Wondering About The Baiting Ban Everyone Is "Buzzing" About?
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Three Michigan legislators who chair key committees in the Michigan House and Senate are currently urging the director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to lift the ban on baiting ordered in response to Chronic Wasting Disease.
The resolutions they are recommending include that the Natural Resources Commission hold a public hearing on the general issue of baiting for future hunting seasons.
Chair of the Senate Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation Committee, State Senator James Barcia (D-Bay City) recently indicated that all legislators he has spoken with about the baiting ban believe the ban goes too far, too soon. "It does not make sense to ban baiting in the entire Lower Peninsula this year due to the finding of CWD in one deer at one enclosed facility," Barcia said. "We must remain vigilant without over-reacting in a manner that will do more harm than good."
Following the discovery of a three-year old white tail deer found at a ranch in Kent County, all the other deer at the same ranch have tested negative for CWD. In addition, an epidemiological study performed by state veterinarians has not turned up CWD in any other captive or free-ranging Michigan deer. State officials do not know how the deer at the Kent County facility became infected with CWD.
State Representative Joel Sheltrown (D-West Branch) who chairs the House Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee agrees with Barcia that a broad baiting ban is both unwise and unwarranted. "Much of Michigan is already over-populated with deer. A ban on baiting will result in a decreased rate of harvest and even higher deer density," Sheltrown explains. "Not only could this greater density hasten the spread of CWD if it reaches the free-ranging deer population, but it will also increase the number of motor vehicle collisions with deer and the potential for the loss of human life.
The potential economic loss to Michigan farmers and markets is the top concern of State Representative Jeff Mayes (D-Bay City) who chairs the House Agriculture Committee. "If a ban on baiting was announced in the winter or spring, there would be an opportunity to plant different crops. But these bait crops are mature, contracts have been signed, and much of it is already on the retail market," Mayes explained. "To impose a baiting ban in September for the entire Lower Peninsula for 2008 would result in millions of dollars of economic costs to farmers and retailers resulting in a wide ranging loss of employment and the ruin of some small markets, stores and farms."
These resolutions are a strong signal to call on the Director of the Michigan Department of Resources to, "lift the ban on the baiting of deer in Michigan's entire Lower Peninsula without delay and apply a ban on the baiting of deer to the Kent County CWD surveillance zone, those areas in close proximity to the zone as is deemed reasonable to control the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in central west Michigan, and those areas in which baiting is currently banned as part of the effort to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis."
The resolutions also "request the Michigan Natural Resources Commission to conduct public hearings on the baiting of deer and elk in Michigan and use sound scientific management to issue rules regarding baiting taking into account the management impact, economic impact and social impact of baiting and its effects on the health of the state's deer herd."
Barcia, Mayes and Sheltrown anticipate legislative action on the resolutions within the next week.
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