Opposition to Oglebay Deer Hunt Continues
Photo by Shelley Hanson Trending
Editor’s note: Due to a reporting error, the number of signatures on the change.org petition was incorrect. That number has been fixed in the story to reflect the correct number.
WHEELING -- Reaching more than 1,400 signatures, the change.org petition to prevent Oglebay's deer hunt is a manifestation of opposition towards the event.
Karen Kahle, an assistant prosecuting attorney and member of the West Virginia Animal Law Committee, promotes the petition as a way to spread awareness of the inhumane aspects of the hunt and influence Oglebay to reconsider its population control methods.
Oglebay's Limited Purpose Bow Hunt will take place Monday through Wednesday to help curb the park's proposed overpopulation of deer. Since the hunt's announcement on Sept. 18, objections towards the culling have been voiced through social media platforms, a petition filed to prevent the hunt and now thousands of signatures from concerned people.
The overall goal of the petition, outlined by Kahle, is for Oglebay board members and Wheeling Park Commission members to "consider the concerns of those who have signed this petition and why we have done so."
Claiming that Oglebay hasn't "performed their due diligence" in creating the hunt, Kahle outlined that the petition targets two main concerns surrounding the hunt.
"What it comes down to is the method and our relationship to the deer," said Kahle. "I think as far as most of the people signing this petition are concerned, it's the method that Oglebay is using to kill the deer, in light of the fact that they're not just completely wild deer."
After taking their concerns into consideration, Kahle hopes officials would be willing to delay the hunt and hire a wildlife biologist to determine whether there is an overpopulation problem.
If there is overpopulation, Kahle wants Oglebay to work alongside a wildlife biologist to determine "the most humane method" of managing the deer population.
"It seems to me that the consumer needs a consultant," said Kahle. "Oglebay hired a PR consultant, which rubbed people the wrong way. The money spent on the PR consultant could've been used for a wildlife biology consultant to look at the issue from their expert standpoint."
Twenty bow hunters selected from a lottery draw will participate in the culling. Taking to closed-off sections of the park, including golf courses and trails, each hunter can kill up to three deer during the event.
Questioning whether killing with a bow and arrow is the best way to prevent the suffering of the deer, Kahle explained the petitioners "don't feel there's any comfort these deer are going to be subjected to during this hunt."
"Part of it is that I live near the park," added Kahle. "I'm kind of beside myself over the idea of these deer coming on my property with an arrow hanging out of their hip, and they could still be alive."
For Kahle, the deer are comparable to dogs in a shelter. While shelter dogs have to be put down on occasion to prevent overpopulation, Kahle noted, "people would be horrified if the method of putting down shelter animals was allowing people to come by with bows and arrows to shoot them."
On what alternatives should be employed instead of bow hunting, Kahle suggested a culling where military sharpshooters cut down the population in a controlled area.
While Kahle would be open to taking legal action to prevent the culling, she admitted she has not explored the option because her "gut reaction" is that a lawsuit would not have standing in court.
A group of locals recently filed a petition in circuit court to stop the hunt from happening. Circuit Court Judge Jason Cuomo dismissed the petition, allowing the hunt to happen, stating the petitioners had no standing to bring the case.
A supporter of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Kahle explained through doing pro-bono work for the nationwide group, she learned of the difficulties encountered when trying to prove standing when suing to protect animals.
"It can be very hard to get a court to say that you as a human being have standing to sue for animals when we perceive harm being done against them," explained Kahle. "I don't know of any way to overcome that."
With no legal method available to prevent the culling, Kahle implores Oglebay to "take a serious look at this community concern as manifested by the people." She hopes Wheeling Park Commission members explore "other long-term solutions," such as birth control for the deer, before conducting another deer hunt.
Wheeling Park Commission President and CEO Bob Peckenpaugh has said he has seen the petition and the commission is monitoring public response. Kahle admitted the petition "doesn't have much impact because it only discusses how we feel."
"These deer have a relationship to the community, and I think that's one of the big issues that rubs people wrong," added Kahle. "Maybe Peckenpaugh is not taking that into consideration because, when you do, you realize the community wants you to manage the overpopulation humanely.
"We don't believe that this lottery bow and arrow hunt is the humane way."
With the culling set to begin Monday and the park still not fulfilling the petition's wishes, Kahle urges those opposed to the hunt to contact Oglebay board members to voice their concerns.
"I think that's about the only thing people could do at this point," she said. "The community needs to expound to Oglebay that they must do their due diligence to approach this problem as humanely and reasonably as possible."