Letter to Western Ranchers

Posted April 13, 2010
Filed under: Around Utah, Environment | Tags: defenders of wildlife, ranchers, ranching, western lands, Wolves |

10/12/2007

Dear Mr or Mrs Rancher,

I’m writing to you from an Internet cafe’ based in the San Francisco bay area and discovered the Quivira Coalition by simply talking to a stranger. He’s a truck driver from New Mexico/former ranch hand who just stopped in for a cup of mud. Something from deep within told me to speak with this gentleman. I’m glad I did because it brought me to a terrific website whose goal is to strike balance.

Before I tell you what I have in mind by contacting you, let me give you a little background of what I’m about. I’m a former California ranch hand who loves the west and its land. I’ve spent most of my life wandering the western wilderness and my love for wild places is deep. I’ve spent a couple of years listening to stories from ranchers and environmentalist alike and have come to the conclusion that a balance must be struck. This is why I’m writing to you and your organization. I need your help and I need it fast!

You see, I’m getting e-mails from defendersofwildlife.org, informing me that the Bush administration is ready, as I sip my coffee and write to you, to give the “green light” to lift the “total” ban on the wolf kill in Alaska, Wyoming, Montana and the adjoining inter-mountain west. I don’t have all the facts and I want to be sure to hear all the issues and this will take time. I’m afraid the wolves do not have the luxury of time. I feel stuck because I want to do something to help the wolves while respecting the people who live and work in their habitat. I’m sickened by the prospect of this decision and so are many others.

Judging from the e-mails that I have received on the current wolf issue, there are many people talking about a mass march from Jackson Hole to Yellowstone to demand protection. I think this would be a disaster. Most of these people are from outside the west and do not understand the rancher’s way of life and how it is being threatened on too many fronts. They don’t think that ranchers love the land too! There are so many layers to this issue it gets complicated, as you know. Complications create gridlock and this is the core reason I’m writing to you.

I believe we Americans have the ability to cooperate and create solutions. Lately, though, we seem to have lost the concept of compromise. Some call it waffling, some say, “You’re either for us or against us.” Some believe we must defy the law of the land to get attention to be heard. The wolves don’t have a chance when all fronts are locked in disagreement. Maybe the wolves and this crisis can teach us to run as a pack again. The spirit of this animal is like the life you, I and many like us want; free, open to run and hunt and raise our young. Really, when you think about it, this wolf issue is deeper than we think. I think this struggle can serve as a model to help us as a people, divided, to join as a nation again. This is secondary; the wolves must come first because time is running out. This is what I propose.

There are so many people, including myself, who would love to view these magnificent animals and others on the ranch lands of Wyoming and Montana. We would pay a price to ride horseback or hike to see them run. Is there any way you could use your organization’s influence to create momentum to stop the bill that is being proposed in Washington? Can we work together for a balance? Tell me, can we ride together for the future of ranches and the west? How can we all win on this? For the sake of the land, its wildlife and a way of life, please tell me how we can do something!