Bruce wrote:
>
> The big debate here is whether to use poison or guns. I absolutely
> hate it, but I see no alternative. I don't think socialising them and
> turning them into pets or farm dogs is possible. Otherwise that would
> be best.

All joking aside, I did look this up and read quite a bit about
it. Seems that the cattle ranchers are the ones complaining
mostly. I think your govt. is even slowly supplying fencing to
them.

I do find that somewhat amusing though. Dogs are killing cattle
and the ranchers are upset. Why? Because they would rather kill
them theirselves for profit. Sounds like the cattle are screwed
either way.

If something needs to be done, I think poison is a very bad idea
and should not even be considered. Many other animals might eat
that and die ...even beloved pet dogs...and other animals. Not
only that, animals that happen by and eat a dead animal might
also get poisoned from the body.

Best thing to do...if it's that bad...is to start shooting them.
Have an open season on them all year long and maybe even a bounty
on them. Back in the early days of the US, there was even a
bounty on wolves...bring in the lower jaw for proof. Eventually,
wolves and also mountain lions completely disappeared from the
eastern part of this country.

Of course, my whole feeling about that is, (as you know) if you
kill it you should eat it plus we should only kill to survive. We
as top predators should at least not just kill for the hell of
it. Just because we can do that doesn't make it right. God or
whoever created so many lifeforms on earth. I think it's quite
arrogant of humans to kill some other creature just because it
annoys us.

And then there's the trapping issue. OH MAN...don't even get me
started again with that. Soon when I finally retire, I wouldn't
mind moving to the northern wilderness to hunt the GD trappers
living up there. I would so love to give them a taste of their
own medicine.