Editor:

The film, “Lords of Nature,” and the letters that followed are geared toward special interest groups that want cattle off public land, – just be honest. These letters have not mentioned mule deer or elk population, only that the rancher has come to a “fork in the road.”

Wallowa County cannot and should not be compared to Yellowstone. Our mule deer population is already greatly depleted from extensive cougar population. The USFS as well as the ranchers are very diligent in caring for the land here. We have many areas where cottonwood and aspen trees are thriving. The ranchers who have permits on public land take care and pride in this land. We leave enough grazing for the deer and elk to feed throughout the winter as well as early spring for our cattle before new grass comes on. My husband and his son recently went on an 86-mile ride through the Eagle Cap Wilderness and did not see one deer.

Our modest herd feeds 40,000 Americans. We are producing a healthy, natural product here in Oregon. Would you prefer to buy your beef from South America? Possibly you have come to a fork in the road. Do you want to stimulate the Oregon economy and healthy food production or do you just want to have this romantic spiritual connection with a wolf you will never see until it’s drugged or dead? Maybe we need to get a pack of wolf hounds – what do you think?

Also, the wolf eats its prey while it’s still alive. How can that possibly be palatable for these groups who “love nature” so much? Due to the depletion of deer and elk, these wolves are hanging out right on the edge of town looking for an easy food source when they have over 3 million acres of Wallowa County.

Angie Nash

Enterprise