Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Animals’ message is clear

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, Aug. 9, 2001 | 8:23 a.m.

Ruthe Deskin is assistant to the publisher. Reach her at deskin@ lasvegassun.com.

Visiting the rural counties of northern Nevada and California can be an eye-opener.

People aren't worrying too much about nuclear waste being shipped to Nevada, smog, or mind-boggling traffic.

But they might be discussing the latest raid by mountain lions on a band of sheep in the high meadows.

In one case, the rampaging lion "took out" 30 sheep. It's a serious business to the ranchers whose sheep and sometimes cattle are being destroyed by the big cats.

There have always been mountain lions in the high Sierras, but their presence has increased noticeably as civilization has moved in on their natural habitat at the lower levels.

Sheepherders and owners are not allowed to kill the lions. They must call a trapper from the Wild Life Service to do the job. Often the time lost is costly.

The lions are an example of wildlife attempting to reclaim natural territory, but the destruction they cause has become a deep concern of ranchers whose livelihood depends on the safety of their herds.

Wild animals are a problem facing communities all over the country. For years we've been pushing wild animals out of their natural domain. Now it seems they are beginning to stake out claims in their old hunting grounds.

Mountain lions in Idaho and California are slinking into the suburbs and preying on pets. A few have been spotted in Henderson and have residents near the mountains on the alert.

A huge brown bear invaded the home of suburban dwellers in Southern California and enjoyed the Jacuzzi.

In Reno, home owners have watched wild horses roam the streets and dine on flower beds.

Polar bears in Alaska have discovered the garbage pits yield food without having to put forth the effort required in a hunt.

Back East elk and deer have taken over public campgrounds and wandered into small towns staking their claims to whatever edible shrubs, trees and vegetation are available.

Wolves in Wyoming and Montana have ranchers complaining about the toll on livestock.

Raccoons are notorious thieves who think nothing of tearing down screen doors and entering to ransack for food.

Except for a few humans who have had the misfortune of being mauled by large predators, the animals keep to themselves unless provoked, but they are definitely coming back to claim their territories.

We are going to have to learn to live with the animals, who seem to be telling us they were here first.

Las Vegas friends of Allard Roen and his wife of 50 years, Evelyn, joined the couple at La Costa, Calif., to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

Roen, a former executive of the Desert Inn, must be having some poignant memories of the famous hotel, which is being torn apart piece by piece to make way for another grand edifice planned by Steve Wynn. No matter how fabulous the replacements for the old hotels might be, as they go so goes a vital piece of Las Vegas history.

Look at it this way. If people have to get old, they should get as old as they possibly can. (Author unknown)