Walk For Point Reyes Deer
Citizen Call to Action | July 25, 2008
To the Editor:
Residents of the Bay Area and especially West Marin led the drive to create the
Point Reyes National Seashore. For 30 years, a citizens advisory commission
nominated by local governments and appointed by the Secretary of the Interior
provided a valuable liaison between the public and the Park Service.
However, the commission needed reauthorization in 2002, and both the bush
Administration and the National Seashore administration saw a chance to get the
public out of their hair.
Three years ago, the commission had worked out a management policy for the
park's axis and fallow deer, setting a quota of 350 animals apiece. Having gotten
rid of the commission, the park now wants to get rid of the deer too — and has
already shot about 80 percent of them.
In May, five Bay Area members of Congress, as well as California's lieutenant
governor, called on the Park Service to come up with a better way of limiting herd
sizes, such as using contraception. The Humane Society of the US provided a cogent
argument for taking a more-humane approach to wildlife management and offered to
help implement it, but the park dismissed it.
To show Congress and the Park Service we stand together in support of the deer,
there will be a peaceful, quarter-mile walk at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 27, from Sacred
Heart Church down Bear Valley Road. Please join us.
Kathy Runnion, Nicasio
Christine DeCamp, Point Reyes
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