FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 23, 1997
CONTACT:
Mike Markarian, (301) 585-2591, MikeM@fund.org
SILVER SPRING -- The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has refused $5,000 offered by The Fund for Animals toward the installation of Strieter-Lite wildlife reflectors on Montgomery County roads. The Fund proposed donating the money to the project if the M-NCPPC agreed that there would be no future deer hunts in Little Bennett Regional Park, Agricultural History Farm Park, or any other Montgomery County park.
Rob Gibbs of the M-NCPPC wrote in a letter that The Fund for Animals received today, "It is obvious that The Fund for Animals is much more interested in promoting its own philosophy than in working with the county in an honest attempt to reduce deer-auto collisions."
Says Michael Markarian, Director of Campaigns for The Fund, "While our philosophies may differ, we want to work with county officials to implement real and long-term solutions to our county's deer problems. The deer who were killed by hunters in December and January will inevitably be replaced during this spring's birthing season. The fact is that hunting simply doesn't work, and nothing has been done yet to address the problem of deer-auto collisions."
The Strieter-Lite reflectors, when posted at intervals on a road or highway and maintained properly, deter deer from crossing roads. Washington state officials recorded an 88 percent reduction in deer-auto collisions after installing the reflectors, and Minnesota officials recorded a 91 percent reduction in deer-auto collisions. Communities in Illinois, Iowa, Oregon, Wisconsin, Alberta, and British Columbia have all reported similar success stories with the reflectors.
Adds Markarian, "Our public officials are supposed to represent us, but they want to promote hunting as the only solution. It is costing us our tax dollars, our parks, and our deer."