Wildlife Watching: – AN ECONOMIC BOON TO COMMUNITIES

 

When comparing different wildlife associated recreational activities, we see that wildlife watching has overtaken hunting so decisively by every measure that it is a “no-brainer” as to which activity should be encouraged and which activity should be phased out. Agencies and office-holders who are evaluating how to best use their regional natural abundance of wildlife for the economic good of their community have really no other logical alternative except to opt for wildlife watching as the wildlife associated recreation activity of choice.

 

Whether we evaluate the differences between wildlife watching and hunting from the perspective of financial, environmental, or public benefits – wildlife watching outperforms hunting in all respects.

 

Nationwide Statistics:

 

 

 

New York State Statistics:

 

 

All figures cited are from the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (issued July 2007 -- final version to be issued in November 2007 but not yet available at the time of this writing). All of these data are about individuals 16 years old and older.

 

Wildlife watching is incompatible with hunting. Abundance of wildlife attracts both wildlife watchers and hunters. The seasons when wildlife and migrating birds are of most interest to both hunters and wildlife watches coincide.  Wildlife watchers are loathe to visit areas that are being hunted out of an obvious concern for their own safety, as well as not wanting to witness the destruction of the fauna they have come to appreciate.  Hunting has the additional impact on wildlife watching of making wildlife more furtive and thus harder to watch.  A choice needs to be made, and the rational choice will be decisively in favor of wildlife watching.

 

Applying these facts and figures to the proposed Project of Sessler Excavating and Wrecking to convert the northern portion of Seneca Army Depot into a “Canned Hunt Facility” is not in the best financial interest of the town of Varick – where the facility is proposed be located in its entirety.  The town of Varick has been blessed with many magnificent natural resources, which can be and should be viewed as  financial resources, as well.  Using those resources in a non-destructive way so that they are not depleted or permanently damaged is in the long-term financial interest of the community, as well as consistent with good conservation practice.

 

Furthermore, there is currently state legislation pending (A02612 and S784) which will outlaw canned hunt facilities. Bill A02612 has passed the NY State Assembly and Bill S784 is pending a floor-vote.  A very likely scenario for the Sessler proposal is that it will be illegal to implement by the time the local permits are obtained.

 

Developing a major tourist attraction for wildlife watching is, financially, a much more attractive use of the resource. The area is within a short drive of the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Tours to the area from the US and from abroad with extended overnight stays in local inns are a certainty. The employment of such a facility would yield much more employment. In addition to the obvious employment by the hospitality industry, there are benefits to the community from the sale of wildlife watching equipment (such as binoculars, cameras, electronic sound enhancement equipment) tourist souvenir shops, and interpretive tours with guides through the various habitats.

 

The ecosystem is also best served if the natural biodiversity is maintained’ That approach is also consistent with the Town of Varick’s proposed zoning code and the Towns of Fayette and Varick Comprehensive Development Plan.

 

The facts are there, the numbers are there, the customer-base is there, the money is there.  We should have no problem finding a consortium of local innkeepers to take on the commercial development of the area as a wildlife-watching tourist attraction. Most likely state funding is available through the various state grant programs to support such a project, since Governor Spitzer has repeatedly expressed an interest in helping Western New York develop viable, sustainable industries.

 

Wildlife Watch would be happy to work with you on this development.

 

Peter Muller,

Vice President

Wildlife Watch, Inc.