of humaneness and non-violence.
With 18 years experience as a Veterinary Technician & volunteer at wildlife hospitals in several states, I have experienced first hand the harm done to both domestic and wild animals when lethal means such as traps & poisons are utilized to manage wildlife. I strongly urge Mendocino County to terminate its $170,000 contract with Wildlife Services & to redirect that funding into education & the implementation of non-lethal, humane, intelligent & research-based solutions. Thank you!!
I am asking that the Board of Supervisors disapprove the Cooperative Service Agreement with USDA Wildlife Services. In the alternative, I am requesting that this important decision be continued to a time when covid-19 cases within the County of Mendocino are not rapidly accelerating and the public has a better opportunity to fully comment on your proposed action.
I am asking that the Board disapprove the Wildlife Services Contract, which, if approved, would employ cruel and lethal methods to address human-wildlife conflicts, such as ground based shooting and snares, and instead allocate funds to education and the implementation of a program that uses non-lethal techniques. There are myriad cost-effective, non-lethal program alternatives that should be further explored by the County of Mendocino and, accordingly, the contract should be disapproved.
I stand by my submissions of December 2019 in support of an Agreement with USDA Wildlife Services. Based on my 27 years as Director of the UC Hopland R & E Center, I found the WS program to be ecologically sound, professional, and effective in protecting livestock as well as wildlife populations. Those who label it as solely a lethal control program are mistaken; WS uses integrated strategies to prevent and solve human-wildlife conflicts. – Robert M. Timm, PhD., Certified Wildlife Biologist
I urge the Board to vote to permanently terminate your contract with Wildlife Services, and use the $170,000 saved each year to educate about and implement nonlethal techniques which are working well in many other counties. Thank you!!
I am opposed to renewing a contract with Wildlife Services. There are better ways.
Both Marin and Sonoma Co. have successfully operated non-lethal methods of managing wildlife without Wildlife Services for 20 and 7 years respectively. Further, our neighbors in Humboldt county have just decided that while they will contract with Wildlife Services program in a way that reduces killing of wildlife by prioritizing non-lethal measures.