WA State full of turkeys?
Imagine, you're hiking along a trail in Whatcom County, admiring the scenery, breathing the fresh air, and listening to the sweet call of birds in the forest. Oh, there is the trill of a winter wren. And there! There was a warbler flitting by. Ah, what a nice gobble gobble gobble that was... um... what?
Will turkeys be the next tourists in Whatcom County? We hope not and hope you will write a note to keep our forests turkey-free!
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has a plan. This plan is to release wild, nonnative turkeys near Mosquito Lake (just east of Acme in Whatcom County) in order to establish a population for turkey hunting. I guess turkey hunting will boost WDFW license fee coffers and offer a new hunting experience during a lull between the other hunting seasons.
As you could probably guess, we think this is a pretty bad idea. We would like your help letting WDFW know it's a bad idea too. The desire for new hunting and new income should not drive such a decision; good science should.
Please contact WDFW today, and let them know:
- There has been very little research conducted to determine what impacts nonnative turkeys might have. We are concerned that the introduction of nonnative turkeys may have adverse impacts on threatened and endangered species.
- It is irresponsible for to introduce turkeys until the proper research has been completed.
- The WDFW should develop a contingency plan and a budget with a 100% likelihood of eradicating all turkeys that can be enabled if turkeys are found to impact threatened, endangered or sensitive species.
- The WDFW should listen to the concerns of the farmers and landowners in the Acme area who are concerned that the turkeys will destroy their crops.
- The WDFW needs to have a program to reimburse landowners for damage similar to the program which reimbursed farmers for native deer and elk damage.
Please submit your comments by 5 pm on Tuesday, June 24th to
WDFW
PO Box 1100
La Conner, WA 98257
