and Concern for Animals, Respect for the Environment (CARE), the action proposed by NPS in Pennsylvania's Valley Forge National Historical Park has been halted. This is exceptional news for not only those involved in animal rights, but for groups across the country.
The federal government sought to bring sharpshooters to kill 80 percent of the white-tailed deer in the park. Under its hefty federal proposal, an estimated 1,023 deer would have been killed this season and some 1,300 deer would have been eliminated over the next four years.
In addition to bringing in the weapons, NPS pushed to implement a contraception programme, which would have lead to the collapse of what's left of the park's white-tailed deer population.
The groups argued that the deer of Valley Forge had reduced their numbers on their own accord over the last five years.
These proposed killings would have been solely sponsored by tax dollars. The recurring annual costs for sharpshooting the deer were estimated to range from $112,363 to $176,817. For its birth control plan, it would have cost the taxpayer anywhere from $108,363 to $194,517 annually. Letting them be – zero.
This is a major victory for the white-tailed deer, the park's visitors who come to view its wildlife and for all who spend winter after winter tirelessly fighting to save these animals.
To view more information and background on this case, please read: A First Battle at Valley Forge? The National Park Service's War Against White-Tailed Deer.
