featured Photo is from NASA called Mystic Mountain –
About This Image
Hubble’s 20th anniversary image shows a mountain of dust and gas rising in the Carina Nebula. The top of a three-light-year tall pillar of cool hydrogen is being worn away by the radiation of nearby stars, while stars within the pillar unleash jets of gas that stream from the peaks
just another rant …
On the 9th of December, I saw an article stating that on the following Monday an Elk kill would commence due to a rowdy group of about 30 had been causing problems and damage for the areas golf course since 2008 and reportedly getting worse. This golf course, was built in wildlife territory/enviroment – in Snoqualmie. The people who built this golf course have forgotten or got lost in all the hoopla that is their business and need to take a couple of steps backward and or confess to knowing that an Elk Kill was on the horizon. I read the entire article as well as several others and while I understand free enterprise the notion that this golf course ranked higher than the elk, who at one time were at risk was offensive. As a resident of Washington State coming from a family who not only hunted but also fished my dad gave me enough info and of course I used my own ability to reason and or rationalize what I was reading and given all the information, I had to try to help stop this kill. I called and while the customer service person was kind took my information he really was unable to answer questions or give contact names or numbers so I gave mine.
On December 23, I checked to see if there were any updates and though no one called me, it was nice to see some positive developments for the Elk. There were at least three articles about the kill being put on hold another article stated the elk kill was shelved. I was slightly surprised, offended, and upset at some of the responses from employees of the Wildlife Department but the one below was the most nefarious of them. In my opinion, the idea that a kill of 3 or 30 would reduce the number of elk stomping a golf course was silly but avoiding the facts was offensive. Yes, the kill will deter them but my point to this completely misguided action is that the golf course is in wildlife territory which includes elk and who knows what else. The audacity of these people to think it did not sound like legal poaching is beyond me. The biggest problem in this article was that it is possible either the Snoqualmie Tribe was left out of the loop or something else was going on. The following comments made on December 12th are below, following these awful comments is an update and certainly a reminder that public outcry can be a good thing…
I have to say when I called the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife that morning there was not one mention of a fence, metal or electronic but an adamant correction that it was only about 3 Elk. I told them the article stated there were some 30 elk and the kills would happen on Mondays when the golf course was closed. I am no expert but some part of this story is missing. As for not knowing or understanding “the process” because we are civilians is an offensive comment to say the least. Some people may laugh but this is a serious breach of co-existing with wildlife. Again, it sounds like a form of legal poaching to me. I also asked if the number of elk is still at risk but that question was unanswered as well.
Public outcry puts elk hunt on hold at Snoqualmie Ridge golf course … click on link for that article
http://www.valleyrecord.com/news/135768838.html
By SETH TRUSCOTT
Snoqualmie Valley Record Editor
December 16, 2011 · Updated 5:01 PM
The Snoqualmie Tribe released its own stance against the hunt:
“Sustainable and low-impact development should include ways to co-exist with wildlife,” Tribal Administrator Matt Mattson stated. “The controlled hunt on the TPC golf course is counter to this philosophy, and counter to the wishes of the Snoqualmie Tribe.” However, Mattson also requested that a tribal master hunter also take part if the hunt does move forward, as the course’s land includes a sacred Tribal burial ground.
After reading what Moszeter said my eyes hurt …So, are we to understand that the elk invaded the golf course and or prior to the construction; contractors etc. did their research and saw no problem building or issue with the fact that it was built in what is or consisered wildlife if not elk country. If so, it makes you wonder -did this group think about the possibility of the elk “acting elk like” while in the back of their minds had an idea about the future all along.
If you read the whole article or any of the many articles with comments, it is hard to understand how much we taxpayers owe these people with comments like the one below…
by Chris Moszeter,
“Master hunters were to hunt only on Mondays, when the course was closed. Moszeter said their firing area was tightly-defined, far from homes and faced away from residential areas. Master hunters go through a rigorous training process, and “are confined to a very small window of where they can and cannot shoot”, he said.
“They’re held to a higher ethical and safety standard than the average hunter.” “If the TPC hunt hadn’t been publicized”, We could have been in and out and gone, and nobody would have known the difference,” he added.
“Elk are beautiful to behold for many Valley residents, but they also trample yards, cause economic damage to businesses and can be hazards for cars.”
I believe we need new Stewards of both the Wildlife and the rich folks who insist on getting their way by building where animals …sometimes big and or dangerous live while others are great for eatin
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