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Show 15 November 1978 Editor, Deseret News In his 7 November column, Joseph Bauman, Deseret News environmental writer, extolls what he believes is Utah's traditionally humane treatment of animals. In his arguement, Mr. Bauman sites the much publicized, carnival like rattlesnake roundups in Texas and widespread coyote hunting in Montana, among others, as examples of inhumane treatment of animals, which, because of our humane tradition, do not occur in Utah. It is not my purpose to argue the occurrence of similar activities in Utah; however, if it were, I am quite certain you would find them readily demonstrable. Rather, I will suggest that we Utahn's engage in a much more insidious war on animals, the wanton destruction of wildlife habitat. Examples are numerous. Housing and other developments are eliminating crucial deer and elk winter range. Road construction seriously impacts neighboring streams, blocks big game migration routes, and bisects critical elk calving areas. Rangeland development projects and excessive domestic grazing eradicate valuable wildlife forage. CUP dries up productive fisheries. The list goes on and on, and wildlife, wildlife habitat, and ourselves are the losers. No, Mr. Bauman, I see no sufficient evidence to support your humane tradition arguement. I submit there is no similarity between the short-term loss of several dozen or even hundred representatives of the renewable coyote resource , and the permanent, immitigable loss of wildlife habitat. S^2J S 220 E Sandy 8^070 |
