06-29-2005, 10:16 PM
Montana- A split Lewis and Clark County Commission banned fishing at the Duck Pond Tuesday morning.
The decision comes after ban supporters said wildlife is being harmed at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds site.
"Most of the problems and conflicts have occurred because of fishing," said Mikal Kellner, founder of the animal welfare group Mikal Kellner Foundation for Animals. "More birds are being hurt and killed. (Fishing hooks) do cause a lot of injury and death."
Only kids are allowed to fish at the ponds, which is home to both wildlife and domesticated birds. Feeding the ducks and geese is a favorite pastime.
The pond lies adjacent to nearby wetlands. A recently passed fairgrounds plan proposes turning what is now a parking lot upstream from the pond into a park and enhancing the pond.
Some said the ban takes away fishing opportunities for "the little people."
Helena Valley resident Mark Lambrecht said he takes his two boys there. Kids learn to fish at the pond without competition from adults, he said.
"It's always been an easy place to catch a fish," he said. "I think it's important to remember this is no wildlife preserve."
Commission Chairman Ed Tinsley said the rules must be better enforced.
"The problem is cruelty and abuse to animals," he said. "The proper response is to enforce the law. We shouldn't ban a sport that is legal."
Fairgrounds staff have reported animals strung up with fishing line and other dead animals, according to Commissioner Anita Varone.
The pond is a "bird paradise," said Willow Avenue resident Ruth Swenson, listing owls, herons, cranes, osprey, tanangers and chickadees. Ducks approach people, expecting to be fed, she said, which can put them in harm's way.
Murray said Spring Meadow Reservoir is "the future of fishing in the Helena community." He promised to ask the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to redirect fish bound for the Duck Pond to Spring Meadow Reservoir.
The FWP stocks trout into the Duck Pond. Department biologists have recently taken water quality samples, according to Jim Wilbur, county watershed coordinator.
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The decision comes after ban supporters said wildlife is being harmed at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds site.
"Most of the problems and conflicts have occurred because of fishing," said Mikal Kellner, founder of the animal welfare group Mikal Kellner Foundation for Animals. "More birds are being hurt and killed. (Fishing hooks) do cause a lot of injury and death."
Only kids are allowed to fish at the ponds, which is home to both wildlife and domesticated birds. Feeding the ducks and geese is a favorite pastime.
The pond lies adjacent to nearby wetlands. A recently passed fairgrounds plan proposes turning what is now a parking lot upstream from the pond into a park and enhancing the pond.
Some said the ban takes away fishing opportunities for "the little people."
Helena Valley resident Mark Lambrecht said he takes his two boys there. Kids learn to fish at the pond without competition from adults, he said.
"It's always been an easy place to catch a fish," he said. "I think it's important to remember this is no wildlife preserve."
Commission Chairman Ed Tinsley said the rules must be better enforced.
"The problem is cruelty and abuse to animals," he said. "The proper response is to enforce the law. We shouldn't ban a sport that is legal."
Fairgrounds staff have reported animals strung up with fishing line and other dead animals, according to Commissioner Anita Varone.
The pond is a "bird paradise," said Willow Avenue resident Ruth Swenson, listing owls, herons, cranes, osprey, tanangers and chickadees. Ducks approach people, expecting to be fed, she said, which can put them in harm's way.
Murray said Spring Meadow Reservoir is "the future of fishing in the Helena community." He promised to ask the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to redirect fish bound for the Duck Pond to Spring Meadow Reservoir.
The FWP stocks trout into the Duck Pond. Department biologists have recently taken water quality samples, according to Jim Wilbur, county watershed coordinator.
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