(Note: Comments from Marion in Wyoming: "Thank you, thank you, thank you! We out here in Wyoming and other states are at the mercy of the environmental groups who have the lawyers to win lawsuits, and the money to donate to politicians to get what they want. [Ed] Bangs himself admits that ranchers probably lose about 8 animals for every one they are paid for. In other words, ranchers lose $8000 worth of cattle for the $1000 they might be paid. In addition, there seems to be a problem with DOW [Defenders of Wildlife] actually paying for the confirmed kills in a timely manner. I have heard folks at conferences tell of waiting a year, and in one case they were still waiting for 'confirmed' payment after three years," and to someone that thinks wolves are neat: "...It is very easy to be dismissive when you are not impacted by the wolves. You don't go out in the morning and find your animal have been attacked and killed. Seeing 20, 30, 50 sheep dead and dying within site of your home is not pleasant, yet this is happening in these states so [some] can come out and be thrilled by the howl of a wolf.")

August 3, 2006

To the Editor of The Prairie Star (Great Falls, Montana) 

By Julie Smithson

London, Ohio

propertyrights@earthlink.net

To submit a Letter to the Editor: editor@theprairiestar.com

Regarding the ‘What to do if you meet a wolf' recent AP article, please visit http://www.clearwaterprogress.com/wolf%20attack.htm and consider what you see and read there.

‘Advice' originating from ‘wolf recovery coordinator' Ed Bangs, whose job depends on his ability to sell ‘wolf recovery' and ‘protection' to the public, is suspect. Wolves aren't the endangered ones, as those living in rural Idaho, Montana and Wyoming know only too well.

Those [advising those that come in contact with wolves to begin] ‘yelling and pepper spraying' may well become wolf scat, i.e., wolf meals.

Locals laugh bitterly at advice to tie bells on dogs or children. The wry answer to how you can tell a problem large predator is, “The bells in its poop.”

That's not funny to those whose animals have succumbed to this plague of ‘endangered' wolves.

Unless her remains are found in scat, a child currently missing in Idaho wolf country won't be declared a ‘confirmed human kill.' There are legions of missing calves, lambs, foals and dogs. Unless the animal is deemed ‘livestock,' there is nothing done.

If the ‘prey species' is livestock, the evidence must be available: whenever the state fish and game officer finally arrives to take the report, usually days after the fact.

Wolves eat evidence, so livestock owners are rarely compensated. If victims are family pets -- too bad. Wolves currently lead a charmed existence, ‘protected' under the guise of being ‘endangered.'

Elk herds are vanishing in the face of this large predator and sport killer.

Rural property rights, the safety of all those in rural areas infested by large predators and eventually, your own friends and family that venture into rural areas to vacation and recreate, are what are really endangered.

The Endangered Species Act regulates ‘international trade' in ‘endangered species.' It doesn't guarantee jobs for those dependent upon how many wolves they are paid to ‘manage.'

The agenda is to make all humans, other than the Ed Bangs variety, scat -- either by leaving these rural places or by becoming the contents of large predator scat.

The agenda for those that cherish property rights and freedom is to educate folks on stalking horses like ‘endangered species,' ‘invasive species,' etc. Those endangering and invading rural America by their actions don't walk on all fours. They are the ones that should scat.

To learn more of property rights injustices, check out the Web site: http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org 

Copyright 2006, The Prairie Star.

http://www.theprairiestar.com/articles/2006/08/03/ag_news/opinion/opinion12.txt