My OperaShoot, Shovel, and Shut Up
Friday, October 29, 2010 3:14:01 PM
Never thought I'd think about that here in downtown DC. It's really a western expression used by people who live, say, on a ranch and have livestock and the occasional protected wolves. Can't shoot the wolves. Just have to let them eat your livestock, your livelihood.
The expression was popular during the during the Clinton administration, when the Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt was being especially vigilant about the Endangered Species Act. The Act was dearly beloved in cities and thoroughly hated in ranching territory. Hence, the bumper sticker of the time: Bobbitt the Babbitt.
The Washington Times has an article today on how the ESA mentality now has taken hold in the District.
Over the years, the editor has encountered possums, raccoons, and various vermin (of the non-political kind). There was a young possum that visited a while back. The editor has fed an outdoor, feral cat for many years. He rarely leaves the food out past dark. He was late retrieving it a couple of times, and the possum showed. He has gotten scrupulous about getting the food in early, the outdoor cat has learned to show earlier than before, and we are now possumless. There are indoor cats watching the back yard. When something is there, they let you know. Actually, they ask to go outdoors and chase it.
So be careful how you handle the mice and rats. Use kid gloves. And if you're going to release them on the Far Side, do it at night with your license plate obscured.
One more thing: Don't leave apples out at night. That can attract raccoons.
The expression was popular during the during the Clinton administration, when the Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt was being especially vigilant about the Endangered Species Act. The Act was dearly beloved in cities and thoroughly hated in ranching territory. Hence, the bumper sticker of the time: Bobbitt the Babbitt.
The Washington Times has an article today on how the ESA mentality now has taken hold in the District.
Over the years, the editor has encountered possums, raccoons, and various vermin (of the non-political kind). There was a young possum that visited a while back. The editor has fed an outdoor, feral cat for many years. He rarely leaves the food out past dark. He was late retrieving it a couple of times, and the possum showed. He has gotten scrupulous about getting the food in early, the outdoor cat has learned to show earlier than before, and we are now possumless. There are indoor cats watching the back yard. When something is there, they let you know. Actually, they ask to go outdoors and chase it.
So be careful how you handle the mice and rats. Use kid gloves. And if you're going to release them on the Far Side, do it at night with your license plate obscured.
One more thing: Don't leave apples out at night. That can attract raccoons.
