FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, April 8, 1997
CONTACT:
Mike Markarian, (301) 585-2591, MikeM@fund.org
SILVER SPRING -- Today, in a letter to the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), The Fund for Animals offered $5,000 toward the installation of Strieter-Lite wildlife reflectors on Montgomery County roads if the M-NCPPC enters into a legal agreement stating there will be no future deer hunts in Little Bennett Regional Park, Agricultural History Farm Park, or any other Montgomery County park under the authority of M-NCPPC.
Michael Markarian, Director of Campaigns for The Fund, wrote: "I think you will agree that the deer hunts conducted in December and January were a waste of taxpayer dollars and a public relations nightmare for your agency. The small number of deer who were killed by hunters will inevitably be replaced during this spring's birthing season, and nothing has been done to address the problem of deer/auto collisions."
The Strieter-Lite reflector, when posted at intervals on a road or highway and maintained properly, deters deer from crossing roads. The Washington Department of Transportation recorded an 88 percent reduction in deer/auto collisions after installing the reflectors, and Minnesota state officials recorded a 91 percent reduction in deer/auto collisions.
Says Markarian, "This is an effective way to spend our money, because it helps both people and deer. County officials should realize that hunting is only a band-aid approach, and we need to implement real, long-term, humane solutions."
For a copy of the entire letter, please click here.