Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Causes Animals to be Euthanized by WDFW

[fireweed]

How does a deer fawn raised in captivity "loose" its fear of humans, or for that matter, gain a fear of humans in the first place.  The elk in Yellowstone aren't afraid of humans either, and nobody is killing them.

[Bushcraft]

How does a deer fawn raised in captivity "loose" its fear of humans, or for that matter, gain a fear of humans in the first place.  The elk in Yellowstone aren't afraid of humans either, and nobody is killing them.

I so wish there was a "Like" button on this forum.  A thumbs-up will have to suffice. 

[pianoman9701]

How does a deer fawn raised in captivity "loose" its fear of humans, or for that matter, gain a fear of humans in the first place.  The elk in Yellowstone aren't afraid of humans either, and nobody is killing them.

It's likely that most deer raised in captivity won't develop a fear of humans. That's why the regulations about these rehab places are so strict. When the elk leave Yellowstone, migrating into MT, they know to stay away from humans during hunting season. It's because they're not hand-fed in the park. The people who took these poor animals out of nature in the first place are as much to blame as the petting zoo they ended up at.

[Stein]

The rehab center screws up, WDFW has to go in and spend scarce department money cleaning up the mess and they are the bad guys?  That's the beauty of social media, shallow name calling and a complete lack of thought or analysis.

[Bushcraft]

I was told that WDFW “had arranged to donate meat to a wildlife facility (fawn btd are pretty small for a food bank), but when staff decided on-site that the most humane method to transport require tranquilizers that could no longer be done.”

Bummer deal all the way around.  From my perspective it sounds like WDFW was put smack in the middle of a no-win situation and are catching flack from all sides since the optics aren’t all that good. The anthropomorphic Disney crowd is going full fruitloop on the Dept.

[pianoman9701]

  and if you look at the facebook page for the rehab center, no one there is taking any responsibility whatsoever. I really wanted to post something but know it would be like talking to a stone wall.

[Antlershed]

No mention of what happened to the meat.  Was it donated to a local food bank?

They likely drugged them, so probably not. I can't see them shooting guns at a rehab sanctuary, but I don't know.

Yes, they were drugged first. The local bunny-huggers are losing their minds.

I'm not doubting you, but how do you know that they were drugged first?

The reason I ask is that I am generally supportive of WDFW as there are some very fine folks that work there. But, as Penny and Eric know, I'm also not above holding their feet to the fire if they do dumb stuff.   But, I'll only to do so from a fact-based standpoint.

Sorry, looks like Blacktail Sniper beat me to the post. I saw the stuff on the Animal Rescues FB page yesterday morning.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Here's the other side of the story.  I heard this lady on the local radio station here on the Harbor tonight.  She actually made a good case. She sounded like she knew what she was doing as far as the stages rehab goes through. Evidently there is going to be a meeting soon about this issue. Not sure when or where though. 

http://www.fhswildliferehab.org/uploads/4/6/8/3/4683372/fhs_official_statement_concerning_deer___elk_invasion.pdf

[wolfbait]

"OLYMPIA – State wildlife managers are evaluating the behavior of 11 young deer at a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center in Thurston County, where they euthanized three fawns and an elk calf last week after finding those animals had become habituated to humans."

There's a bunch of wolves in the Methow that have become habitual to humans, I wonder will WDF&wolves feel it's time to "euthanized" them? Or will the chore be left up to the public?

[Sitka_Blacktail]

"OLYMPIA – State wildlife managers are evaluating the behavior of 11 young deer at a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center in Thurston County, where they euthanized three fawns and an elk calf last week after finding those animals had become habituated to humans."

There's a bunch of wolves in the Methow that have become habitual to humans, I wonder will WDF&wolves feel it's time to "euthanized" them? Or will the chore be left up to the public?

I'm waiting for them to take out all the deer in Ocean Shores, and Port Orchard, and Gig Harbor and a few other places. Those deer are definitely habituated to humans. Theoretically, it should be impossible for them to survive according to the Department of Wildlife.

[idaho guy]

What is wrong with letting them go in the wild? They are dead now anyways are they afraid it will be too easy for some hunter? Maybe that could be a young kids first deer? At least the hunter would eat the meat. I guess I am not that smart but let them go and they will either be killed by a hunter who gives money to the state by purchasing a license, the meat will be eaten by that hunter and his family or the deer will rapidly develop a fear of humans and live to a ripe old age and produce a lot of offspring. Why is spending time and money to kill the deer and throw away the meat better than just releasing them and see what happens.  I have also been around deer that live on my property that have no fear of me working because I am there everyday but run like they have seen a ghost when someone new is around? Maybe those deer wouldn't be so tame when not around their buddy who feeds them everyday.