RECENTLY ON TOL:
TOL Our Town
- A tumblr site dedicated to the people and places that make up Oregon and Southwest Washington.
TAGS:
GeMPharm's comments:
on Bullying in School
I was among the many who were bullied in high school. The worst of it was that it started after I was victimized. I had my halter top yanked down in front of a group of boys I didn't like (and who were known bullies). I was too ashamed and intimidated to say anything for some time, and my girlfriend was too afraid to speak up. When I did tell my father, he talked to the perpetrator. It only made things worse. I tried to retaliate by turning in on of their friends for a prank, and it backfired. I was spit upon, had pennies lugged at me, and never knew who was going to turn on me next. It seemed like the permission to treat me as an object of abuse spread like wildfire. I and my parents tried to get help through the prinicipals and guidance counselor, but they turned a blind eye on this and shrugged it off as typical adolescent behavior. I didn't want to step outside of rules to defend myself...I knew my salvation lay in graduating, getting out of school and going on to college. I came very close to commiting suicide...to writing my note and setting up to do the act, but was able to walk away and get counseling. I was one of the lucky ones and had lots of family support. That time in my life is still very painful to reflect upon even 25 years later...but in the end I know I am more than that, and that adolescents are prone to LOTS of irrational behavior. We need leadership from the adults in school...to let the bullies know this behavior isn't okay and hold those responsible for their acts. They need to be punished and redirected. We don't do either the victims or the bullies any favors by igonring them. It teaches both groups poor coping skills and doesn't prepare them for successful adult life.
posted 2 years, 7 months ago
view in context
on The Big Bad Wolf?
I appreciate your comment, and certainly I agree with the need for respectful management of the planet. However, there are those of us who cannot become vegetarian. Both I and my brother tried, and we did so correctly. My brother was successful for 5 years, and his diet led to health problems that necessitated his adding flesh back to his diet. There are plenty of studies that show that flesh (to distinguish from meat-beef) can be a healthful part of the diet. Just as genetics influence many other characteristics in life, they probably also influence diet.
Cattle are only part of the issue, and I don't think they are as much an issue with predation. Sheep are a much easier catch. Sheep are raised as much, or more so, for their fleece. It is a renewable resource, and they are much gentler on the environment than cattle. Most alternatives to wool have as much, or more, impact on the environment (i.e. cotton, man-made fibers from waste-they generate waste themselves). Wool (and other animal fibers such as alpaca) have some unique properties (warmth and duability) that other fibers just don't (cotton, hemp and flax). Some of these animals are also raised for companionship.
Ranching is not obsolete, but the focus on particular animals may change. Even if we could get rid of ranching, there will always be issues with wildlife by the very ways we live our lives. We have many vulnerable populations that can be food to predators in the wrong place at the wrong time (including our children, dogs, cats). There will always be "renegade" wildlife that have learned that "civilized" food is "easy" food. This happens not only with wolves, but also coyotes, pumas, bears and alligators. It is a casualty of our modern lifestyle. If we go to raising more plants, we will be struggling with herbivores. We need to coexist with wildlife, and that includes responsible stewardship...on both sides of the issue.
posted 4 years ago
view in context
on The Big Bad Wolf?
Hi Kathryn,
One addition to your comment about guard llamas. You have to be careful about using a gelding. They need to be gelded young (~18 mos., younger is harmful to growth), so that they haven't developed any "breeding" behaviors. Geldings shouldn't have any residual "stud" behavior. There are geldings that remember "what girls are for", and they are capable of completing the act (unlike neutered males of other species). They can smother and kill livestock. We've had a few cases of this here in WA, although there are many more geldings that do just fine with livestock. The "breeding behavior" is more true of males gelded late (I've seen this...I have a 15 yo who regularly "shows" off for my females-needless to say, I house my geldings separate from my females). Get a gelding that is tested or proven with livestock. Believe it or not, there are many proven guardian geldings who are looking for good homes. As more people are breeding llamas, females have become more available to guard. There are many that should not be bred that are excellent guardians, too...and are also looking for good homes. There are many active llama rescue programs throughout WA and OR who have experience placing guardian llamas with wonderful results. I bet there are in ID, too. You can get a good one for not much money. It is a good synergistic solution.
FYI... I don't breed or sell llamas, but am networked enough into the llama community to be aware of this. I don't regularly rescue and adopt out llamas, but I have personally placed two females with livestock with success. In fact, some llamas are happier with livestock than with other llamas. Both of the girls I placed didn't get along with my herd, and are blissfully happy with their charges.
posted 4 years ago
view in context
on The Big Bad Wolf?
Question: is the predation seasonal...two thoughts with regard to this:
1. Is it greater in the spring during lambing/birth season?
2. Is it less in the fall, when wild game is more present (as your guest has said)?
If so, can this be a used to help wolf management?
There will always be ranchers at the end of "civilization"-where wolves and ranches meet.
As wolves breed, this will become more of an issue. We don't need to slaughter wolves until they are endangered agin, but we will need to manage the population...just as we need to manage the deer population (which I understand are more plentiful than in pioneer days). Overpopulation by either will lead to disease within both population. In fact...with the right managment, maybe the populations will manage each other.
It seems to me that there should be a reasonable way to solve issues from both extremes and bring this more to middle ground.
By the way, loose domestic dogs are worse o nlivestock than wolves...it doesn't mean that we should let either run out of control.
Jacintha
posted 4 years ago
view in context
on The Big Bad Wolf?
I would like to put in a positive word for guard llamas. There are studies that show that they can be more effective than guard dogs at deterring livestock predation by wild dogs. They aren't a panacea, but they can be an effective part of a protective program. They definitely cut back on coyote predation. They live longer than guard dogs (15-25 years). Unlike dogs, they don't attract wild dogs. Only one is needed, and using more than one on a livestock herd decreases their effectiveness. They alarm call when coyotes and wolves approach the livestock and lead them away from the danger. They can't stand against one than one wolf, but they are effective. FYI...Idaho, Oregon and Washington all use them.
posted 4 years ago
view in context
