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The Varmint Question [1915] After returning to active duty in district headquarters in Albuquerque following his long recuperation, Leopold began to develop a new line of Forest Service workpromoting management of game for recreational hunting and organizing local game protective associations throughout the Southwest. This piece on "varmints" clearly reveals his initial hostility to wolves, lions, and other predatory animals and his strategy of winning the support of ranchers for game protection through a vigorous campaign against predators. Though unsigned, the article is consistent with Leopold's position at the time and refers specifically to cooperation with sheepman E. M. Otero, his brother-in-law. It appeared in the first issue of the Pine Cone, published during December 1915 by the Albuquerque Game Protective Association (thereafter the bulletin was published by the New Mexico Game Protective Association ), ofwhich Leopold was secretary. Leopold edited the Pine Cone and apparently wrote most of the articles that appeared in the bulletin until 1924, when he left the Southwest. Few articles, however, carry bylines. For some unfathomable reason, there appears to have been a kind of feeling of antagonism between men interested in game protection and between some individuals connected with the stock growing industry. There have been some very notable exceptions to this rule, particularly among the stockmen themselves. It would, for instance, be a fair statement to say that certain individual stockmen have saved the antelope for New Mexico. But speaking generally the statement is true. It seems never to have occurred to anybody that the very opposite should be the case, and that the stockmen and the game protectionists are mutually and vitally interested in a common problem. This problem is the reduction of predatory animals. It is well known that predatory animals are continuing to eat the cream offthe stock grower's profits, and it hardly needs to be argued that, with our game supply as low as it is, a reduction in the predatory animal population is bound to help the situation. If the wolves, lions, coyotes, bob-cats, foxes, skunks, and other varmints were only decreasing at the same rate as our 47 48 The Varmint Question game is decreasing, it might at least be said that there was no serious occasion for worry, but that they are not so decreasing is an established fact in the mind of every man familiar with conditions. Whatever may have been the value ofthe work accomplished by bounty systems, poisoning, and trapping, individual or governmental, the fact remains that varmints continue to thrive and their reduction can be accomplished only by means of a practical, vigorous, and comprehensive plan of action. How, how is this action to be obtained? How, for instance, is the Biological Survey to receive a larger appropriation for the excellent work they have begun? How, for instance, is a more satisfactory bounty law to be enacted? How, for instance, is trapping to be made attractive to real trappers ? Obviously by a united and concerted demand for these things. The stockmen alone have been demanding these things for years, and while they have accomplished a great deal, they have not accomplished enough. Why should the organized game protectionists not join with the stockmen in making these demands, and would not their added weight possibly give the necessary added effectiveness? Would not the manifestation of a sincere desire on our part to co-operate to the limit ofour ability also remove the last vestige of feeling between us and the stock associations? Would not everybody , except the varmints, be benefited by such a move? There is nothing connected with a properly conducted stock-growing operation which is going to operate against our game program. Conversely, there is nothing in our game program which is going to hurt the stock industry, or deprive any stock of their established range. Why, then, should we not get together? Plans to have our Association actively develop this idea are already well under way. We have had an informal conference with Mr. Ligon, Predatory Animal Inspector ofthe Biological Survey, and obtained his personal ideas as to what ought to be done. We have had an informal conference with Mr. E. M. Otero, President of the New Mexico Wool Growers, and he was much pleased with the idea of co-operation. Shortly we shall formally tender our co-operation to the Executive Committee of the Wool Growers and, as soon as suitable occasions arise, to every other stock growing body in the Albuquerque region. If...

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