Letters 5/19/10

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

By JH Weekly User

Hatred of wolves spreads
We read your recent article, “Crying Wolf” with great interest.  One sentence in particular caught our attention.  “… this extreme hatred of wolves is starting to spread to people outside Wyoming and it is tarnishing our image to tourists.” We have never seen this statement in print before but it is so very true.

Our family spends three to four months a year in the Jackson/Teton/Yellowstone/Beartooth areas. We read and hear anti-wolf sentiments frequently while we are here and some articles on the topic appear in the newspapers we read at home. We are happy to support the local economy but some of the fierce anti-wolf rhetoric affects how we choose to spend our tourist dollars. We try not to do business with those who would destroy what we drive thousands of miles to see. We want to plan a family pack trip but do not want to spend days in the back country with those promoting “open season” on wolves.  We know that not all outfitters and packers fall into this category but many do.

We have no problem with ranchers on either public or private lands being compensated with taxpayer money for wolf kills but the blind hatred of the ecosystem’s top predator is promoting an image of ignorance and prejudice. Hatred just for the sake of hatred. An image of ranchers and packers who ignore not only science but would damage something that greatly enriches your economy.  It has been documented that wolf watchers bring in millions of tourist dollars each year.

We live in the Sierra and while the mountains here are beautiful, it is not mountains we come here to see. We come here to observe the functioning of a complete ecosystem—the daily struggle between predator and prey.  Many people we talk with about our travels here can’t believe they can come here and see grizzlies, wolves, antelope and more. This is what brings people from around the wold to your area.

We believe that everyone in the state would benefit if ranchers and packers would embrace science, common sense and the will of the vast majority of the American people. People want wilderness and they want to be able to enjoy America’s last vast wild ecosystem, Ranchers can be compensated for their losses. Packers can do more to market their services to people who want to go into the back country to hike and fish as well as those who want to hunt. Should wolf numbers truly become too great then reasonable management methods could be employed.  Who would benefit from such a compromise? 

Everyone. The tourists who flock here to marvel at what you have, local businesses who benefit from tourist dollars (even ranchers who sell beef and lamb to the wolf-watching public – yes, we are your customers too) and the ecosystem itself would all prosper if ecosystem science and the views of the majority of Americans were respected and accommodated.
– David and Carla Ennis, Lake Tahoe, CA

Prom 2010
Prom 2010 was a terrific success as a result of our students, parents, teachers, administrators and of course Shooting Star and John Resor who donated the extraordinary facilities to hold the event this last weekend.  It was amazing to have a venue that not only accommodated our students, but also welcomed them on this important night. 

It is clear that what makes Teton County strong as a community are events like these that bring people together for our students. Students of Jackson Hole High School, Jackson Hole Community School and Journeys School won’t forget their prom, which was safely and exceptionally presented.
– Jackson Hole High School Student Council


The Killing Machine
The bitter controversy that has been brewing close to the boiling point over the presence of wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountain region has reached a level of banal hypocracy. Topping the list of bemoaners are the glorious outfitters whom somehow stake a claim to a right of passage of killing elk over the wolf. Not unlike the bwana led African safari, these great white hunters guide groups of ignorant testosterone filled thrill seekers to kill big game, primarily for mantle trophy bragging rights. Game. Quite an interesting name for such activity. I shall not even dabble in mentioning the financial gain in such a sport.

Returning to the topic at hand, I am not aware of the word murder applied to any natural predator-prey relationships as compared to that of humanity. In such said predator-prey relationships I am not aware of any killings of passion, jealousy, insult of pride nor any organized armies with the sole intent of annihilating their fellow species, including the uninvolved innocent.

I can almost tend to believe that mankind may be of a tacitly envious nature towards the wolf in his precise efficiency in administering death. The only difference between the two predators is that the wolf will kill merely to subsist and not for personal or egotistical pride.

So allow me to ask the question, who is the real killing machine?
– Patrik Troiani, Jackson
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Letters 5/19/10 | Planet JH News Article: Letters To Editor

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