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M/CLOUDY Temp: 42 °F Wind: WNW at 3 mph Monday, March 3, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend February 13, 2003 Thana Minion, of Copco Lake, Calif., is spending the next 30 days in jail for violating state Fish and Game laws by continuing to feed deer at her home. ‘Deer Lady’ goes to jail Woman who refuses to stop illegally feeding wild deer draws 30-day stretch By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune YREKA, Calif. — The Deer Lady of Copco Lake reported to jail here Wednesday evening for her second stint behind bars for illegally feeding black-tailed deer in what is considered the only case of its kind in California history. After a protest by supporters sporting "Free Thana" signs, Thana Minion marched into the Siskiyou County Jail to begin a 30-day sentence after vowing to continue fighting California’s ban on deer-feeding. She also vowed to continue feeding the 40 to 80 deer that hover around her home daily. "I’ll go to jail as many times as I have to," Minion, 52, said Wednesday. "It’s not going to stop me." Siskiyou County District Attorney Pete Knoll said he doesn’t want to see the diminutive Minion behind bars and he’s no fan of the deer-feeding ban, but her perpetual flaunting of the law gives authorities no alternatives. "I don’t want Thana to go to jail," Knoll said. "I’d love for her to say, ‘I’ve seen the error of my ways’ and stop, but she continues to violate the law and flaunt it. "There’s a lot of laws on the books that I don’t like, but I can’t pick and choose what ones to enforce." Minion plays matriarch to the large herd of deer that she names, pets, grooms and feeds a mix of oats, barley and other grains. The state Legislature in 1996 enacted the law specifically for cases in which feeding causes perceived harm to the animals by attracting disease, predators or hunters or by over-taming them to a point where they rely on the illegal feed. Others found violating the law are told to stop, and state Fish and Game authorities say all but Minion have complied. Minion has argued that the law is meant to ban hunters from using bait to attract deer. She also said that, as an American Indian, she has the right to feed these deer as part of her connection to nature. "I don’t think it’s fair to punish somebody for their beliefs," Minion said. Minion’s jail sentence is for violating probation from a 1997 conviction of driving while suspended and resisting arrest during an altercation with Fish and Game officers who were trying to encourage her to stop feeding deer. As part of her probation, she must obey all laws and stop feeding the deer, but she has steadfastly refused. Minion, who served 45 days in jail for a similar violation in 2000, was found in violation of her probation again last May. After losing a string of appeals, she was ordered to report to jail Wednesday. If she gets credit for good behavior, she could be out in 20 days under jail policy. Minion said she made no arrangements for someone to feed the deer in her absence. "They’ll just go eat the grass and trees in the neighbors’ yards until I get back," she said. Knoll said he has tired of the Minion saga. "Thana’s like nobody else in this county," he said. "She’s a nice lady, but she’s got a screw loose." Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S