From: "Dr. Timothy Steinhauer" <noreply@mtlsd.net>
Date: December 15, 2014 at 3:30:24 PM EST
To: Mt. Lebanon Parents
Subject: Municipal Deer Management Program Information
Reply-To: "Dr. Timothy Steinhauer" <noreply@mtlsd.net>
Dear Parents,
We have been notified by the Mt. Lebanon Municipality that they will conduct a deer management archery program that will run December 26, 2014 to January 24, 2015 in Bird Park, Robb Hollow Park, McNeilly Park and at the municipal golf course.
Please see the Deer Management Archery Program description on the municipal website for further information http://www.mtlebanon.org/
Sincerely,
Timothy J. Steinhauer, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Mt. Lebanon School District
What did you do today to improve the life of a child?
As a parent wrote to me:
So this came out. It is so utterly devoid of info, warnings or recommendations from the superintendent. Even the link that it sends you to is too much. How about clear and concise statements with specific warnings for parents?!!..."The Almanac came out with this article today. Mt. Lebanon to harvest deer (Harvest. Sounds so much better than Kill, right?)
“We have an overabundance of deer in Mt. Lebanon,” McDonough said. “The number of car crashes related to deer is also under reported."Dumb question, but how does the chief know that the number of car crashes related to deer is under reported?
42 comments:
"People don’t always file a report because they don’t want their insurance rates to go up.”
Regarding insurance claims for drivers:
"Damage from striking a deer is covered by the optional comprehensive portion of auto insurance, which typically means the driver pays a lower deductible than for a crash. If the deer is missed but the motorist hits something else, collision coverage applies — another reason experts say not to swerve.
If a struck deer dies, the driver or a passing motorist can claim the carcass, provided they are Pennsylvania residents. They must report it to the Game Commission within 24 hours."
The Reply-To "Dr. Tim.." is That sort of says it all
7:17 Dr Tim likes to dispatch parental inquiries as much as possible and indefinitely. However, if you call the superintendent from a neighboring district, he will return your call the same day, perhaps even a couple of times.
Perhaps Dr. Tim feels he's limited to 140-character emails. HAHAHAHAHA
If the deer in Mt Lebanon are as smart as the deer involved in the PSU Deer-Forest study, the deer are going to realize they are being hunted and seek hiding places.
I don't know how people can read the following blog post and not have compassion for deer.
http://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/projects/deer/news/2014/discerning-doe
Where are all the injured deer involved in these "unreported" collisons?
First, we over-militarize the police to fight a useless "drug war." Then, we have them train an army of public employees to kill deer using bows-and-arrows as if this were Medieval Times.
This is why I am a libertarian.
- Jason M.
Perhaps someone should notify the "IN ... " magazines that are mailed to community homes every month. My neighboring community has a section listing winter activities in other communities. For "In Mt. Lebanon", sledding at the golf course.
OMG, 7:41 AM. I didn't realize that. If there is snow, there will be sled riding. If there is no snow, there will be golfers. Either way, Mt. Lebanon should close the golf course between December 26 and January 24.
Elaine
So is thr Chief stating that he permits deer collisions to go unreported to benefit the driver's auto insurance? What else does he permit to go under reported? What about stalking --is that also a negotiable incident report Chief?
I know that He Who Shall Not Be Named, the ladies who wanted to ignite me, and this individual were given a pass.
Elaine
Any news on the chicken front? What are the new restrictions and regulations? I've never seen deer on Washington Road but i have had to slam on the brakes to avoid the birds in the middle of the road that live a house in the intersection of Jeff/Wash..
I saw those birds too, 9:44 AM. I told my family about the 3 French hens I saw on the way to a commission meeting, but they didn't believe me. Of course, they didn't believe me when I told them I saw a pig on a leash (Carnegie), a goat in a coat (Greensburg), dead duck in the middle of the road (also Greensburg), or the peacock running loose (on the way to Penn State Commencement in 1998 either).
Elaine
9:44 AM, here is the chicken ordinance that was passed at the last meeting.
Elaine
Why is there no mention of archery on the District web page?
I'm just glad I wasn't arrested for watching my children ride their bikes in the street since I did have the police dispatched to my home on more than one occasion to investigate my parenting.
When I asked why they kept coming to investigate despite the fact that I wasn't doing anything wrong, they said the "have to investigate" every 911 call.
OK, this is bullsh*t. I read the most recent commission meeting minutes and they're messing with what I said during Citizen Comments.
THE DEER WITH AN ARROW WAS ON MACARTHUR HERE IN MT. LEBANON, which I guess is near Bethel Park.
And yes, I was talking about culling in county parks, but was comparing how large they are in comparison to the size of Mt. Lebanon. OMG.
Elaine
I have to call the police department if I want to park in the street overnight or get a ticket. My grass cannot be more than 6 inches long. I cannot put my garbage out before 6 pm the day before garbage pick up.
It is OK, though, and even encouraged to shoot deadly arrows near my house and where my kids play.
I laughed when I got the above email in my inbox.
Who directed him to send it?
I found it very strange for the school district to send an email if there is no danger involved in the "archery program".
for a few days before each cull begins, dress in your brightest clothing, grab your friends and take your loudest horns, whistles to the parks. those deer will get the message: the hunters are coming.
Auburn family's dog shot, killed
Dog owners believe hunter may be responsible
There is a TV video and report. Safe to watch, no pic. of shot dog. Beautiful dog.
UPDATED 5:50 PM EST Nov 14, 2014
Read more:
http://www.wmur.com/news/auburn-familys-dog-shot-killed/29727668#ixzz3M03tZddt
AUBURN, N.H. —A family in Auburn is looking for answers after their
1-year-old Bernese mountain dog was shot and killed Wednesday morning.
The family said it believes the dog was intentionally shot on private
property by a hunter in the woods near the family's home, and the family
wants the person responsible to come forward.
Dog owner Tammy Lambiris said she is positive the shooting wasn't a
mistake. She said the dog, Tydon, didn't look like a deer, and it was a
friendly animal that always roamed throughout the neighborhood without
any problems.
"He goes to the neighbors every morning to visit the little boy and
usually comes home by 7:30," Lambiris said.
But when she went to let Tydon in, the dog wasn't there.
"We are going through sadness," she said. "We are going through anger,
and now we are determined to find the person who did this to our puppy."
Lambiris said she and other neighbors heard a gunshot from a hunter that
morning, and she's convinced that was the bullet that hit her dog in the
head, right between the eyes.
"I want him to understand the pain that we are feeling," she said. "He
doesn't deserve to hold a rifle."
Tydon was found in the woods near their home Thursday morning, close to
where Lambiris' son, Brandon Carter, found shells from a rifle. Carter
said that at first, he thought the dog was sleeping.
"Once I felt him, I realized he was solid. He was frozen," Carter said.
"Then, I saw blood coming from his head."
The family called police right away, hoping for answers as to why this
happened.
"Tydon doesn't look like a deer," Carter said. "If he was mistaken for a
bear, it isn't even bear-hunting season."
Wednesday marked the first day of regular firearms hunting season.
Carter said hunting goes on near his home, but Tydon was shot on private
property, and he doesn't think this was a mistake.
The family said they won't stop looking until Tydon's killer is found.
"We are going to find him," Lambiris said. "He's going to be located. He
needs to be punished."
The state Fish and Game Department is investigating. Anyone who was in
the area Wednesday morning and saw something is asked to call officials.
In the meantime, pet owners are being urged to keep their pets fenced in
or on a leash. If they are going out in the woods, put a bright-colored
vest on pets so hunters are aware.
Hunter kills dog, thought it was stray
http://www.kare11.com/story/news/local/2014/11/18/hunter-shoots-kills-family-pet-in-rice-county/19255347/
Rena Sarigianopoulos, KARE 12:01 a.m. EST November 19, 2014
NORTHFIELD, Minn. -- A hunter in Rice County shot and killed a family pet over the weekend. The question now is, will he get charged? The answer is not so black and white.
Diesel was a six-year-old black lab. He and his buddy Moosie were let outside their home in Northfield Saturday morning. The usual early morning bathroom ritual. Moosie, however, was the only one to come back.
"We immediately started looking for the dog and calling and calling neighbors, internet, we made fliers that night to put on mailboxes," says Kerry Hanson, Diesel's owner.
They had no luck finding their beloved pet. It wasn't until Sunday night that a neighbor came over to break the bad news. A hunter had been hunting on his land and shot Diesel and left him there.
"I asked the landowner, I says, 'Was he chasing the deer?' he says 'No, he was just coming down the trail and this man who was in the deer stand shot the dog,'" says Jim Hullett, Diesel's owner.
In Minnesota you can legally shoot a dog if it's chasing big game, but only between January 1 and July 14, and only if the discharge of firearms is allowed. The law is somewhat confusing but the hunter admitted to killing the dog, saying he thought it was a stray.
"We've never had this happen before where an animal's been shot when it's not chasing wildlife, so it's new to us and we've forwarded the reports to the county attorney's office for their review to see if they can find any charges that are applicable," says Rice County Sheriff, Troy Dunn.
Diesel's family is hoping the hunter will face animal cruelty charges and even more, they hope to get the law changed to be more clear.
"I don't want another dog to die this way."
Hunter Accidentally Shoots Leicester Home Instead of Deer
http://www.geneseesun.com/2014/11/16/stray-bullet-enters-leicester-home/
16 Nov, 2014 - DAVE HERBERT
LEICESTER — A Scottsville hunter was so far off his mark while hunting in Leicester he struck a home and not the deer that he was aiming for.
According to a press release from Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty, Jay Campbell, 32, was arrested for Reckless Endangerment in the 2nd Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree, after an investigation that alleges he shot a Leicester home on River Road.
Sheriff Dougherty stated that no one was injured from the incident, and that Campbell had been hunting in the area with his muzzle loader.
Campbell was taken into custody, processed and released with pending court action. Assisting in the investigation was Investigator Daniel Rittenhouse, Deputy Ross Gerace, Evidence Technician Deputy Michael Williams, and En-Con Police Officer Brian Wade.
With the opening of gun season, Sheriff Dougherty stated that hunters need to be safe in their actions, know their targets, be able to see them, and use caution in their actions.
Does this release the district of any liability since Timmy warned parents?
Elaine
10:46, watch how long the grass and dandelions get in our parks, how closely PW sticks to the leaf pick up and how well the snow removal goes.
No where in that email does Dr. Steinhauer "warn" parents, Elaine. He is merely informing them that the municipality informed him. I can figure out the potential danger to my kids myself. But the lack of a warning or any specifics in his email about why the superintendent feels the need to inform the parents of MtL students is strange. If there is no potential danger to kids, why does he have to alert parents?
Like Dave Brumfield likes to say, 9:23 AM, he is just checking the box.
Plus, Timmy can say that is what he did to improve the life of a child that day.
Elaine
I would have thought that Dr. Steinhauer would be doing more to make sure that the students are warned of the danger, and told not to go into or cut through the parks during these days, because it is extremely dangerous, with men actively hunting with lethal weapons in the parks. This notification sent out by Dr. Steinhauer doesn't say anything about the potential danger at all. You just can't assume that students (children) automatically understand the danger involved, or that all parents will receive Dr. Steinhauer's notice, or themselves, understand the danger w/o it being explicitly stated. Of course, the chief of police and the Commission are saying that hunting in the parks with people and children using the parks is safe and there is no danger. So I guess Mt. Lebanon can't warn of the dangers w/o admitting that this is a dangerous situation, that they created, that threatens the safety of Mt. Lebanon's families and their children. As far as I can tell, they aren't shutting the parks down. Why aren't they aren't shutting the parks down! This seems reckless and negligent - crazy! Why take any more risks than necessary, especially putting children at risk. I can't imagine the Commissioners would want their children using the parks with hunters in the parks. I can't imagine anyone with basic common sense thinking that this isn't a dangerous situation, or that any parents would allow their children to cut through or use the parks with men hunting in the parks. This seems insane to me! Close the friggen parks down, and warn the parents and the students of the serious danger involved. Plus, I wouldn't want my children being traumatized by seeing a deer shot, wounded, or gutted, or being scared to death by a camouflaged dressed hunter. Am I the only one this concerned, or is there something I'm missing?
I would have thought that Dr. Steinhauer would be doing more to make sure that the students are warned of the danger, and told not to go into or cut through the parks during these days, because it is extremely dangerous, with men actively hunting with lethal weapons in the parks. This notification sent out by Dr. Steinhauer doesn't say anything about the potential danger at all. You just can't assume that students (children) automatically understand the danger involved, or that all parents will receive Dr. Steinhauer's notice, or themselves, understand the danger w/o it being explicitly stated.
Of course, the chief of police and the Commission are saying that hunting in the parks with people and children using the parks is safe and there is no danger. So I guess Mt. Lebanon can't warn of the dangers w/o admitting that this is a dangerous situation, that they created, that threatens the safety of Mt. Lebanon's families and their children.
As far as I can tell, they aren't shutting the parks down. Why aren't they aren't shutting the parks down! This seems reckless and negligent - crazy! Why take any more risks than necessary, especially putting children at risk. I can't imagine the Commissioners would want their children using the parks with hunters in the parks. I can't imagine anyone with basic common sense thinking that this isn't a dangerous situation, or that any parents would allow their children to cut through or use the parks with men hunting in the parks. This seems insane to me! Close the friggin parks down, and warn the parents and the students of the serious danger. Plus, I wouldn't want my children being traumatized by seeing a deer shot, wounded, or gutted, or being scared to death by a camouflaged dressed hunter.
Am I the only one this concerned, or is there something I'm missing?
I, too, am extremely concerned about the safety of this program. I think it is ludicrous to allow muni employees to shoot and kill deer in our parks and golf course when there are houses so close by and children and adults who will be put in danger. I feel powerless and vulnerable because of this stupid decision.
Elaine - there is someone near you on Hoodridge with a Eat More Venison sign decorated with a big Christmas bow on it. I'm extremely offended with someone celebrating the birth of our Savior in such a fashion.
1:56 PM, yes, I saw it too. It is a red bow, but I know what you mean. It is in very poor taste. Does it surprise you? Nothing surprises me anymore.
1:00 PM, yes, I feel the same way about many issues here. Powerless and vulnerable.
Elaine
The police are creating the standard to decide who is proficient in archery and they are only permitting their affiliates to even tryout for the program. Other communities have permitted an unbiased third party to decide on proficiency and had the hunter pay the price for the test. Locally, Gander Mountain can provide this service.
The walking school district superintendent isn't providing any warnings to students and parents walking to/from school about the killings.
The killings are called harvests like we are getting ready for Thanksgiving. The truth is that no one is getting hurt by deer in this community but they rather inconvenienced. And SOMEBODY has an Eat More Venison sign with a bow on it in their yard?
This undertaking will stand as a truly dishonest, crass and offensive moment in Mt Lebanon's history.
2:08, I've been questioning the proficiency testing for a few weeks now. Over the years, thanks to public ranges and the target pistol courses that Mt. Lebanon offered, I became fairly proficient at pistol and rifle shooting. But that doesn't make me proficient at hunting with either a pistol or rifle even if I go out pass a test and obtain a hunting license. It just means I can hit a target in a controlled environment. I would bet that even our high school sharpshooters would have a difficult time shooting a moving target outdoors being that they are proficient at stationary targets in an indoor controlled environment.
So what I question is, how do you adequately test the proficiency of someone with a bow and arrow who has never been in a real world scenario that mimics the outdoor environment standing on a tree stand with gusty winds with pressure on you as a hunter knowing that you need to hit a target well enough so it doesn’t run into the street or onto someone else’s property being so close to homes where kids may be walking home from school or playing in the parks (or in the yard) during the Christmas break?
I really wonder how many of the volunteers will have adequate real world hunting experience.
Nick M.
It looks like someone wants to organize a protest. See the Mt Lebo mag's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/mtlebanonmagazine/photos/a.180688983665.124704.177840613665/10152670735078666/?type=1&comment_id=10152671270503666¬if_t=like
2:08 PM, "Truly dishonest" is exactly right! I find that sign disturbing, and I find it disturbing that the pro-kill posters on this blog have resorted to lying and fabricating stories in their effort to try to scare the public and justify their deer killing program.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised; i.e. their entire agenda presented to the public to kill deer is disingenuous. Their real agenda is to bring hunters, shooters, and trappers into Mt. Lebanon to kill the deer that eat their tulips, and the other flowers that are irresistible to deer on the garden tour. The handful of political power brokers pulling the strings knew that it would be difficult to get buy-in from the public to support gun men running around shooting to protect their tulips, and so they did a bait-and-switch and made it about car-deer collisions. Their campaign was totally disingenuous. The other Commissioners knew that their agenda was disingenuous, but said nothing, and eventually all but Commissioner, Kelly Fraasch, became complicit, and went along with the program.
So here we are. Mt. Lebanon is being turned into a private hunting club, and the handful of power brokers and their garden tour friends, will get their personal deer and fawns, that eat their tulips, trapped and inhumanely slaughtered with a bolt gun. And of course, when this program doesn't work, they will push for Enhanced Harvesting Techniques (EHT) next year, i.e. bringing in shooters with high powered rifles.
I find it disturbing that this small elitist group is willing to expose all of Mt. Lebanon's families to the serious safety threat of lethal weapons and inhumane slaughter in their neighborhoods and parks for their tulips and garden tour, when they could easily plant beautiful gardens using deer resistant flowers, repellents, and deterrents. In the end, all of this hunting, shooting, trapping, and killing, will not stop the remaining deer from eating their precious tulips. I also find it disturbing that the Commission is part of this dishonest agenda.
4:02 PM, thanks for letting me know about Facebook. Let's see if the PIO removes my comment.
I have been thinking about the bow on the sign. When ML updated their sign ordinances to allow Linfante and the rest of the Roycroft bunch display their "Just Dig It" signs, I remember learning that nothing would be permitted to be hung on the signs. Do you think Linfante will ask her Hoodridge constituent to remove the bow?
4:12 PM, pretty disgusting, isn't it? Nothing is going to stop this, you know that, right? The police chief told a Lebo Citizens reader that the golf course will remain open, but there will be a sign posted stating that hunting activities may be taking place.
Elaine
My husband and I are totally against this cruelty. We must stop this. Let's organize something. I don't know where to start. But I am willing to dedicate my time and money into fighting this murder event in my neighborhood. Let's do something about it.
Mt Lebanon is anti-nature - I am sure of this.
Anyhow, dogs should be invited to all the protests especially if they take part in the parks. My dogs can flush out deer from an entire neighborhood and they can smell them from a very significant distance - I am not exaggerating.
All Lebo people with dogs should walk these park grounds for several days in advance of the cull.
Let's see how many freaking deer are culled then? You don't hear people in my neighborhood complaining about dogs because we actually take our dogs to our neighborhood park and the deer stay clear.
Gardeners, apparently, must hate dogs too or they wouldn't have this problem.
Killers yet slackers at the same time. ONLY in MT LEBANON.
Children learn by what they live...
1:56 PM, as a fellow Christian, I also find this promotion of suffering and killing with Christmas decorations morally reprehensible.
"It is crucial to understand why the taking of pleasure in the infliction of suffering is so morally deplorable. It may be morally permissible to smack a child when performed with the intention of rectifying regressive behaviour. But all should properly recoil at parents who enjoy this act. The taking of pleasure renders what might, conceivably, be a morally licit act into one that is disturbed, even depraved. ... The deliberate infliction of suffering on "lesser creatures" who are wholly in our power, and who are, strictly speaking, morally innocent, is a gross betrayal of our God-given responsibility. ... But cruelty is not just an intrinsically objectionable act; it is a token of moral meanness; a practical example of our failure to live generously after the example of Jesus. There is, as Cardinal Newman indicated, 'something so very dreadful, so satanic in tormenting those who have never harmed us, and who cannot defend themselves, who are utterly in our power [and] who have weapons neither of offense or defense.' And he concludes his consideration of the Christ-like innocence of animals with this appeal: 'Think, then, my brethren of your feelings at cruelty practised on brute animals, and you will gain one sort of feeling which the history of Christ's Cross and Passion ought to excite within you.' ... I wish you -- and all God's creatures -- a peaceful Christmas." Rev. Professor Andrew Linzey, a member of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Oxford.
Everyone who is not indifferent to the deer. Who has heart and cannot see poor animals running with arrows in their bodies, bleeding to death. Anyone who doesn't want their children to become traumatized by seeing animals being murdered. Kids pet deer at zoo. And our yards decorated with deer statutes for Christmas. I saw several cars today with deer horns and red noses. Please E mail me. We are organizing a protest against this animal cruelty. Anyalasko@gmail.com we must stop this.
4:12 I find your blog post interesting. Just like everyone's reaction to the turf. Elaine Gillen puts out info on the potential of the cull. Kelly Fraasch puts out more info with an alternative solution that's humane. Where was everyone? Where were the emails or protests then? Why are the ones enraged now again too late? I am on your side in theory but I was told that very few emails made it to the commission from community members. I was one of maybe three. How is that possible?
If you aren't going to stand up when the time demands why complain now?
You can't believe the email "counts" as they are never true. Pretty sure I wrote at least 3 anti cull email messages and I am not 4:12.
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