wildlife area off limits to all but hunters
Eleanor Russell
I'm only going to type some of the article that is distrubing.
Milan, Ohio Welcome to the Mikan Wildllife Area, where killing
animals is OK, but romance is dead.
The 296-acre park in Erie County is closed to hikers, bikers
(push-pedal variety) and birdwatchers. The welcome mat is out for
hunter, trappers and fishermen. And they must carry guns, traps or
fishing poles to prove it.
Segedi enjoys walks through the woods, to look at birds and
animals, not to hurt them. He said he was appalled that a state agency
would discriminate against him because he would rather observe life than
take it.
The division concluded the area would be a better place if the
only people with a nonlethal interest in animals and those who just
enjoyed a walk in the woods were banned. It is the only division-run
wildlife area in the state that has such a rule.
Becky Cullen of Bowling Green said she started the latest
flap last month, when she requested information on the park from
wildlife officials. Cullen said she wanted to look for a pileated
woodpecker and for a map. She was told she was not welcome in the park
unless she planned to kill the bird.
"I passed the information along, and it ended up on a bird
watchers computerized mailing list and Web site, so now everyone knows
about it," she said. "There has been a huge outcry among birders.
Everyone was pretty upset that we could hunt, fish and trap but not
look at the birds.
Sunderhaus said about 50 people had been fined since 1997 for
walking in the woods without deadly intent.
Two women were approached by division law enforcement officers
and asked what they were doing on the property, because they didn't have
a gun or fishing poles.
The women got nervous and told the officers of the state park
they just dropped their husband off, but because they weren't fast to
explaining why they were there, they were given a citation, I think that
is going a little too far.
The violaters face a maximum fine fo $250.00 and 30 days in
jail, though Sunderhaus said most of the fines are $25.00, and not one
has gone to jail.
Segedi said that if it weren't forhis wife's objections, he
would get arrested and challenge the law. He said that when the
complained, Plagman responded that people could bir-watch, as long as
they carried a gun and told officers they were "pursuing" game.
"Not everyone hits what they aim at," Plagman said.
Segedo said this type of subterfuge was insulting.
I should not have to lie in order to go into the woods and
watch birds, he said. According to the division, it would be ok to go
out there and strangle baby woodchucks but illegal just to look at the
bird or watch the animals.
I think this is the craziest thing I ever read. If you want
to watch the birds or wild animals you have to carry a gun and pretend
to be hunting in order to bird watch. Something should be done the is
crazy and I'm from N.E. Ohio.
--
Ellie Russell
Webpage : http://www.nls.net/mp/elrussell/default.html
Colin Conroy
Eleanor Russell <elru...@nls.net> wrote:
> This was published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Sun, April 2, 2000
> I'm only going to type some of the article that is distrubing.
> Milan, Ohio Welcome to the Mikan Wildllife Area, where killing
> animals is OK, but romance is dead.
> The 296-acre park in Erie County is closed to hikers, bikers
> (push-pedal variety) and birdwatchers. The welcome mat is out for
> hunter, trappers and fishermen. And they must carry guns, traps or
> fishing poles to prove it.
are you sure this wasn't published on April the 1st?
Colin.
--
Liverpool,
England.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Eleanor Russell
Hi, I read the article and only typed what I thought was disturbing.
It was in the Cleveland Plain Dealers Sunday Paper on 4-2-00 in the Metro
section. I thought the people who like to watch the birds would be
interested in how stupid the Ohio State Park is. When and where did you
read this article?
Eleanor
Eleanor Russell
This article was published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer News
Paper. I didn't type the whole article as it was to long but just the
important parts of it. Published 4-2-00
I live in N.E. Ohio and I'm ashamed that we have such a park. I
watch birds from my back yard and I even feed some of the wild animals that
come up to my house. I live 350ft from the road in the country and I'm
trying to get my web page finished to show how squrrels,
racoons,possiums,chipmunks and birds can live together with out killing each
other. I have pictures of them all eating togther about 6:30 in the
evening. That article just made me sick. You can only go to the park if
you carry a gun or have a fishing pole that's crazy. Eleanor
Colin Conroy
Eleanor Russell <elru...@nls.net> wrote:
> Colin
> This article was published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer News
> Paper. I didn't type the whole article as it was to long but just the
> important parts of it. Published 4-2-00
>
It does indeed sound terrible, but the reason I asked about the date was
that I thought it might be an April Fool by the paper. However, I don't
know if you have that custom in America (i.e. of doing practical jokes
on April the 1st.) They are not usually as sick as that but there have
been quite a few cases in the past when papers, radio stations and even
the BBC have done elaborate ones and caught a lot of people out.
However, as your article was published on April the 2nd it must be
serious. Have you tried contacting the authority responsible for the
park in question and asking them to confirm the story and then
registering a complaint/protest if it is true. It sounds a bit extreme
to send people to jail for trespassing whatever the circumstances. Is
that a normal punishment for such a minor crime in the states?
Yours,
Eleanor Russell
THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY. I'LL LOOK INTO IT.
HAVE A GOOD DAY
ELEANOR
Colin Conroy wrote:
--
Debbie Cusick
>
> It does indeed sound terrible, but the reason I asked about the date was
> that I thought it might be an April Fool by the paper. However, I don't
> know if you have that custom in America (i.e. of doing practical jokes
> on April the 1st.)
The original article as posted sure *sounds* like an April Fool joke -
but I'm not so sure it is after doing a little checking.
For example http://www.buckeyenorth.com/parks.htm lists parks in Erie
County, Ohio and what facilities they offer such as swimming, picnic
area, grills, hiking trails, etc. The only two boxes checked under the
Milan Wildlife Area are hunting and fishing.
However http://sandusky.net/recreation/parks.html lists this
information about the area:
Milan Wildlife Area
Off Route 113, three miles west of Milan
Milan, OH 44846
419/424-5000
Hiking trails, river landings, fishing, birdwatching. Open dawn
to dusk year-round.
and http://www.travellive.com/ohiob31.html has an article entitled:
"Flights of fancy: Birdwatching in abundance along the
north coast"
which lists great areas for birdwatching and includes this blurb:
MILAN WILDLIFE AREA: Off Route 113 three miles west of Milan in Bono,
(419) 424-5000.
Large pileated woodpecker can be seen year-round.
Then again a map of the area can be found at:
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/odnr/wildlife/hunting/wildlifeareas/northwest/milanjpg.html
which lists it's use as "public hunting and fishing".
Looks like you'd need a local to call that (419) 424-5000 phone number
and find out the real deal.
--
Debbie Cusick
Roger A. Moncrief
Back 15 years or so ago I used to do quite a bit of hunting. Frankly I don't
think I would care for bird watchers tramping about the woods while I was
hunting. On the other hand, now that I am a bird watcher I have absolutely
no desire whatsoever to go into the woods where people are hunting.
BTW how long is hunting season in Ohio these days? I grew up in SE Ohio not
far from Marietta. I seem to recall that hunting season was only a week or
two long back in the '50s.
As for the fishing requirement, I have to agree, that requirement is pretty
ridiculous. I think I would buy a fishing license, get one of those tiny
Ronco fishing poles about 12" long and go bird watching anyway but not
during hunting season.
I suspect that the Wildlife area and its management is likely funded by
taxes on firearms and fishing gear. That's probably why they have the rule.
If I wanted to bird watch in the area I'm pretty sure I'm smart enough to do
it in such a way as to not arouse the ire of the park wardens, unless of
course I just wanted some attention and my name in the paper. BTW I am
absolutely certain that no one has ever strangled a woodchuck, at least not
for more than a second or two! ;)
Eleanor Russell wrote:
> This was published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Sun, April 2, 2000
> I'm only going to type some of the article that is distrubing.
> Milan, Ohio Welcome to the Mikan Wildllife Area, where killing
> animals is OK, but romance is dead.
> The 296-acre park in Erie County is closed to hikers, bikers
> (push-pedal variety) and birdwatchers. The welcome mat is out for
> hunter, trappers and fishermen. And they must carry guns, traps or
> fishing poles to prove it.
> --
> Ellie Russell
> Webpage : http://www.nls.net/mp/elrussell/default.html
--
Roger A. Moncrief
http://www.indrev.com/
Indepth Reviews
Indepth reviews of WinImages, trueSpace 3.1, Imagine for Windows, Ray Dream
Studio 4.1, Bryce 2, World Construction Set 2, Detailer, Goo, Click &
Create, CourseWorks 3.2 CBT, Desktop Support Factory, 3D Deck, Kitchen &
Bath, etc. on line now. Page also contains a brief Photoshop 5 issues
report.
Eleanor Russell
IF YOUR FROM AROUND THE AREA THEN YOU CAN BUY A CLEVELAND NEWS PAPER AND READ THE
ARTICLE. I WAS JUST REPORTING TO THE BIRD WATCHERS WHAT WAS IN THE CLEVELAND PLAIN
DEALER ON SUNDAY APRIL 2.
ELEANOR
Debbie Cusick wrote:
--
Leon Fisk
Don't kid yourself Roger, it can be done. Same with Racoons.
From back when I was a teenager and not so proud of anymore
:-( They were looked at as a nusiance/pest on the farm in those
days. Suspect little has change though now, other than my
attitude.
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI
Remove no.spam for email
========================
On Mon, 03 Apr 2000 16:25:11 -0400, "Roger A. Moncrief"
<r_mo...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>snip<
> BTW I am absolutely certain that no one has ever strangled a
>woodchuck, at least not for more than a second or two! ;)
Eleanor Russell
IF YOU DO LIVE IN OR AROUND MILAN THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE PD WAS JUST ON FOX
8 NEWS. WATCH THE NEWS TONIGHT AT 10:00 AND HEAR WHAT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE CARRY SO THEY
CAN WALK IN THE PARK WITH OUT GETTING A FINE.
Roger A. Moncrief
Sure they were and are a nusiance and a pest. That's why you shoot them with a
scope sighted, high powered rifle from 200 yards away. I don't care if you are a
300 pound NFL lineman. If you ever pick up a woodchuck, the instant that
woodchuck starts tearing into you with those claws that dig holes that are 20 to
30 feet deep through hard clay , YOU WILL DROP THE WOODCHUCK! This is definitely
a case where size doesn't matter. Hell I chased down a squirrel in the middle of
a field and caught it when I was a kid. The 3 pound squirrel lost the race but
won the fight without even trying hard. Human skin is not designed to withstand
claws and teeth. The lady made a comment about people choking woodchucks to
death. That simply doesn't happen except in someone's mind who doesn't anything
about wildlife in general or rodents in particular.
Eleanor Russell
ARE MY LETTERS IN THIS NOTE BIG ENOUGH? I DIDN'T WRITE THE ARTICLE I JUST TYPED WHAT WAS IN "PLAIN DEALER NEWSPAPER" IF YOU WOULD HAVE READ IT AND UNDER STOOD WHAT YOU WERE READING YOU WOULD HAVE NOTICED THAT. HAVE A NICE DAY.
ELLIE
--
CCR
of journalistic freedom in their report. They implied that huge
numbers of birders were outraged at the action, and cited the "Ohio
computerized mailing list" as their source. The truth is there was a
brief discussion of the issue on the list-serve, some facts were
presented, a representative of the Ohio Division of Natural Resources
explained the State's position, and that was about that. How the media
got wind of it is beyond me.
The area closed to all activities except hunting and fishing is
actually a state wildlife area, not a state park as was misstated in
the news. The intended uses of each differ greatly. State wildlife
areas are NOT intended as public gathering places, picnicking areas,
places to run your dogs, etc. They are created for the protection and
enjoyment of wildlife, which naturally includes hunting, fishing AND
wildlife watching....and little else.
Over the course of the last couple decades, Milan became over-run by
undesirables. Significant crime, drug use, and conspicuous homosexual
behavior became the norm. Visitors to the wildlife area could expect
aggressive solicitations from the riff-raff. Many complaints were
filed over the years. Despite patrols, and no doubt many arrests, the
situation persisted. Finally the ODNR decided it was time to take
affirmative action.
The logic is that if you are carrying either a hunting or fishing
license and the appropriate equipment, you obviously belong there.
Unfortunately, anyone can carry a pair of binoculars and claim to be
birding, so birders have also been excluded.
Personally, I applaud the ODNR's action. Many states would have just
closed the area altogether, but Ohio chose the more difficult path.
Secondly, Milan WA is not a particularly productive birding area
anyway. There are many far superior birding locations within a 30 mile
radius. Third, what unarmed birder in their right mind would even want
to risk venturing into there? I am certain the new restrictions will
inconvenience only a very few birders.
Finally, while the trespassing laws threaten jail, according to the
ODNR rep., nobody has thus far done any time. Typically only a $25
fine is levied. Its the same old song and dance, if you want
sensation, watch the local news, if you want the facts, seek them
elsewhere. I hope this has helped to clear up the misconceptions on
this issue, especially from across the pond :-)
Craig
Eleanor Russell
THE ARTICLE WE ARE READING ABOUT IS IN OHIO, YOU WROTE MILAN,
WA. WAS THAT A TYPE ERROR? WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP OUT OF THE PARK
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AS ALL PARKS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM
WITH DRUGS ,KISSING AND ?????? THEY STILL LET PEOPLE RIDE BIKES AND TAKE
WALKS AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO WATCH THE BIRDS IT'S OK. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE TO ME. LIKE THE GUY SAID ON TV 8 FOX NEWS I CARRY MY HUNTING
LICENSE SO MY WIFE AND I CAN TAKE WALKS IN THE PARK. SO HE'S DOING THE
SAME THING AS THE PEOPLE BINOCULARS.
ELLIE
CCR wrote:
--
Leon Fisk
You can believe what you want, but I was that 200 lb farmboy
and they really aren't that much trouble to dispatch.
It's a "myth" that these critters are some sort of a superior
match to a humans abilities...
I still think it is quite disgusting though the way it was
portrayed in the article Eleanor quoted, "strangling baby
woodchucks"...
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI
Remove no.spam for email
========================
On Mon, 03 Apr 2000 20:17:59 -0400, "Roger A. Moncrief"
jmcl...@gte.net
wrote:
>CRAIG
> THE ARTICLE WE ARE READING ABOUT IS IN OHIO, YOU WROTE MILAN,
>WA. WAS THAT A TYPE ERROR? WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP OUT OF THE PARK
>DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AS ALL PARKS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM
>WITH DRUGS ,KISSING AND ?????? THEY STILL LET PEOPLE RIDE BIKES AND TAKE
>WALKS AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO WATCH THE BIRDS IT'S OK. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY
>SENSE TO ME. LIKE THE GUY SAID ON TV 8 FOX NEWS I CARRY MY HUNTING
>LICENSE SO MY WIFE AND I CAN TAKE WALKS IN THE PARK. SO HE'S DOING THE
>SAME THING AS THE PEOPLE BINOCULARS.
> ELLIE
Please stop yelling....
(all capital letters in usenet is interpreted as yelling)
thanks
Jack
Durham, NC
J Ride
wildlife area. And the WA is not a park. Relax, reread Craig's post and
allow it to sink in. It's good information posted for your benefit and you
responded with a rant. This type of behavior earns newbies a bad rep in a
ng. And nix the all caps, eh? We'd all appreciate it.
J.R. in Wisconsin
P.S. This info is also posted for your benefit. Try to remember that when
the urge to flame strikes.
Eleanor Russell wrote:
> CRAIG
> THE ARTICLE WE ARE READING ABOUT IS IN OHIO, YOU WROTE MILAN,
> WA. WAS THAT A TYPE ERROR? WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP OUT OF THE PARK
> DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AS ALL PARKS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM
> WITH DRUGS ,KISSING AND ?????? THEY STILL LET PEOPLE RIDE BIKES AND TAKE
> WALKS AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO WATCH THE BIRDS IT'S OK. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY
> SENSE TO ME. LIKE THE GUY SAID ON TV 8 FOX NEWS I CARRY MY HUNTING
> LICENSE SO MY WIFE AND I CAN TAKE WALKS IN THE PARK. SO HE'S DOING THE
> SAME THING AS THE PEOPLE BINOCULARS.
> ELLIE
>
Eleanor Russell
I didn't know that capital mean that i am yelling. I wasn't, if I made
that impression sorry
Eleanor
J Ride wrote:
--
A. Whittick
the pileated woodpecker' illustrate how little the author knew about hunting,
and made me question the accuracy of the entire article. If they were so off
base on items that I have some personal knowledge of, why would I trust their
accuracy on things that I am not familiar with ?
In article <38e9b23d...@news.iserv.net>, lf...@no.spam.iserv.net says...