The Cull of the Wild (Deer)

Southold Long Island Deer Cull Massacre Begins–Boycott Southold Now

What is believed to be the largest deer cull in the history of the United States began this week in Southold, New York, which is located on the bucolic North Fork of Long Island. The senseless massacre of up to 3,000 deer will take place at night on private and possibly town lands in the dead of winter. Sharpshooters from the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), contracted by the Long Island Farmers Bureau (“LIFB”) and sanctioned by the Town of Southold, will bait fields, lie in wait with high-powered silencers and night vision goggles and, as scores of deer nibble at the bait, they will slaughter them, reportedly focusing primarily on pregnant does and fawns. The deer may also be rounded up, perhaps trapped in nets or captured in deer snares or through other cruel and tortuous means where they will be imminently aware of their fate in the final moments of their lives. Through online petitions and actively engaged social media, we are asking for your support to prevent this sickening massacre from going forward yet another day. While it never should have begun, it is time for it to stop.

The controversial deer cull measure has no hope of accomplishing the stated objectives, which includes reducing crop damage, the spread of Lyme disease and car accidents involving deer. The Town failed to fully consider more humane measures, including relaxing hunting laws that would allow hunters to harvest more deer, the implementation of a comprehensive contraceptive plan and other less radical and extreme measures.

For better or worse, humans hold a public trust with the environment. As custodians of that trust, we have not always upheld our responsibility to the lands that were deeded to us to protect. Time and again, government officials have demonstrated we violate that public trust, whether it’s with respect to clean air, clean water, preserving our natural resources or, in this instance, protecting wildlife from the brutal and barbaric acts of mankind. This trust is particularly violated when we indiscriminately massacre a species. The Town of Southold is violating that trust by sanctioning the mass murdering of deer on its lands. 

By definition, a cull is a selective slaughter of wild animals. Here, the Town of Southhold is seeking to quietly execute thousands of deer without anyone noticing. Town officials refuse to release details concerning the cull, such as when, location and manner in which the deer will be massacred. Rather, they are hiding behind double speak (i.e., this is a private matter between the LIFB and USDA that they cannot comment about, notwithstanding they contributed $25,000 to the cull, sanctioned an environmental impact study and are committing other resources in support of the cull) and will only release details concerning the number of deer slaughtered when the cull has concluded. There are no major news organizations camped out in the fields to expose the slaughter; no celebrities calling attention to this sickening act and, shamefully, no animal rights groups racing to Southold to protest this repulsive horror.

We, however, have noticed and are outraged and incensed. We will not go quietly in the night. Come spring, when the town emerges from its winter slumber, it will seek to return to life, with its wineries, farm stands, bay beaches, restaurants and shops providing an attractive destination for tourists. And while the Town readies itself for the tourist season, as the chill gives way to the seduction of friendly temperatures, it will pretend that it did not sponsor a massacre on its lands during a series of horrific winter nights. For those who believe that the cull is indefensible and inexcusable, we are asking that you send a message to the Town of Southold by doing the following:

• Click here to sign the petition demanding that the Town of Southold cease the senseless massacre of deer;
• Boycott all agriculture products produced on the North Fork in the town of Southold, from wines to the produce and foods sold by the local farms and at the local farm stands by not purchasing any of their goods;
• If you know of any big businesses, supermarkets and gourmet supermarkets and shops that purchase produce and products from the Southold wineries and farms, urge them to stop doing so at the risk of losing your business. Also, to allow us to create an online petition, please let us know the names of the businesses. The same should be done with regard to the sod, pumpkin and tree farms on the North Fork; and
• E-mail the Town of Southold.

If you believe the slaughtering of thousands of deer is a violation of the public trust, it is vitally important to send a message to the Town of Southold that it cannot do so with impunity, without the risk of offending and outraging many. The message is if you want to kill thousands of animals, do not count on families to spend their hard earned dollars on agricultural products produced and grown in a place that has no regard for wildlife. Send a powerful message to the Town of Southold by letting them know that you will not visit or purchase from their wineries and farms until their senseless acts of brutality stop.

Thank you for your support and let’s protect the deer by standing strong before the Town of Southold.

With much appreciation,

Boycottsoutholdnow