I also feel this way about people who move
into rural areas then complain about the deer, wildlife or Mtn. Lions. My
opinion is that if someone is so worried about Mt.Lions or aren't willing
to take precautions, protect their small kids and pets, adequately fence and pen
their livestock, then they should not move there in the first place. I am
not speaking here about RANCHERS, who have different issues, but the folks that
are ever spreading into the more rugged and remote foothill areas and build a
little mini estate, then complain about the animals that were there in the first
place.
We have coyotes run through our property;
they have never bothered the chickens as we have a good pen. I lose some
of my veg garden every year to deer, rabbits and birds. I have more than our
family needs so no big deal. If we had small livestock (sheep or goats) and I
was that worried about coyotes, bobcats or lions, I would shut them in a barn at
night....
As for all this panic over Mtn. Lions....I
am not blindly stupid and would probably not ever go running alone again; and if
riding alone would take my dog. A dog is a great deterent, both for
detection and distraction of a lion It's actually one great use for a dog
in rural areas...as opposed to all those people who seems to have dogs chained
or penned and never get out.....I feel totally safe out in lion territory as I
generally ride in groups or run with friends (well, used to.)
A small farm outside of Willits Calif has a
substantial sheep herd. If you look closely when you drive by, you can see
the two white guard dogs that live out there with the sheep and look extremely
happy...they blend right in.
As far as I am concerned, people who move into
horsey communities either fit in or get out. We don't go move into a tennis
commmunity and start building barns and bringing in pet goats. sigh!Education
doesn't work - treating people who BEHAVE like 4 year olds AS 4 year olds -
now that might work:)! S
