Stop land sale, not wolves

In response to Robert E. Eggart's letter (March 29) I must comment. Our national forest lands are owned by all Americans, not just landowners. We have progressed beyond the old English model of the yeomen, who were not royalty, but were landowners. There are politicians and captains of industry who would love to sell off our public lands and we must be ever vigilant against this ongoing threat.

As our public lands are owned by all Americans, they should be managed for the greatest public good. Americans in general and Idahoans in particular have supported the reintroduction of wolves. This is an ongoing process. Reintroduction has been successful and we (the American public) will have great decisions to make in the future as the wolf population is managed. It serves no purpose to exaggerate the impacts of wolves. Wolves do kill elk, they do have an impact on elk herds, but it is not all negative by any measure. Our national forests should not be managed as elk farms. Wolves do kill livestock, but it is a small percentage of livestock lost to all variables. Those who fear for their children's lives should concentrate on protecting their children from predatory humans, drunk drivers, cigarettes, alcohol, etc. Wolves have not attacked any children that I know of, although they are physically quite capable of it!

Antone G. Holmquist

Moscow