MAINE DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE PROPOSES TO END COMMERCIAL SNAPPING TURTLE HARVEST!

 

On May 30, 2002 the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MEIF&W) formally retracted its proposal to limit but continue the commercial harvest of snapping turtles and instead proposed a complete closure of the commercial harvest.

This extremely proactive stance resulted from the Department’s review of the biological evidence after overwhelming public support in favor of a closure had been received. According to Commissioner Perry the Department had been working for years on the issue, and has dedicated the last few months to a renewed intensive study which included a review of all available literature as well as expert testimony. It appears that an immediate closure had not been proposed previously due to the perception that public opinion would be overwhelmingly against it. Mark Stadler, the head of the Wildlife Division of MEIF&W, stated that he had ‘agonized’ over the issue. It however turned out that over 300 public comments were received, all of which advocated a complete closure. No other rulemaking proposal in the history of the Department has ever drawn this level of public interest. The Department is extremely pleased that the public is in fact supporting what it now knows is the only scientifically justifiable course of action.

 

Due to the drastic change in the rulemaking proposal the Department will hold another public comment period from June 12 to July 12 as well as a public hearing (TBA). It is expected that the trapping community will be present in force during the hearing perceiving this as a threat to the continuation of all trapping (furbearers, etc.) which it is definitely not. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THAT THE PROPONENTS OF THE CLOSURE ATTEND IN FORCE!!! If the Department faces overwhelming opposition during the hearing, the closure may not happen! THIS IS THE FINAL BATTLE FOR THE SURVIVAL OF MAINE’S SNAPPING TURTLES!!! PLEASE ATTEND IF YOU CAN IN ANY WAY MAKE IT!!!! If you cannot attend, please write / e-mail (see below)!

 

YOU ALL MADE THIS POSSIBLE – YOUR COMMENTS, YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR ATTENDANCE AT THE HEARINGS! This is the proof that especially in states like Maine where MEIF&W has always taken a strong stance in favor of conservation and sound wildlife management, bringing the facts to the attention of those who make the rules as well as supporting those facts with public sentiment WILL make a difference. Science is worthless without action – I am so incredibly happy that so many people have come forward and helped save this species from extinction here in Maine.

 

I am very proud of the decision MEIF&W has made. Even though all previously made public comments will still count during the continuation of the rulemaking process, I still think that it would be fantastic if people could E-mail (or write) Andrea Erskine yet again and thank her for what the Department has done. MEIF&W has taken a momentous step here – and we need to give them all the support we can so that they will be able to see this through to the end.

 

PLEASE ALSO WRITE, CALL, OR E-MAIL the advisory council members (who will in the end be voting on the Department’s proposal) In SUPPORT OF THE CLOSURE OF THE COMMERCIAL HARVEST OF SNAPPING TURTLES!! This will help the position of the Department tremendously!!! Please find all contact information listed below.

 

Again, thank you so much! WE ALMOST WON – JUST ONE MORE COMMENT PERIOD AND ONE MORE HEARING!

 

Sincerely,

Susanne Kynast

Washington County Snapping Turtle Study

 

Contact MEIF&W at:

 

Andrea Erskine

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

#41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333-0041

E-mail: andrea.erskine@state.me.us (subject: snapping turtle rules)

 

MEIF&W Advisory Council Members:

 

Matt Libby (Chair)

PO Box 810, Ashland, ME  04732

Tel:  207-435-8274, E-mail: matt@libbycamps.com

 

Ken Bailey (Vice-Chair)

PO Box 795, Camden, ME  04843

Tel:  207-763-2807, E-mail: ken@bailey.net

 

Harold Brown

33 17th Street, Bangor, ME  04401

Tel:  207-942-5916, E-mail: hbrown@umext.maine.edu

 

Sara Dyer

PO Box 239, New Gloucester, ME  04260

Tel:  207-926-4717, E-mail: sdpepper@megalink.net

 

Lance Wheaton

HC 81 Box 101, Forest City, ME  04413

Tel:  Home 207-448-7726, FAX:  448-9382, E-mail: lancew@nci2.net

 

Tenley A. Meara

834 Middlesex Rd, Topsham, ME  04086

Tel:  207-725-2738, E:mail: tmeara@bowdoin.edu

 

Don Palmer

PO Box 740, Rangeley, ME  04970

Tel:  207-864-5647, E-mail: palmer@rangeley.org

 

Raymond H. Poulin, Jr.

159 Ellms Road, Ripley, ME  04930

Tel:  207-277-5033, E-mail: poulinr@tdstelme.net

 

Robert S. Savage

30 Coventry Drive, Limington, ME  04049

Tel:  207-637-2261, E-mail: n/a

 

David A. Wardwell

Box 13, Penobscot, ME  04476

Tel:  207-326-4128, E-mail:  downhomerheah@prexar.com