BALTIMORE (Map, News) - A highly destructive invasive algae has hit Maryland’s Gunpowder River, and the Department of Natural Resources is scrambling to prevent its spread and to save the river’s trout fishing.

The diatomaceous algae, Didymosphenia germinate, called Didymo or “rock snot” by anglers, is easily transferred by user groups (trout anglers, kayakers, waders, canoeists) to other streams. A single cell of Didymo can infect new waters.

The biggest user group threat is to trout anglers. Didymo and decisions by the DNR will change fishing habits, how to fish, the flies used and possibly even result in regulation bans of some fishing equipment.

Didymo has been around a long time, with records indicating infection in the United States as early as the late 1800s. The invasive has devastated western trout waters and New Zealand.

It was originally associated with cold, nutrient-poor waters but may have morphed into something different. It is now found in warmer waters and associated with tailrace fisheries, such as the Gunpowder, fed by water released from Prettyboy Reservoir.

Didymo is not like whirling disease, which directly affects trout to cause fry and fingerling to swim in circles. Whirling disease has disappeared or been suspended, since all infected hatchery trout were destroyed last year. Current studies on stream-caged sentinel rainbow fry will reveal the success of this in June, said Don Cosden, DNR chief of inland fisheries.

Didymo forms a thick yellow-, white- or cream-colored mat on the stream bottom. In extreme cases, it prevents trout from getting to bottom-dwelling insects — their groceries — such as caddis flies, mayflies and stone flies. It is not harmful to humans.

Charlie Gougeon, DNR Central Maryland head honcho for trout, noted that the DNR found algae mats some two weeks ago when checking streams for trout fry populations and spawning success. Samples collected by Susan Rivers, DNR macro-invertebrate and fish-health specialist, proved it to be Didymo.

In DNR strategy meetings earlier this week, plans were to provide disinfecting stations at parking lots and road crossing all along the Gunpowder from Prettyboy dam to Loch Raven. Educational posters are already up.

Proposals are to have cleaning stations filled with a 5 percent salt solution for anglers to wash their boots. Felt-soled boots are particularly bad since they hold cells that can be transferred to other streams.

Disinfecting stations are likely to be large versions of self-filling dog water bowls by which a large inverted container refills a basin when the water level becomes low. A one-minute salt-solution soak kills all Didymo cells.

“We think that the vector was an angler dancing around in infected streams and then fishing here,” said Gougeon.

Infected streams in New York, Vermont, West Virginia and southwestern Virginia are the closest to area streams.

Rock snot was not present in the Gunpowder during last fall’s electro-shocking studies and is expected to have arrived here sometime in January. The heaviest concentration is around the Falls Road and York Road areas, but it can be found down to Glencoe.

Rivers explained that currently there is no known way to rid streams of it once it arrives.

An additional concern is the possibility that trout fishermen can infect other area streams as they move around the state to fish. “We have to look at other areas,” said Rivers. She noted that since Didymo was found in the catch-and-release area, those areas on the North Branch of the Potomac, Savage, Youghiogheny, Casselman, Patuxent and Hunting Creek are being monitored.

Rock snot could affect stream insects available to trout and might entail a shift in fishing methods from typical nymphs, emergers and dries of mayflies, caddis flies and stone flies to smaller offerings of midges, Baetis and Tricos. These are able to get through the rock snot mat.

In addition, legal types at DNR are looking at the possibility of banning the use of felt-soled waders in the Gunpowder and other trout streams as a way of preventing Didymo spread.

Anglers can help by using a one-quart (one-pound) box of salt per five gallons of water to soak felt-soled boots at home to kill this damaging invasive. A suggestion for canoeists and kayakers is to carry salt and spread it liberally in the bilge water to kill Didymo cells, rinsing later to remove the corrosive effects of salt from any internal metal parts.

Comments from Examiner Readers

10:13 AM MST on Fri., Jan. 18, 2008 re: "Chum suit, flats season extended and free fishing"

Examiner Reader said:
In reading your article on Goucher College deer population. It is amasing that we only consider to terminate them since they are incresing in population. Honestly I dont't think their population is increasing. We are over developing the areas where they are living. Ironically the world is over populated and we don't go out declaring "Human Hunting Season Open".

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1:15 PM MST on Sun., Dec. 23, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Examiner Reader said:
By appealing broadly to the 'goodness' in most people the extreme left under a banner of 'animal rights' has been hijacking my dogs -- and hijacking the civil rights of animal owners. Dog owners are now subject to to the whims of 'the State' personofied by armed "animal care" officers, whose abuses in the name of the 'good' they claim to do are worrisome at best. If one objects to any portion of the 'animal rights' agenda, one is immediately accused of favoring animal torture. Most people somnolently ignore the reality and implications of this great cultural bamboozlement. . .

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7:26 AM MST on Sat., Dec. 15, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Jeffrey, an Independent said:
Phillip, point well made. If we are all animals with some instinct mixed with some cognitive ability, then eating other animals is in our very nature. An interesting comment made earlier, is it murder if an animal kills another? If we are animals too, how are we murders?

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4:57 AM MST on Sat., Dec. 15, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Philip said:
Jeffrey, I know that animals want to live because when confronted with their own demise they react and act EXACTLY the way humans do. They try to run away, fight back or they cry out in fear. If you believe that all of the above are nothing more than instinct driven then humans act purely on instinct as well when faced with death. For instance if your throat were being slit by a butchers knife you would let out the same blood curdling scream as any animal would. No different. Would your scream be instinct driven? And if so, would the pain and fear of death be any less than if you were quoting lines from Shakespeare? I think not. In your mind does one have to understand the concept of death to be allowed to live? Does a human infant understand the concept of life and death? I don't believe they do. However, in your mind does this mean that a human baby deserves to die? And how can you prove to me that your wanting to live is not instinct driven?

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9:06 PM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Humane Society�s bear poll slightly off target"

Examiner Reader said:
Philip, what do you call animals that eat other animals? Murders? Interesting thought, but it happens. Have you ever lived in the country like Montana where the grizzly bear is king? What would you think of black bears becoming rabid and attacking humans? Let the rabid bears live and attack more humans? Now they are moving toward the city...according to you, we let them move in to the city....Novel idea Philip. Just admit it, you're not man enough to kill that rabid bear if you had to. If it's between you and the bear, I'm rooting for the bear!

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7:34 PM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Examiner Reader said:
Wow, I guess 7:21 was trying to recruit the masses for endoctrination.

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7:24 PM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Jeffrey, an Independent said:
Thinkers are a welcoming bunch as well. All you have to do is open your brain and think outside your box.

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7:21 PM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Making sense of deer hunting"

Libra said:
Now that we have disintegrated into name calling, its probably a good time to say good-bye, wish you peace and hope you will do some reading online about veganism and animal rights. We vegans are a welcoming bunch and if your heart can open a little, we would love to have you join us. Former hunters make the best activists. Google: 'shark online' and read about Steve Hindi, a former hunter who became vegan.

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7:06 PM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Jeffrey, an Independent said:
Libra, I never said I was special. Where in any my previous post did I write that? Nowhere. What I did was encourage you to think critically and logically about some of the statements you were making. Just how am I imposing a belief on you by asking you to use your brain instead of making knee jerk statements out of emotion?

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5:12 PM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Humane Society�s bear poll slightly off target"

Examiner Reader said:
Philip: HOW DARE YOU compare a hunter to a war criminial. It's democrats like you that gave us O'Taxey the teflon lepreCON. Eat a burger!!!!!!!!!

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4:58 PM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Jeffrey, a Independent said:
Phillip, that has been my point all along. I have the right to choose a lifestyle whether you like it or not. That is a basic principle that this country was founded. As I keep writing, I don't fault those who don't want to eat meat - it is their right and I can respect that. As for you thinking I am immoral and cruel, I think that you guys are completely crazy self-righteous indoctrinated zealots who want impose your brand of morality on those who don't agree with you. No offense, though. I do want ask this question: you mentioned that animals want to live. How can that be proven or disproven based on an entity that is instinct driven? Libra, please read my 5:50 post again and think about it.. How do you take freedom away from an entity that has no concept of it? About the hypocrisy you spoke - speaking your mind is cool, but cramming down my throat is not. I have said that I can respect your decision, but your decision is not mine or others.

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3:34 PM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Humane Society�s bear poll slightly off target"

Philip said:
Jeff,Ted, Everytime you hunt or kill an animal who wanted to live (just as you want to live) you are imposing your morals on them.The point is this, you have a choice here, to go out and take and kill and take more and kill or you can leave the animals alone just as you want to be left alone. You have the legal right to go hunt and buy dead animal bodies to consume. Yet, remember that I also have the right (free speech) to voice my opinion about why I think you are cruel and immoral. If you have the right to steal a life or kill.I should certainly have the right to say something about it. If no one said anything ever guys like Ted would still own slaves and women would not be allowed to vote and children and animals could be abused whenever and however Ted felt it was his God given or American right. I'm sure that when the few people spoke out against Jews being killed in the late 1930s there were plenty of good Germans who told them to get out of their face with their imposing morals

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3:11 PM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Ted said:
This sort of morality/rhetoric that vegans impose on the rest of us is what has destroyed our civilization. There was a time when we could own african slaves, subjugate women and sacrifice animals. God gave us that right and so did our founding fathers. There was a time when only white men...could be free to do whatever they wished without self moralizing vegn types imposing their rights and wrongs on us. I'm with you Jeff I'm not interested in unadulterated emotion that is for tree huggers and liberals. If I want to kill lambs in my back yard for God or my own pleasure reasons I don't want no one getting in my face. My family heritage already lost everything (slaves) by people telling us what to do. Plants, cows and African humans don't feel like I do and even if they do...its not up to vegan types to stop me from doing whatever I please! You vegans have your emotional world view and everyone else has theirs stop imposing your morality on us good Americans.

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2:31 PM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Libra said:
Actually Jeff, I used to be like you. I was raised on steak. I used to make the same silly arguments you do, about free will, lifestyle choice, needing meat for sustenance...then one day I woke up faced the truth that I only deserve my own 'freedom' when I am not taking away the freedom of another in order to have it. I do believe kindness is a higher virtue than harm. I would guess most people do. You do not wish for me to impose my views on you but you feel its ok to impose your violence on animals. Isnt that hypocrisy? It seems like its YOU who feels morally superior than the other non human animals who share our planet. Why are you so special? Who are YOU to impose your violent ways and hurt others?

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1:14 PM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Jeff, an Independent said:
Libra, Here is the bigger picture: you have your world view and everyone else has theirs. Stop imposing your brand of morality/rhetoric/indoctrination on the rest of us. You made your choice in life. Great, we get it. But, you still imply that you are morally superior because of your choice of abstinence. For that, I feel sorry for you as well because you only have a narrow minded "my opinion only matters" world paradigm. Why don't you search your own self to figure out why somebody cannot make a different choice than you. There is no attempt here to be clever, I want you to apply some real logic and critical thought to what you write instead of unadulterated emotion. From what I have read, you refuse to even dare think outside your box.

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12:10 PM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Libra said:
You know, we can all sit here writing back and forth, attempting to be more clever than each other with our verbal gymnastics..but I'm really sorry...you simply can not defend violence when there is a more loving choice to be made. Period. You must be really out of touch with your own hearts. I feel for you. Someone must have been unkind to you. Search you souls, people...if you have one.

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6:56 AM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Examiner Reader said:
I do not eat meat and haven't had any source of it in 8 years, however I do eat seafood. No flesh meat from an animal is my doctor terms my diet as, I agree with his term. But this was a personal choice for me and in no way implies that I feel it is wrong to eat meat;once in my life having done so. I am sure that you as Vegans have had meat fed to you as a child by your parents before making your adults choice to become a Vegan, were you condemned or bad then for eating meat? Of course not, no one is condemned or bad for choosing to eat meat. In fact, according to scripture in Acts 10:10-16 God told the Apostle Peter that nothing was considered to be "unclean" for eating purposes. Read it please and become informed. What scientific proof do you have that plants do not "feel" anything? I don�t believe that there is any proof, we assume it because there is nothing evident to the eye/ears. Senseless killing is wrong. Killing to eat is not wrong and is sanctioned by God.

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5:50 AM MST on Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Jeff, an Independent said:
Libra, as soon as you enjoy a steak with me, I'll have tofu' with you.. Ok, What is your defintion of suffering? You can't possibly be applying the things going on Darfur to hunting. Your comment on freedom, are you serious? You apply a concept on something that has no idea of the concept (I'll apply Phillip's rebuttal to my plant analogy). In other words, they have no soul, no self determination - only instinct. I am sure you will say otherwise, but hey, it's your opinion as I have mine. Most people don't care if somebody is Vegan and will leave them alone. But, because of their beliefs some Vegans tend get into other people's face (rhetoric). You also bring up what is right and wrong. Not eating meat is your choice. Not right vs. wrong. This is why I see some Vegans as self-righteous - the implication is made that since you don't eat meat you are automatically morally superior than everyone else. Libra, you, Phillip, et al. have your view the world, everyone else has thei

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9:31 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

examiner reader said:
writer 2:31, I don't get your point about any man having to "prove themselves" because they have a small penis. Being a woman that enjoys sex I can attest that the size of a man's penis doesn't matter. All that matters is that the man is confident in knowing how to please a woman with his penis; size does not matter. If a man's knows how to use his penis no matter the size it is satisfing.

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5:58 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Libra said:
Exactly Jeff..good point about 'freedom' . You do not wish to have your freedom taken away. Perhaps, it is from that perspective, that you can relate to the animals also not wishing to have their freedom (i.e. lives) taken away. It is not a matter of legality, intelligence or what we are able to do, but rather what, in our deepest truth, from our deepest hearts, what is the correct action? is it to live peacefully, while respecting other beings who only wish to be left alone? Or is it to cause great suffering so we can selfishly enjoy the taste of stolen flesh. We are indeed the more powerful species, so it become a test of our character to do the right thing when we dont have to. I am a vegan because I choose the path of least harm. It is what I am most proud of. Perhaps you should try it and find out how much better it feels than hunting does. With respect.

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5:43 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Jeffrey, a Independent said:
I do agree there are people that really need to be hunted themselves. The African and Asian elephants are almost extinct because of the price of the tusks. The carcas is just discarded. Blue tip gorillas are hunted just for appendages and skins. The body is usually dumped. Big cats are in the same boat. That kind of hunting I do think is abhorent.

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5:27 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Jeffrey, a Independent said:
Phillip this my point of this whole dialogue: I do not want the activists taking away any more freedom of this country (even if you think it is for the country's better good). If you read my comments closely, I was trying to get you to think outside the box. I hunt, it does not make me bad, stupid, insecure, or cowardly. Regardless of what you think, hunters are some the most law abiding citizens - IMOO. Plus some of them serve in the United States Military. They are not stupid or cowardly. I don't fault Vegan's for their choice of abstinence, it takes dedication. I do get uptight when rhetoric gets shoved down my throat. PETA & ALF spend all the live long day (and a bunch of money) to feed rhetoric. I get concerned because people want to legislate "their brand" morality which means less right and freedom for somebody else. By the way, I do enjoy the taste of duck and deer which is something you can't get at the corner market around here in MD.

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4:12 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Philip said:
What's even more un bearable are violent thugs who still pretend they are living in the pre-historic times (to a hunter that is anytime before preRAMBO movies). Listen, big tough hunting dude, don't defend your sissy pastime by calling animal rights hypocrites.The author here and his cowardly brothers acting as if their shooting a bear is some high moral activity and then calling those who wish to let all animals live their lives without some lonely, frightened men in matching camo gunning them down in cold blood, hypocrites.Its just a function of their own discomfort about who they are and what gets them off.There is absolutley nothing noble about killing an innocent animal.It's exactly the same kind of cowardly violence as abusing children or raping women.The only differnce is that the men who kill the animals pretend to themselves and their buddies that its a sport.It's exactly like the pathetic cowboy in his way too tight jeans man handling a baby calf and calling rodeo a sport

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3:49 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Examiner Reader said:
You know what's unbearable to me? People who constantly whine about other people who are trying to make a positive change on the planet by supporting the rights of animals not to suffer at our hands instead of getting off their lardy butts and being gutsy enough to do something about it themselves. You don't have to be ethically perfect to be an AR advocate, you just have to be sincere.

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3:39 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Philip said:
Can any of you people give me one example of an animal rights person who has actually committed a terrorist act or killed a hunter? Anyone can go around and claim they are an animal rights person..but can you sight a specific example? Hunters actually kill each other by the hundreds every year. It's the good Christians and the nutty religious fanatics like those who believe in Allah or Yahweh that cause all the problems in this world. Animal rights activists are not going around shooting up churches or gunning down shoppers in malls, no, that is constantly committed by the pro hunting/gun nuts out there. In both of those cases last week the guys doing the shooting were wearing hunting outfits and acting just like your average trophy hunter..except they were shooting up human animals. All of the problems we face on this planet are caused by humans not animals. You should be hunting each other and leaving the animals alone if you REALLY want to make this world a better place.

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3:13 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Canada goose hunting in August?"

Philip said:
My comments below were refering to actually Examiner readers comments about getting a life. These comments are now intended for Jeff. I never once said I was better than anyone else by the fact I do not eat dead animals, that is your own insecurities coming out. I do know men that hunt and they are insecure males who can't really be honest about why they enjoy killing un suspecting animals. You don't have to KNOW a serial killer first hand to realize that they are twisted evil people, do you? If you believe that plants can process or be conscious of pain...that is your own fault not mine. Yes, people have believed in insane things like spaceships taking them to heaven and I would put those people in the same category as people who think plants have minds and are the same as animals. If you were to chop up a tomato in front of dinner guests at your house and then serve it with some olive oil and salt would they react in the same manner if you chopped up your dog or a human child?

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2:57 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

AntiSean said:
While not all animal rights activists are consistent (I personally live a vegan lifestyle and try to avoid all harm I can) -- no human being is perfect. When friends or family members make more compassionate decisions or try to promote a good cause, I would still whole-heartedly support them. My family eats the flesh of animals, but now make conscious efforts to avoid including animal pelts in their wardrobe. For those of you that advocate any positive cause, try to always remember to encourage every little advance, no matter how unsatisfying or seemingly contradictory it may be. After all, "you'll draw more bees with honey than with vinegar."

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2:31 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Philip said:
You need to either get off the medication you're taking or have your doctor increase your dosage...imediatly! You and whatever you just attempted to write in the previous comment makes about as much sense as a hunter justifying his small penis and lack of self esteem by claiming he just HAS to shoot a bear or a big big 12 pointer buck or the worlds gonna end! Hunters are the lowest of scum because they lie about why they kill and because that can't find anything better to do with their useless lives than to shed the blood of someone who can't fight back. Most hunters are really just afraid of living. Obviously all that animal fat has clogged the flow of blood to your brain. Anyone that thinks it's just part of life to kill and abuse defenseless animals for pleasure or to try and pretend you HAVE to kill animals today in the 21rst century are nothing less than liars, cowards and bullies. In reality it's people who go around taking life and killing innocent beings need to get a l

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2:28 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Canada goose hunting in August?"

Jeff, an Independent said:
Exactly, 1:24, you imply you are better than everyone else because you don't eat meat. Let me put it too you in simple terms Me Vegan = Good, You Hunter = Bad. Since Hunter = Bad, that makes him coward, cruel, and idiot by proxy. (just because I don't personally agree with hunting). Hmm. How many hunters do I personally know? Don't know, Don't care, Hunter = Bad, regardless. I know better than Hunter. Who is the idiot? BTW you never specified where you independently verified "majority of people"? Also, do you have a PhD in Botany? You or I have no ability to prove or disprove any comment I made about the Plant Kingdom even though I was using it as some satire. Anyway your "No one else believes in the world" comment: People believed a spaceship was going to carry them to heaven, People believe in a second coming of Christ, or theory of evolution, etc. the list goes on. Yes, calling people names nullifies your argument. Let an idiot educate you, it is called a logical falla

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2:13 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Examiner Reader said:
Animal rightists--manipulated out of touch with reality loonies really out to control the lives of others.Message to them? Get a real life. Like Salem's fanatics who chose neighbors they envied or hated and burnt at the stake, AR organizations act as today's Klu Klux Klan--showing pictures of persons & posting maps to homes of any they choose to persecute despite guilt or innocent of alleged crimes.When some innocent is murdered all who've played any role on computer of targeting the victim deserve tried and jailed for life.AR groups are profitable propaganda mills out to eradicate any person from ever fishing, hunting, or owning food, work, or companion animals.Check out Pacelle. On not getting $900 thousand off the Vick dogs he wanted them killed. Check out Farm Sanctuary fined for election tampering. Check out AR programs age designed to propagandize and terrify even preschool kids. Animals we need; AR rights orgs and members we need -- to flush along with their tofu & soy.

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1:24 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Philip said:
How am I self righteous? By my pointing out that I'm a vegan does not make me self righteous. I was in fact only making the point that I'm not a hypocrite ( i don't eat steak or wear leather) as the article implies about animal rights people. Btw, I don't know any real animal rights people who eat meat or wear leather. You actually make a point here that most hunters are not only cowards and cruel but that most hunters are idiots.No one else in the world believes that plants are sentient beings with a central nervous system to suffer the way a dog, cat or bear will suffer. Plants have no mind to be conscious and experience pain the way animals including humans can. Plants unlike humans and animals have no interests either. Meaning they do not have an interest in not being hurt or killed. All animals will run from danger and avoid death, plants do not. My calling you a name does not nullify my argument anymore than it nullifies you or the author's argument for calling me a hypocri

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12:27 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Canada goose hunting in August?"

Jeff, an Independent said:
10:08, You proved my point that you and your ilk are as self righteous as you are uneducated. As you said, "I'm a vegan now for 18 years", do you know how many innocent plants/plant offspring you consumed/killed? Just who is being a hypocrite here? You won't apply your logic to the plant kingdom because you know the logic won't stand. Your kind are just as bad, because you think you know everything and are pretty smug about it to boot. Where do you get your stats on "majority of people" did you make it up, get it from your little group, or did you personally conduct a double blind poll from East coast to West? As for being able to argue a point, your arguement got nullified the second you called somebody a name. Ever heard of an ad hominem attack? Pretty pathetic to use name calling and unverifiable statements to make a point. Being Vegan is your choice, it doesn't mean you are any better than anyone else on the planet.

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10:52 AM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Canada goose hunting in August?"

revolt! said:
Animals rights activists are terrorists. They aren't too smart either by the way some of these posts by them read. Perhaps they should get just back on the short bus and lick the windows till they find a place that is as stupid as they are if they are not happy around here?

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10:20 AM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Examiner Reader said:
When we built homes/communities, paved over open pastures/woodlands and killed off natural predators this allowed for a population explosion of geese and other animals. Hunting is the only means to thin the herd/flock. Cruel and unusual is letting them starve to death thru a population explosion.

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10:08 AM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Animal-rights hypocrisy is almost unbearable"

Examiner Reader said:
I'm a vegan now for 18 years. Meaning I do not eat any animal products whatsover. So according to you I'm not a hypocrite. And according to the majority of people in this country anyone who shoots an unsuspecting unarmed animal is a coward of the lowest order. You and other hunters pretending this is some kind of sport show how pathetic you are. Your only argument for hunting is to attack soemone you may think is hypocritical..kind of says it all about you. By the way...the fastest growing sport in the free USA is MMA cage fighting between two human men. If you hunters are so brave why don't you fight each other and leave the unarmed animals alone. Why? Because evryone of you hunters are scared little whimps.

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8:43 AM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Canada goose hunting in August?"

Jeff, an Independent said:
12:00, If you don't like hunting, don't hunt. Last time I checked, the USA is still a free country. You and your ilk tend to throw words around such as murder, cruelty, etc. without really knowing the meaning. Try picking up a dictionary once in awhile. Tracy, you can take your self righteousness and put where the sun doesn't shine. Better yet, apply your your flawed cruelty/murder logic to the plants/plant offspring that you consume. Just because they don't communicate doesn't mean they aren't sentient. (They have a life force, they breathe, and they die) Sounds ridiculous? It is as ridiculous as PETA/activists and their one sided rants. By the way, with your "logic" applied to both plants and animals, all of humanity would starve.

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7:36 AM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007 re: "Canada goose hunting in August?"

Examiner Reader said:
First hunting is the natural order of life. If you donot like hunting or eatting meat that is a personal choice you have a right to make. But what gives you the right