Dear Editor,
I really appreciate being able to get updates from the Sun News and keep current with the happenings in Moab.
I noticed the article on the mountain goats in the La Sals. In this case, I think that the Utah DWR has overstepped its authority (and perhaps common sense) in planting the goats in the La Sals. I’m usually on the bench of the rational development team when it comes to the environment, but in this case, I’m happy to say that I fully agree with Wild Utah Project’s Allison Jones on this one.
The longer that the goats are on the mountain, the more difficult it will be to reverse the damage caused by their invasive impact. If the DWR is in any way using the potential monetary benefits of issuing hunting permits as justification for introducing an invasive non-native species to the La Sal environs, then it should quickly re-think its motivation and do whatever it takes to reverse this ill-advised action. I’m not against hunting per se – I own a gun shop – but as the old adage (in this case) goes, “It’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature.”
I hope that with active, serious cooperation and action from both camps, this can be resolved to the benefit of the goats and the mountains. Sorry, Mr. Sportsman and Utah DWR, we need to find our quarry (the goats) in their native, natural habitat.
