Judge Denies Request to Stop Killing of Feral Pigs

[DaMatRat]

In today's LA Times.

IN BRIEF/THE STATE / SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
Judge Denies Request to Stop Killing of Feral Pigs
From Times Staff and Wire Reports


A federal judge in Los Angeles on Monday denied a request to halt the extermination of thousands of feral pigs.
The National Park Service and the Nature Conservancy say the pigs must go because they're damaging island archeological sites and threatening native

species. Rick Feldman, a Santa Barbara businessman who initiated a lawsuit to stop the killings, was angered by Judge Dickran Tevrizian's decision against

issuing a preliminary injunction. The lawsuit is still pending.

 

[SDHNTR]

They are still arguing over this? I thought they started the extermination back in '01?

 

[Caninelaw]

What a waste.

The State is paying some outfit to exterminate these pigs, likely letting the meat go to waste too. I haven't seen the exact figure but I'll bet it's in the millions (knowing the state). They could have actually made money on this deal and promoted hunting in the State by letting real hunters, (such as us), go out there and hunt them for a fee. They could have charged what $400 - $500 a pig and they'd make what? Lets say they shoot 5000 pigs (the article does say "thousands" ) at $500 each, that'd be $2,500,000. Your tax money at work...

 

[bjake21]

I have read that they paid $3 million, and you're right they could have MADE tons! And it's not just any "outfit", it's a foreign professional hunting company!

 

[ozstriker22]

NOW COMMON, FELLAS!

it's obvious that the guys who made the decision are getting 250,000 each from that exterminator company. That's a lot easier than trying to skim a little money off of each $400 admission fee.

 

[CLDhunter]

I really dislike people not getting the story entirely correct then going off on a soap box about somethings they dont know everything about.

First of all it says NATIONAL PARK SERVICE and it says NATURE CONSERVANCY...where does anyone interpret that as being the DFG or the state?

I know its hard to keep all this stuff straight but some subtle facts are enough to skew the entire direction of some peoples opinions and they lose focus on really who is making decisions or who is who.

Of course we could blame those STATE folks for pulling out all the water developments in the Mojave as well...OOPS it is the PARK SERVICE and the DFG actually lobbied to keep them in? Ahh Facts who needs them anyway when you are railing against the government. EASY amorphus targets that help by not responding to our self rightious rhetoric.

Hell most of the guys I know are not that good a hunters to assure that they could get all the pigs...sounds like they want some assurance of 100% eradication. Might be time for the professionals?

It sure would be fun to get to go out and participate thought and it could be done in some fashion if someone somewhere had the motivation to let folks help...and Yes they probaly could make some money on the deal, that much I agree with here for sure.

 

[Lurediver]

 

[Speckmisser]

Great points, if a little caustically put there, CLDHunter.

But I do agree... if folks want to holler about something, they should know who and what they're hollering about. I know it sucks to see potential hunting opportunities closed off and eliminated, but we shouldn't let the emotion cloud reason.

Now, you can (and on this forum we have) debate the value of exterminating the pigs off those islands. That's a good argument, and there are valid points on both sides. I have no interest of going down that road again. But once the decision has been made to wipe them out, then the only appropriate way to do this is through the use of professionals who are prepared and equipped to kill everything from the 2lb squealers to the 400lb behemoths.

The bottom line, as has been said over and over in this discussion (if someone does a search, they'll find an awful lot of reading.. much of it rather heated... about this topic)... sport hunters are not the appropriate resource for eradicating an entire pig herd. Hell, we're barely adequate to manage populations through selective harvest.

 

[Franklin3]

Only my Humble Opinion but as a citizen taxpayer I beleive the resources of this state belong to me (the taxpayer). And I wholeheartedly reject the non native species argument as well. Until there's a bounty on feral cats the whole concept of eradication is simply being used to blow smoke up someones derreier (SP)
It's a convenience issue or more accurately an inconvenience issue.

 

[CLDhunter]

Speckbuddy, I see your point about being caustic...that also unto itself can misdirect emotion and frustration. That certainly wasnt my intention things just come out how they come out when flapping the ole piehole sometimes without ample time for careful editing.

There is some merit to the issue of folks not being allowed to have a swat at these "vermin". I also agree with Franklin that as a taxpayer it is our resources that are being directed, misdirected or perhaps could be better utilized.

Convienance or inconvience I guess its just a matter of where you sit and how much a grasp of the whole picture you have..or perhaps are allowed to have by those pulling the strings. One thing for sure we need to identify just who we are talking about or need to talk to or we are are missing the boat completely and perhaps unfairly chastising those who actually are our advocates?

I am thinking I need to apply to some overseas company and exercise some of my self proclaimed professionalism in at least a part time manner! Anyone know if they are still taking applications or the mailing address of said company? LOL

 

[Franklin3]

This is the problem as I see it.
It's always so damn easy to criticize the actions of others.
If you disagree then it becomes incumbent upon you to offer a solution or a viable alternative. That requires reasearch, Commitment, time, all those things I dislike unless it feeds my own activities.
Grandma used to always tell me. don't be so quick to criticize unless your prepared to step up!
I don't really want to step up. I'll donate money to the cause but I'm nothing more than an armchair quarterback. I don't want to go to no meetings and speechify. I'd rather pop off half cocked and run away.
you guys make good points it's just a sad state of affairs when apathy takes over and we allow things like this pig slaughter to occur.
i did write the DFG to ask if there was any chance they might consider having a pig hunt at coyote lake like they do at Sanoma but I haven't heard anything back yet.

 

[CLDhunter]

My solution is if you cant beat them then join them..he he he.
I'll step up to that plate and take that swing!

Franklin, I think for the most part everyone is overwhelmed with the daily pressueres of life to offer too much in the way of research and activism. That's why we need politically active groups which we must support to carry the cause for us. I also would support them with $. Much in the same manner that CWA represents the interest of waterfowlers or the NRA represents the interests of gun owners and hunters and DWU has done in the desert region. All of these groups do fantastic work for us all.

I guess the question is who would be the right group to take on this issue? I am at a loss to even suggest anyone? Maybe they are doing the right thing if eradication is the goal? I really dont know at this point? I just know the Nature Conservancy and the NPS would be the people to ask and take action if there was to be any change to the current plan.

I think I will do a search here on the forum and see what was said before regarding the specifics of this issue. It sounds like it was hashed out in some detail before?