Mr. Ronaghan, your diatribe against cattle ranchers in general and a local rancher in particular was filled with very misleading information. Your claim that cattle were released on May 8 from a farm east of town onto the lower Gilpin Grasslands was incorrect. They were released, but onto private property. You were off by several kilometres and an intervening “major terrain break.” These cattle move through four other fenced grazing units before they arrive at the grasslands in early autumn. This is part of a range management plan you infer does not exist. An article in the Gazette last year described the extensive work being done to protect watering areas by fencing and installing water troughs. As for E. coli 0157, I discovered it is not found in intestinal tracts of cattle raised on a natural diet of grass, hay and fibrous forage, whereas it is more prevalent in grain-fed cattle on industrial farms.

Ranchers must comply with many government regulations and are monitored regularly. Now, if only we could regulate persons who often sabotage this compliance by opening gates and cutting fences.

As the Gilpin Grasslands are now a provincial park, I think you can rest assured that if the cattle are “robbing wildlife of food and water sources,” it will be addressed. As the wildlife are not confined and restricted only to the grasslands, but have a vast are they can roam, your fear of their starvation may be appeased. These animals have co-existed for many decades and seem to thrive. The introduced species of mountain sheep are apparently thriving as their population has increased from 25 to over 300. Your concern for wildlife is laudable. What is not laudable is that you found it necessary to vilify a local rancher and totally ignore ongoing efforts to improve conditions for all concerned.

We live in a small community. What a shame some cannot foster co-operation and accommodation, but instead cultivate division and discord.