I noticed that the person who wrote the editorial about "wimpy Westerners" didn't sign their name. Must not have much courage in their convictions. At first, I thought that the writer must be a "fair-weather" resident from California, but the more I think about the comments in the article, I think the writer is from the Far East. Like the land of "De Nile."
I've been a Westerner all my life and am proud of it. My forebears had sense enough to carve out their place in this country. They also had sense enough to shoot wolves on sight. Wolves that attacked and killed domestic livestock anywhere, anytime. Wolves that decimated herds of wild animals—elk, bison and deer, just for the sake of killing.
The gray wolves that have been "reintroduced" onto federal lands in Idaho are not native to Idaho or Montana or Utah. They are native to Canada. We don't want them here. If you and other environmentalists feel that they need to be "reintroduced" anywhere, start back East or even way out West. Like California?
You mock families because of their fear of a wild animal that is created to attack and kill. Shame on you. These wolves have been spotted less than 16 miles north of my home. Way too close. The coyotes, those who eat vermin, are disappearing from our area. The mice and voles, those vermin who destroy our yards and gardens, are becoming extremely prolific. Thank you, gray wolves.
Kathleen Kent
Richfield, Idaho
Editor's note: The writer did not intentionally avoid signing the editorial. The "Our View" editorials published in the Idaho Mountain Express are composed by an editorial board, led by a lifelong Idaho resident.
