should our cities be wildlife free?

[David Matson]

To Each and All:

I don't often post to Colorado Birds--or to any site, for that matter.

I do feel passionate about the subject raised by Betsy Rumely.

In the job I held before I retired, I was responsible in two counties for ensuring that folks adhered to environmental regulations for their septic drain systems, as well as a number other regulatory matters. In those rural counties, compliant septic drain systems meant having acres of mowed grass. One particular town must of had a couple hundred acres of mown grass to be compliant.

I thought of how many thousands of acres of grass were mown each week in those two counties not just for the septic systems, but also for the lawns, parks, school yard, churches, municipals centers, grocery stores . . . 

What a travesty. What an insult to nature we as a society have created to "make things beautiful". We talk about this being the "greatest generation". I often think this is the "worst generation". I sing to myself, "Where have all the farmers gone?" "Where have all the birds gone?"

Then, eventually, it will be, "Where have all the humans gone?"

David Matson

La Veta, Colorado