Thanks to both Devorah and Dennis for additional comments, articles and editorials, and at least one cartoon. I am fascinated by the variety of responses to the NY Times article in Devorah's second link. I suggest reading some of them if you are interested in this topic. Many of the respondents seem to have actual field experience and are speaking from the POV of scientists, while others bring out the ever-so-vital aspect of the importance of humans making connections with nature, even as visitors to a national park. Yet others point out the problems of over-generalizing, or -simplifying, writing "fantasy", making conclusions in accordance with what one wants to believe. The many factors make it difficult for some of us to decide what is fact and what is not. In the end, for me, I always seem to decide that there are so many pieces to the puzzles that nature presents to us, that I will accept what seems to me to be reasonable, even knowing that there is not only one absolute answer or solution. I look forward to hearing, experiencing and reading more about wolf reintroduction and things we are figuring out about how ecosystems work. Unending learning. And a certain kinship with the natural world - warms my life, especially in the current days that are filled with rejection of science, hostility and other unreasonableness.

Barb Deihl
Matthews Beach Neighborhood - NE Seattle
barbdeihl at comcast.net