Protection of Endangered Species

In reality, the same ranchers and hunters John Balzar consulted (“Animal Populations Put Parks in a Bind,” Part A, Dec. 17) are the source of the problem. Until they drop their opposition to the restoration of the gray wolf to Yellowstone, we can look forward to annual scenes of hunters lined up like firing squads and mowing down buffalo.

For tens of thousands of years the wolf has been the key component in keeping prey base populations in balance to any ecosystem the wolf is indigenous to. We can no longer plead ignorance in barring his return to Yellowstone. It is simple stupidity.

RICHARD DUNKERLY, Whittier