In Defense of Gophers

I am outraged and sickened by this week’s column (Aug. 2) in which “Living With Wildlife” columnist Andrea Kitay advocates using a trap for gophers.

To deal with gophers, Kitay went right to the “poison or trap” debate without any attempt to analyze the situation from a humane standpoint.

Many people who believe that they have a wildlife problem can come to understand their situation in a different light with a little knowledge.

There is no good reason to strive to eliminate the gopher population. Gophers will not do the damage feared, and natural steps can be taken to reduce their numbers, if the homeowner still feels that is necessary after a more comprehensive assessment of the situation.

CATHERINE RICH

Los Angeles

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“Living With Wildlife” is an appealing title for a column that a reader might assume implies just that--suggestions about how we can harmoniously live with our feathered and furred friends.

Unless, of course, we determine those creatures a nuisance, in which case we just slaughter the little [animals] either by poison or, better yet, a body/brain crushing/piercing device called a Macabee. Voila! Dead gopher! So much for living with wildlife.

SYLVIA LEWIS GUNNING

Thousand Oaks