At work this weekend, I once again ran into conflict with the opposition. This one was going to shoot his new gun this weekend at a spot that is for informal target practice. I said I hope he wouldn't be shooting birds or prairie dogs and he just laughed and laughed. Then another guy joined in to back him up. Well, you can imagine what they were saying. Apparently, this type of thing is not only "fun" but it is necessary for overpopulation. These two actually think that elk will end up ruling the world if they are not hunted! Seems like a good knowledge of your basic ecology and elk (or whatever other animal) is needed here. Elk cannot live just anywhere anyway. Every animal's survival is dependent on its habitat-and unfortunately on hunting. I like elk as much as anyone, but I sure don't think they will ever be able to take over the planet-even without hunting. It goes to show that probably the majority of the public may be completely misinformed about animals because hunting is a big money-making business.
On a happy note, I will be traveling to Yellowstone this weekend to do some wolf-watching before the bears wake up. I bought a new spotting scope for this. I've only seen one wolf in the Park so far in the Park. It was last August about 11:30 am. It was crossing Hayden Valley from east to west and went up Mary Mountain. Came within 10ft. of where I was standing! I almost passed out from excitement! I was in so much shock that I had to acually ask a guy up the road from me if it was a real wolf. What a dummy, huh? It wasn't collared but it was most likely part of the Hayden Pack. I will post any animals I see this trip.
Monday, February 26, 2007
The overpopulation myth
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2 comments:
I agree with you 110% on the overpopulation myth. Here in Pennsylvania it is the same story with whitetail deer. If you don't kill them they will starve to death. There is so much hunting and housing devolpment that the deer population is declining. We need to be a voice for the animals of the world.
It is sad that the animals have nowhere left to go with all the housing. Here in Billings, the same thing with deer and antelope in people's yards. Now some montain lions are roaming the egde of town which was really their territory before all this sprawl. I wonder what is happening in the South? I hear of alligators,jaguars, and manatees, but I would like to know from somebody that actually lives there what the whole story is.
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