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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (June 27, 2020)
Opinion 4A Saturday, June 27, 2020 The Observer OUR VIEW Oregon ranchers face tough choice R anchers in Ore- gon’s wolf country face a dilemma when their livestock or guard dog turns up dead or badly injured — report it to the state Department of Fish and Wild- life and wait a day or two for a response, or ignore it and eat the cost of the animal. That’s not much of a choice, particularly because wolves have been in Oregon for 14 years now. That’s plenty of time for the state’s wildlife managers to come up with a better system for deter- mining how an animal died. Fewer ranchers are even bothering to report wolf attacks on their animals. The state’s own statistics show that. Yet, the state insists only its biologists can do the inspections. The problem with that is the delay in getting a state biologist to the scene of a dep- redation. In just a day or two, scavengers can strip the car- cass and destroy the evidence. The state faces two challenges. The first: ODFW is under- staffed. The department has just hired three people who will be spread across the inspect livestock carcasses and determine a cause of death. We think sheriff’s offices have better things to do than to investigate animal-on-an- imal crime scenes. However, ODFW should enlist the help of veterinarians and ranchers themselves when they are unable to investigate a predation scene in a timely manner. Most ranchers carry smart- phones and are able to take photos and video. We suspect most ranchers in areas where wolves are present have read a number of ODFW Livestock Depredation Investigation Reports, so they know what biologists are looking for. These reports are online on Photo courtesy of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife/ An Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife wildlife biologist investi- the ODFW website, and make gates carcass remains and the area around it. for an interesting reading. They include the who- entire state. And once the one-third of the state where what-when-where details of reality of budget cuts brought the federal Endangered Spe- an attack on an animal in a on by the COVID-19 shut- cies Act does not make section called “General situa- downs take hold, the odds of ranchers put up with wolves tion and animal information.” adding more staff — or even that repeatedly kill livestock, This includes details, such as keeping staff — will likely the state needs to step up its shrink. activities. The department can a description of the land on which the animal was found, The second: Most depreda- come across as wolf apolo- the age and size of the animal, tions take place in the back- gists instead of managers. the condition of the body, an country. Getting there is often Some sheriff’s offices and estimate of the date of death not quick or easy. veterinarians say they are and evidence of scavenging Especially in the eastern ready, willing and able to by coyotes or other animals. Ranchers can provide much of this information, along with photos and videos of the scene. The section called “Phys- ical evidence and summary of findings” includes details such as animal tracks in the area and blood trails. Usu- ally, the carcass of the animal is skinned and examined for bite marks. The spacing between tooth marks indicates the size and the type of pred- ator. A rancher or veterinarian with some training could use a camera and tape measure to take photos showing this information. As the wolf population con- tinues to increase in Oregon — at least 158 are in the state, mainly in the northeast corner — ODFW biologists will need to use all available resources and technology to investigate livestock deaths in a timely manner. They should be willing to enlist the help of ranchers and veterinarians if they are spread too thin. For ranchers, a lot of money is at stake in the form of dead livestock. For the state’s biologists, their credi- bility is at stake. FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK MY VOICE How to handle a crisis Pastors need to speak up if those in authority won’t I ‘ve no doubt Melody only the four were positive. She Johnson has had a tough updated Facebook on Thursday, week. She is the executive reporting the facility expects director of Grande Ronde Retire- the rest of its employee test ment Residence, La Grande, results as soon as Saturday, and which has four employees out the company’s Health Services after they tested positive for Director Sheri Volk tested all COVID-19. residents on the assisted living The Observer reported the side. Those results should be situation in a back next week. Tuesday front Likewise, PHIL WRIGHT page story, some Northwood OBSERVER EDITOR of the latest in our Investments, the coverage of the parent company pandemic’s dam- to both Out- aging local effects. doors RV and Northwood Manu- Johnson could have ducked facturing in La Grande, reported and ignored our request to talk this week it had five confirmed about a difficult situation. We’re cases of COVID-19 at its Out- still getting the silent treatment doors RV facility. Once again, from the Lighthouse Pentecostal a local business let the public Church in Island City that is at know. the heart of the county’s out- Doing the right thing can be break. But Johnson did the oppo- difficult, but Johnson and North- site. She spoke with reporter wood Investments did the right Ronald Bond on the record, and thing. That is the kind of out- there was nothing ambiguous in reach and transparency that her statements. builds trust and good will with When the test results came, the community. she said, Grande Ronde Retire- They deserve the communi- ment Residence wasted no ty’s thanks and praise. time notifying family mem- And Johnson in particular is bers, health authorities and other an example of what to do in a agencies. crisis. A look at the facility’s Face- She posted on Facebook book page shows Johnson has — yet again — on Thursday: been making regular posts for “Our commitment to you all weeks with updates about coro- throughout this process is to navirus tests results and the keep you all updated and be as steps to mitigate contact. transparent as possible.” Johnson on Wednesday Johnson has demonstrated she reported Grande Ronde Retire- backs up her words with actions. ment Residence received results That’s a valuable lesson for all from 30 employees, and still of us at any time. I am saddened by what I see in this com- Church in Island City. As a believer in Christ and a member of munity. After repeated, worldwide pleas on the part of the medical profes- a church in La Grande, I am appalled at the stubbornness of a body of believers who not sionals to social distance and wear masks in only insist on pursuing their beliefs at the public, now we see the results of the cavalier peril of the community but choose to interpret attitudes of many of our citizens, especially the word of God in a manner younger ones. that violates Christ’s words Having grown up in the PAMELA when tempted by Satan, United Kingdom, I look MOORE “Thou shalt not tempt the with interest at the response LA GRANDE Lord thy God.” and attitude of the different I am no theologian, but I countries. choose to interpret Christ’s message to love While I understand the United States is all people and show compassion to those in built on a culture of individual freedom and personal rights, I believe many Americans see need, which means paying attention to how my actions affect other people — in this case, this as a ticket to do what feels good to them the most vulnerable in our community. regardless of the consequences if they feel I struggle with my attitude toward my their own rights are violated. brothers and sisters in Christ at the Light- Compare this to the U.K. and European countries that have been more intentional and house Church, and while I commend their deliberate in ordering their citizens to comply commitment to their beliefs and their faith, I worry about what kind of witness they are to with rules, and, as a result, have not seen the non-believers. Will they listen to anyone else? upsurge of infection of COVID-19 as cur- Will they follow the rules of quarantine? rently being witnessed in the USA. While some states are finally seeing the I challenge the pastors in this community need to take a firmer stand against the virus to collectively hold the pastors of the Light- by closing their borders, many local and house Pentecostal Church accountable in the state authorities are reluctant to enforce same way as we are commissioned to do on any commonsense rules, merely “recom- an individual basis when a church member mending” behaviors that have proved effec- goes astray. tive in restraining the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, I pray for all those affected, They want to leave it to individual dis- whether they attend the Lighthouse Church cretion as to whether these “suggestions” or not, and trust that God will watch over our are followed in case they somehow violate community. someone’s rights. No matter that people are About the Author Pamela Moore has lived in the U.S. for infected by the hundreds in the community 55 years, the last 12 in La Grande. Now and possibly will die. We only have to look at what has happened retired, she volunteers at the Grande in Union County the last couple of weeks with Ronde Hospital Auxiliary and Next Step the behavior of the Lighthouse Pentecostal Pregnancy and Relationship Center.
