Letter written by a wa rancher

[jasnt]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10211953093093645&id=1561876904&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&notif_id=1532610477833970&ref=m_notif

[castie2504]

Terrible loss, I’m sorry that you and yours have been casualties of the political game surrounding wolves. Ranchers already face difficult challenges and they do not need another. I am with you, everyone has a right to protect their livelihood from any danger.

[nitroelk]

  That letter is spot on. Only if everybody got it. good luck with that though, unfortunately the average west side, non hunter/outdoors person will think its B.S.

[Jonathan_S]

Beyond frustrating for the rancher.

[Jonathan_S]

This thread won't get as much attention though.  Not quite as good of material for making snide comments as when a DNR worker gets treed.

[Rainier10]

Brutal.

[jasnt]

Just to clarify this is not my family’s ranch thankfully

[pianoman9701]

I read this when it was released a year ago. It's just as poignant today. Our ranchers have been completely abandoned by our government. Every time that idiot in the Governor's mansion orders a steak, he should be made to read this.

[Ghost Hunter]

You got my attention.  Our new property is right in the thick of that.  Spotted a big bear on Diamond M land (I was on CNF land) during spring bear.  No wolves yet....

[2MANY]

We have lost multiple calves on the family farm in Idaho.

Wolves being wolves.

It's pathetic.

[bearpaw]

Sad deal...

[nwwanderer]

I have stated this before and am sure I will again.  This problem for the 800+ million dollar industry in Washington is not significant.  For individual producers it is devastating, emotionally and financially.  The agencies and wolf supporting groups could easily pay the actual costs, deaths, weight and reproductive loss and save money over what they currently do.  The emotional loss is beyond comprehension for any but the few with the loss.  Those animals are part of us, I understand you do not get it, you are wrong.  Give the wolf the same status as a coyote, we will deal with it the best we can.  It is a new reality and we have many.

[cbond3318]

Sorry for the cattleman’s  monetary loss.

[jasnt]

Sorry for the cattleman’s  monetary loss.

the money is not the issue. 

[idahohuntr]

It is a mistake for cattlemen or hunters to anthropomorphize cows or wildlife.  We all lose when we use tactics out of the animal rights playbook. 

He says "in human terms, she would have been a 5 or 6 year old girl-halfway between birth and puberty, with-hopefully-her whole life ahead of her"...so that's bad that the wolf killed her so young and he wants to tug at those emotions...then how does he explain when this calf becomes older, is loaded into a truck hauled somewhere, shot in the head and butchered to be sold off at market? 

To be fair...I bristle when I hear hunters who oppose late season cow hunts by attacking wildlife agencies with "you're killing pregnant elk".