In spite of the annual Presque Isle deer hunt held every year, the park’s deer population continues to increase. “The peninsula is a fragile ecosystem.’ says park ranger Pat Dexter.
“The park can really only handle a deer herd of about 15 to 20 head, and right now there are over 100 deer out there.” Dexter said that the annual winter hunt has failed to significantly reduce the deer herd to a sustainable number. “The problem is that we are not getting enough hunters applying for the deer hunt here.” he told us. “On one hand they love the easy close range shot at a deer that’s very accustomed to people. On the other hand there is the very real concern that their fellow hunting bros will call them sissies for shooting tame deer.”
To solve this problem Dexter approached Scott Mitchell of the Erie Zoo. “We brainstormed,” said Dexter “And Scott suggested putting a natural predator into the environment.”
Gooferie reached out to Scott Mitchell for a comment. “Yes, it’s true.” he confirmed. “We are releasing lions onto the peninsula. It’s win – win. We are saving a lot of money by not feeding the lions. Do you know how much it costs to feed a big cat?”
When asked how long the lions will be roaming Presque Isle, Mitchell was unable to give us a definitive answer. “It could be weeks.” he said. “Lions sleep for a long time after a big meal.”
Should park visitors be concerned about African lions free ranging on the peninsula? Mitchell addressed this question. “Not at all.” he said. “Well, maybe a little. Just, um, just don’t approach them, ok?”
gooferie 
Does anyone else think this sounds potentially dangerous? What would prevent the lions from wandering off of the peninsula and into populated areas? Why don’t the game commissioners shoot the deer and donate the meat to shelters and food pantries?
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It’s a joke…😂
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That was my thought, exactly!
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Satire folks..goof Erie…
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They are donating the meat to the zoo. Just cutting out the middle-man. Besides, it gives the lion a challenge, make him work for his food.
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They’re putting animals into an area to hunt, something that these cats have never had to do. Lions aren’t built for the weather in Erie either. It’s a lose lose ….. bad idea.
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Agreed. Enrichment activities are vital to animals in captivity.
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You all do realize this is a satire piece, right? It’s not remotely true…..tell me you knew that.
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Ummm, this is a joke, you really didn’t think it was true, did you?
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I’ve been a hunter my entire life an have never heard of this hunt an to put lions roaming free is the most outrageous thing I’ve heard.. total disregard to the safety of children teenagers pets an human safety.
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Now, that lions and giraffes are beginning to populate the peninsula, scientists are releasing malaria infected mosquitoes to keep these two species in check, ensuring they do not grow to outstanding numbers, taking over the small area. Researchers claim the malaria positive mosquitoes should only affect 3-5% of the lion and giraffe populations, ensuring to maintain the fragile ecosystem . Locals are hopeful the malaria outbreaks remain isolated, and remind the public to use insect repellent containing deer to ensure safety.
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Repellent containing Deet not Deer!
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I never heard of this hunt either. Maybe better advertising would help
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Yeah never heard of it either if you wanted it hunted you should have put out there more. Not only that don’t you think it would have been better if maybe they could have just went in and put as many down that was needed and gave them to food shelters. .
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I’ve only lived here for 10 years and I’ve heard of it and not even a hunter
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Not much of a hunter then
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If u look @ the source it’s GOOF Erie👆 😂😂😂
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These people…Smdh! 😂🤣
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What the actual eff I’m never going there again really this is the stupidest crap I read all day if the population is high for deer how about just raising the limit a hunter can get for one year .. Erie Pa you have done lost your damm minds .. They will release these lions and they will eat the deer yes and anything else they can get and how the hell are you gonna catch them all again smfh .. If I wanted to be attacked by lions I would to to Africa not erie these lions are gonna go outside the area and mate and have more there is no way they will catch them all .. Pennsylvania you have done loss your damm mind
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I think it is one of the stupidest and unsafe ideas I have ever heard of. People are up there all times of the year. Second what happens when you can’t recapture all the lions? And third you know how stupid people are and can be. You know darn well some moron is going to want a picture of themselves or their children with a lion. These are wild animals and will eat anything they consider prey. First time some idiot gets eaten then the lions are destroyed. Have hunters harvest the deer then feed then to the lions. Use your heads people.
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This can’t be a true story? What kind of idiot would release wild carnivorous animals into the public? Attorneys will be lining up for this one! Morons!
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Dont fall for this satirical report.
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Will the harvesting of the lions be by permit or lottery like the elk? I can wait to hunt big cats.
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Here’s a thought shoot the deer yourselves and feed the lions the meat. Who would of thought?
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goof erie….spoof site
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OK look at the wording on this so called article….This sounds so fake…I don’t think it is real
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Is this a hoax? The peninsula is a popular spot for tourism as well as for the locals to get out and enjoy the natural beauty of the park. is anyone seriously considering putting lions, bicyclist and pedestrians together in the same area
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When they run out of deer there will be plenty of park visitors to feed on.
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This is dangerous to human life too. they could use deer traps and salt lick or allow hunters to hunt the deer
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I’ve never seen a lion in the wild before. I cant wait to see them roaming the peninsula!!
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Next, is the introduction of a giraffe family. Too many tall trees are taking over the Peninsula, not allowing the sun to hit the majority of the forest floor. The giraffes, with their long legs and necks, will be able to trim the higher overgrowth naturally, permitting smaller plant growth and young trees to reach their full potential. Plus, giraffes can defend themselves against lions, so there’s no danger for the giraffe family while living within the peninsula.
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Are they crazy my husband and I ride around the peninsula all the time first of all we never see any deer and if there are too many why not extend the hunting season out there
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This is a fantastic idea! Just the thought of seeing a real live lion loose in the wild doing what Lions do best, hunting and killing their prey savagely, gives me deer steak size Goosebumps. I hope they also put trail cams all across the peninsula so that we can check in on these big cats via live internet stream.
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I really don’t think this is a true fact. I think it’s just a little fun to get everyone registered for the hunt.
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That’s probably the stupidest thing I ever heard. When people God forbid get mauled they will racage the lions. There are other, safer ways to curb the deer population….if you need money so bad to feed the lions at the zoo start a “Go Fund Me” page!
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Hilarious !
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LOL Erie’s first fake news site.
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This is really hard to believe. These lions have been fed their food for their entire lives and now they expect them to hunt. There are several other ways to solve this problem if they can not recruit enough hunters.
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It’s a spoof folks
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I guess those who commented did not look at the name of the group closely. I liked the article and got a chuckle out of it.
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Honestly, I think Snow Leopards would have been the better choice! Way to Goof Erie! 😉
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This has to be some sort of bad joke-what is WRONG with these people???
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And this is just stupid. Why don’t they offer guys a free hunting stamp to hunt the deer. You’d have plenty of hunters then
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Have you people lost your minds? You can’t put lions on the peninsula to run free. There are people walking around out there. A lion doesn’t care if it eats a deer or a human. Come up with Plan B because Plan A is ludicrous!
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you people realize this shit is fake right? This page is called “Erie’s First Fake News Source”
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And on this same page I read in the stories they working on is one that staes there are 147 charity walks this weekend on Presque Isle. This ought to be interesting.
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What a stupid idea, this could get sooo out of control! I hate killing deer but if it’s come to this then shoot them and be done with it. Then give the meat to the zoo and shelters.
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Look at the joke go over all of your heads….
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I take it none of you repliers noticed the “publication”. It is from GOOFERIE. As in goof. It states Erie’s first fake news source. How could anyone think this was real news??
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I’d really like to know how they came up with the ludicrous idea that lions are natural predarors of deer in North Western Pa?! Lions are not even native to this area in any way shape or form!! In the wild lions wouldn’t normally eat white tail deer!! If they want to interduce a natural predator of the deer why dont they release natural predators of the deer to help the population as well as advertise the hunting licences to better promote sales? Maybe even cheapen them? Maybe they are to expensive! There way better options than the absurd idea of releasing unnatural predators into the wild that dont belong around here and endangering many things!
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Maybe people shouldn’t read “GOOFERIE, ERIE’S FIRST FAKE NEWS SOURCE” if they don’t know what the terms fake or goof mean.
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You guys in the comments…this is a satire site. It says over the banner at the top, “fake news source.” 😂
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This is absolutely crazy, who in there right mind would make such an awful statement like this. To endanger human lives. Once these animals are free and have open range they will keep moving on.
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Do like they do on the highways …putting up signs telling them this is a good spot to cross.. I cant believe they think it’s ok to have poor little dear crossing on a busy highway
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Since apparently no one is really reading all of the page to understand the nature of what is being suggested here, then all I can say is do this… survival of the fittest!
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I agree with others that oppose this insanity. What are they thinking? Do they actually believe they can control the outcome of this? The Game Commission has to be stopped!
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NUT CASES the whole lot of you. Releasing Lions, SERIOUSLY???? What kind of drugs are you all smoking?
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It’s called Satire people.
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😂😂 Satire at it’s best 😂😂
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I think it is a great idea.
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Its on GOOFerie.com. obviously not happening.
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This is insane. I thought it was a joke!! Seriously?Does not sound like a good idea!!
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This sounds crazy! There must be a better way to handle the deer population.
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This site is called gooferie.com.
This is clearly a spoof. 🤦🏻♀️
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