Chatham Regional Organization for Wildlife and Environment

We are the Chatham Regional Organization for Wildlife and Environment (CROWE). We are a newly formed organization whose aim is to establish a sensible and sustainable policy in Chatham Kent for dealing with our wildlife and with environmental issues. We are voting citizens of this community, and we intend to make sure that our elected representatives hear and respond to our concerns.

This open letter is about controlling the population of crows in the Ward of Chatham. The decision to shoot the crows was wrong. It puts convenience ahead of respect for life. Council did not adequately consider the consequences of this shooting, or the clear and practical alternatives available.

CONSEQUENCES

There are many consequences to shooting crows in Chatham: it puts stress on other birds and wildlife; the crows are forced into residential areas to avoid the guns, and so annoy residents even more. The amount of shooting in the community has a human impact in terms of sleep disruptions, general stress, and long-term psychological effects.

There are legal implications, including the violation of several our own gun-control and noise by-laws; Chatham-Kent may face lawsuits which we, as taxpayers, would have to pay for since our insurance coverage may not cover liability incurred by city representatives engaged in unlawful activity (Mayor Erickson was warned of these issues in a December letter from the Executive Director of the Canadian Humane Society) -

Three expert reports (listed below) agree on one important consequence: the shooting will have NO LONG-TERM EFFECT on the crow population, unless alternative measures are also taken. In other words: if we only shoot, they will be back next year, and we'll have to start all over.

ALTERNATIVES

Alternatives were presented to council by the Public Works Department, Dillon Consulting, and the OSPCA Wildlife Services in reports dated Nov. 12, 1999. AIl agreed on one issue: no crow- control program would work unless it included putting business and residential garbage into containers that the crows cannot get into ie: garbage cans). This simple and practical solution would improve our public health situation by controlling other animals: rats, skunks, raccoons, starlings, and stray dogs. The City of Chatham used to have such a by-law, until it was weakened to allow plastic bags at the roadside. The costs would be short- term (buying the cans), but the effects would last. The shooting also costs us money, but the effects don't last. It may also cost us lots more if we are sued.

ACTION

CROWE asks Chatham-Kent Council to take these actions:

1. Enforce the existing by-law that stops people from putting their garbage out too early.

2. Enforce our existing "excessive noise" by-laws.

3. Enforce our existing by-laws that prohibit the discharging of firearms in the Ward of Chatham.

4. Amend our garbage by-laws to require residents and businesses in the Ward of Chatham to use crow-proof garbage containers.

5. Report to the public in detail on the crow shoot: how many rounds have been fired? How many rounds were purchased? How much has it cost in overtime and materials? How many crows were actually killed?

6. Create a wildlife management policy for Chatham-Kent that stresses the use of non-lethal methods of control.

7. Ensure that the only weapons paid for by council are in the hands of Police or licensed Animal Conservation Officers. Public Works has no need of firearms.

CROWE also asks the public of the former City of Chatham to help in these ways:

1. Let council know if you support our sensible position.

2. Whenever you hear gunfire in Chatham, call the police and offically report it.

If you share CROWE's concerns, or have practical ideas about ways we can manage our wildlife and environment responsibly, please call us at 351-9000.

cc. all Chatham-Kent Counsellors

Pat Hoy, MPP

Jerry Pickard, MP

Ed verVoort, Ministry of Natural Resources, Aylmer