Cornell conducted surveys.....another burr under my saddle!
May 26, 2015 10:53:44 GMT -5
traps82 likes this
Post by papabear on May 26, 2015 10:53:44 GMT -5
5/25/2015
Cornell University
Department of Natural Resources
Human Dimentions Research Unit
202 Bruckner Hall
Ithaca, New York 14853-4203
Attn: Mr. William Siemer Reasearch Associate
RE: New York Trapper Survey
Dear Mr. Siemer,
I am responding to your letter requesting voluntary participation in the New York Trappers study you are conducting on behalf of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. You indicate that a response would be valued greatly and that the effort is to learn more about trappers and their activities.
Enclosed, for your review is a letter in response to NYS DEC to newly proposed fisher trapping regulations and season changes. The proposed regulation and season changes are partly and directly a result of a prior Cornell survey with questions pertaining to fisher trapping. You may recall that I called and spoke with you at the time and suggested that the choice of answers provided appeared to be manipulated to achieve a DEC desired end result . NYSDEC armed with those Cornell survey results and misleading information (some provided by the Cornell survey) compiled an incomplete study void of any recent or region specific scientific data and presented it as a viable and legitimate ten year NYS wide fisher management plan.
Please understand I am not against surveys intended for gathering factual information. However it goes against the grain when the collected data is used for devious intentions, such as what DEC pulled with the Cornell compiled fisher data. I can honestly report that other trappers Ive spoken to have, like me, lost trust in most of the NYSDEC wildlife biologist's and furbearer management team. This years Cornell survey has questions pertaining to river otters, which is a sore subject with many NYS trappers especially southern zone trappers because DEC has chosen to break their commitments to trappers and ignore their thoughts and opinions on trapable populations for nearly twenty years. Most of the trappers I've spoken to are reluctant to participate in this survey out of concern that DEC will again manipulate the data results and implement even more restrictive regulations.
Another concern is the random selection process Cornell uses to select trappers to respond to these surveys. Trapper experience varies widely from novice to the most experienced. Also all trappers do not necessarily trap for all the different furbearers. Different regions accross the state should also be taken into consideration as NYS has a wide range of different terrain, habitats, and environmental features. For example a muskrat trapper from western NY would most likely not have enough knowlege of nor experience to offer an informed opinion about trapping pine marten in the Adirondacks. Or asking a new novice trapper ; what is your impression of river otter populations over the past 5 years. I ask, how can these surveys be considered reliable and valuable when randomly selecting a small percentage of individuals from such broad and environmentally different areas, with various furbearer trapping interests and wide range of experience?
In closing I would like to offer the following suggestions that may, perhaps, help Cornell University when implementing future surveys aimed at trappers to achieve more realistic, reliable and consistant results with less apprehension from those trappers being surveyed. First, it would be beneficial to seek out and target input from appropriately experienced trappers especially when requesting species or region specific questions. The first two questions of the survey should ask 1. How many years have you been a trapper in NY State and 2. What WMUs do you/have you trapped in. While I certainly understand the importance and intended value of a broad base survey consensus, there are times when targeting a select group is most appropriate to obtain the best data. Asking the two forementioned questions first should allow Cornell and DEC to know that the trappers being surveyed are responding to region relevant information based on their level of experience. Also consulting with the NYS Trappers Association and its JTI committee for potential input before mailing might prove valuable to the surveys participation and outcome. Second, offer an answer selection worded similarly to: Do not agree with any of the above choices:, therefore eliminating the bias of potentially manipulated responses intended to achieve a planned agenda that my not truely be in the best interests of trappers. And last offer, accept, and include attached written responses to be part of the surveys as sometimes an answer selection requires an extended explanation beyond the pre-selected answer provided.
Should you wish to contact me to discuss further I can be reached at the address, phone or email listed below.
Regards,
Robert D Shaut
37 Center Street
St. Johnsville, NY 13452
1-315-200-9328.... rdshaut@gmail.com
Cornell University
Department of Natural Resources
Human Dimentions Research Unit
202 Bruckner Hall
Ithaca, New York 14853-4203
Attn: Mr. William Siemer Reasearch Associate
RE: New York Trapper Survey
Dear Mr. Siemer,
I am responding to your letter requesting voluntary participation in the New York Trappers study you are conducting on behalf of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. You indicate that a response would be valued greatly and that the effort is to learn more about trappers and their activities.
Enclosed, for your review is a letter in response to NYS DEC to newly proposed fisher trapping regulations and season changes. The proposed regulation and season changes are partly and directly a result of a prior Cornell survey with questions pertaining to fisher trapping. You may recall that I called and spoke with you at the time and suggested that the choice of answers provided appeared to be manipulated to achieve a DEC desired end result . NYSDEC armed with those Cornell survey results and misleading information (some provided by the Cornell survey) compiled an incomplete study void of any recent or region specific scientific data and presented it as a viable and legitimate ten year NYS wide fisher management plan.
Please understand I am not against surveys intended for gathering factual information. However it goes against the grain when the collected data is used for devious intentions, such as what DEC pulled with the Cornell compiled fisher data. I can honestly report that other trappers Ive spoken to have, like me, lost trust in most of the NYSDEC wildlife biologist's and furbearer management team. This years Cornell survey has questions pertaining to river otters, which is a sore subject with many NYS trappers especially southern zone trappers because DEC has chosen to break their commitments to trappers and ignore their thoughts and opinions on trapable populations for nearly twenty years. Most of the trappers I've spoken to are reluctant to participate in this survey out of concern that DEC will again manipulate the data results and implement even more restrictive regulations.
Another concern is the random selection process Cornell uses to select trappers to respond to these surveys. Trapper experience varies widely from novice to the most experienced. Also all trappers do not necessarily trap for all the different furbearers. Different regions accross the state should also be taken into consideration as NYS has a wide range of different terrain, habitats, and environmental features. For example a muskrat trapper from western NY would most likely not have enough knowlege of nor experience to offer an informed opinion about trapping pine marten in the Adirondacks. Or asking a new novice trapper ; what is your impression of river otter populations over the past 5 years. I ask, how can these surveys be considered reliable and valuable when randomly selecting a small percentage of individuals from such broad and environmentally different areas, with various furbearer trapping interests and wide range of experience?
In closing I would like to offer the following suggestions that may, perhaps, help Cornell University when implementing future surveys aimed at trappers to achieve more realistic, reliable and consistant results with less apprehension from those trappers being surveyed. First, it would be beneficial to seek out and target input from appropriately experienced trappers especially when requesting species or region specific questions. The first two questions of the survey should ask 1. How many years have you been a trapper in NY State and 2. What WMUs do you/have you trapped in. While I certainly understand the importance and intended value of a broad base survey consensus, there are times when targeting a select group is most appropriate to obtain the best data. Asking the two forementioned questions first should allow Cornell and DEC to know that the trappers being surveyed are responding to region relevant information based on their level of experience. Also consulting with the NYS Trappers Association and its JTI committee for potential input before mailing might prove valuable to the surveys participation and outcome. Second, offer an answer selection worded similarly to: Do not agree with any of the above choices:, therefore eliminating the bias of potentially manipulated responses intended to achieve a planned agenda that my not truely be in the best interests of trappers. And last offer, accept, and include attached written responses to be part of the surveys as sometimes an answer selection requires an extended explanation beyond the pre-selected answer provided.
Should you wish to contact me to discuss further I can be reached at the address, phone or email listed below.
Regards,
Robert D Shaut
37 Center Street
St. Johnsville, NY 13452
1-315-200-9328.... rdshaut@gmail.com