Sarah Palin and Wolf Population Control In Alaska

Just for the record, I'm a hunter, a wolf supporter, and a wildlife lover. I'm also someone who will vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin, and I encourage everyone to do so.

I have learned that one of the most important factors to consider in discussing any wildlife issue is not to take our personal experiences and apply them to the rest of the world.

For example, until a few months ago, I had never visited Alaska, though I'd always wanted to.

Once I finally got there, I was impressed by a few things. For one, it's unimaginably huge (and this is coming from a guy who lives in Texas). It's also unimaginably remote. For most towns, there are no malls, no Wal-Marts, no Domino's Pizza delivery, not even any paved roads (as an example, Eagle, Alaska, a relatively major town with a population of 133, has one road in and out of town, it's unpaved, a single lane, and it's more than 100 miles to the next town, which is even smaller). Most of what you and I take for granted just isn't available to many Alaskans.

For another thing, virtually every person who lives in Alaska comes face-to-face with wildlife in ways the rest of us can't imagine--and for everyone concerned, it's not just an academic exercise. People who hunt moose do so for food; without killing one or two, it means no meat for the whole winter. The winters are long. And dark. And very, very cold.

Personally, I'm uncomfortable with the idea of killing wolves. But I understand that predator-prey relationships are important. Wolves in particular aren't just beautiful, noble hunters--they compete with people for food. And they're very good at it, too; their large numbers are evidence of that. Which is why they have to be controlled.

Palin's support of predator control isn't some arbitrary, cruel, bloodthirsty decision--it's one that is specifically intended to make sure that all wildlife thrives, and just as importantly, that Alaska's citizens (including the Native Americans) have a good opportunity to feed their families, especially through the winter. What is wrong with that?

If wolves are hunted from the air, it's because it's the only way to get at them. Again, most of Alaska has no roads at all. (Think of people who go "flightseeing" in Alaska--part of the reason to tour by airplane is for the views, but a big part is because that's the only way to get there. You can't drive; you can't take a boat; it's too hard to walk--things like mountains, rivers, and glaciers get in the way.)

Finally, let me dispel some common misconceptions about hunting. For one, hunters contribute more to wildlife conservation than any other group. Any other group. For another, people who hunt have more respect for the animals they harvest than you imagine. I have great respect for the animals I've hunted; in fact, getting started in hunting taught me more about wildlife than anything else I'd ever done. It sounds paradoxical, but I have a higher regard for deer now, after having killed a few, than I did a few years ago. (This is something that most non-hunters simply cannot understand, but it's true.)

Those of you who've eaten meat all your lives but never done the killing yourself have no idea what happens to put your meals in front of you. Let me tell you, it isn't pretty. Deliberately going out to kill an independent, beautiful animal is not an easy thing to do. Watching it die is not pleasurable. (Did you know that animals die with their eyes open? It's not like they're going to sleep. They kick, and thrash, and bleed. It's very sad, and I don't enjoy it one bit.) The first time you see--and smell--an animal cut open and butchered, it'll make you want to throw up (it did for me). But these things have to happen--someone has to do it--unless you want to eat rabbit food the rest of your life (or be a hypocrite).

Please don't impose the "morality" of your comfortable consumerism on everyone--they may not have that choice. For many Alaskans, wildlife management is literally life-or-death. And not hunting--killing a moose or caribou--means looking your kids in the eye and telling them there's nothing to eat. How would that make you feel?

Vote McCain/Palin.

Scott

P.S. Here's a link to my Alaska photo album, from earlier this year, including lots of wildlife photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/srlucado/sets/72157605530077351/

Here are some photos of local Texas wildlife (mostly deer):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/srlucado/sets/72157603508893223/