Re: [Paddlewise] "Sharing"??? No, it's *US*!!!

Coyotes and three year old bears go wandering...shouldn't we be entitled to
be creatures interested in exploring our environment, or discovering new
ones?  I agree with Dave's idea that we should have as much right to wander
as other creatures.  We do have a responsibility to have as little impact
as possible.  If we practice "treading lightly", we can have less impact as
self-containded non-consumers than the coyote, bear, or eagle that George
mentioned.  They can disturb the waterfowl or field mice or whatever more
than we by their own (predatory) presence.  I've sat for hours watching
waterfowl from 50 feet away to have them burst into flight because a
raccoon came down to the edge of the marsh to look for food (including an
injured duck).  <No this is not an anti-predator/hunting/meat-eater statement>

Here's the question:  what techniques (camping/paddling) can we use to
minimize the impact we have?  Should we use subdued colors, carry out our
wastes (I don't mean trash!), what?  How far can/should we go to ensure we
take only pictures and leave only ripples from our paddles?



At 02:19 PM 4/22/98 -0700, you wrote:
>George,
>
>It would seem that since we are also creatures native to this planet (no
>flames from those who think we descended from space aliens :-) we have 
>as much right to be anywhere on the earth as any other creature.  
>Because we have a "big" brain just gives us the added responsibility of 
>making sure we don't infringe on the rights of the other creatures.
>
>If we don't have this right, who is responsible for parceling out the
>favor of visiting a certain place?  I sure hope it's not your organization.
>You seem to have a chip on your shoulder.
>
>Dave Baughman
>San Francisco Bay area

Wynne 
Americus, GA
USA

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************