Tabb letter: Refuge takeover

Thank you Kevin Kelley for your thoughtful Jan. 14 letter regarding the Malheur NWR situation.

This easterner (Boise) was absolutely blown away during my first spring visit to the area in question. The Paiute’s “Snowbird” was in full display. That was sometime ago. I don’t get over that way often, but feel good with the knowledge that it is still there and being protected and enhanced. Other than the effects of drought over the West, this part of Harney County might even be in better shape than it was in Teddy Roosevelt’s day. Our NWRs should always be a place to walk and speak softly. Hopefully the “Big Stick” won’t be necessary, but it needs to be close at hand.

I hate barbed wire and was excited at first to see the “militia” removing some (with government equipment). Then I became sad to realize that its bird killing miles are needed nowadays to protect vulnerable habitat.

Count me in as one “westerner” who is not pining away to live the ranch lifestyle, if that means resenting a government trying to protect the greater good, meanwhile expecting subsidies from that same government to survive.

This story was originally published January 24, 2016 at 11:12 PM with the headline "Tabb letter: Refuge takeover."