Commentary: Scaring people about wolves is not acceptable recourse

In the interest of full disclosure I am one of the wolf advocates on the Wasco County Compensation Committee because I do believe in a reasoned and balanced approach to the complex issues regarding public lands, grazing allotments and conservation.

I do not believe fear mongering is helpful.

I would laugh if I wasn’t so angry by the recent column claiming “wolves are terrorists.” To imbue wild animal behavior, chasing prey, to the intentional, evil acts of religious fanatics, head chopping, concert killing, 9-11, is ludicrous, if not downright dangerous.

There is no intention on the part of the wolf to intimidate and cause fear, unlike those Yeehadists out at Malheur.

One reason that ranchers are so upset with the federal government is that they are no longer allowed to rape the land for their own personal profit.

What they don’t tell you is that they are being squeezed by the fast food industry, their primary market, to provide beef as cheap as possible.

And the Cattlemen’s Association, which should be standing up to corporate profiteers, is, instead, filling the rancher’s heads with vile and stupid ideas.

For too long has the federal government tried to pacify the cattle industry by allowing grazing on public lands and by allowing the elimination of ANY animal that endangers their precious cows/profits. I have seen video of a prairie dog shot out of its hole. It’s not an image that EVER goes away. Although I suppose they could have been radicalized over the Internet by ISIL.

That being said, I do believe ranchers have the right to defend their land and property. They are not allowed to do what they want on public land. That land belongs to ALL of US and we decide what is right regardless of whiny rancher complaints.

The Oregon Wolf Plan was intentionally and thoughtfully developed by ALL stakeholders — ranchers and conservationists — and should be adhered to.

ALL stakeholders have legal recourse. Scaring the uninformed public is not acceptable recourse.

What else the ranchers don’t tell you is that numerous field studies show that “active herding” provides a much better and sustainable outcome — more weight gain and far less depredation.

It also prevents the losses that occur because cattle are not all that smart. That means the same amount of cattle can be run on far less land because somebody is out with them.

That’s right, ranchers need to get out of their comfy pickup trucks and get back into the saddle …You know, like real cowboys.

The reason cattle are so docile now is that they have been bred to be easier to handle, especially at the slaughterhouse. It’s not all sweetness and light. Once in a while a smarter than average cow panics and is hauled into the killing field bawling with terror.

That is when cattle are truly terrorized.

— Debra Lutje serves as an advocate for wolves on the Wasco County Compensation Committee. She is a 25-year resident of The Dalles and small business owner.