Editor:

I see in the news the rural-urban conflict is heating up again. I am referring to three letters calling for an end to trapping in certain areas in the Jan. 28 Chieftain. The hotbed currently seems to be up Hurricane Creek. In a previous letter to the Observer, the person whose dog was caught in a snare spoke of how the dog loved to chase squirrels.

Any dog chasing wildlife of any kind or size will occasionally catch and most likely kill its intended, or another, target. The Hurricane Creek area is a traditional wintering area for several species of wildlife. Dogs running the hillsides are stressing if not killing wildlife during a critical time for survival. Think about how many people let their dogs run during a walk.

Most likely several times a day there is a dog chasing wildlife up Hurricane Creek. The cumulative effective of the harassment through winter months can be substantial and have negative effects on wildlife populations. This is irresponsible pet ownership. All the dogs caught were out of sight and out of control of their owners.

Have any of these dogs been hurt? The answer is “no.” The only thing hurt is the psyche of the owner.

Ranchers continually request trappers to set traps on private land. Occasionally their ranch dogs will be caught in a trap. The rancher doesn’t blame anyone and simply removes the dog from the trap and goes on about his business. Now we have people with a different mindset whose pets are considered to be more like people, and if someone is in the way of me or my pets they must go. Of course they must go only up Hurricane Creek, until someone else wants them to go up the Lostine, then Bear Creek, then Little Sheep and on and on.

I could not help but notice that all the letters came from people outside of Wallowa County. I also noticed all three letters made economic threats. This tells me someone has influenced these people to write and indicated they should play the economic card. I can assure you those of us who live, work and pay taxes in the county contribute much more to the economy than someone visiting occasionally.

There is an easy solution to the problem – perhaps we need a leash law up Hurricane Creek. I’m sure this suggestion would raise a firestorm. Each pet owner, I’m sure, thinks their dog doesn’t harass or kill wildlife. They shouldn’t have to modify their behavior to be sure their pets don’t get in a trap. Someone else should. It is a dangerous precedent to demand that someone else give up their freedoms for you. Someday it will be your freedoms that someone wants eliminated. Grow up, take responsibility for yourself and your pets, and don’t ask that someone else give up their freedoms so you can be irresponsible.

Ray Jordan

Joseph