Keep Wildlife In the Wild | The Source Weekly - Bend, Oregon

Keep Wildlife In the Wild

In the parking area of Todd Lake I met the parents of two boys (aged between 8 and 10) who had filled a Ziploc bag with tadpoles and frogs.

In the parking area of Todd Lake I met the parents of two boys (aged between 8 and 10) who had filled a Ziploc bag with tadpoles and frogs. As they climbed into their giant SUV, I asked what would become of the frogs and the father said, "Oh, we don't know, the joy is in the catching."

Actually, the thrill is in the catching, the joy is in the releasing. Eli and Gavin, boys of the same age who I met on the other side of Todd Lake, understood this. When I asked what would become of the toads they were catching, they said, "Oh, we'll let them go. We like wildlife." They had also witnessed the horror of the Ziploc and called it disgusting and sad. Then I encountered a dead trout, very likely the result of a catch and release (it's ignored how often the stress of being caught and handled kills fish).

With now seven billion humans stomping around on this planet, it is our absolute duty to walk as lightly and consciously as possible. Yet everywhere I look there is more intolerance and persecution, the most heartbreaking of which is currently wolves and yes, here it comes... GEESE. I love the Source Weekly, but how disappointing to read the WTF ridicule of people who were actually promoting tolerance, the most offensive of which was Bruce Miller's, "Waddling their last mile," how witty! Live and let live people. Live and let live.

- Vanessa Schulz, Bend
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