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Barbed wire fences causing harm to deer
From P. Kisiela
Cave Junction
I have often thought of writing to the newspaper, but this time I am compelled, by seeing the results of peoples’ callousness in my own yard.
I moved to the valley about seven years ago. Since then, many properties around here have been sold, and many people put up fences, more than a few with barbed wire on the top. Not because they keep livestock; maybe they’re just not used to living in the woods.
Problem is, the deer that live here don’t know how to move somewhere else. The fawns often get hung up on the fences that now cross where they used to walk. I’ve seen a young fawn hung up on a fence with all the skin on its leg torn off, the leg a bloody mess. All because the fence got put up crossing their path and the mother didn’t realize (since she’s only an animal) that her fawn could not jump.
Did the owner care? No, not even when we told him about the bloody results of his fence.
Recently, a doe with two fawns walked through our property. I know this deer; deer trails cross over our property. One of her fawns has skin scraped off all over her neck and part of her head and ear. Her eye is closing because of swelling.
This is not a dog or other animal attack: it is a fence injury.
If people love barbed wire fences because it makes them feel so safe from vicious deer, maybe they are living in the wrong place. Human beings can easily snip or jump over wire fences, so these fences will not protect anyone from human criminals. None of these people have livestock to protect, and few even have gardens. All their fences do is injure the deer.
There is no reason why people can’t use their eyes and hearts and when they see a deer trail -- either make a small opening or lower the fence at that part. At least mark the top wire of the fence so the deer can see it clearly.
If the fence serves no purpose anyway (no livestock, no loose dogs, and not high enough to keep people out), why not consider the deer? They’re God’s creatures and deserve to live as much as humans deserve to live.
The law of karma -- as you sow, so shall you reap -- doesn’t just mean the harm we cause to humans. All pain we cause must be reckoned eventually.
Regarding air quality, DEQ, R&R biomass
From Elaine Wood
Selma
On July 2, the Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) mailed a summary of the public comments, along with its responses, to those who submitted comments regarding Rough & Ready Lumber Co.’s application for a new air quality permit for its proposed new boiler and biomass operation.
The most recurrent theme among the comments submitted to DEQ was that we need a baseline measurement of current local air quality and pollutants before Rough & Ready is allowed to proceed.
The written response to what I see as a pressing need is, “There are no immediate plans by the DEQ to install an air quality monitor within the Illinois Valley area. Although additional monitoring is desirable and beneficial, resources are currently not available for all of Oregon’s air sheds.”
DEQ accurately has noted that the air quality in Illinois Valley is far better than in Medford. However, it also said that until our air quality rivals that of Medford we can expect no monitoring. This will make it extremely difficult to quantify adverse changes to our air quality after the new boiler and biomass operation has been allowed to proceed.
I feel that the 20,000 citizens of Illinois Valley deserve much better than this.
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