CullingCulling

Is it right or is it a massacre?Is it right or is it a massacre?

What is Culling?What is Culling?

Webster's Webster's Dictionary Dictionary definition says definition says culling is..culling is.. to reduce or control to reduce or control

the size of (as a herd) the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by by removal (as by hunting) of especially hunting) of especially weaker animals; weaker animals; alsoalso :: to hunt or kill to hunt or kill (animals) as a means (animals) as a means of population controlof population control

Why culling?Why culling?

If a species is overpopulated their resources If a species is overpopulated their resources can become depleted causing starvation. can become depleted causing starvation. Eventually ruining and destroying the Eventually ruining and destroying the forests by overwhelming the habitat.forests by overwhelming the habitat.

Overpopulation can also cause disease, Overpopulation can also cause disease, inbreeding, and mutated animals.inbreeding, and mutated animals.

ProsPros

Animals should be culled to protect other species. Animals should be culled to protect other species.

Animals need to be culled to stop them eating food Animals need to be culled to stop them eating food

sources. Ex. It has been reported that one seal colony in sources. Ex. It has been reported that one seal colony in

the Outer Hebrides eats 75,000 tons of fish every year. the Outer Hebrides eats 75,000 tons of fish every year.

The population of certain animals with no predators, such The population of certain animals with no predators, such

as deer, will keep increasing unless they are culled.as deer, will keep increasing unless they are culled.

Culling helps to keep surviving creatures fit and strong. Culling helps to keep surviving creatures fit and strong.

The Forestry Commission has argued that culling makes The Forestry Commission has argued that culling makes

for healthy animals. for healthy animals.

Pros cont..Pros cont.. Some animals are not native to the area and have been introduced Some animals are not native to the area and have been introduced

by humans. by humans.

The carcasses of culled animals are not just burned or buried. They The carcasses of culled animals are not just burned or buried. They can be used for seal pelt coats or venison (deer meat). can be used for seal pelt coats or venison (deer meat).

Animals should be culled to protect people's way of making a living. Animals should be culled to protect people's way of making a living.

ConsCons

There are alternatives to culling.There are alternatives to culling. A noise device to deter animals from damaging A noise device to deter animals from damaging

farmers fields, city reservoirs or dams, etc.farmers fields, city reservoirs or dams, etc. Relocating the animals to another location.Relocating the animals to another location. Reducing the main food source available to a Reducing the main food source available to a

type of animal, decreasing their numbers, rather type of animal, decreasing their numbers, rather than killing them. than killing them.

Deciding which animals live or die is Deciding which animals live or die is interfering with the process of natural interfering with the process of natural selection. selection.

Cons cont…Cons cont…

Culling is ineffective in the long term Culling is ineffective in the long term as the species will eventually as the species will eventually repopulate the area. repopulate the area.

Evidence suggests that some Evidence suggests that some creatures, such as deer, can keep creatures, such as deer, can keep their own numbers down without the their own numbers down without the need for culling. A deer specialist has need for culling. A deer specialist has said that deer in a specific area can said that deer in a specific area can naturally have fewer fawns in naturally have fewer fawns in response to rising numbers.response to rising numbers.

Cons cont..Cons cont.. Culling is murder. Culling is murder.

What if someone What if someone

decided that China’s decided that China’s

human population was human population was

too large and wanted to too large and wanted to

cull millions of people to cull millions of people to

control the situation? control the situation?

Methods used to cull Methods used to cull

animals are often brutal, animals are often brutal,

such as clubbing seals.such as clubbing seals.

Canned HuntsCanned Hunts

Also called “shooting preserves” or Also called “shooting preserves” or “game ranches.”“game ranches.”

Canned hunts are places that allow Canned hunts are places that allow their customers to hunt exotic their customers to hunt exotic animals that are trapped within an animals that are trapped within an enclosure.enclosure.

Canned Hunts cont…Canned Hunts cont…

Where do they get the animals?Where do they get the animals?Zoo’sZoo’sPrivate breedersPrivate breedersAnimal dealersAnimal dealers

These animals are normally hand These animals are normally hand raised and bottle fed making them raised and bottle fed making them semi-tame for easy targets. In even semi-tame for easy targets. In even some cases the animals are drugged.some cases the animals are drugged.

Canned Hunts cont…Canned Hunts cont…

Big businessBig businessCanned hunts are raking in plenty of cashCanned hunts are raking in plenty of cash

City business men who want the quick easy kill City business men who want the quick easy kill of the exotic animal of their choiceof the exotic animal of their choice

More than a 1,000 ranchesMore than a 1,000 ranchesActive ranches in 28 statesActive ranches in 28 states

Strange enough there is no laws Strange enough there is no laws banning canned hunts and most states banning canned hunts and most states allow it.allow it.

Canned Hunts in the NewsCanned Hunts in the News

In August 2006, Troy Gentry of Montgomery In August 2006, Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry was charged with canned hunting. He was Gentry was charged with canned hunting. He was accused of buying a tame cub bear and shooting accused of buying a tame cub bear and shooting it while it was in a pen. Then arranged for a video it while it was in a pen. Then arranged for a video to be produced of the “wild kill.”to be produced of the “wild kill.”

Dick Cheney is also credited going to a canned Dick Cheney is also credited going to a canned hunting ranch in Pennsylvania. He and his hunting ranch in Pennsylvania. He and his hunting crew are said to have killed 417 hunting crew are said to have killed 417 pheasants and a number of mallard ducks.pheasants and a number of mallard ducks.

Any Any Questions???Questions???

SourcesSources

www.m-w.comwww.m-w.com

http://chicagowildernessmag.org/issues/fall2003/http://chicagowildernessmag.org/issues/fall2003/deerdilemma.htmldeerdilemma.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_3550000/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_3550000/newsid_3552500/3552512.stmnewsid_3552500/3552512.stm

http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/stop_canned_hunts/http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/stop_canned_hunts/

http://www.elkfarmmn.com/http://www.elkfarmmn.com/