Wolf attacks on humans only a matter of time

 

 

(Note: This is one savvy and brave lady, to fly in the face of those driving the runaway train of "re" introducing large predators in order to depopulate rural America and force its people into cities and "smart growth," "high density" "living." Please read her words and consider the implications of this honestly. If wolves and other large predators are not already in your backyard, it is likely that they soon will be, whether officially or not. The version you read below has been lightly edited from the version published by the Lewiston Tribune.)

 

 

August 27, 2006

 

 

By Alice Mattson, Idaho County Commissioner mattson@cybrquest.com

 

Lewiston Morning Tribune

P.O. Box 957

Lewiston, Idaho 83501

http://www.lmtribune.com

To submit a Letter to the Editor: letters@lmtribune.com

 

What big teeth you have! All the better to eat you with, my dear!
 
You thought Little Red Riding Hood was a fairy tale, didn't you? 
 
I fear it could soon be reality.
 
Wolves have been illegally dumped at our doorsteps and now we're being told we must learn to live with them.
 
JF [Jim Fisher, editor of the Lewiston Tribune], I hope that I never get the chance to say “I told you so,” because that would mean that someone has been mauled or killed by a wolf. Many of us believe it's only a matter of time.
 
I would not be representing my county as a commissioner if I did not bring attention to this very dangerous, real situation.
 
It has been forced upon us by a group of radicals who would like us to believe they are interested in fuzzy little critters.
 
Our children are being taught in schools that these wolves are cute little cuddly puppies.
 
They even had the children give the wolves names.
 
What better method to indoctrinate our youth and make them sympathetic toward wolves when one of the wolves they had named killed a calf?
 
Think about this: We can't log.
 
They would rather let the forest die and burn.
 
It's OK to burn the forest, but for goodness sake, don't let the grass farmers burn.
 
Mining is nearly extinct.
 
Radical 'environmentalists' fight cattlemen for grazing permits.
 
Ranchers are losing cows and sheep at an alarming rate due to wolves.
 
Hunters are finding far fewer elk and moose.
 
Outfitters are struggling, especially those who use hounds.
 
Motorized recreation must now contend with a new Forest Rule (all roads and trails are automatically closed unless specifically listed as open).
 
There are hundreds of gates on the roads that still exist.
 
Many miles of trails are being obliterated.
 
We can't let our children or our pets out of our sight due to wolves and other large predators. 
 
We can no longer go for a walk without the very real possibility of a wolf around the next bend.
 
Do you get the feeling we are not welcome on our public lands anymore or maybe even on our own private land that borders the forests?
 
It's time for us to wake up and start researching the reasons behind the radical environmental movement.
 
Could there be something here that doesn't quite make sense?
 
There are many pieces of this puzzle and they are starting to fit together to form the real picture.
 
And JF, it's not a fairy tale.
 
All these things linked together are gobbling up everything we love about our way of life in this beautiful area in which we have been so blessed to live.

 

Copyright 2006, Lewiston Morning Tribune.

http://www.lmtribune.com/08272006/opinion/372209.php (subscription only)