The March 2020 Newsletter for the New Hampshire Animal Rights Group is now available.
Tabling at New England Dog Expo
NHARL had a busy and productive day tabling at the New England Dog Expo hosted by Good Mojo University in Milford. We promoted our advocacy work and spotlighted the benefits of a vegan diet — both for people and for dogs. We had many good conversations and handed out a lot of vegan dog treats and vegan “people treats.” On top of that, we got 14 new names for our mailing list and collected some cash donations for NHARL.
Special thanks to Camberville Dog Treats, V-Dog, and Bobo’s bakery for donating the treats, and to Good Mojo University for inviting us.
Protesting at Living Shores Aquarium
Animal-rights protesters target Living Shores Aquarium at Story Land
By John Koziol, Union Leader Correspondent — Nov 10, 2019
GLEN — Two animal-rights groups held a protest Saturday outside the new Living Shores Aquarium at Story Land, questioning the commitment to animal welfare and giving a special nod to Lolita, an orca in Miami.
From noon until 2 p.m., about 10 people, representing the New Hampshire Animal Rights League and Until Lolita is Home, stood on the side of Route 16 in front of the aquarium, some holding signs that read, among other messages, “Animals are not our entertainment,” “Otters belong in the wild” and “Freedom matters to all.”
The protest generated no confrontations — a Bartlett police officer in a marked vehicle was in the Story Land parking lot nearby — but the protest did get many honks of support from passing drivers and at least one very loud, very clear expression of opposition from the driver of a bright red pickup truck.
James Glover, president of Until Lolita is Home and the NHARL, a nonprofit founded in 1977 and based in Concord with some 200 members, said Living Shores, which just opened on Nov. 4, should close its doors forthwith.
Glover said Palace Entertainment — the corporate parent of Story Land, the Living Shores Aquarium and the Miami Seaquarium where Lolita is — should release Lolita from the tank she has called home for more than 40 years so that she can retire to her native Washington State waters.
Glover, of Raymond, said Lolita’s fate was the subject of a 2015 protest by his groups at Story Land.
Founded in 1954 and operated by the Morrell family until 2007, Story Land is owned by the Parques Reunidos organization based in Madrid, Spain.
Palace Entertainment, based in Newport Beach, Calif., is Parques Reunidos’ American division and it operates 40 amusement parks, water parks, and family entertainment centers throughout the U.S. Its Granite State portfolio includes Story Land, Water Country and, as of last Monday, the Living Shores Aquarium.
During an interview prior to the opening of the aquarium, Lauren Hawkins, who is Story Land and Living Shores’ director of marketing, and David Houghton, a biologist and curator of the aquarium, said the facility is intended to promote education and conservation through, in some cases, a hands-on experience with creatures that live in tidal areas around the world.
Hawkins and Houghton touted the aquarium as the only one in New Hampshire, and, when asked, said many of the fish, birds and animals on exhibit were born in captivity, while some were rescued and others were humanely acquired.
Houghton said that as soon as it could, Living Shores would apply for accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. AZA says accreditation is bestowed only upon the zoos and aquariums that meet “the highest standards for animal care and welfare.”
Glover said that in this day and age of computer-generated graphics and high technology, and due to an increased respect and compassion toward other species and a rejection of their capture and confinement, physical zoos and aquariums are anachronistic and unnecessary.
Fundamentally, “all wild animals should be free,” he said, and anyone who wants to see them can do so in many ways, including visiting them in their native habitat. Pointing to the display of Asian small-clawed otters at Living Shores, Glover said it only promotes the animal’s popularity and makes it an even more sought-after species.
He hopes that people who saw Saturday’s protest or read about it “won’t buy tickets to this facility” and instead will seek out different ways to educate themselves about the natural world.
Hawkins, in an email Sunday, answered one concern directly raised by Glover, which was whether Living Shores has on-site back-up power. She replied, “Our facility is fully equipped with a life support generator to ensure all animals in our care remain happy and healthy.”
She gave a summary of the exhibits and attractions at Living Shores but did not answer questions about Lolita, the otters at Living Shores, or Glover’s premise that people don’t need an aquarium to have a learning experience.
“Living Shores Aquarium’s message of ocean conservation,” Hawkins said, “is echoed throughout the interactive environment where guests can get a greater understanding and appreciation for marine life and learn how to take care of their own surroundings to ensure our native wildlife will thrive throughout the world.”
October 2019 Newsletter
The October 2019 Newsletter for the New Hampshire Animal Rights Group is now available. If you are an NHARL member, please remember to vote for board members on the last page of the newsletter.
Post Your Property Against Hunting
The NH Animal Rights League provides free signs to anyone who wishes to post their property against hunting.
Hunting season begins September 1, so now is the time to post your property.
On September 1, bear hunting season begins in New Hampshire. In this state it’s legal to hunt bears over bait, by stalking, or with hounds.
Although hunters must get your permission to place bait on your property, they do not need your permission to hunt with hounds. So if you don’t post your property against hunting, “hounders” are free to chase, tree, and shoot a bear on your property. It’s not uncommon for still-lactating females to be inadvertently killed, leaving orphaned cubs behind.
General Hunting Season Dates
Following are general dates for hunting season in New Hampshire. A complete summary of season dates and bag limits is provided in the NH Hunting and Trapping Digest, published each year in August.
| Select the species name for more dates and details. | |
| April 25 and April 26, 2020 | Youth turkey-hunting weekend |
| May 1 – May 31 | Spring gobbler season (wild turkey) |
| Starts September 1 | Black bear/dates vary for method and WMU |
| September – January | Waterfowl/dates vary by species and zone |
| September 15 – December 15 | Deer/archery (Note: archery season closes one week early in WMU A) |
| September 15 – December 15 | Fall turkey/archery |
| October 14 – October 20 in ONLY the following WMUs: D2, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J1, J2, K, L, M | Fall turkey/shotgun (in certain WMUs only) |
| September – March | Small game and furbearers/dates vary by species and region |
| October 1 – December 31 | Pheasant |
| October 17 – October 25, 2020 | Moose (by permit only) |
| October 24 – 25, 2020 | Youth deer-hunting weekend |
| October 31 – November 10, 2020 | Deer/muzzleloader |
| November 11 – December 6, 2020 | Deer/regular firearms (closes one week early in WMU A) |
Tabling at Souhegan Sustainability Fair
NHARL was on site at the Souhegan Sustainability Fair encouraging attenedess to “fight climate change with diet change.” Go Vegan!
Protesting Miss NH Pageant for Awarding Fur
NHARL joined with other animal rights groups outside the Miss New Hampshire competition to protest the awarding of a fur coat to the winner. Kristina Snyder led the initiative and was quoted by the Eagle Tribune:
“It is time that the Miss New Hampshire Organization and indeed Miss America’s as well, takes a stand against cruelty to animals and says ‘no’ to this fur coat… These young women are supposed to reflect today’s society and trends. They should show independence, compassion, and caring towards animals. By staying stuck in the past and accepting a fur coat made from tortured animals, instead it shows a regressive stance by this organization.”
Leghold traps are modern-day torture devices. New Hampshire trappers remove important predators from the ecosystem, including coyotes and foxes which help control Lyme disease.
Leghold traps do not discriminate, often trapping non-target animals. Pets as well as endangered/threatened species, such as American bald eagles and the New England cottontail rabbits, have all been victims of these cruel traps.
Support Endangered Wild Animals at the Heron Pond
Fundraising Campaign to Support Endangered Wild Animals at the Heron Pond Wetland & Wildlife "Preserve" An “ecological gem”! DONATE NOW
“Thank you!”
The Wild Animals Are at Risk:
The 270 acres owned by the Town of Milford is home to the Blanding’s Turtle, an “umbrella” species. Being an “umbrella” species means that where the Blanding’s Turtle lives, then so do countless other animal species live under the naturally rich environmental umbrella. This is so true here that the natural resources scientist who studied this place calls it “an ecological gem”!
But all these animals, including those that are NH-state threatened and endangered, are at high and imminent risk from development that would negatively transform the habitat. The only hope is good people are working hard to prevent the loss.
Habitat is not yet Protected:
This special place in Milford, NH is outlined in white on the map.
Unfortunately, the “preserve” is not currently protected as conservation land and instead is under intense pressure of development by Milford Town Officials. This means that these wild animals are at dire risk of losing their habitat permanently!
The endangered animals in particular are highly susceptible to any habitat loss and many would perish as a result.
Helping Hands:
Since 2012 a group of dedicated citizens has been working hard against the intense pressure of development by Milford Town Officials. Being completely volunteer, the Heron Pond Project Team members spend their own money.
The Heron Pond Project Team spends money on actions to help the wildlife as needed to protect them and advocate on their behalf. Costs include Turtle Crossing signs; materials for meetings before Town boards and State agencies such as handouts and posters; study of the wildlife, sometimes hiring expert consultants; equipment and gear – for example, night camera, head lamp; and we take legal actions when they are unavoidable such as now.
Thank you for considering a donation to protect the Heron Pond Wetland & Wildlife “Preserve”!
Email Us for questions, comments, or for more information.
PHOTO GALLERY
Click on photo to view in full size.
Note: The NH Animal Rights League is the fiscal agent of the Heron Pond Project Team. This beautiful place needs our help to Save it. From the tiny fairy shrimp in the vernal pool to the whitetail deer on the landscape, they are all important members of NH’s ecosystem and need this rich habitat to survive. Please help by giving a tax deductible donation today. Thank you and our deepest gratitude!
January 2019 Newsletter
The January 2019 Newsletter for the New Hampshire Animal Rights Group is now available.
Saving Beaver Ponds and Beavers Matching Grant Program
NHARL was pleased to award a $400 matching grant for beaver protection at Sherwood Glen Condominiums in Raymond, NH.
Several years ago, Art Wolinsky and his condo installed flow pipes and fencing with their own money. They recently determined some upkeep was needed—namely, the installation of a culvert protection cage—on this successful project, and so applied for help via this grant, which was approved. NHARL supports and promotes humane and environmentally friendly solutions in beaver management as an alternative to the lethal methods of trapping and killing beavers, offering small matching grants up to $500 towards the installation of these alternative methods (e.g. beaver pipe systems, fencing around trees).
You can watch a Timelapse Video of the April 23, 2018 installation of this outgoing culvert fence by Mike Callahan.
To apply for a grant, complete the Grant Application for Humane Beaver Management Solutions and send it to nhanimalrightsleague@gmail.com or NHARL, PO Box 4211, Concord, NH 03302-4211.