Hunting is a violent activity where unarmed, defenseless animals are killed for recreation. Millions of birds and other animals wounded by bullets or arrows, suffer lingering pain before dying. For instance, it is estimated that 50% of animals who are shot with crossbows are wounded but not killed (1). Animals wounded by arrows often slowly bleed to death, suffering sometimes for days. Hunting also disrupts migration and hibernation patterns and destroys families. For animals like wolves, who mate for life and live in close knit family units, hunting can devastate entire communities. The stress that hunted animals suffer - caused by fear and the inescapable loud noises and other commotion that hunters create - also severely compromises their normal eating habits, making it hard for them to store the fat and energy that they need in order to survive the winter. Non “game” animals are also the victims of hunters. In order to produce as many “game” animals as possible to satisfy the hunters’ demands, entire ecosystems are being altered as predators are routinely shot and trapped in misguided efforts to increase game animal numbers. In addition, lead fro the bullets, used until recently, has caused lead pollution of wetlands, upland areas and other habitats. Large numbers of waterfowls, bald eagles and other aquatic birds have been poisoned and killed by the accumulation of lad shot in wetlands food chains.
If you enjoy the outdoors, instead of hunting, choose a peaceful wildlife activity that does not involve killing animals: bird watching, nature photography, etc. Before you financially support a “wildlife” or “conservation” group, ask about its position on hunting. Groups such as the National Wildlife Federation, the National Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, the Izaak Walton League, the Wilderness Society, and the World Wildlife Fund are pro-sport-hunting or, at the very least, they do not oppose it. To combat hunting in your area, post “no hunting” signs on your land, join or form anti-hunting organizations, protest against hunts, and spread deer repellent or human hair, near hunting areas. Report poachers in National Parks to the National Parks and Conservation Society. Educate others about hunting.
References: (1) Stephen S. Ditchkoff et all., “Wounding Rates of White-Tail Deer with Traditional Archery Equipment,” Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (1998.) |
|
||
|
|||