Protest scheduled for moose
Toolbox
By SUSAN ALLEN STAFF writer - Published: September 3, 2009
MONTPELIER – Supporters of Pete, a docile moose living on an elk farm in Irasburg, are planning a demonstration on the Statehouse lawn for Sept. 12 to lobby wildlife officials to spare the life of the animal.
"It will be like the last one in Waterbury," event organizer Beth White of Morrisville said on Tuesday, referring to a protest held in late July in support of Pete. White said the upcoming protest would begin around noon, and people were urged to bring banners, signs and musical instruments.
"The only thing I ask is that people keep it peaceful and people keep it civil," she said. White said she planned to invite Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Wayne Laroche to attend, but doubted he would accept.
"I'll give him a T-shirt or bumper sticker if he comes," she joked.
Officials at Fish & Wildlife could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Pete was raised by 73-year-old David Lawrence of Albany, who nursed the then-newborn moose back to health after he had been injured by dogs. The docile moose lives on property owned by Doug Nelson, where native white-tailed deer and moose live among imported elk on Nelson's elk farm and hunting preserve in Irasburg.
Fish & Wildlife is negotiating with Nelson about what steps to take to rid the property of the native animals, and Nelson said that Laroche told him his department would kill the animals, including Pete, in the near future.
But a contingent of people have come forward to try and block any effort to kill Pete the moose. They have written letters to newspapers and telephoned and e-mailed Gov. James Douglas' office to urge the governor to spare the animal.
In addition, "Save Pete the Moose" T-shirts and merchandise (everything from doggie T-shirts to baby bibs to beer steins) are for sale through an online CaféPress site, with slogans such as "All we are saying is give Pete a chance." White said any profits are earmarked to help Pete.
The idea for the latest rally in support of the moose was first suggested by one of the more than 4,500 "friends" from around the world on Pete the Moose's Facebook page.
The Central Vermont Humane Society is currently scheduled to hold its Canines and Company event on the Statehouse lawn on Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. White said on Facebook that the "Pete" contingent would stay out of the way and not interfere with the Humane Society's event.
The moose, she said, is not a wild animal and should not be shot by the state or housed in a zoo, which she said has been discussed.
"He's as domesticated as a horse," White said. "That's the point we're trying to make. Pete no longer fits the definition of a wild animal.
"The alternative they want to find is to put him in a zoo, which is unacceptable," White added. "To have him in a zoo where kids can throw ice cream cones, he'd be standing on asphalt with one tree … That is more cruel than just destroying him."
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