Letters | Loss of habitat, not hunters, threaten wildlife

Published 1:20 pm Tuesday, October 4, 2011

The editorial cartoon in the September 14 edition of the Valley Record missed the mark in two important ways.

It asked the question, “Which natural predator poses the greatest danger to wildlife?”

On the left the cartoon offered a wolf. On the right side there’s a dude in camo carrying a lot of guns.

The answer to the question is loss of habitat.  That is better symbolized by a dude moving into a house where the wildlife used to be.  Perhaps he’d be out in the drive washing his car, suds rolling down the drain.

If the inspiration for the question was supposed to be about wolves vs. hunters, the real danger to wildlife (including wolves) would be loss of hunters for lack of game. For it is hunters who typically pay into all four primary revenue steams that fund wildlife management: hunting licenses, excise tax on hunting equipment, contributions to habitat restoration organizations, and regular taxes.

We cannot rely on the state or federal government to make wildlife management a funding priority.  It would never be ranked a higher priority than even schools or roads.  Ideally, the people of our state can form a wolf management plan that is sustainable both scientifically and financially.

David Willson

North Bend