Vermont regulations for enclosed hunting

Hearing Oct 20th on Importing, Possessing Animals for Hunting

VERMONT AGENCY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

PRESS RELEASE


For Immediate Release: October 9, 2008
Media Contacts: John Austin, Tom Decker, 802-241-3700
Public Hearing Oct. 20th for Proposed Regulation
On Importing and Possessing Animals for Hunting


WATERBURY, VT – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board is seeking public input on a proposed regulation for the importation and possession of animals for hunting in enclosed areas.

The Board will hold a public hearing beginning at 7:00 p.m., at the Pavilion Auditorium at 109 State Street in Montpelier on Monday, October 20.

A copy of the proposed regulation is on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). Under Law Enforcement, click on Rules and Proposed Rules.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department lists several reasons why the proposed regulation is necessary:

To establish criteria as required by legislative statute to administer and enforce a permit process for the importation and possession of animals for hunting;
To maintain the health of native wild animals and those kept in enclosures;
To prevent the introduction or spread of diseases or parasites by imported animals that are harmful to humans or wild animals, including chronic wasting disease, bovine tuberculosis and rabies, as well as others;
To ensure the physical health and safety of humans;
To ensure the hunting rights described in Section 67 of the Vermont Constitution;
To prohibit entrapment by fence of white-tailed deer and moose or any wild animal not authorized by the new regulation;
To maintain the health of Vermont’s native deer and moose populations;
To ensure there are sufficient open lands for native wildlife to travel, feed and survive in the interests of the public.


“With the threat of serious disease pathogens such as chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis repeatedly appearing in captive herds of deer and elk in other states as near as New York, it becomes increasingly important that we take action now,” said Thomas Decker, Fish & Wildlife’s chief of operations. “Several thousand wild deer and elk have been killed in the Midwest and Western states in an attempt to prevent further spread of CWD when they were exposed to the disease by escaped captive deer or elk.”

“The potential ecological, social and economic losses posed by serious wildlife diseases that could infect Vermont’s native wildlife need to be taken seriously,” added Decker.

-30-