On Mon, 6 Oct 1997, Paul Talbert wrote (on the issue of releasing turkeys):

> My first thought was, "do they need to file an environmental impact
> statement to do this?" I am actually more concerned that it seems so
> easy to do something like this than I am worried about the impact of
> turkeys on an island which is being carved up for vacation homes.
> Is there any kind of Fish and Wildlife (or other) policy regulating
> this type of introduction?

There is a state law prohibiting release of wildlife without a permit
from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Of course, Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife does a lot of releasing of wildlife.
Hopefully, these releases are done with proper consideration of an
almost incomprehensible number of pertinent factors.

When I read about the creek improvements up near "3 crabs" that were done
to benefit fish, at the expense of beavers, I thought about the conflicts
that so often arise between different fish and wildlife interests.
Certainly the notion that the endangered salmon might take precedence over
the non-endangered beavers has a ring of truth to it. Salmon often take
precedence, endangered or not. We all need to express ourselves about
these things. Agencies that represent the public need to know the
values of the public they serve. There may be times when the beavers
should get the greater consideration.

Kelly McAllister