Humane Society president speaks out about Ag-Gag laws on Ellen

Read and listen to why Ag-Gag laws are not just bad for animals and the environment, but also for people here: http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2013/04/ellen-speaks-out-on-ag-gag-bills.html

Whales and monkeys pass along behavior and culture like humans

 "I've been arguing for over a decade now that cultural transmission is important in cetacean societies," said study co-author Luke Rendell, a marine biologist at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. 

Link: http://www.designntrend.com/articles/3993/20130425/whales-monkeys-pass-behavioral-traits-culture-down-humans.htm

Many Organic Eggs come from Factory Farms

Just because something has an organic label doesn't mean that it comes from a small farm where animals are well treated. Link:  http://www.cornucopia.org/organic-egg-scorecard/

Heart disease linked to bacteria, not just fat, from meat

Recent evidence has found that a chemical called TMAO, which is released into the blood after meat consumption, is linked to heart disease.  The chemical is found at much lower levels among vegans or vegetarians.  The research shows that fat is not the only risk factor for heart problems related to eating meat.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/08/health/study-points-to-new-culprit-in-heart-disease.html and http://www.npr.org/2013/04/12/177029247/red-meats-heart-risk-goes-beyond-the-fat

Petition to roll back hunting in Wisconsin parks

Please sign the attached petition to demand the DNR roll back hunting and fishing in Wisconsin's state parks.  The ability to hunt in state parks is dangerous and unnecessary.

Link: http://signon.org/sign/repeal-illegal-wi-state?source=c.fwd&r_by=6348706

More information about changes happening to statewide conservation: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/mike_ivey/cracks-appearing-in-conservation-congress/article_da428798-a7a5-11e2-bfe9-0019bb2963f4.html

Help needed to expand scope of dolphin-safe fishing practices at WTO

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is calling on citizens to submit comments in support of the expansion of World Trade Organization fishing rules that protect dolphins.  Please read the background on these rules here and follow the instructions on the Federal Register on how to submit your comments.  The comment period ends on May 6, 2013, so urgent action is needed.  Please encourage your friends and others to submit comments as well.

Reminder: April 20 - Vegan Bake Sale/Benefit for Alliance for Animals

Hey friends of animals!  The Goodman Community Center at 149 Waubesa St. in Madison will host the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale as a benefit for the Wisconsin-based group Alliance for Animals.  You can donate baked goods, or just come to the event and buy treats that others have made.

Mark your calendars!  April 20th, 2013 from 10 am - 2 pm

Event link: http://allanimalsblog.org/2013/03/25/worldwide-vegan-bake-sale-april-20/

Anti-Wolf Hunting Activist Melissa Smith unseats Conservation Congress incumbant

This is truly great news for Wisconsin - that Dane County is now represented in the state's Conservation Congress by Melissa Smith. In her statement, Smith stated she is not anti-hunting, but is against trapping, wolf hunting, and using dogs for hunting.  I know that it was not easy putting together a challenge to the incumbent, but the hard work has paid off. Hooray!

Link: http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=39610

Scott Walker and Wisconsin's Natural Resources Dept removing scientists from committees

The Walker administration is literally removing scientists from these committees and replacing them with people who want to turn our forests and parks into nothing more than game reserves.  You can stop this by supporting progressive conservation groups like the Sierra Club, or get involved in the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and stop the trend.  There is a meeting tonight (Monday, April 8 at 7 p.m.) in all of Wisconsin's 72 counties that is open to the public - your vote is needed!

Link: http://www.wisconsinoutdoorfun.com/article/20130407/GPG0204/304070242/Pat-Durkin-column-DNR-loses-credibility-committee-revamp

Flu concern in China as six deaths reported; 20,000 birds culled in Shang Hai

People are being urged to avoid live poultry and take other precautions to avoid contracting the flu in China, where six people have died so far, according to news reports. Over three to five million people contract severe influenza per year worldwide, resulting in up to half a million deaths.  In 2003, the SARS epidemic (a respiratory disease also linked to animals) in southern China, killed over 700 people - the death rate was over 50% for infections among people 65 years and older.

The risk of a worldwide pandemic is a serious issue.  In 1918, the Spanish flu epidemic infected up to half a billion people and took the lives of 50-100 million people (about 3-5% of the world's population at the time).


Links: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/06/world/asia/china-escalates-response-to-avian-flu-outbreak.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu

April 8 Wisconsin Conservation Congress Election Voting Guide

This was put together by Melissa Smith, who is running for a spot on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 'Conservation Congress,' an advisory body.  Please attend the April 8th election in your county (all 72 of Wisconsin's counties will have a meeting - find your's here).  All meetings commence at 7 p.m.

Dane County's meeting will be at Sun Prairie High School, Performing Arts Center, 888 Grove St., Sun Prairie, WI 53590

As far as the voting issues - here is a guide:

Conservation Congress Voting Guide. Many of these questions are loaded and double negatives. Myself along with a former wolf biologist for the DNR who appeared at the True Wolf expert panel, went through each question for you. It's messy but this should work out.
Wisconsin Conservation Congress Questionnaire Guide
33. Rifles on deer statewide NO34. Lifting pheasant bag limit NO35. Tagging pheasants by gender YES
36. Willow stakes for trapping NO
37. Expanding Mink and Muskrat trapping NO
38. Training hounds on bears during hunting season LEAVE BLANK
39. Expanding trap check time from 24 hours to 4 days for weasels NO
40. 24 hour reporting of otters trapped YES
41. Leaving blind unattended NO
42. Eliminating the Waushara refuge, open to hunting and trapping NO
43. Eliminating armband requirement for pheasant hunting NO
44. Controlling number of hunters on Doves YES
45. increasing pheasant hunting fee YES
46. Rifles on deer north of hwy 54 NO
47. Rifles on deer Shawano county NO
48-51 DOGS ON WOLVES- questions are loaded!!!! CAUTION NO RIGHT ANSWER. DO NOT ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, LEAVE BLANK!!!
52-63 Expanding waterfowl hunting NO
64. Expanding Bobcat hunting and trapping NO
65. Shrinking Canada goose Horicon area YES
66. Proposal one NO
67. Proposal Two NO
68. PROHIBIT THE USE OF DOGS TO HUNT WOLVES YES
69. bag limit for panfish YES
70. Expanding hunting and trapping in state parks NO
71. transfer of bear hunting tags to veterans NO
72. removing antlerless season NO
73. Removing tag requirements on bear hunting NO
74. Using any type of light to hunt predators NO
75. Allowing trapping on National park land NO
76. Extend muskrat season NO
77. Increasing bobcat hunting and trapping NO
78. combining start hunt dates on wolves, a coyote, bobcats, foxes NO
79. closing bear dog hunting 7 days before season LEAVE BLANK
80. increase out of state deer hunting license fee YES
81. archery vs. gun tags for deer YES
82. Registering non motorized boats with DNR NO
83. reduced fees for active military NO
84. hunting feral pigs without license NO
85. transfer of permits to seniors. NO
86. concealment for duck hunting NO
87. Minnows YES
88. allowing 14 year olds to hunt alone NO
89. 16 and 17 year old to hunt alone NO
90. removal of trout stamp for 16 and 17 year olds, NO
91. Removal of waterfowl stamp for 16 and 17 year olds NO
92, earlier pheasant hunting time so hunters don’t get too hot NO
93. Reducing bag limit on bluegill in a specific lake YES
94. Reducing bag limit on crappie in a specific lake YES
95. Pan fish limit YES
96. Walleye size limit YES
97. Musky size limit YES
98. Pike size limit YES
99. YEAR ROUND COYOTE HUNTING NO36. Willow stakes for trapping NO37. Expanding Mink and Muskrat trapping NO38. Training hounds on bears during hunting season LEAVE BLANK39. Expanding trap check time from 24 hours to 4 days for weasels NO40. 24 hour reporting of otters trapped YES41. Leaving blind unattended NO42. Eliminating the Waushara refuge, open to hunting and trapping NO43. Eliminating armband requirement for pheasant hunting NO44. Controlling number of hunters on Doves YES45. increasing pheasant hunting fee YES46. Rifles on deer north of hwy 54 NO47. Rifles on deer Shawano county NO48-51 DOGS ON WOLVES- questions are loaded!!!! CAUTION NO RIGHT ANSWER. DO NOT ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, LEAVE BLANK!!!52-63 Expanding waterfowl hunting NO64. Expanding Bobcat hunting and trapping NO65. Shrinking Canada goose Horicon area YES66. Proposal one NO67. Proposal Two NO68. PROHIBIT THE USE OF DOGS TO HUNT WOLVES YES69. bag limit for panfish YES70. Expanding hunting and trapping in state parks NO71. transfer of bear hunting tags to veterans NO72. removing antlerless season NO73. Removing tag requirements on bear hunting NO74. Using any type of light to hunt predators NO75. Allowing trapping on National park land NO76. Extend muskrat season NO77. Increasing bobcat hunting and trapping NO78. combining start hunt dates on wolves, a coyote, bobcats, foxes NO79. closing bear dog hunting 7 days before season LEAVE BLANK80. increase out of state deer hunting license fee YES81. archery vs. gun tags for deer YES82. Registering non motorized boats with DNR NO83. reduced fees for active military NO84. hunting feral pigs without license NO85. transfer of permits to seniors. NO86. concealment for duck hunting NO87. Minnows YES88. allowing 14 year olds to hunt alone NO89. 16 and 17 year old to hunt alone NO90. removal of trout stamp for 16 and 17 year olds, NO91. Removal of waterfowl stamp for 16 and 17 year olds NO92, earlier pheasant hunting time so hunters don’t get too hot NO93. Reducing bag limit on bluegill in a specific lake YES94. Reducing bag limit on crappie in a specific lake YES95. Pan fish limit YES96. Walleye size limit YES97. Musky size limit YES98. Pike size limit YES99. YEAR ROUND COYOTE HUNTING NO

More information, visit: http://dnr.wi.gov/about/wcc/springhearing.html