To the editor:

It seems to me that there is more interest in encouraging trapping by our wildlife officers than from our citizens. They admit there are only two people licensed currently in Polk County to legally trap on their own or leased property.

So Mr. Blanton’s statement, “trapping is going on right now and these horror stories aren’t happening” is meant to convince us that by allowing many more people to be legally trapping on other peoples’ property (with permission) would not increase the chances of some horror stories?

Perhaps the $25 license fee is behind some of this. Perhaps the money to be made in fur trapping is behind some of this. The wildlife people have a problem with coyotes but admit there has been only one report of a person bitten by a coyote since 2002 in western NC.

They estimate the damage done by beavers in 2009-2010 is $2.6 million in the state. If that number is true I guess the damage to property on Chocolate Drop Mountain and the surrounding area caused more damage than all the badgers in the state. Wildlife also claimed, “most people don’t know how to trap and it’s become a lost art.” Well, I guess they will just have to practice, practice, practice on our wildlife until they get it right! Speaking of trusting wildlife to get it right rather than listening to the residents and voters in the county; let’s discuss their stocking of one of the largest predator fish, the Muskie in our Lake Adger.