Don't develop the hills
One only needs to look at Southern California burning yet again to get yet another reminder why development should never happen in hilly, brushy and/or forested areas. Most of the fires that happen down there that threaten homes occur where hillsides have been developed.
Imagine what could happen here as more homes are put on the beautiful hillsides of the Rogue Valley. Whatever happened to the beautiful hills of east Medford? Oh yeah, development. — Wil Scarrow, Gold Hill
We might freeze
I had to laugh at Steve Dieffenbacher's Mail Tribune article of Friday, March 9, proposing that this year's cold and snowy winter nationwide was a result of global warming. Our doom is assured, he implied with words like "concern," "warning" and "harbinger."
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Hey, if we get any more global warming, we just might all freeze to death! — Rodger Hoyt, Central Point
Killers in your backyard
There are now two different government agencies setting deadly traps and snares on public and private property in Jackson County. Few know where these traps are, and that includes the agencies running the show. No, they're not hunting humans, but who knows what the incidental by-catch may be.
Several months ago, Jackson County hired a trapper to kill wildlife that citizens complain about, purportedly in the name of public safety. Cougars are the primary prey, but foxes, raccoons, skunks, bobcats and black bear have also been lethally targeted.
When confronted with the fact that the public has a right to know where and how such killing is occurring, a Jackson County official in charge of the program said he didn't want to know. Apparently, that type of public safety isn't a concern.
And only last week, ODFW agents out to indiscriminately kill 24 cougars in a 'human safety study zone' inside Jackson county admitting to trapping and killing three cougars completely outside the zone. They just couldn't control themselves.
So, do you feel safer knowing that there are men with deadly traps, snares and guns roaming the suburban hillsides, setting traps to kill anything they can, anywhere they can? — Stephanie Tidwell, Ashland
Animals shouldn't shiver
On March 5, you featured a story about what people can do if they see horses or cows without shelter from the elements.
The county told me that if animals aren't shivering, people are not required to give them bedding in winter. I don't think animals should have to shiver to get bedding, or shelter from the elements. You and I know that we put on a jacket long before we start shivering. If we don't have to suffer in cold weather, why should our animals have to?
Your article sounded like there are no laws about whether horses or cows should have shelter — that it's up to the individual's judgment as to whether to report a horse or cow exposed to the elements. A horse's or cow's suffering may not be clear to an untrained eye. In nature, I think these animals would seek shelter under ledges or trees, etc. The law should require them to have shelter available at all times, not just if someone thinks they're too cold or hot, and cares enough to tell animal control. — Ambuja Rosen, Ashland
Make Medford better
We live in a pretty nice place, Medford, Ore. USA: A decent little corner of the world. There are just a few things that could make it a much better place, with very little effort. Here are a couple of suggestions:
1. Each person should clean up after themselves. I take my dog for a walk frequently and I'm so disappointed in people who throw their garbage, especially glass, out onto the roadways or sidewalk. I don't want my dog to get hurt, but it would be even worse if a child was hurt because of glass on the sidewalk. Keep your glass in the car, recycle it, throw it away, but please don't throw it on the road or sidewalk.
2. Please, people, use your turn signals. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and think the best of others, but it seems to me that some people just don't know how to switch the little lever in their vehicles. It really isn't difficult; most people could even do it without removing their hand from the steering wheel. Give it a try.
These are just a couple of little things that will really make Medford be a better place to live. — Carol Snider, Medford
