I am writing in response to Richard A. McInnis’ letter about coyote snaring (March 14). He states, “Maine wildlife belongs to all Maine people.” I am a Maine person, and if Maine wildlife “belongs” to me, I prefer it to be alive, whether it is a coyote, chickadee, moose, bear or whitetail deer, to name a few.

I have a feeling that what McInnis actually believes is that Maine wildlife exists only for the benefit of those humans who would like to kill it, whether by the harvest of deer in hunting season or by the cruel torture of snaring and trapping of other animals.

I am not anti-hunting, and I believe that most hunters are conscientious about their sport. However, I do not agree that deer exist only for human hunters to take, and that any other animal that might interfere with the human hunt should be exterminated.

Snaring and trapping are not fair hunting methods. They are anachronistic and indiscriminate forms of killing, which have no place in Maine or anywhere else.

Perhaps the anti-coyote letter writer should be trying to figure out a way to rid Maine of snow, since heavy snowfall alone is going to cause more winter kill of deer than any other factor (and not because coyotes are going to be doing what they are meant to do: taking advantage of a natural opportunity).

Juliette Kearns, Durham

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