Share environment with wildlife Dear Editor: 1 am writing in reply to a letter published in the Sunday, Sept. 12, edition of your paper from Alan R. Giles in West’ Vancouver re- garding the growing raccoon pop- ulation. I am a North Vancouver resi- dent and consider myself blessed to have a population of raccoons in my buck yard. ; Each summer evening we watch as the mother raccoon leads her babies from their tree top home to a Stream below. We take pleasure from the lessons she. teaches them, climb- ing, jumping, washing their food in the stream. We do not feed the raccoons, nor do we do anything to en- courage their presence in our yard. I realize raccoons can cause havoc to house and home and can create a great deal of damage, but I believe a peaceful existence can be had, and our experience has been very positive. Giles has suggested ‘‘positive and widespread action’’ be taken against ‘‘,..the depredations caused by these wild animals who are proliferating in this unnatural environment.” His idea of positive action seems to be trapping young rac- -coons and releasing them into the wild, with his admitted uncertainty as to their survival. { feel this is extreme and 1 sug- gest there are precautions to take against any unwanted intrusion. We are the troublemakers, Dear Editor: In response to Alan R. Giles’ ~ letter of Sept. 12 about raccoons, ‘I do hope he happens to read this ‘and: perhaps widen his narrow . thinking a bit. «. We have taken over most of the ‘wildlife’ habitat: and chop up what’s left, and then a person like “Alan R.- Giles is frantic when he finds a wild animal whose species has lived ‘here for thousands of _. Doing things _ differently “more of sai me? Dear Editor: Our prime minister .has made a great point of doing things dif- -ferently,: cutting waste, and streamlining government. ; '. Then:she-bdlandly announces a | gift-of .another $13 million we ‘don’t have to Haiti, for purposes unknown. As a seeker after truth, can abyone enlighten me as to wh at, if anything, I should be believing? To the ordinary taxpayer ail this looks like Mulroney in skirts, “business, as Tory usual, and let’s. have another lie to cover the last cone, One’ thing which would en- ‘courage’ me would be the cutting back. ofthe external department by 75%, and the diversion of that money to inter- ‘nal affairs: -P.C.D; Powell "| Norta Vancouver affairs . years in ‘‘our’’ territory. It’s always the introduced species that are the troublemakers, not the indigenous, which actually deserve protection, no matter what, no matter where. My family of raccoons consists of one mother and her three kit- tens. They come by every evening for their ‘‘feast.’’ Because they find their meals waiting for them, they never bother to do the ripping and dig- | Will McMartin THE WILL FOR CHANGE On October 25th vote to put Will McMartin on Kim Campbell’s new team in Ottawa. (sl Will McMartin Progressive Conservative, North Vancouver Authorized aby Wayne Ziclke, official agent of Will McMartin : Visit Beaver L LOCATED ON 2ND FLOOR DEINE TSERS Professional Computerized Design/Installation Complete Range of solid surface and laminate counter tops available. AAMEERR CUSTOM CABINETRY Keep your garbage in sealed, tightly closed containers. Make sure loose siding and roof shingles are firmly nailed in place. Keep any pet food, bird seed, etc. stored inside. Perhaps a quick call to your local wildlife preservation society would give you some hints on making your home and surround- ings less attractive to wildlife. In conclusion, a harmonious co-existence can in most cases be reached without harm to property or wildlife. Perhaps a preventive approach, rather than an aggressive one, would be kinder to all concerned. Jane F. McAllister North Vancouver not raccoons ging that Mr, Giles is so disturbed about. He might find more enjoyment in his garden if he were to learn that a raccoon will take a cookie or peanut from his hand with the utmost gentleness. Their hands are as soft as velvet. It is a very special honor to have a wild animal trust you. Doris Orr North Vancouver And after the election we can talk freely and openly about our Social programs Sunday, September 26, 1993 - North Shore News - 9 ENQUIRIES B.C. Schizophrenia Seciety prs NoartH SHore BRANCH INFORMATION NIEETING — Sept. 29 7:45 p.m. Lions Gate HospiraL AupiTorium NOW PLAYING CINEMA 1 STRICTLY BALLROOM Nighty 7:15pm/Sat. & Sun, 3:30pm Mature. Oce. coarse lang. & sug. scenes. 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