ROAR Oh deer! In its April 2001 issue, Reader's Digest shares "Too Cute to Kill," a Wall Street Journal article that unflinchingly examines the deer population explosion and the problems caused by some 30 million deer. The feature describes the terrible tolls people pay – lost lives, thousands of injuries, and extensive property damage – all because of too many deer. Presenting a comprehensive list of options available to reduce the deer population, the report concludes that sport hunting is the most practical way for communities to manage deer populations. Reader's Digest also informs its 13 million readers that hunting should be expanded to lessen the damage these animals cause. Safari Club International applauds this finding. With increased hunting, deer – caused car accidents and property damage to homes could be reduced and venison could become an incredible resource for feeding tens of millions of hungry people. Animals in Parade Parade magazine recently informed its 37 million readers that "a Darwinian struggle is afoot. Wild animals have learned that living is easy in America's suburbs, and they're making life increasingly hard on the humans who live there with them." The feature describes what so many suburbanites know. Brash coyotes are roaming neighborhoods in 48 states to carry off pets and even young children. Black bears frolic in the suburbs of Atlanta, Boston, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. Beavers clear-cut trees in Washington DC. Skunks carry rabies. Deer spread Lyme disease and defoliate gardens. The article presented 10 things homeowners can do to keep wildlife at bay. Yet it missed the biggest opportunity for positive change. People should be encouraged to support wildlife biologists and hunters. Together, they can help get wildlife populations in check. Madison Avenue Spoofs Wildlife Television screens across America are buzzing with commercials showing tongue-in-cheek wildlife interaction. Toyota has men brawling with bears to sell Tacoma trucks. A fisherman kung-fu fights a bear to fish for John West Salmon. Discover Card has a man-eating hyena for sale in a pet store. A Mountain Dew drinker chases down a cheetah and reclaims a soda in its throat. Wendy's has a park ranger prodding a tourist to go after a bear seeking chicken nuggets. The herd of exaggerated wildlife ads is growing. A hungry bear goes after two guys drinking on a beach. The one drinking Smirnoff Ice squirts the other with honey. He avoids the bear and is rewarded with the affection of two women. Red Lobster turns a shark sighting into a quick swim for people wanting Great White sushi. A Dentyne Ice beauty chews on a shark that tries to nibble on her ear. State Farm has deer talking about watching for cars – a humorous absurdity that reminds drivers of the growing number of accidents caused by deer and the need for car insurance. Special Goose Hunt New Mexico wildlife officials issued a "conservation order" authorizing unlimited hunting of snow geese east of the Continental Divide. The successful two-week initiative that just concluded should help reduce a population explosion that could easily overwhelm the birds' breeding grounds in the Canadian arctic (Associated Press). The west-central flyway, which is the birds' migratory path, can support roughly 110,000 geese. According to the New Mexico Game and Fish, there are about 500,000 geese in the area now. Safari Club International salutes New Mexico for this proactive use of hunting. While it's not a panacea because many of the geese temporarily reside in wildlife refuges, it is a model that other states could embrace to collectively address a growing problem for migratory birds, the communities along their flight paths and those around increasingly ravaged breeding grounds. Kudos too, to the sportsmen and sportswomen who responded to the "conservation order." All in the Province In February, newspapers in the Canadian province of British Columbia carried two stories that raise questions about what communities should do when predatory animals are living near suburban areas. First, Premier Ujjal Dosanjh ignored outcry from outfitters concerned about the $200 million a year grizzly hunt industry, and established a three-year moratorium on grizzly bear hunting. Then, the Vancouver Sun reported "only the miraculous arrival of local pulp mill worker Elliot Cole," who was driving home late from work, saved Jon Nostdal, a 52-year-old tugboat captain attacked by a cougar six kilometers outside Port Alice. Vancouver Island has one of North America's largest cougar populations, and there are frequent sightings of cougars around the city. Doesn't the Premier understand grizzly bears are like cougars? If they're frequently seen in the province and local outfitters like Ray Collingwood say, "we've got grizzlies coming out our ears," tragic human-bear encounters are a risk. $293 Million for State Fish & Wildlife Agencies By sharing $293 million in excise tax revenue paid by America's hunters, target shooters, boaters and anglers with state fish and wildlife agencies in 2001, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is helping fund conservation programs including land acquisition, habitat improvement, research and outdoor education. In making the announcement, Jamie Rappaport Clark, Service Director of USFWS said, "Hunters and anglers continue to be a cornerstone to conservation in America. Their financial contributions through excise taxes paid under the Federal Aid program are vital to maintaining and restoring our nation's fish and wildlife resources." Safari Club members reinforce the important activity by expending local chapter resources to fund more than 150 wildlife conservation projects annually, many of which receive matching grants from the Safari Club International Foundation. This combined yearly investment in conservation exceeds $1.5 million. Whoop it Up! Felony Poaching Conviction There are about 400 whooping cranes in the world including about 73 in Florida. As a result, when two of the majestic birds were shot by a poacher in Nov., the North Florida Chapter of Safari Club International immediately joined the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the US Fish and Wildlife Service in posting a reward for a tip leading to conviction. In Dec., thanks in part to $14,500 in rewards offered, William L. Bush, Jr., was arrested. The 18-year-old recently plead guilty to killing the two endangered birds. He was sentenced to 75 days in jail, 2 ½ years of probation and suspension of his drivers license. Bush could have received a maximum of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for the felony offense. From posting rewards to placing anti-poaching deer decoys in the field and providing expert counsel to countries in Africa with significant poaching problems, Safari Club helps enforce wildlife laws. Hunting Amendment Passes Senate The Wisconsin Senate unanimously passed a constitutional amendment Tuesday that would guarantee that "the people have the right to fish, hunt, trap and take game which shall be managed by law for the public good." The amendment was approved 31-0 but must be passed by two consecutive Legislatures and by voters in a statewide referendum before it can take effect. States with protections in their constitutions to guarantee their right to hunt, fish or trap include Alabama, California, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island and Vermont. 30th Anniversary Convention Hundreds of exhibitors and sportsmen already have booked their trips to be at Safari Club International's 30th Annual Hunters Convention. They've committed to attend the four-day event more than a year before it takes place in Las Vegas, March 20-23, 2002. Why? Because more than 17,000 outdoor enthusiasts relished SCI's Jan. 2001 Hunters Convention, with its 1,428 exhibitor booths, record auction activity, spectacular evening programs, and $8.6 million raised for wildlife conservation and hunting advocacy programs. Next year's anniversary show will be even better! Mark your calendar to attend! There will be no shortage of story and hunt opportunities at what undoubtedly will remain the hunting industry's best Convention. ROAR 1. Prefer to receive ROAR by fax or mail 2. Want expert commentary on wildlife management or hunting-related issues 3. Need leads on hunters involved with conservation, education and humanitarian projects 4. Wish to be removed from the ROAR distribution list (roar@safariclub.org 520-618-3565 fax) More on Safari Club Founded in 1971, Safari Club International is a 501(C)(4) nonprofit association dedicated to protecting the rights of 45 million hunters worldwide. With some 200 chapters around the globe, SCI is a tireless advocate for these sportsmen and sportswomen who, through their legal hunting activities, represent the single largest source of money necessary to maintain wildlife populations and habitats, to conduct wildlife research and to enforce wildlife laws. For more information about SCI, visit www.safariclub.org or its government relations Web site at www.sci-dc.org. The Safari Club International Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes wildlife conservation, education about the outdoors, and humanitarian services for people in need. For more information about SCIF and the hundreds of projects it funds each year, visit www.safariclubfoundation.org or its International Wildlife Museum Web site at www.thewildlifemuseum.org.