AR-News: (US AZ) Loved to death

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

If people won't leave wild things alone, the wild is doomed
Mar. 16, 2004 12:00 AM
This is about people, not mountain lions.

It's about whether people who claim to love wild animals can begin making 
decisions that will allow wildlife to exist in a fast urbanizing West.

That question will resonate throughout the region long after Arizona Game and 
Fish officials issue a permanent reprieve or reinstate the death sentence 
against mountain lions in Sabino Canyon.

As the urban edge cuts into wildlife habitat, people make choices that doom 
wild creatures. They lure wildlife with food and water. They fail to keep Fido 
and Fluffy out of reach of predators.

Wild animals that once feared people begin to associate them with good things 
to eat. Bambi becomes tame and lazy. The mountain lion that feeds on the 
concentration of lazy Bambis at the urban edge becomes a threat to humans.





full story:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0316tue2-16.html 
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