Orlando, I'm just really glad you are not in charge. Jerry Neff ----- Original Message ----- From: "Orlando Schwartz" <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 4:07:50 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central Subject: Re: [IOWA-NATIVE-PLANTS] female mountain lion in Iowa county!?! I agree somewhat with my friend Bill Witt. I sometimes send a note to this web site in defense of hunting. I think that if I were out hunting deer and saw a mountain lion (which I know is legal game in Iowa) I would likely shoot it. Partly it would be my trophy. Partly because I really don't think we need them established in Iowa. A few years ago I recall the Sierra Club was promotion legal protection for mountain lions in the statbe. I said then and I would say now, keep your verbal and written power dry and save them for something important. The public is afraid of mountain lions, with at least a bit of reason since we see attacks on human in other states. The public also knows that mountain lions do kill pets and livestock. But mainly, people are emotionally afraid of them. This is a situation where the public will think, what the H... is that wacko Sierra Club doing trying to protect mountain lions. S.C. defense of mountain lions will cost the club a lot of public goodwill. I agree with Bill that the DNR is too mysterious about mountain lions in the state. But then, if I were in charge of things I don't think I would have introduced the wolves into Yellowstone. It has controlled the elk in the park and helped restore the natural habitat. But it has cost money by the 10's of millions and it has cost so much to the cause of conservation. If people are emotional about mt. lions, that pales in comparison to their emotions about wolves--it borders on superstitions. You ought to read people's irrational comments about wolves in hunting magazines such as Outdoor Life. Again if I were in charge, I likely would have controlled the elk in Yellowstone by allowing hunters to harvest the surplus. It would have had the same outcome and raised money for the parks. OK mountain lion lovers, commence firing. Lanny Schwartz - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp