Dan's Papers -January 9, 2009 - Hunger Strike Waged to Protest Hunting

It is a new year and while most people are focused on the meltdown of world economies, the wars in Iraq, Africa, Afghanistan or the violence in Gaza, Bill Crain, President of the East Hampton Group for Wildlife along with his pediatrician wife Ellen had a much more local focus.

On Monday, January 5, the Crains began a public protest against East Hampton Town Board's approval last summer of eight new hunting areas, five of which are open to big-game hunting with firearms. Mr. Crain 65, and his group chose the opening day of the Town's deer hunting season to start a three-day hunger strike to protest the expansion of hunting in East Hampton Town.

The Monday morning protest, which could be seen from Route 27 in front of the Town Hall buildings, was enthusiastically attended by a small crowd of 30 sympathizers andonlookers. Mr. Crain, a psychology professor at the City University of New York, also held a brief press conference at 11:30.

The Crains, part-time Montauk residents, are vegetarians who have been on the front lines of the animal rights issue. At the press conference, Mr. Crain explained his and his wife's actions by saying, "We're both 65 years old. The older I get, the more my heart goes out to animals and hunting and the factory farms where they can't even move. The treatment of animals is one of the great moral wrongdoings of our time."

Lynn Ryan, assistant to Supervisor McGintee, described the couple as "very sincere in what they believe." And in fact the Crains have been forthcoming with time, effort and money to help with deer-related issues. They and their group financed the reflectors used in a pilot program on Stephen Hands path. According to Mr. Crain, it has been quite effective in reducing accidents on that formerly deer-ridden stretch.

The group also financed a Frank Verret scientific study that put the East Hampton Town deer population at 3,300. Dr. Ellen Crain is disappointed the town is not keeping a commitment she believes they made in discussions, to follow up on the effectiveness of the reflectors as well as using contraceptives to help reduce the deer population humanely and thus prevent accidents. The Crains believe a moral society must "Stop the killing of animals."

Also attending, but with an opposite point of view, was Hugh Miles, 72, who has been a deer hunter for the last 50 years (bow and arrow primarily). Miles, who eats his kills, attended to protest the protest. He firmly believes that hunting is a tradition and a right that should be protected in East Hampton as well as across the country.

It was pointed out that Board member Brad Loewen was most in favor of expanding the hunting locations within the town, but the proposal actually came from the Town of East Hampton's Natural Resources Board. The Crains believe that the hearing to expand the hunting areas in town was held in August to avoid opposition.

Supporter Beverly Schanzer of Sag Harbor believes that the national fabric is changing do to the "absorbing of cruelty that we do to the animals." She feels there is too much violence already in the society and now it is spreading to the animal world. Virginia Frati, Director of the Wildlife Refuge Center of the Hamptons spoke of injured deer that are brought to her organization that are shot but not killed, and the suffering they endure.

The present hunting season in East Hampton lasts for the month of January, weekdays only, and all hunting must take place no closer than 500 feet from any residence. Shot guns, rifles, and bow and arrows are acceptable weapons, and a New York State Hunting License is required. The town clerk had no figures on how many East Hampton residents actually hunt.

Bob Silverstone of Montauk asked that it be noted that killing deer has no effect on reducing Lyme's disease, and that, due to the lead in buckshot, the deer meat (venison) is no longer distributed to the poor and hungry because of the fear of lead poisoning.

As for the hunger strike, Bill and Ellen Crain began a fast of only water on Sunday, January 4, at 7 p.m., and planned to continue it until 7 p.m. Thursday. They will make continued appearances in front of Town Hall to draw attention to the cause. (They also have a website, www.easthamptonwildlife.org, or billcrain@aol.com.)

Bill Crain is also a voice against the wholesale, inhumane slaughter of cattle. He believes that it's time to protect animals. The protest at Town Hall was civil in tone and honorable in intent. The Crain's voices were being heard.