Letters

Two points

I just read your editorial regarding internet sales. Two points to add to this:

1. Let’s not forget that the internet enables rural merchants to expand their marketplace beyond their sparsely populated local market in a way not possible cost efficiently previously.

2. Let’s not forget that the internet enables the start-up of small businesses in rural areas, with fiber optic connection now possible, in home offices which was once not possible.

Both of the above mean an increase in revenue and in increase in small business, with a decrease in reliance on entitlement programs which come from taxpayers’ pockets also.

#1 and #2 do benefit from the absence of sales tax. The benefit is growth in their business which must charge shipping tax.

I would not be too quick to stymie the growth of rural-based internet entrepreneurs.

Cynthia (Sunni) Freyer,

President, CFNA Inc, Colton

Moosey

On October 27, I made the acquaintance of “Moosey,” a young female Moose, and her not yet year old calf.

After noticing my neighbors collecting on the street in front of my home with cameras, my family and I went to see what all the hoopla was about, and were simply stunned to see the pair serenely munching on the leaves of our apple trees and frozen rose hips.

Moosey certainly was aware of the encroaching human population and placed herself between her baby and her admirers.

Beyond this, though, she did nothing to suggest she was concerned in the least about all of us gawkers.

Eventually, she and her baby left to drink from the creek that runs through our town, but soon returned, headed once again in the direction from which they came – out of town.

Since then I have seen the pair four or five times, usually in my own yard and garden and almost exclusively on weekends.

The twosome has frequently approached my house windows, looking in, seeming to ask “Is anyone home?” And when we see she is around, we eagerly go to those windows to peer out at Moosey and her calf.

With her dark brown liquid eyes full of intelligence and espresso colored coat, she is simply magnificent.

I have seen Moosey lift a hind leg to scratch one of her large, fuzzy ears and witnessed her baby rolling on the ground to combat an itchy back – both activities akin to those of my dogs.

I have seen the pair lay down together in the sun to take a nap.

And I have seen Moosey and my mother conversing with nothing but approximately 2 feet and a pane of glass separating them – guess it’s a mother thing.

They are examples of something truly awesome and I feel simply blessed each time I catch even a glimpse of them.

But recently, it was reported that Moosey’s life – and thereby her baby’s – was in jeopardy.

In fact, it appears her death – and again that of her calf – are inevitable unless something happens soon.

It appears that after two unsuccessful attempts to drive off the pair, the state Fish and Wildlife Department has now petitioned Olympia for what is known as a “special kill license”.

I have yet to discern what these run-off attempts actually consisted of, or how many truly occurred.

There is supposition that paintball guns were used, but I question the accuracy of this report – and the aim of the shooters – as I have yet to see any paint decorating Moosey and her baby.

Regardless of the methodology used, the fact still remains – those charged with the removal of the pair failed to do so.

And now, they want to shoot her, ending her life and that of her baby’s who is too young to survive alone.

What crime is it that Moosey has committed? What reason can there be to literally end her? There have been no reports of aggressive behavior on the part of either animal. At the very worst, it appears that a bush or two was pulled up, they have left fertilizer in yards, and likely have embarrassed those who were charged with removing her. Are these such grave offenses that they warrant death? Are there no other options?

Yes, they are wild animals and as such come with a high risk of unpredictability. Moosey could some day feel threatened, or protective of her child, and exhibit aggression. But at this point, she has done nothing of the sort. This is not yet an issue of public safety, but rather one of inconvenience. Replacing bushes, shoveling leavings, and utilizing common sense by not rushing into the personal space of a pair of large animals apparently takes too much effort, but a gunshot is a quick and easy fix. But it costs us two very dear commodities: the commune with nature we enjoy and that is intrinsic to rural life and our very own humanity.

There is a giant chasm between chasing a moose off and destroying a living, thinking creature and within this gulch are other options not yet fully exhausted. The most basic is to tranquilize the pair and move them several miles from the area, but we have yet to hear of a plan to do so. With the close proximity to Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, I am stunned that this alternative has not yet been attempted. And that is only one suggestion! We do not need to be so eager to issue a special kill license that we fail to try other paths.

There are fewer than 8,000 moose in the Rocky Mountain States, in which we have been lumped. They are solitary animals that do not form herds, but rather prefer their own company. They can trot up to 20 mph and will submerge themselves entirely for up to thirty seconds. They have incredible hearing, will live between 15 and 25 years, and their lineage is ancient. And we want to destroy not just one but two? Can we afford that?

If, like me, you fail to see the necessity in such drastic actions at this time, then I strongly encourage you to contact the state Fish and Wildlife Department and voice your concerns. Remind them that even on their own website they claim that a moose may need to be killed only after a history of unprovoked attacks on people.

Further, I encourage you to take their advice: “Moose are a unique part of the high quality of life in Washington. If we take the time to think about their behavior and our own in response to them, and we teach our children to do the same, we can enjoy sharing space with this spectacular animal.”And please do so soon – time is short before Moosey and her baby are no more. Visit http:// wdfw.wa.gov/about/contact/ for contact information for WDFW officials, including that for Director Phil Anderson.

Joy Zornes, Oakesdale