Should supervisors make bears toe the line?

By Sameul Lowe
Guest Columnist
Published: May 29, 2008

The letter to the editor of May 22 alerting us to the “bear problem” and the dangers that attend their presence—particularly their predilection for feeding at birdfeeders—was quite helpful and reminded me that I’ve been meaning to talk to the board of supervisors to suggest they do something about all the wildlife, the prevalence of which [one infers from the increase in sightings] has greatly increased over the past 20 years or so. Perhaps a comprehensive zoning ordinance to manage it is in order.

I say “comprehensive” because bears aren’t the only animals that endanger our peace and tranquility. Consider the water and noise pollution caused by the primary other species, as well as deer droppings, skunk spray, water pollution and so on.

Consider, too, the squirrels’ chattering out in the woods all day, birds chirping at all hours, especially early morning, waking everyone up, and the whippoorwill who announces his presence at all hours of the night. We’ve had hardly a moment’s peace since they arrived.

And that’s not the half of it! The babbling brooks are also noisy: in fact they’re often mistaken for babbling people.

And, here in Syria, lightning bugs are so numerous and their lights so bright that you have to draw the shades when you go to bed at night. In fact, they’re so bright that you can sit out and read your New York Times and Washington Post by them at night. 

And the silence! Before the wildlife hit town, all you had to do to enjoy the quiet was stop talking. Now you have to buy a set of noise blocking earphones to “hear.”

On second thought, if the supervisors just declare Madison County a “Nature Free Zone” the wild animal life may return to their natural habitat of their own accord.

(Guest columnist Samuel Lowe describes himself as “a retired idler.” He lives in Syria’s Shotwell Hollow area. His e-mail address is .)