Letters

LETTER 1 - Gordon

I didn't know where else to write to express my sadness for our losing Dr. Haber.

His delightful photos of the wolves with pups in  Denali Park were so lovely to see. More than that, they really gave my heart a warm glow of love for our dear Toklat family. Dr. Haber will be missed.

Carole Gilmore

LETTER 2 – It’s a Dirty Business

As urban sprawl increases, conflicts between humans and wildlife are handled by Wildlife Control Operators (WCO). Wildlife “damage” control is one of the fastest growing industries making millions of dollars exterminating “nuisance” wildlife.

To appease clients, WCO say animals will be relocated. “Relocation” really means killing. The methods are shockingly cruel. People watched in horror as a Connecticut WCO drowned a caged raccoon. The appalling incident pushed through the nation’s first comprehensive legislation on urban wildlife “damage” control.

Suffocation, drowning, body crushing devices – no methods are cruelty-free. The WCO will not advise you about humane solutions (wire on chimneys, etc.) as it could mean the loss of a high paying job.

A photo in a Chicago Times article, Uprooted Vermin, was captioned as “a caged raccoon shows his temper.” What caged human, stripped of freedom, rights and habitat would not show his temper?

We humans do not own this planet. At best, we can have the privilege of being caretakers for inhabitants. It’s time we act accordingly.

Ava Barcelona
Action Volunteers for Animals
Chicago , IL

LETTER 3

Deer, coyote and fox hunting seasons are now going on. Some hunters are zooming back and forth in their 4-wheel-drive vehicles chasing or heading off animals with motor vehicles. They’re coordinating with other hunters by radio or phone. Some also park on travelled roads and shoot into properties that they do not have permission to hunt on.

County sheriff departments should strictly enforce road hunting/driving violations. There should be more game wardens but instead they have been reduced.

Write your local lawmakers.

Herman Lenz
Sumner, IA

LETTER 4

I live in a small tourist town that, unfortunately, has horse-drawn carriages. In the past, one of the carriage horse drivers was driving while under the influence of drugs. In addition, our city manager stated that the carriage horse owners were in the habit of letting their insurance lapse.

I would like to know if other cities require random drug and alcohol testing of the carriage horse drivers.

I believe the only way to stop the exploitation of carriage horses is to boycott them.

Hazel Mortensen
Solvang, CA