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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Wildlife measures in
Georgia are a tremendous success
By Harold Brown
(Editor's Note: Harold Brown is an agricultural
scientist and professor emeritus at the University of Georgia,
and the author of "The Greening of Georgia: The Improvement
of the Environment in the Twentieth Century." He wrote this
article for the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, and and has
been nominated for the Georgia Writer's Association Author of
the Year Award.-eeb)
 MAY
30, 2003 -- Georgians old enough to have hunted in the 1950s or
earlier will know that wildlife is more plentiful now than then.
Before the 1950s there were plenty of quail, dove, rabbits, and
fox, but larger animals and birds were scarce.
There were few deer, wild turkey, beaver, or bobcat. Older hunters
will also remember hunting opossum and raccoon. These two are still
plentiful, but are now largely ignored. The hunting of small game
has decreased because there is now more plentiful large game.
With at least three million more acres of forest than early in
the 20th century, and so few people living on the land (less than
two percent of Georgia's population lives on farms), it is not surprising
that wildlife has increased.
The most obvious example is the white-tail deer. In 1937 the Department
of Natural Resources estimated only about 12,500 deer in Georgia.
Now there are over one million deer and they are a problem. It is
estimated that there are more deer struck by cars each year in Georgia
than existed in the state before the 1960s.
Other game and non-game species are also much more plentiful. Bald
eagles, peregrine falcons and alligators are now out of danger.
We have more wild turkey, black bear, wild Canada geese, beaver,
and bobcat than we've had in 100 years. Alligators have grown from
endangered status in the state to nuisance populations in some southeast
counties. In the late 1990s, about 400,000 wild turkeys were being
hunted by over 100,000 hunters; more wild turkeys were harvested
each year in the mid-1990s (about 60,000) than existed in the state
before 1950.
There are now 10 times as many black bear as the 208 estimated
in the first survey in 1937. Canada geese that reside here have
increased from none 50 years ago to about 45,000 and cause complaints
for their contamination of water and shore. In addition, armadillos
have made their way above the gnat line, and coyotes are now in
every Georgia county.
Bird life in Georgia is richer than at any time in the 20th century.
Occasional articles in newspapers and magazines say that birds are
in danger, but since the mid-20th century birds have become more
plentiful and diverse. When U.S .Fish and Wildlife surveys were
analyzed for 94 bird species that breed in Georgia, it was found
that 18 had decreased from 1966 to 2000, but 24 had increased. The
remaining 52 species were unchanged. The Audubon Society's Christmas
Bird Counts show that bird species increased during the 20th century.
Fishing, more popular in Georgia than hunting, is much more successful
than in times past. One of the main reasons is the construction
of several large lakes and probably over 100,000 small ponds in
the state. A 1996 survey found that 82 percent of days spent fishing
in the state was on lakes and ponds; our lakes support more than
1,000 bass fishing tournaments every year.
In spite of the bad news often heard, the reduction of pollution,
restocking of several species, mass movement of people from the
countryside to town, and changes in attitude, have made our wildlife
much more plentiful and diverse.
The above was supplied by The Georgia Public Policy
Foundation, an independent think tank that proposes practical, market-oriented
approaches to public policy to improve the lives of Georgians. Nothing
written here is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views
of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation or as an attempt to aid
or hinder the passage of any bill before the U.S. Congress or the
Georgia Legislature.
© Georgia Public Policy Foundation (May 15, 2003). Permission
to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided the author
and his affiliations are cited.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Lots:
Bill signing, Gwinnett Arena grinning at Cobb, et. al.
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
MAY 30, 2003 -- Today's Picture is historic. Here we have all these
Gwinnett elected officials gathered around a Republican governor
for a signing.
What Dr. Perdue is signing is a bill to allow prisoners to help
fight the war against graffiti. The bill was the brainchild of several
people in Gwinnett, including the Gwinnett Hurts Coalition, and
passed the Legislature with the help of people on both sides of
the aisle.
While Gwinnett delegations have trouped to the Capitol for other
governors signing legislation before, perhaps Wayne Hill and Bert
Nasuti have even bigger smiles on their faces, since after all it
is a sitting Republican who is governor.
We applaud the efforts of lots of people to help attack graffiti.
After all, if we can have prisoners picking up the trash along the
road, it seems most logical that they could clean up some of the
trash that graffiti spewers make.
It is a good day when the many forces seeking to stamp out graffiti
get together and pass measures that will improve matters. Hurrah!
* * * * *
 The
Gwinnett Arena scored a coup this year in a way that may surprise
many. Now Metro Atlanta's second largest arena, it's getting rave
reviews for its ambiance, and for the crowds that are coming to
sporting, musical, (and these days) graduations there.
In perhaps one of the greatest coups of the year, Gwinnett's Arena
will now be pictured for a year on the cover of the new Gwinnett
telephone book from BellSouth, to last through June, 2004. But it
will also be on the cover of the telephone book...in Cobb County,
also lasting through June 2004?
On the front of the BellSouth telephone book in Cobb? Yep, believe
it or not!
After all the years of Gwinnett and Cobb competing in several ways,
with Cobb holding the upper hand for years, now this! And coming
just after Gwinnett passed Cobb in population, why this one must
wrankle people in Cobb County.
Score one for Gwinnett!
* * * * *
The Gwinnett Arena won another coup this week when it was announced
that a national event would take place there. It's the US Novice
and Junior Figure Skating Championships, set for January 3-7 at
the Gwinnett Arena. This will be the first national event set for
the Arena, no doubt the first of many to come.
Build an arena with an ice rink, and hockey, and you eventually
get figure skaters. Build it, and they will come.
* * * * *
The date of June 17 is the next time Georgians can have local elections.
That date is significant in Norcross this year, as that town will
vote on whether to allow liquor by the drink in restaurants within
the area.
What is surprising is how quiet it has been here less than three
weeks before the election. You would have thought that the "Anti"
side would be openly working. But so far, nothing on their side
that we've seen.
Meanwhile, the "Pro" bunch is installing yard signs around
the town, asking people to vote "Yes" on the matter.
Last time a liquor question was up for discussion in Norcross was
during the 1980s. The City Council passed packaged sales in stores,
but got the wrath of the church crowd. We would have thought that
this year the anti-drinking Baptist and Methodist churches would
have voiced opposition on this question, but nothing so far. Stay
tuned.
* * * * *
A former Gwinnett coach has garnered statewide honors. He is former
Shiloh Coach Charlie Jordan, who is athletic director for the Glynn
County Schools.
Coach Jordan has been named the Athletic Director of the Year by
the Georgia Athletic Director's Association. We'll claim him.
ABOUT
OUR SPONSORS
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public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is Barbara Grastat,
specializing in the sale and purchase of both new and re-sale
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at 678 318 1190 or via the Internet at bgrastat@bellsouth.net.
FEEDBACK
5/30: Post Office
cares little for governmental borders
Editor, the Forum:
You're right that the media goes by mailing address when reporting
crimes, and that this is very misleading. The media need to
realize that the Post Office cares nothing about city limits
or even county borders. For example, many folks in Barrow County
have a Hoschton (Jackson County) mailing address. Some folks
with Bethlehem mailing addresses live in Walton County, and
some with Statham addresses live in Oconee.
But creating yet another governmental entity is surely not the
solution. We already have 159 counties and lots of towns and
cities -- all gobbling up tax dollars like there is no tomorrow.
What would "New Town" offer its citizens in return
for the tax money (including Local Option Sales Tax money that
is now going to Norcross and other towns) that they are not
receiving now?
I enjoy Gwinnett Forum! Every county should have one.
-- Myles Godfrey, Winder
5/30: Suggests
name for bridge over I-75 near Georgia Tech
Editor, the Forum:
I'm voting (for the name) as "Buzz Bridge" over Yellow
Jacket Junction!
-- Brian Luders, Duluth
McLEMORE'S
WORLD
The
value of the tax cut
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
One person you cannot
defeat in an argument
"It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument."
-- William Gibbs McAdoo, Marietta native and United States
Senator from California and as Secretary of the Treasury under
President Woodrow Wilson. He was also an unsuccessful candidate
for President of the United States on two occasions.
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is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
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