LETTER: Shooting of lion made no sense

This letter is written simply to extend a sincere thank you and a deep appreciation to David Pauli for having taken the time and effort to write the Daily Inter Lake (Sept. 9) regarding the senseless shooting of the mountain lion in Whitefish on August 29.  

I honestly did not think anyone out there had given this violent deed the slightest thought. It was just another day in Flathead County and what will be, will be. Personally, I found the story sickening and thought to myself, here’s another one of those trigger-happy officers being a mighty big man with his trusty weapon by his side. There was no sense to his actions.  

I agree with David Pauli in his suggestion that the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks adopt and enforce humane wildlife management protocols that would be implemented by all police officers. I highly commend and respect those who DO attempt, initially, to dart and then relocate the wild animal in question.

And, yes, I do know of the dangers of the mountain lion being in your backyard. As a youngster, one came onto our little farm, causing a real ruckus with the cows and horses and making the chickens helter-skelter in every which direction. What did Dad do? Grabbed one of Mother’s big cooking pots and, with a hammer, he took to that pot beating it as loud as he could. That mountain lion NEVER came back!

Chief Seattle had once said: “If all the animals were gone, man would die from a great loneliness of spirit.” —Brenda Anderson, Kalispell