TRAPPING: Take stand against it

I find it so offensive to hear the commonly-used terms — wildlife “management” and wildlife “harvesting!”

Why does man feel he has the right to manipulate Nature to his liking? Can’t it be understood that Nature has a natural balance? Mankind must not tinker with natural eco-systems by selectively removing the pieces of nature that displease him! Isn’t this a clear example of man’s arrogance by trying to re-organize the structure of the natural systems created by our “maker?”

All living things have an ecological role in Nature and if left alone, predators and prey find a balance. Man’s interference in this balance has created harmful ripple effects in the natural order.

Wolves and other large carnivores are “keystone” species, essential to properly functioning eco-systems. Murdering wolves stems from ignorance and irrational hatred. The use of leghold traps and choking snares (illegal in most countries) is worse than inhumane and exemplifies man’s cruel need to have dominion over all living things.

Idaho’s State legislature wants to change the state constitution to enshrine the “right to hunt, fish and TRAP” and that those be the “preferred methods” of wildlife management.

Constitutional amendments should be limited to basic human rights that affect all citizens, such as freedom of speech, assembly and religion; NOT to protect a cruel “sport” involving torturous trapping methods — which are so widely unaccepted.

Please speak for Nature this November, and Vote NO on HJR2!

For more information please go to Idahoans Against Trapping’s website:www.iatvoteno.org

IRENE SMITH

Coeur d’Alene