Watch Out for Wildlife Awareness Week

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A Proclamation
His Excellency Governor Deval L. Patrick

Whereas Native wildlife populations are an integral part of Massachusetts’ natural environment, and serve as an indication for the overall health of the Commonwealth’s various ecosystems; and

Whereas Annually, more than 200 deaths and 29,000 injuries occur in the United States as a result of wildlife vehicle collisions; and

Whereas According to MassWildlife, in New England, 1 in 75 moose collisions and 1 in 2,500 deer collisions results in human fatality; and  

Whereas The average cost of property damage from these collisions is approximately $2,100 per incident, totaling over $1 billion annually; and

Whereas Wearing a seatbelt, following speed limits, and paying close attention to wildlife crossing signs are effective ways of reducing these accidents; and

Whereas The success of wildlife movement and survival in Massachusetts remains dependent upon continued public education and increased understanding of the essential role migration corridors play in wildlife movement,  

Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim September 18th - 24th, 2011, to be,

Watch Out for Wildlife Awareness Week

And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this twelfth day of September, in the year two thousand and eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

By His Excellency                  
Deval L. Patrick 
Governor of the Commonwealth 

William Francis Galvin            
Secretary of the Commonwealth
 

God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.