New Mexico governor Michelle Grisham is disappointed with the U.S. Forest Service over their aerial shooting operation to shoot and kill up to 150 feral cows from a helicopter in the Gila Wilderness. Many in the agriculture community in southwestern New Mexico are against this operation.
CBS News reported that the U.S. Forest Service approved the plan on Thursday, 23 February 2023 to fly a helicopter through the Gila Wilderness and shoot feral cows. The area in question is known as the "nation's first designated wilderness area."
Does this make it okay to just kill the cows in the wilderness and let their meat go to waste, when it could better serve people that need food for their families?
Sounds like a waste.
This is all because environmental groups are claiming that the feral cattle is damaging streams and rivers with their mouths and hooves.
Seriously?
This is not a joke.
According to CBS KRQE-TV reporting, in 2022 "31 New Mexico lawmakers sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service urging authorities to reconsider the plan." Some ranchers even argue that some of their stray cattle might even be mixed in with the feral cows, and the plan to "shoot stray cattle by helicopter" is a big mistake.
Senator Crystal Diamond says that there are hunger issues in New Mexico that could be addressed, but shooting these feral cows in the wilderness is a waste.
She said:
“You know, I am in the middle of a legislative session in which we are seriously trying to address hunger issues in New Mexico and I can think the options of what we can do there are endless. it’s kind of a horrific response in how to handle stray cattle in the forest.” (Source: CBS KRQE-TV News)
Ranchers: U.S. Forest Service to Gun Down Feral Cows and 'Letting Their Carcasses Rot in the Wilderness'
Fortune reported that "ranchers argue that the operation amounts to animal cruelty and that the cows could have been rounded up and removed instead of letting their carcasses rot in the wilderness."
A federal judge denied the request from ranchers to delay the aerial extermination operation by the U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday, 22 February 2023.
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| Photo by Zara Walker |
Reasons Why U.S. Forest Service Should Not Kill Feral Cows Without Careful Assessment
There are several reasons why feral cows should not be killed without careful consideration and assessment of the situation. Here are some of the key reasons:
Animal welfare: Feral cows, like all animals, have the capacity to feel pain and suffer. Killing them without justifiable cause could result in unnecessary harm and distress. If culling is deemed necessary, it should be done in a humane and ethical way that minimizes suffering.
Environmental impact: Feral cows can have both positive and negative impacts on the environment. They can help to maintain open landscapes and reduce the risk of wildfires, but they can also damage ecosystems and compete with native wildlife for resources. Killing feral cows may have unintended consequences for the ecosystem and may not be the best solution in the long run.
Public safety: Feral cows can pose a risk to public safety, particularly if they are in areas where people live or work. However, killing them may not always be the most effective way to manage this risk. There may be other measures that can be taken to mitigate the danger, such as fencing or relocation.
Overall, the decision by the U.S. Forest Service to shoot and kill feral cows in an aerial shooting operation should be based on a careful assessment of the situation and consideration of all the relevant factors, including animal welfare, environmental impact, and public safety. In many cases, there may be more effective and humane ways to manage the situation.
Do you think that the feral cows in New Mexico should be rounded up and relocated so the meat doesn't go to waste?
Are you fine with shooting cows by helicopter and letting their carcasses rot in the New Mexico wilderness?
(Share your thoughts in the comments section)
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