Posted on 10/23/2002 11:13:47 PM PDT by livis_dad
People Eat Squirrel Meat Too by Livis_Dad
Squirrel Poisoning Causes Culture Clash at UC Davis, Homeless Outraged, Demand Solution
Colonies of ground squirrels live in the arboretum at U.C. Davis. Because the animal's burrows can be hazardous, the university used poison to control the squirrel population. That has both students and faculty upset.
Professor Ned Buyukmichi is a veterinarian at U.C. Davis. He enjoys walking his dogs in the Davis Arboretum. He got quite a surprise during a recent walk. "I wasn't absolutely certain that it was what I thought it was, which was a feeding station with poison," said Buyukmichi.
The feeding station did indeed contain poisoned grain for rodents. It also harms any other animal that eats it. "I was appalled that they were spreading poisons around for various reasons," said Buyukmichi. "One, the effect on the squirrels is not pleasant. They do suffer and this is a university that's supposed to be showing compassion for life."
U.C. Davis groundskeepers placed 25 feeding stations in the arboretum. They have since removed them, but not because they didn't work. "In the areas that we have treated, there is a much reduced squirrel presence," said grounds division supervisor Robert Bohn.
Groundskeepers say the squirrel's burrows represent a significant health and safety hazard. "If you're working out here, and you're looking up, and you're not looking at exactly where you're putting your feet, it's easy to get your foot in one of those holes and I've fallen flat on my back," said U.C. Davis garden manager Ellen Zagory.
The feeders containing poisonous grain were left out for three weeks. The university contends the use of poisoned grain is an approved method of controlling the rodent population.
I had a chance to spend some time with some homeless people who live around U.C. Davis, former dotcom experts, they are outraged that the University is poisoning one of their top food supplies.
Cletus B. Sanchez gave us a full report, "Squirrels have been supporting a lot of us around here, geez, it was good last month, you could harvest 5 or so squirrels a day ranging from Grey, Piney, and Striped. If they are the striped Ground Squirrels, you'll need about 10 to make a meal, but Grey Squirrels are fat free, easy to harvest, and will make a meal for one, dandelions are a wonderful partner if roasted. I usually just hit them in the head when they are eating some cashews out of my hand. Pigeons are easy too... but I refuse to eat those dead poisoned squirrels the Campus has planted for us, they are way to salty and I became constipated. It's very hard to find live squirrels or rodents right now to harvest."
Where is the justice? UC Davis is out of control! Didn't they do any environmental culture aspect studies before authorizing the use of rat poison to kill off ground squirrels? A natural resource the former IT Nomadic people for the area were utilizing for food, how will they get protein now? From Tofu cookies, Fishcakes, or Soybean paste? Hell no.
I know the solution, State Park Deer Harvesting!
Yes Deer Harvesting from State Owned Land, where the deer populations are out of control and traffic collisions with deer are at an all time high. We are implementing it in Ohio with high-powered .243 rifle sharpshooters killing 500 deer over 2 months, doing it at night with spotlights at feeding stations. They are aiming for the head to minimize suffering. This is a great way to feed people in need locally and statewide. One average sized deer could feed 50 people. I would rather have a twisted ankle than a wrecked car anyway.
http://www.ohioinsurancefactbook.org/2002/chapter2/chapter2_l.shtml -Car crash stats from Deer overpopulation in Ohio http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/sep02/0923deerhealth.htm -Ohio Deer population report, search tool
The next step is high-powered pellet guns, flashlights and rabbit/squirrel state sponsored neighborhood harvest parties. I can’t wait, Grill on.
These rodents are often plague carriers.
Take them off your menu.
Guess those over-educated lovely libs at UC Davis never heard of Havahart traps.
After reading that I had to go back to see if was an Onion or BSNN article. It should be.
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