I am so outraged!

[freddy10]

I don't think making accusations of laziness are warranted, we don't know the politics and policy decisions behind this management strategy. It's very easy to point and make accusations, but if we don't have a comprehensive understanding of the situation, we probably shouldn't do so.

I would disagree it is being lazy yeah it is easy for people to get a gun and shoot them but it takes time they have to shoot and kill them and get rid of them when it is just as easy to round them up and save there life, now if people was doing this to your favorite animal you would be very up set now would you and be wanting to try to stop them, in this case there happen to be burros! So the answer is yes people are just being lazy and cold hearted!!

 

[Yvonne G]

Well I have to say it is being lazy, people have the time to shoot them rather than just getting them it is being lazy yeah it is lazy it is really easy to take a rifle and aim and shoot rather than gather them up and saving there life's just think if people was doing this to tortoises all of you guys would be saying something would you?? Or try to stop it? But when it comes burros you guys dont care uh? In agree with Susan!!

Whoa...Hold on there, Freddy10. I really doubt any of us here on the Forum are out there shooting burros. None of us has said we advocate it, merely that we understand it. Not only that, its a little easier to round up and house 50 tortoises than it is to house 50 burros. Believe me, we care.

---

Hey, Freddy10:

Won't you take a few moments to start a new thread in the "introductions" section and tell us a bit about yourself?

 

[freddy10]

I am not saying people on this forum is killing burros lol but others on here are saying if it needs to be done then people can shoot and kill burros as far as tortoises yes they are easy to get them but we are taking hundreds of burros now if our government said shoot to kill hundreds tortoises we would be wanting to do something about it wouldn't we? Just the same as burros, one person said it was not being lazy yes it is being lazy going out and killing burros just because there move over from mexico to the us and end up I a state park here in AZ we still have wild horse runing wild but we are not out killing them where I live there are hundreds of horses runing wild it should be the same for burros to.

---

Well I have to say it is being lazy, people have the time to shoot them rather than just getting them it is being lazy yeah it is lazy it is really easy to take a rifle and aim and shoot rather than gather them up and saving there life's just think if people was doing this to tortoises all of you guys would be saying something would you?? Or try to stop it? But when it comes burros you guys dont care uh? In agree with Susan!!

Whoa...Hold on there, Freddy10. I really doubt any of us here on the Forum are out there shooting burros. None of us has said we advocate it, merely that we understand it. Not only that, its a little easier to round up and house 50 tortoises than it is to house 50 burros. Believe me, we care.

---

Hey, Freddy10: I did every thing everybody needs to know is on my profile.

Won't you take a few moments to start a new thread in the "introductions" section and tell us a bit about yourself?

---

 

[redbeef]

Arguments about ethics and invasive species aside, I remember hearing from a former forestry officer back in the 90s that they had very good long term control on the deer population through using contraceptive laced salt licks...might take a bit of engineering to make them donkey friendly and bighorn proof but it might be cheaper, less politically volatile, and 'lazier' than most any other methods currently being proposed.

OTOH, sounds like the drought is increasing pressure rapidly on the system...something like this saltlick idea would take prob 5-10 years to really have a serious impact

 

[byerssusan]

Well the salt blocks is an idea worth trying I would think. I am wondering how exactly are they crossing..Why is it they cannot just fence off the areas where they are coming through at..I have too look and see about this..Sure would be easier stopping their entrance instead of waiting until they have already crossed. Of course again... there is the issue of "Building the fence".

 

[GBtortoises]

Salt blocks, WHEW! I thought for a minute there that my hard earned tax dollars were going to be going to purchasing donkey condoms! And who is the unlucky ranger that would have been putting them on the donkey?

Sorry, I couldn't resist the laugh. Carry on.

 

[freddy10]

Salt blocks, WHEW! I thought for a minute there that my hard earned tax dollars were going to be going to purchasing donkey condoms! And who is the unlucky ranger that would have been putting them on the donkey?

Sorry, I couldn't resist the laugh. Carry on.

Yeah you are going to be the one who puts them on lol Carry On!!!

 

[byerssusan]

Well I am glad someone finds humor in the killing of Burros. No your hard earned tax dollars are going to

* The city of Las Vegas has received a $5.2 million federal grant to build the Neon Boneyard Park and Museum, including $1.8 million in 2010. For over the last decade, Museum supporters have gathered and displayed over 150 old Las Vegas neon signs, such as the Golden Nugget and Silver Slipper casinos.

* The National Science Foundation provided more than to $200,000 to study of why political candidates make vague statements.

* The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) spends $175 million every year to maintain hundreds of buildings it does not use, including a pink, octagonal monkey house in Dayton, Ohio.

* Medicare paid out over $35 million to a vast network of 118 “phantom” medical clinics, allegedly established by members of a criminal gang to submit phony reimbursement claims.

* The Government Printing Office (GPO) is using a “video game space mouse” (and nearly $60,000 in taxpayer funds) to teach children the history of printing.

* In July, nearly half a million taxpayer dollars went to the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, where wine tasting and castle tours were among the events planned for the conference participants.

* The Internal Revenue Service paid out $112 million in undeserved tax refunds to prisoners who filed fraudulent returns, according to the Treasury Department’s Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

* The National Science Foundation directed nearly a quarter million dollars to a Stanford University professor’s study of how Americans use the Internet to find love.

* The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) took the term “cold case” to a new level in 2010. The agency spent over $20,000 in taxpayer money “to unravel the anonymity of a 2,500-year-old mummy.”

* The National Institutes of Health (NIH) spent nearly $442,340 million to study the number of male prostitutes in Vietnam and their social setting.

* This year, taxpayers forked over $60,000 for the “first-of-its kind” promotion of the Vidalia onion in conjunction with the movie, Shrek Forever After. ”

* The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded over $600,000 to the Minnesota Zoo to create a wolf “avatar” video game called “WolfQuest.”

* A $700,000 federal grant paid for researchers to examine “greenhouse gas emission from organic dairies, which are cause by cow burps, among other things.”

No you don't have to worry about your tax dollars going for condoms for burros..Looks like the tax payers money is to busy going to other MORE IMPORTANT things....Shaking my head.

 

[Angi]

I didn't read everything just skimmed through, but this last post cracked me up. I do think it is very sad to shoot burrows. I know that hitting one could be very dangerous, so think it is a good idea to drive carefully in an area with wild animals. I used to be afraid of hitting a cow (pre fire) while driving threw the indian reservation....but it was a chance I took when I choose that stretch of road. Now I can add burrow to my list of animals I want. They are so cute.

 

[byerssusan]

You would not regret getting a burro. They have a special love of children also. I read some where that some use not only for them to protect their live stock but would also watch out over their children. Not as a baby sitter haha..but to watch over while outside I guess. They do love children though

Here is Willow relaxing: Such a sweetie

 

[redbeef]

Well I am glad someone finds humor in the killing of Burros. No your hard earned tax dollars are going to

* The city of Las Vegas has received a $5.2 million federal grant to build the Neon Boneyard Park and Museum, including $1.8 million in 2010. For over the last decade, Museum supporters have gathered and displayed over 150 old Las Vegas neon signs, such as the Golden Nugget and Silver Slipper casinos.

* The National Science Foundation provided more than to $200,000 to study of why political candidates make vague statements.

* The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) spends $175 million every year to maintain hundreds of buildings it does not use, including a pink, octagonal monkey house in Dayton, Ohio.

* Medicare paid out over $35 million to a vast network of 118 “phantom” medical clinics, allegedly established by members of a criminal gang to submit phony reimbursement claims.

* The Government Printing Office (GPO) is using a “video game space mouse” (and nearly $60,000 in taxpayer funds) to teach children the history of printing.

* In July, nearly half a million taxpayer dollars went to the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, where wine tasting and castle tours were among the events planned for the conference participants.

* The Internal Revenue Service paid out $112 million in undeserved tax refunds to prisoners who filed fraudulent returns, according to the Treasury Department’s Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

* The National Science Foundation directed nearly a quarter million dollars to a Stanford University professor’s study of how Americans use the Internet to find love.

* The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) took the term “cold case” to a new level in 2010. The agency spent over $20,000 in taxpayer money “to unravel the anonymity of a 2,500-year-old mummy.”

* The National Institutes of Health (NIH) spent nearly $442,340 million to study the number of male prostitutes in Vietnam and their social setting.

* This year, taxpayers forked over $60,000 for the “first-of-its kind” promotion of the Vidalia onion in conjunction with the movie, Shrek Forever After. ”

* The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded over $600,000 to the Minnesota Zoo to create a wolf “avatar” video game called “WolfQuest.”

* A $700,000 federal grant paid for researchers to examine “greenhouse gas emission from organic dairies, which are cause by cow burps, among other things.”

No you don't have to worry about your tax dollars going for condoms for burros..Looks like the tax payers money is to busy going to other MORE IMPORTANT things....Shaking my head.

That's peanuts compared to some of the things they spend money on SMH

and I'm glad to hear you're not putting condoms on donkeys: i know you say they're sweet and cute, but they can kick, too lol

 

[byerssusan]

Well I wasn't the one referring to the condom thing LOL..Even the image of someone trying to do that is pretty funny though.. And I agree thats peanuts compared to what else tax money is spent on. And your right..they can kick..just like horses ..lol.. My point was look at all the bull S#@! tax money is spent on..then when something as horrible as what is happening now..all the money that could be spent on fixing the problem is gone...wasted....and hearing people say they don't want their hard earned tax money going for a good cause...they do not clearly understand what and where their tax money is actually going.

---

Well you know it's easy too sit here and talk about this or that..happenings that are going on and each have their own opinions..which everyone has a right too. I will "WARN YOU THIS IS GRAPHIC" This IS WRONG!!!! All I can say is God help those who are doing this.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...46638118.40626.167489343326425&type=1&theater

I did not want to add the pic as I add the others because I did not want some seeing an image that is more than upsetting. So hope this link works

 

[Redstrike]

I don't think making accusations of laziness are warranted, we don't know the politics and policy decisions behind this management strategy. It's very easy to point and make accusations, but if we don't have a comprehensive understanding of the situation, we probably shouldn't do so.

I would disagree it is being lazy yeah it is easy for people to get a gun and shoot them but it takes time they have to shoot and kill them and get rid of them when it is just as easy to round them up and save there life, now if people was doing this to your favorite animal you would be very up set now would you and be wanting to try to stop them, in this case there happen to be burros! So the answer is yes people are just being lazy and cold hearted!!

Hi there Freddy10,
Perhaps I need to clarify. As a wildlife scientist, I look at these scenarios very objectively, tying emotions into issues like this tend to create more problems. I'm not toting myself here and I'm not saying we should all be emotionless autobots, nor am I condoning the killing of wild burros, I'm simply trying to point out that these animals are causing a problem and the funding to "round them up" is simply not feasible. Why it's not feasible was outlined pretty well by the creator of this thread - there's a lot of lavish corporate spending and poor financial decisions (according to me) flitting around our government, but this is an issue that should be saved for another time.

Imagine the staff it would take to navigate the landscape searching for burros. Once found, additional staff is required to coral them. After capture they would need transportation, space, food, water, and medical care. The financial backing for these actions would be millions.

I firmly believe that the scientists working on this project are not happy to kill these animals, we don't go into biology/ecology/wildlife to pull the trigger 24/7, quite the opposite. Most times we are given a scenario, such as this one, where an ecosystem or species is being threatened, and we must implement a management strategy to conserve that system or species while being short-staffed, over-worked, and underpaid. Why are all these things occurring? The priorities of the government are corporations, not conserving biodiversity. Throw some politics into the mix, and you've just iced the cake. Without the proper funding and political backing, we have to do the best we can. Currently, killing the burros is the best they can do to keep them from seriously damaging this ecosystem.

 

[byerssusan]

You know what there are people who are called volunteers who would be willing to go out and round up these wonderful creatures..People can try to sugar coat it anyway they like. LOOK at the pic ..the link I put on the last thread I mean honestly..is it the right thing to do?? For God's sake it was a baby..A baby!!!! There are so many people in this screwed up world who would love to have the oppotunity to have and raise a Burro. It's just people trying to justify what they know in their hearts is WRONG!

From what I understand there are only 300 left. And the Texas Parks and Wildlife intends to kill these nationally protected burros to the "maximum extent possible:

 

[freddy10]

I don't think making accusations of laziness are warranted, we don't know the politics and policy decisions behind this management strategy. It's very easy to point and make accusations, but if we don't have a comprehensive understanding of the situation, we probably shouldn't do so.

I would disagree it is being lazy yeah it is easy for people to get a gun and shoot them but it takes time they have to shoot and kill them and get rid of them when it is just as easy to round them up and save there life, now if people was doing this to your favorite animal you would be very up set now would you and be wanting to try to stop them, in this case there happen to be burros! So the answer is yes people are just being lazy and cold hearted!!

All so we don't have to the money to get them and save them but we have money to go and pay for rifles and ammo and pay people to go out and kill them but does it take time and shoot them and get load up into a trailer and that take what? Gas and not counting how many men to load them up and I am sure these people get paid by the hours right? So I don't care what type of job you have these are poor animals who are trying to live and you are okay with people going out and kill them. You have to be a real cold hard person if you agree with this letting people go out and kill an animal just for the hell of it!! You must be a very sad and you need help! Dr. Phil is a phone call away!!

Hi there Freddy10,
Perhaps I need to clarify. As a wildlife scientist, I look at these scenarios very objectively, tying emotions into issues like this tend to create more problems. I'm not toting myself here and I'm not saying we should all be emotionless autobots, nor am I condoning the killing of wild burros, I'm simply trying to point out that these animals are causing a problem and the funding to "round them up" is simply not feasible. Why it's not feasible was outlined pretty well by the creator of this thread - there's a lot of lavish corporate spending and poor financial decisions (according to me) flitting around our government, but this is an issue that should be saved for another time.

Imagine the staff it would take to navigate the landscape searching for burros. Once found, additional staff is required to coral them. After capture they would need transportation, space, food, water, and medical care. The financial backing for these actions would be millions.

I firmly believe that the scientists working on this project are not happy to kill these animals, we don't go into biology/ecology/wildlife to pull the trigger 24/7, quite the opposite. Most times we are given a scenario, such as this one, where an ecosystem or species is being threatened, and we must implement a management strategy to conserve that system or species while being short-staffed, over-worked, and underpaid. Why are all these things occurring? The priorities of the government are corporations, not conserving biodiversity. Throw some politics into the mix, and you've just iced the cake. Without the proper funding and political backing, we have to do the best we can. Currently, killing the burros is the best they can do to keep them from seriously damaging this ecosystem.

 

[dmmj]

Does anyone know what the donkey condom applier job pays?

I could have done this one * The National Science Foundation provided more than to $200,000 to study of why political candidates make vague statements
for half the cost

 

[Redstrike]

Does anyone know what the donkey condom applier job pays?

I could have done this one * The National Science Foundation provided more than to $200,000 to study of why political candidates make vague statements
for half the cost

.....

Apologies for having upset a few of you. I think I made it clear that I don't agree with killing the burros, I was simply trying to unmask why this management plan may have been implemented and surmise that the biologists working on it probably don't like it either. The article states the burros are threatening hundreds of native species, something had to be done and it's sad this is how it played out. To be clear, I don't work on this system, never have, likely never will.

Freddy10,
I'd appreciate more courtesy in the future.

 

[GBtortoises]

And to be even more clear, Chris (Redstrike) and don't work together, we don't even know each other. There is something like 19 million people living in New York State. I don't know all of them.

And yes, I made a joke about Donkey condoms, I guess I missed the rule about a sense of humor not being allowed on this site. Apparently not everyone read my initial post on this thread. My question for those that are "so serious" is: If you're that passionate about the situation, what are you doing to change it? If you're just sitting on a computer pounding out your rage in a forum you're doing nothing.

I'm not for killing burros or any animal unless there is a bonafide reason that is in the best interest of the species or the negative effect that it may have on other species or an environment due to previous human intervention causing an environmental inbalance. I believe that population explosion control due to elimination of predators is one reason, to halt the spread of disease being another, for food being another and yes, possibly if all other solutions are not feasible-eliminating the intrusive species to maintain the native balance.

Depending upon how far back you want to go in history Burro (Donkeys) are not native to the Americas so they are at this point still considered and evasive species. Funny, I don't hear anyone getting in an uproar about killing big Pythons in the Everglades or poisoning a Norway rat in that is living in their house, or the elimination of Africanized bees. They're all evasive species too, and in one way or another can be endangering the environment around them, in some cases extremely dangerous. Yet I don't hear anyone standing up to defend those species.

As I said initially, I am not for shooting wild burros or any other animal without legitimate reason. I don't think shooting these burros is the best solution. But I am for eliminating an invasive species from an environment that it might potentially destroy. Adoptions and placement farms will only be able to handle just so many wild burros before they become overwhelmed. Once the limelight is focused elsewhere and if nothing else is done to control them, the burros will eventually overrun the environment that they're moving into. So is it better to allow possibly many species of plants and animals to perish in order to save one? Or is it wiser to eliminate the problem before it grows out of control (check Florida Pythons) and save many in the long run?

 

[Angi]

I think it is easy to get upset and emotional about the burros because they are cute, sweet, furry and do not attack people or other animals.
Bees, pythons and rats just don't give up the same warm fuzzy feeling. That said I have to agree with GB. There needs to be some sort of population control. I would think that there would be a better alternative than shooting them. Buyersusan or Freddy, have you looked in to starting a foundation to capture and find homes for these burros?
Does anyone know where I could get those birth control salt licks for the rabbits in my yard? Talk about over population and I would shoot the little Bas%#@$# if I knew how to shoot a gun. Okay now ya' all know I have an ugly side.

 

[byerssusan]

GB actually that is why I am more upset.. I have no funds..resources to help this cause. But I did join the Wild Burro Protection League and was able to sign a petition too stop this deplorable thing which is happening. And I will get as many as I can to sign it also. For now that's all I can do.
TPWD is not doing what they are mandated to do. They are to protect the cultural and natural resources in this park. Instead they are killing off entire species: elk, auodad, cougar, bobcat, hogs, and burros. This is all being done so that they can release one species who has NEVER presided in Big Bend Ranch State Park before. They have NEVER conducted a single study to ascertain whether these Draconian measures will have impact on the environment which they surely will. This is not science, or preservation. This is not conservation, this is madmen controlling land that belongs to WE THE PEOPLE, not we the highest contributor to Rick Perry's campaign. All of the people who are on the TPWD commission have contributed in excess of 6 figures for the privilege of being on the Commission. The new Chair Dan Friedkin donated ..............$715,000. to Rick Perry's campaign. You pay to play in TEXAS. Corruption runs amok, and the most honest species on the planet is being shot so they can get their jollies....

Not everyone knows the truth.. Only what you see in the news. And if you do not investigate it any further..we naturally take what the news say and take it as truth. They are not being honest in this issue. There is NO REASON why these Burros should be shot..Just simply no reason.

You really have no clue how bad I feel in my heart that I am unable to get up ..go there..and do whatever I can physically to help as many as I can to to saved. I think before everyone says yeah the scientist say it needs to be done then it should be done..should find the actual scientist who has been there and has been working on the situation. The ones who have not just been working on this situation .Talk with them.. Find out more info before you beoieve what you are being told..The news, politicians will make you believe anything that benefits them.

You know the solution if they are not wanting the Burros there is to block their entrance..Why are they not doing this? This I am sure goes so much deeper that what we will ever know. It looks pretty bad on big ole Texas that a Burro is able to cross their border. I don't know. I am going to do what I can ..even though yes it has to be here on my computer..I still have a voice..And you can damn well believe everyone I come by will hear it *S*