Reject 'open season' on wolves

On Monday at 7 p.m., the Spring Conservation Congress will be held, and it's open to all, not just special interest groups and the hunting community.

Question 59 asks whether a person on public land should be afforded the same rights as a person who owns private land regarding the right to shoot and kill any gray wolf that is in the act of killing, wounding or biting a domestic animal.

Currently hunting dog owners are reimbursed $2,500 for dogs killed by wolves. Their veterinarian bills are also paid in full. Now they want to shoot wolves in the act of killing, wounding or biting their dogs on "public lands." After shooting a wolf, they must contact the Department of Natural Resources within 24 hours and turn over the carcass.

I don't believe that's going to happen. I think it's going to be "open season" on wolves. It could be the undoing of all the hard work the people in this state have done to bring wolves back.

As a member of the public, I will vote "no" to this question, and I ask that others do the same.

The 2008 Spring Conservation Congress hearing questionnaire may be viewed at the DNR Web site: www.dnr.wi.gov (click Public Hearings and Meetings under Events to read the questions in their entirety).

Hearings will be held in every county statewide; the Dane County location is the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall. Votes are cast electronically. Please be aware these questions need the general public's attention.

-- Nancy Field, Middleton

Beware the monk parrot, Wednesday's article on invasive species warns. The Department of Natural Resources recently proposed rules to prohibit anyone from keeping these birds. They must be a serious threat!

Then I read the DNR's report, which states monk parrots are not in Wisconsin. There's no evidence showing monks affect other birds. So why the urgent need to prohibit them?

I suspect it's due to the potential threat they pose in crop or fruit damage, even though there is no evidence of this happening anywhere in the United States, where thousands of these birds have lived for over 30 years.

The DNR report tries to scare people by stating monk parakeets can carry diseases like psittacosis. That's true, but all birds can carry these diseases.

If there was a problem as serious as the DNR claims, I could understand the need to clamp down on the pet industry. But the report lacks the data and proof to back up the claims -- and the bird is not even in Wisconsin.

Does the DNR propose a grandfather clause allowing people to keep their beloved pets? No -- all they offer is for people to apply for permits, get rid of their bird or face fines.

This new rule is heartbreaking for those who have these pet birds. I hope the DNR takes this into account as they move forward.

-- Steve Fitzsimmons, Cagebird Association of Wisconsin, Madison area

Find how, not why, of paying down debt

Regarding Tuesday's guest column by Bob Burrows which stated the nation must pay down its soaring bills, it was well written but made no effort to indicate wasteful spending. Our "soaring bill" can be reduced by cutting spending.

Deport all illegal aliens and we won't have to pay for their health care, education, legal representation and jail space. This will save tens of billions.

Bring home American troops from Europe, Japan and Korea. The troops have been there for 60 years and that is long enough. This again will save tens of billions.

End foreign aid. It makes no sense for us to borrow billions of dollars from the Chinese Communists to give away in foreign aid.

Cut our bloated federal, state and local governments by half. We will have better government and again save tens of billions of dollars.

Seal the Southwest border, stop the flow of illegal drugs and save states tens of billions of dollars fighting drugs.

The list is endless and can be accomplished. We have poor, wasteful government because we allow it. We the people must take back our government, our borders and our jobs. If we fail, we will cease to be a "free" nation.

-- Bill Evans, Stoughton