Bison & contraception...

[Jwill]

Hope this DA idea doesn't catch on, though they mentioned wanting to try it in Yellowstone... At least some of the comments are relatively sane.


http://www.npr.org/2013/08/13/211440302/of-bison-birth-control-and-an-island-off-southern-calif

 

[katqanna]

I thought we just had to worry about APHIS sterilizing our GYA bison with Gonacon. Now there is PZP. WTF

 

[1_pointer]

Wish they'd work on feral horses first...

 

[Jwill]

Wish they'd work on feral horses first...

Amen.

 

[choc dogs]

Amen

 

[theat]

I was curious about the guy, Jay Kirkpatrick, from Zoo Montana quoted in the article. He is promoting using this vacination for control of the yellowtone bison population instead of using hunters when the bison leave the park. Apparently Zoo Montana is part of The Science and Conservation Center which is the manufacturer of this birth control vaccine. It would be nice if the reporter would mention that this organization makes and sells this vaccine, and would potentially benefit greatly from a massive yellowstone bison vaccination program.

Here is a quote from their website http://www.sccpzp.org/ explaining a little about what they do:

The Science and Conservation Center
One of the major efforts of the Science and Conservation Center at ZooMontana involves the humane control of wildlife populations by means of fertility control. To that end, the Science and Conservation Center was created in 1998, an independent non-profit organization that is the world’s only dedicated facility for the development of wildlife contraceptives and methods of application. This center produces and carries out quality control for a wildlife contraceptive vaccine, distributes the vaccine and is the repository for all records and data required by the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, the Center and its staff coordinate and, in some cases, carry out field-based application of contraception to wildlife populations. The Center also works with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Contraception Advisory Group at the St. Louis Zoo.

Here is some info about PZP's use with wild horse populations:
http://www.sccpzp.org/wp-content/uploads/PZP-QA-June-6-2012.pdf

 

[OriginalOscar]

Amen.

Tastes like chicken

 

[Monteman11]

First Bison, next urban whitetail deer, and then what?

 

[katqanna]

ZonaStat, this wildlife immunocontraceptive, is registered by the Humane Society of the U.S. Humane Society page on Wildlife Overpopulation, "As part of this effort, The HSUS obtained, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration under the name “ZonaStat-H” for use of PZP on wild horses and burros in January 2012, and will be working to extend the registration to include deer and other animals. "

Just in case y'all dont know how this insidious immunocontraceptive works, porcine zona pellucida is injected into the mammal. Antibodies are produced which attach to that animals zona pellucida (membrane around an unfertilized egg) preventing the sperm from attaching to egg. Heres the wildlife and hunting kicker and I seriously hope the hunting community starts to wake their asses up, this prevents conception, which will cause the female to cycle again. This of course EXTENDS the rut. A buck or bull will lose about 25% of his body weight during the rut. If you have an extended rut, this is going to make it more difficult for a buck or bull to survive a winter in colder climates. Not to mention the herd dynamics that will change. To make this product cheaper, they are cloning the pzp material. BTW, this is specifically listed as not for food use. You cannot eat the wildlife treated with ZonaStat-H. This is just 1 of 3 immunocontraceptives they are wanting to treat our wildlife with.

The Humane Society is against hunting.

As a matter of principle, The HSUS opposes the hunting of any living creature for fun, trophy, or sport because of the animal trauma, suffering, and death that result. A humane society should not condone the killing of any sentient creature in the name of sport.

As a practical matter, The HSUS actively seeks to eliminate the most inhumane and unfair sporthunting practices, such as the use of body-gripping traps, baiting, use of dogs, pigeon shoots, stocking of animals for shooting, and fee-hunting on enclosed properties.

Unfortunately, the welfare of animals may, on occasion, necessitate the killing of wildlife. When such killing is permitted, it must be used as a last resort, be demonstrably necessary, and be conducted by responsible officials, and the methods utilized must result in an instantaneous and humane death.

The legitimate needs of human subsistence may also sometimes necessitate the killing of wildlife. In such cases, killing should be accomplished in a humane and non-wasteful manner. Individuals of endangered or threatened species must be protected from subsistence hunting.