October 2022
Dear Friend,

This month we focus on the long-standing, wide-spread, and divisive issue of urban deer "management." We're asking you to take specific actions and providing resources and tools to assist in your advocacy.

The issue is not a local one and communities around the country are grappling with how best to co-exist with wildlife. All too often, this means lethal management. We want to equip advocates with information to bring a more humane perspective to the discussion.

Essentially, our message is simple: you can't kill your way out of conflict between people and wildlife.

Certainly there's a lot of serious news. However, it's Halloween and we're celebrating by having a contest. Details below in the Advocacy section.
Urban Deer:
Coexisting or Killing?

Many of you remember the Ann Arbor deer controversy. Now Oakland County and other Southeast Michigan localities appear headed toward a regional, comprehensive management program that will feature lethal methods of population control.

Take this survey before Nov. 11; let municipal leaders know deer are not a "problem" to be "solved" by expensive, divisive, lethal methods. There are humane alternatives.
A council representing governments in 7 Southeast Michigan counties is asking for "Citizen perspectives on deer in Southeast Michigan" with a “Pulse of the Region” survey to be completed before November 11, 2022.

We have concerns that the survey assumes that deer are a problem, and that residents only have negative interactions with them. To encourage more advocates to weigh in, AFA has developed a guide to the survey.
 
To be most effective, the survey responses should be in your own words. Please do not cut and paste in responding to the survey. The survey targets Southeast Michigan and asks for responders' zip codes, but one of the options for county of residence is "Other."


Are you a Southfield voter? Do you know Southfield voters?

Voters in Southfield, MI will have a "Deer Herd Reduction Advisory Question" on the November 8 ballot, asking if they support "reduction of [the city's] deer herd by humane, lethal methods."

Resources to Take Action:
Make Your Voice Heard

Use our Guide to participate in the "Pulse of the Region" survey, particularly if you live in Southeast Michigan

Do you live in Southfield, or know people who do? Let them know about the ballot question and urge them to vote "NO" and oppose lethal methods.

Additional resources:

These materials are useful to any advocate who opposes local efforts to address complaints about deer by depopulating them. AFA supports alternatives such as sterilization and contraception of deer. Further, these humane methods can be cost effective.

(Image: Chris F | Pexels)
Advocacy
Legislative and Regulatory Trackers™ to
October 31, 2022
If you're an observant reader, check out the Regulatory Tracker™ this month. Two of the animals just now being proposed for protection under the Endangered Species Act were first recommended for listing in 1982. If you're the first person to email with the name of one of the animals, we'll send you an Attorneys for Animals T-shirt. Email here with subject "1982".
Lunch + Legislation: Monday, November 7, 2022
Stay Tuned!
It's a busy time of year and we've yet to confirm November's guest but watch our social media, and tune in to FaceBook Live on Mon., Nov. 7.
(If you have missed any of the past 23 episodes, visit the Lunch + Legislation Archive.)
Member Outing a Success
For our first in-person gathering in more than three years, AFA welcomed about 20 members and guests to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge on a warm and sunny October day. We heard about the Refuge and its animals and joined staff for a hike. The feedback was positive: many members had never been to the Refuge, but say they will return. We expect to have more events like this one and we'll keep you posted.
Book Club Expands Horizons
Sunday, November 13, 2:00 -- 3:30 pm
We're expanding our scope to include videos as a way to provide more comprehensive information on an issue our regular attendees have said is important to them. The November Book Club will feature a discussion of two videos: Queering Animal Liberation: Why Animal Rights is a Queer Issue and In Context: Queering Animal Liberation with Christopher Sebastian. New participants are always welcome.
(Image | YouTube)
(Images | A beautiful October morning on the Detroit River, top; Jazmyn Bernard, Environmental Educator leading a tour of the Refuge Visitor Center, bottom)

I've completed the "Pulse of the Community" survey, and I urge you to do so as well. It took less than 10 minutes.

Early next month, the students who are receiving scholarships will travel to Portland, OR for the 30th Animal Law Conference, or attend virtually. We'll bring you more about their experiences in next month's newsletter.

Just as we're about to send this newsletter, the Department of Natural Resources published the draft of the final 2022 Michigan Wolf Management Plan which incorporates comments from the public this summer. It is scheduled to be presented to the Natural Resources Commission at the November 10 meeting. Many of you have become familiar with the issue as a result of our reporting in this newsletter and may have provided input during the two public comment periods this year. We'll review the 176 page document and provide commentary via social media in the upcoming month and in the November newsletter.

As always, I welcome your comments, suggestions, opinions, criticisms. You can email me here.


For the Animals,
Beatrice M. Friedlander
President