The plain facts are that, no matter how you look at it, what she's doing is incredibly stupid.1
I actually wrote her a letter today. I said, forget science, forget animal rights. Let's talk about money. (I didn't say, "Because I know you care about that," but I was thinking it.) Have you never heard of eco-tourism? Why are you shooting your state in the foot, literally? There are far more eco-tourists in the world than rich trophy hunters, and they're a lot more motivated to spend their money if you push the right buttons. You've got the only thing they're not making more of anymore in spades, and what do you want to do with it? Kill everything on it and dig it up for oil? What's wrong with you? (I didn't say that either, but I was thinking it.)2
I said, every time you shoot a wolf or a bear, you kill a tourist attraction.3
I'm hoping it will have some impact. Because, clearly, appeals to reason, compassion, and science have all failed, since she doesn't care about science or animals. Or, at least, she seems to care about money more than she does about science or animals. So I tried to get her to think about money in a different way. 4
I hope it worked. Because we don't have enough wolves left to guarantee they'll survive long-term as a species *as it is*. If her policies are allowed to take root and spread to other states, it is a distinct possibility that domestic dogs will be the only representative of Canis lupus left. Science is very clear and very uncontroversial on that point.5
I love my dog. She has wolf and coyote ancestors as recent as 100+ years ago, which is closer than most dogs. But she's not a wolf. Nor is she a coyote. She's a dog. We can't just set dogs loose in the wild and think they can do the ecological purpose of wolves.6
Our best hope is that coyotes prove too intelligent and versatile for us to eradicate as easily as we did wolves. They're already expanding into the empty niche our cultural predator-phobia has left.7
Good luck to them.
Comments
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I'm a canadian and think sara palin is totally missin the boat. You are very right in the fact that eco tourism is the way to go money-wise. I live in Manitoba and in Churchill there is a tourism company (run by my aunt's brother) that brings tourists from all over the world to get up and close with the polar bears. It brings money to their economy as well as preserving an animal that may go extinct in my lifetime. I can't even imagine what would happen if the wolf went the way of the polar bear. Wolves and coyotes are necessary animals to keep the balance of nature. I applaud you in your letter and hope you give Palin a wakeup call.
I come from a family of hunters... that is to say... they hunted and still do... for sustainance only. We eat deer, moose, elk and buffalo. We fish and eat our catch. We do not hunt/fish for trophies. That to me is just the slaughter of animals for no good reason. Great write. This was also a fantastic story idea.
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That's exactly how I felt-I felt she cared more for money then the lives she was taking. Hunting for sport is disgusting. If she were the one hunted, I'm sure she'd feel that terror the animals she hunts are feeling. I have two dogs living with me now, and I love them. My other dog lives somewhere in another state, because my friend is watching him for a while. He's a wolf/retriever mix, and he's the sweetest animal I've ever known. That's another reason for my making this contest-if she's killing wolves, then she's killing my dog. Thank you for writing, and good luck with the letter. Hopefully it'll bring some sense into Sara Palin's head.
Hannah
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Wow, I like this so far, and will keep reading. I live in Alaska! I would be really curious to know where you're writing from because I've been frustrated with Sarah Palin for years!
Glad to hear there's someone out there that still believes in science and animal rights. Alaska politics is obviously going to the dogs.
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Born and bred Californian here. We're nosy that way. We like to say, and be proud of, that we're supposedly ten years ahead of the rest of the country. But at the same time we get frustrated with everyone else for being 'behind'.
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