Wildlife in danger during hound training season

Brenna Galdenzi
President, Protect Our Wildlife
Stowe, Vt.
To the editor,

While Vermont residents are likely familiar with deer and turkey hunting seasons, many are unaware of the hound “training” season that starts on June 1, putting bears, bobcats, foxes, raccoons, and other wildlife at risk. This activity is especially egregious, since this is the time of year when wild animals are birthing and nursing their dependent young.

Packs of powerful radio collared hounds may pursue a lone black bear for miles while their owner is miles away in their truck with only their handheld GPS device. Bears exited their dens in poor condition this year due to a shortage of food, so forcing these vulnerable animals to flee from packs of hounds all in the name of “recreation” is not only unethical, but also unsportsmanlike. Since bears are being terrorized through the woods – their homes — during the height of summer, many will suffer from hyperthermia, since bears are not long distance runners. Sows will be separated from their frightened cubs and the frenzied hounds will trespass private property, placing people’s pets and livestock in danger.

Unfortunately, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department fiercely condones this reckless behavior. They support hound training on Vermont’s National Wildlife Refuge, Nulhegan Basin, where Canada lynx have been documented. A hound pursuing a bobcat can easily pursue a lynx and that would be considered a violation of the Endangered Species Act.

If you’d like to learn more about what you can do to help Vermont’s wildlife, visit ProtectOurWildlifeVT.org, a wildlife advocacy group in Stowe.

 

Brenna Galdenzi

President, Protect Our Wildlife

Stowe, Vt.