Keep the Bighorn Sheep as Nevada's state animal
I recently heard of the effort to change our state animal from the native Desert Bighorn Sheep to that of the very cute feral horse.
Most people in Nevada have never seen a Bighorn Sheep in our state, but it used to be incredibly common. I still see them; they are close by and way cuter than the cutest horse.
I have taken many great pictures of the horses in Nevada. The best I have ever seen were taken by others in the state of horses working on the ranch. What a sight. I have also seen these same animals running wild in our state, and I have watched them at precious water holes huff at and urinate in the water to the point that it turns to mud and dries up when it is needed most by the animals that are native to the area.
If these animals are truly wild, manage them like all other wild animals. If they are the descendants of the Spanish stallions that were released on our land for future riding stock, they are here illegally, so deport them. Spain can serve them in their French restaurants.
If you call yourself a Nevadan, please get some binoculars, climb out of your car, or at least off your sofa, and go look at our state, and maybe you will see a Bighorn Sheep.
Shaun Gilbert
Reno
Put humans on the endangered species list
Whether it is understanding the consequences of urbanization around lakes, or the actions already taken by the Environmental Protection Agency with regard to our endangered species, both flora and fauna, the results have been, and will continue to be, the same erosion of human lifestyles and the destruction of industrialized economies.
Congress should be made aware of the fact that our civilization is moving backward rather quickly, and consider putting humans on the endangered species list.
Forty years of economic destruction is well past the need for an all-encompassing economic plan which will service both the environment and humanity.
However, steering humanity toward centralized high-rise living, with an occasional flora and fauna tour to the wild, is not an option. It is too much like a human zoo with an occasional treat.
Consider too, that in 2010 at the Helsinki Environmental Accords, the world environmental organization voted to take control of all the world economies. The vote failed because some member countries wanted to first improve their lifestyles.
Ron Wood
Dayton
Safer drivers could
help save wild horses
I've heard all the talk about rounding up the wild horses in the areas of Mound House, Dayton, Silver Springs and other areas because it's the only way the Nevada Department of Transportation can think of to try to stop people from hitting horses with their vehicles.
I have an idea. Slow down. Look ahead of you. I have seen people brake for quail and rabbits, swerve to miss a snake and almost drive into a ditch to miss a dog, which is good to try to miss, but drive safer and you are less likely to have to try. But they will hit a horse head-on? Come on.
You know that these animals live here with us, and it's always possible that they may try to cross the road for water or to eat the food put out by people who think they are helping, but you drive faster than you should.
These horses are a big, beautiful animals, as are all animals, and it's not the horses' fault. People, we have been real lucky lately that no one has been killed when hitting a horse, but the horses have not been so lucky.
Just slow down and enjoy life. We don't need to be in such a rush that we endanger ourselves and others. Leave home a few minutes earlier and you wont need to do 70 in a 50 mph zone.
Kevin Gray
Dayton
