An Economic Assessment of the Impacts of White-Tailed Deer Overabundance in Town of Hamilton, New York

Across the United States white-tailed deer populations affect economics in a number of ways. The following paper will focus and expound on a handful of ways that deer populations have an effect on economics: 1. Disease 2. Agriculture & home gardens 3. Hunting 4. Deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) 5. Intangible costs/benefits 6. Timber productivity (Cote 2004). This research project will assess the economic stakeholders as they relate to the white-tailed deer population in Hamilton, New York. The research considers biologic data, which assesses the state (whether the population of deer is overabundant, stable, or too low) of the white-tailed deer population. Our deer population data comes from a roadside survey covering a total of 9.27mi2, from the Hamilton aggregate of 41.31mi2 (22.38%); the roadside survey was conducted for a total of twenty-one observation hours (Baez A et al 2013). Overabundance (or overpopulation) is attributed to a certain wildlife species when it (a) affects human life or well-being, (b) affects the fitness of the overabundant species in question, (c) reduces the density of species with an economic or aesthetic value, or (d) causes dysfunctions in the ecosystem (Gortázar et al 2006). Our biology team’s data has proven that the deer population is over the sustainable threshold—this conclusion was drawn based on extensive literature research and interviews with experts (Baez A et al 2013). Additionally, our economic results focus on collected data directly from the citizens of the town of Hamilton; we conducted both a telephone and phone survey (Jensen et al 2013). Our goal is to establish the costs and benefits of white-tailed deer to Hamilton and the surrounding area. Stakeholders include both residents and non-residents because the economy of Hamilton is intricately connected to the broader New York State, as well as the even broader United States economy. We use research from literature, our colleagues, as well as interviews with experts to determine how the economic stakeholders are affected

Deer Management Strategy Recommendations for the Town of Hamilton, NY

Given the data collected through our surveys of the local deer population and the Hamilton community (Baez et al. 2013, Halper et al. 2013, Jensen et al. 2013), it is clear that deer are overabundant in the Town of Hamilton, NY. In addition, deer are producing negative impacts on both the ecosystem and the Hamilton community. We used these data and our review of case studies taking place in similar areas to create the following comprehensive report of our management recommendations to reduce Hamilton’s deer population. Our first and most fundamental recommendation is the creation of a deer-focused working group that continues to monitor the population. This working group would be committed to deciding upon and implementing scientifically-based and socially-responsible deer management strategies

William Randall of Winthrop circulated a letter last summer that advised sportsm

William Randall of Winthrop circulated a letter last summer that advised sportsmen not to cooperate with searches by state game wardens. The letter, which reached thousands, states that the advice it contained was sanctioned by the Maine Attorney General\u27s Office. Attorney General Andrew Ketterer drafted a letter on October 3 stating that no attorney in his office sanctioned Randall\u27s document. Assistant Attorney General Wayne Moss said that even though there is no legal precedent allowing game wardens to conduct a search, his office gives advice to the Warden Service based on a similar case decided two years ago by the Louisiana Supreme Court. Details

An investigation by federal Nuclear Regulatory Agency Acting Inspector General L

An investigation by federal Nuclear Regulatory Agency Acting Inspector General Leo J. Norton uncovered a series of flaws in the NRC\u27s oversight of the Maine Yankee nuclear power plant in Wiscasset. The NRC discovered in January that Maine Yankee was using a faulty computer code to predict potential small break accidents. The report states that Maine Yankee engineers were aware that the code was faulty, but they failed to contact the NRC. Details

Despite unanimous opposition from the Freeport Planning Board, the Freeport Town

Despite unanimous opposition from the Freeport Planning Board, the Freeport Town Council on September 5 voted for a zoning change to allow drive-through windows. Town residents as recently as five years ago indicated they did not want restaurants with drive-throughs. The change was reportedly made because McDonald\u27s has been using a strip of land it owns, and that the town needs to accommodate tour-bus parking, as a bargaining chip. Details, related article on neighborhood uneasiness concerning the L.L. Bean expansion

Related articles on 1994 campaign contributions from MBNA to then-U.S. represena

Related articles on 1994 campaign contributions from MBNA to then-U.S. represenative Olympia Snowe and gubernatorial candidates Angus King and Susan Collins. One way that MBNA gave to candidates is by having its employees and executives send checks, which would not constitute a corporate contribution. Some political observers believe the practice, termed bundling, is an efficient and common way for a group or corporation to deliver large contributions to a single candidate. Details, Just the Facts piece on 1994 campaign donations to U.S. senator Olympia Snowe and U.S. representatives James Longley and John Baldacci

On an average business day 27,000 commuters drive into Portland, while the city

On an average business day 27,000 commuters drive into Portland, while the city has only 17,000 legal parking spots. Vehicle exhaust from those commuters accounts for 3 tons of air pollution daily. Around 2,000 commuters signed up for Portland\u27s first-ever Commute Another Way Day, held on August 29. A recent study indicates that using alternative transportation can save the average commuter $5 daily in gas, tolls, repairs and parking costs

The South Portland Police Department\u27s Cop Collectibles program, which features

The South Portland Police Department\u27s Cop Collectibles program, which features police trading cards, was started by Sgt. George P. Berry, and is now in its third year. Police distributed 160,000 of the first edition in 1993 and 250,000 of the second edition. Woody Leland, a South Portland photographer, made the cards his pet project, and tries to shot either action or a landmark. Details

The Lincoln County Weekly published an editorial on May 18 that advocated shutti

The Lincoln County Weekly published an editorial on May 18 that advocated shutting down the Maine Yankee nuclear power plant in Wiscasset until the public received straight answers abut problems at the facility. Soon after the editorial appeared, Maine Yankee told a LCW advertising representative that the company would no longer advertise in the paper. David Morse, chief executive officer and publisher of Courier Publications, said Maine Yankee\u27s move is an attempt to muzzle the news media. Leann Diehl of Maine Yankee said advertising in the paper so soon after the editorial appeared would have been demoralizing to the company\u27s employees

Dr. Seth Blank, a thoracic surgeon, recently performed a lung reduction operatio

Dr. Seth Blank, a thoracic surgeon, recently performed a lung reduction operation on George Harrington of Portland. Harrington, who smoked up to four packs of cigarettes a day for more than 50 years, was suffering from emphysema. The surgery was originally used in Baltimore during the 1940s, and was taught to Dr. Blank by a surgeon in Missouri. Harrington\u27s operation was the third of its kind in Maine, and cost $50,000