Wow this was quite an impressive headline from our favorite beaver state. The very idea that Fish and Wildlife took an actual poll of attitudes to find out how their actions are being viewed by the public is pretty startling. When is California doing this? I’d like to know.
Poll Shows Gulf Between Washington Voters and State Fish and Wildlife Management
SEATTLE, WA, UNITED STATES, November 1, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — A new poll commissioned by Washington Wildlife First reveals that Washington voters do not support many of the policies of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, and that they overwhelmingly favor a more inclusive Department that represents all the people of the state.
We found that the Washington public opposes many of the Departments policies, particularly its management of large carnivores, says Samantha Bruegger, executive director of Washington Wildlife First, the organization that commissioned the poll. This poll demonstrates how out of touch the Department has become with the interests and values of Washingtonians.
For example, the poll found that 80% of Washington voters oppose spring bear hunting, while only 8% support it. The result was similar in households with active hunters, with 69% of those respondents opposing the spring bear hunt. It was also consistent in most areas of the state, with 81% opposing spring bear hunting in King County compared to 77% in eastern Washington.
You know my next question of course. As public reporting on beavers is changing how are are feelings about depredation changing as well? Maybe California isn’t so happy with problems that never get solved. I had to go looking for the real poll. Fortunately it’s all online.
Public Policy Polling®3020 Highwoods Blvd.Raleigh, NC 27604
713 voters, more than half reached by text. That’s not very onerous. There are early 8 million folks polling 3500 people wouldn’t be impossible. They do it all the time for candidates and voting measures. Why not for beavers?
I don’t know about you but if I were Jay Ensley looking to attract people to my state this would be a billboard at the state lines, My neice lives in Washington. Maybe I should migrate?
I’m very pragmatic in my day dreams. I know people answer what they want to sound like rather than how they would really feel if a beaver was flooding their basement but honestly, I just want to velcro Chuck Bonham to a comfortable chair and make him read that over and over. Would that be okay?
Do you know what a push-poll is? It’s a poll where the cards are already stacked. It’s seeming to ask you a question while in reality it’s really telling you something that will influence your answer. It’s like when you are baby sitting and ask your little sister whether she wants to go out for icky old pizza in a cold noisy market or would rather stay home by the fire and make a pillow fort while your wonderful boyfriend comes over and makes his special spaghetti.
I’m thinking we should find the 26% of people who voted for Trump and think that beavers are good for the environment AND the 15% who voted for Biden and think beavers are nuisances and we should have a little beer and pizza night presentation. They seem like our target persuadable audience.
You in? Let’s give the last words back to Sandra:
I hope the Governor takes note of how much Washingtonians care about these issues, even though institutional barriers have made it difficult for people who do not hunt or fish to have a voice, Davis says. As the state faces the dual crises of climate change and global biodiversity loss, it is time to abandon the model of a game department that exists to serve hunters and realize that we all have a stake in the health of our fish and wildlife populations, and we all should have a voice.
