Re: Picket Line

**R* M* M* <r*@comcast.net>**

Jeff and all,
I have soft hearted neighbors who put out dog kibble for those hungry  
raccoons. Finally, last year, when our neighborhood had a serious rat  
problem there was a change in thinking. Once we had predators and  
people hunted, today there is far less hunting and predators aren't  
the best community neighbors.

Now here comes my soapbox. Along the Columbia Gorge grow many wild  
plant  species that are only found in this area. We have a group  
"Friends of the Columbia Gorge, knowledgeable and dedicated to plant  
and habitat conservation of this remarkable area. Last year after  
much controversy our fish and wildlife commission here in Oregon  
released Rocky Mountain Goats in the gorge for recreational  
development"hunting". What do goats eat????  The goats almost  
certainly aren't native on the Oregon side. there was a previous  
attempt to introduce them decades ago and they died. The only strong  
opponent on the board was the OSU science rep.

Here in Oregon's Willamette Valley the deer population is at an  
historic high. It's not just that they've lost wild habitat but city  
life is protected and good for deer. We usually see does with two  
fawns an indication of a nourishing high protein diet. You can go to  
my blog to read about the wild turkeys in Western Oregon. Yes, people  
are part of the problem but there are problems that as a gardener  
that I find exceedingly hard to accept. Especially when raccoons and  
deer become abundant in areas where they were once never seen.
http://nicholsgardennursery.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/wild-turkeys-on- 
the-move-happy-thanksgiving-2007/

Jeff, I'm sorry about the pickets. I think you have brought up a  
controversial issue and thank you for doing so.
Rose Marie
On Dec 4, 2007, at 1:51 PM, Jeff Ball wrote:

> Again I may be mistaken, but my belief is that by eliminating the
> predators humans took the first step in allowing raccoons to
> proliferate.  We eliminated their habitat, but raccoons are able to
> adjust their needs to living in the middle of a cement city, so
> habitat loss is not a problem.  Then with  sanitation standards that
> allowed food to be easily accessible by raccoons, especially in the
> cities and suburbs, the food supply was big enough to support a
> growing number of raccoons.  I think people are the problem.  The
> solution is also with people but none is apparent at the moment/
>
> Jeff Ball
> jeffball@usol.com
> 810-724-8581
> Check out my daily blog at www.gardeneryardener.blogspot.com
> Check out my extensive web site at www.yardener.com
>
>
>
> On Dec 4, 2007, at 3:12 PM, margaret lauterbach wrote:
>
> My house was built in the 1950s, and I live on a culdesac.  Raccoons
> are proliferating at such a pace they're moving into this area
> (isolated by Interstate on the south, deep canal on the north and
> busy highways fore and aft.  How is the raccoon population explosion
> a "human"-caused problem?  Margaret Lauterbach
>
>
>> "Pests," like most things, are in the eye of the beholder. And
>> simplistic
>> solutions usually don't solve complex problems.
>> Let Jeff's experience be a lesson to us all. Doing adequate research,
>> writing about what we know, and checking our facts are just as
>> important
>> today, as ever.
>>
>> Until humans begin to understand that the deer, bear, racoon etc.,
>> "problems" are caused by PEOPLE, we will remain unable to solve them.
>>
>> Why not try sustainable development? It can't be any worse than what
>> we've already created.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Lois J. de Vries
>> Visit http://loisdevries.blogspot.com
>
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