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Nature, Sustainability, Happiness, and Us Common Folks

Editorial by
John Cox, M.A. C/M

We live in a society, currently, and so much over the past couple of centuries, that we can go and purchase what it is we want to be, during the day or into the night.   In doing so we have, in reality, grown apart, or away from Nature…  Yes, ultimately, if one has the cash, we can be whatever one wants to be – Business, rather than Nature, gives us a very false world to live within.  Often the obvious becomes just that, and people simply appear out of place, in both action, or, in deed, style, and natural occurrence, distant from one’s appearance.  Within many aspects, the person, simply, does not fit in the realm of their iconic adventure into what they are not.

When we, as people, want to steer away from our mundane, and often sad life (an personal assumptive psychological dynamic) many live today.  They go to the store, in this assumptive life-changing event, purchase pairs of e.g. camouflage pants, shirts, and yes, even underwear.  (i.e. as if Mr. Peabody, in the 1960’s Saturday morning Mr. Peabody and Sherman, sends Sherman to whatever Iconic adventure he wishes, and often finds he is unqualified to be there, and just as often the Wizard pulls him back to reality when life and death situations becomes Sherman’s reality).  Undaunted, Sherman then attempts to be something else, and life goes on. 

Often, people do search for what they indeed are, rather than just be what they are, and can find real-happiness in it, within the natural flow of things, and no other life form nor habitat need be sacrificed to do so – Yes, Nature also plays a roll in this, but in Real-Time – not fakery, mirrors, or false persona’s. 

But all people are different.  One aspires toward being a businessperson, easy remedy, go out and buy a suite, or buy a business-type dress; suddenly, as if a request from the Wizard of Oz fulfilled, one becomes a business person, whether qualified or not.  This can go to various satiation’s, a Rodeo Star, a motorcycle rider and outlaw, a deep-sea diver, an action-adventure  parachutist, and even paraphernalia to become James Bond and a spy.  I think Sherman had tried all of these, and come out calling, oh wait, comes out pleading for Mr. Wizard to save him from assured death.

Within all of this, many of us see, sadly, the disconnect from Nature the human species have indeed created.  When we study the problems on how to resolve the issues and conflicts of today, with Nature, one very prominent situation arises, again and again.  Not just the money.  But rather, all those implied situations, yes, that money can provide, falsely, a better life – but the fact that the physiological dynamics conflict, and often destroyed. 

Our conflicts with Nature numerous, some psychological, some physical, some very psychotic and with bias, hatred, or worse, apathy – and the knowledge that perhaps, the only reason we are so destructive, is that we had a choice, with our opposable-thumbs (the factor that separates us from other life on this planet).  Yes, the Universal Factor of “Choices” we human’s had chosen, beyond survival.  These choices conflict with Nature, and often.  As if God’s or something, that we can pick and choose what other live-forms can live, and others sacrificed, for the way we, the human species, lives. “  — John Cox, M.A. C/M

 
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Posted by on January 22, 2026 in Uncategorized

 

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Baiting of Wildlife — Hunter’s Rancher’s Exploitation at its Worst — Ethics? Abuse? Psychotic Behavior’s?

Research / Written
by

John Cox, M.A. C/M

Yes, in the Western US, ranchers and government agencies sometimes use specific baiting techniques, including (pigs cattle) or other meat or fruit baits, to lure and then trap, poison (historically), or shoot predators (historically) like wolves, coyotes, and lions, though methods are evolving towards non-lethal deterrence like livestock guardian animals or herding strategies to protect cattle from predation. 

We can take it a step further, and observe the situation in Northern California (as one of the most current example’s of corrupti0on and exploitation via misinformation), to be very exploitative.  We find Baiting Wolves, for example (less than 70 wolves in the entire state of California) due to the supposed over-population of Wolves there today.  Problem is, we see them attracting Wolves, with several types of Bait, dead cows, dead pigs, et al.  The circumstance attracts Wolves to the Ranch sites, no doubt.  The ranchers then place their sickly – no sale cattle onto isolated parts of the range, or dead cows, and soon the attracted Wolves from the other Bait, roams around, nipples on the dead cows or calves, and blamed for the Kills.  Did you know the Ranchers obtain full value of a healthy Cow, subsidies (sometimes up to $10,000) when they can blame a Wolf?

One of the problems with this situation remains, and we see it in Northern California, among other States and areas, ongoing.  Predators’, a common knowledge circumstance, is the fact they recall, via their survival skill-sets, “location and “what” was found in any given area.  This means they will go back to the area they found survival sustenance.  The ranchers’ know this, and of course, the corrupted ranchers take advantage of the Predator Reimbursement Programs, quite often. 

Here are several situations that can develop into Predators, either returning, or new Predators passing through the area.  Right now this conversation is about Wolves.  But we also acknowledge Cougar, Bear, and other Predators doing similar activity.  So the ranchers, have nothing, or no one else to really blame for these problems – and lack of ingenuity, or inattentive to their herd when they had just, within a year to 4 years, set out bait for any situations below, actually created their own mess they see themselves experiencing today – If they are telling the public the truth? We find it rather not so ironic, they are not being truthful at all.

How Cattle/Meat is Used for Control:

  • Baiting Traps/Poison (Historical/Limited): In the past (and sometimes still today, though less common due to regulations), hunters or government agents would place poisoned or baited carcasses (like cattle or deer) to attract and kill predators.
  • Attracting for Shooting: A carcass can serve as a strong attractant, drawing predators to a specific location where sharpshooters can then eliminate them, especially for problem animals. 

Modern Approaches & Conflicts:

  • Predator Control Programs: Agencies like USDA APHIS Wildlife Services manage predator conflicts, sometimes using lethal removal, which sparks debate.
  • Non-Lethal Deterrents: Many ranchers now focus on methods like using guardian dogs, llamas, donkeys, or training cattle to form defensive groups to reduce livestock loss without killing predators.
  • Feral Cattle Issues: Sometimes, feral (unowned) cattle themselves become targets for removal, often through aerial shooting, which is separate from predator control but involves shooting cattle in the West. 
  • Often ranchers will retrieve the dead cattle, bait predators to their range / grazing pasture, and use as bait – We are not sure how often this happens, but we know, from discussions with others, it does happen.

In essence, while using livestock as bait for predators isn’t the only method, it’s a known part of the history and ongoing, often controversial, predator management efforts in the Western U.S. . . .  We find the practice simply opens the door to misinformation, at times, about Wolves, Cougar, Bear, and other predators.

baiting techniques, including

(like cattle) or meat baits, to lure and then trap, poison (historically), or shoot predators like wolves, coyotes, and lions, though methods are evolving towards non-lethal deterrence like livestock guardian animals or herding strategies to protect cattle from predation. 

How Cattle/Meat is Used for Control:

  • Baiting Traps/Poison (Historical/Limited): In the past (and sometimes still today, though less common due to regulations), hunters or government agents would place poisoned or baited carcasses (like cattle or deer) to attract and kill predators.
  • Attracting for Shooting: A carcass can serve as a strong attractant, drawing predators to a specific location where sharpshooters can then eliminate them, especially for problem animals. 

Modern Approaches & Conflicts:

  • Predator Control Programs: Agencies like USDA APHIS Wildlife Services manage predator conflicts, sometimes using lethal removal, which sparks debate.
  • Non-Lethal Deterrents: Many ranchers now focus on methods like using guardian dogs, llamas, donkeys, or training cattle to form defensive groups to reduce livestock loss without killing predators.
  • Feral Cattle Issues: Sometimes, feral (unowned) cattle themselves become targets for removal, often through aerial shooting, which is separate from predator control but involves shooting cattle in the West. 

In essence, while using livestock as bait for predators isn’t the only method, it’s a known part of the history and ongoing, often controversial, predator management efforts in the Western U.S.”  —  John Cox, M.A. C/M

 
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Posted by on January 22, 2026 in Uncategorized

 

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