MINOT, N.D. -- I have a hard time believing that the Agweek opinion article regarding coexisting with wolves from Janet Hoben (Agweek, Feb. 16) was from a real person living in the 21st century, even considering the Burbank, Calif. origin.
Obviously, U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics would reflect that most livestock deaths are from disease, as disease is more prevalent in any environment.
Without looking at any statistics, I'm sure it's safe to say more humans die from disease than by a violent death from an enemy.
Does this make the nondisease form of death acceptable? I'd hope not. Hoben's nonlethal methods of predator control are laughable.
Guard dogs are easily killed by the wolves, range riders might exist in history books (but even then, when they spotted a wolf, there was a lethal ending to the wolf) and fladry might work in a two-acre corral area, but not in hundreds of acres of wooded pasture. You'd be more likely to keep the wolves in with the cows than out.
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Wolf predation is a tangible economic loss to cattle producers and needs to be addressed accordingly. As Hoben suggested, perhaps she should work with the wolves to stop the culture of killing (cows) and learn to coexist. Good luck with that.
Editor's note: Wiltse is from Minot, N.D.
