Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has vowed to kill more than 80% of Idaho's wolves, happily shooting the first one himself, the moment they’re removed from the federal endangered species list. Skimming comments in the Billings Gazette brought even more enlightened moments. Herb wrote: introducing wolves to the Yellowstone ecosystem that would devestate the wildlfe resources there. All most folks get to see anymore are buffalo, geese, and an occational raven. What wolves have done to the national treasure that is Yellowstone is an apocalyptal disaster that has robbed us and our children for generations to come. (his spelling and grammar, not mine). FAW suggested: Just follow the three S's. Shoot, shovel, and shut up. Another commenter suggested someone do the same to FAW.
No other animal elicits such passionate responses in us. Yet there’s a larger, more dangerous predator at risk today. And it may already be too late. Our grandchildren may live to see a time when hunters will be little more than a photo in grandpa's website.
Since 1982, the number of legal hunters has shrunk by about 2 million people. In Massachusetts hunting license holders have dropped 40% since 1990. The number of California hunters is l ess than half it was in 1980, and in Michigan, where there were 1.2 million licensed hunters in 1992, the hunter population dropped to fewer than 850,000 in 2004.
Why is the hunting population declining? I have several theories.
1) Loss of habitat. America’s urban sprawl has more than doubled since 1990. Prey is growing scarce. There are fewer wild places filled with game to hunt. Hunters are driven farther and farther from their territories searching for something to shoot at.
2) Weather conditions. We may be experiencing global warming, but baby it's cold outside. Sit all day freezing your you-know-what off in a deer stand or stay inside and sit on the couch playing video games and enjoying the game on a big-screen television?
3) Competition for food. Cars kill over five hundred thousand deer each year. Reducing the number of vehicles on the road has met with little success. Ditto a sunset curfew on driving.
3) Break-up of the herd. Many hunters would now rather spend the little free time they have sitting on the couch playing video games and enjoying their big screen television than sitting in a deer stand freezing their you-know-what off teaching junior t
o hunt for his own food.
When the wolves have been eradicated and the hunters are gone, what will become of the elk herds? The deer? Who will keep them in check? I say be afraid, be very afraid.
And lock your doors.
No other animal elicits such passionate responses in us. Yet there’s a larger, more dangerous predator at risk today. And it may already be too late. Our grandchildren may live to see a time when hunters will be little more than a photo in grandpa's website.
Since 1982, the number of legal hunters has shrunk by about 2 million people. In Massachusetts hunting license holders have dropped 40% since 1990. The number of California hunters is l ess than half it was in 1980, and in Michigan, where there were 1.2 million licensed hunters in 1992, the hunter population dropped to fewer than 850,000 in 2004.
Why is the hunting population declining? I have several theories.
1) Loss of habitat. America’s urban sprawl has more than doubled since 1990. Prey is growing scarce. There are fewer wild places filled with game to hunt. Hunters are driven farther and farther from their territories searching for something to shoot at.
2) Weather conditions. We may be experiencing global warming, but baby it's cold outside. Sit all day freezing your you-know-what off in a deer stand or stay inside and sit on the couch playing video games and enjoying the game on a big-screen television?
3) Competition for food. Cars kill over five hundred thousand deer each year. Reducing the number of vehicles on the road has met with little success. Ditto a sunset curfew on driving.
3) Break-up of the herd. Many hunters would now rather spend the little free time they have sitting on the couch playing video games and enjoying their big screen television than sitting in a deer stand freezing their you-know-what off teaching junior t
o hunt for his own food.When the wolves have been eradicated and the hunters are gone, what will become of the elk herds? The deer? Who will keep them in check? I say be afraid, be very afraid.
And lock your doors.
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