Fox was friendly with domestic dog

The June 4 story about the fox kits (“Fox kits orphaned by trapping) reminded me of Critter, a fox I once had as pet when I lived on the edge of MacDonald Forest.

Critter was given me by a local vet, under the condition he could spay her when she was old enough.

She quickly attached herself to my male Irish setter, whom she adored. She seemed to tolerate me and my cats.

I had four “call” ducks — three males and a female — and I wish I had a picture of that fox carrying the female around in her mouth with the males following.

The female seemed to appreciate the break from the males’ attentions. The fox never harmed her.

Critter disappeared during pheasant hunting season — a reason I decided it was wrong to tame her in the first place.

And about those loggers and the fawn — I once came upon a doe nursing two young in the middle of the road not far past the old “fort” tavern in Kings Valley.

The mother jumped a ditch, bank, and barbed wire fence — leaving the youngsters behind.

Both froze as I picked them out of the ditch and placed them on the other side of the fence, fearing they’d get run over.

Mom came along eventually and the meal continued.

Robert G. Gourley, Corvallis

Let’s pray that Earth will support our kids

I agree with Warren E. Sisson Jr. that fear is a component of many religions.

However, there are things out there worth fearing.

Teaching people that the Earth’s resources are finite and that we must find a better way to live within our means is no different than teaching that there are bad guys (violent extremists, hostile nations, and criminals) that we need to guard against to protect our long-term national goals.

The facts are simple.

The Earth’s population will rise about 50 percent to about 9.5 billion people by 2050. Total demand for energy and other resources will rise much faster than that as poorer nations try to catch up with our lifestyle. And we are already stressing the planet in 2008.

Whether you believe in global warming or not, it is undeniable that humanity’s current impact on the resources of the land and ocean is significant.

Land quality is declining, agricultural land is being taken out of food production for energy, fish stocks are plummeting around the world, and fresh water is becoming harder to find.

I would like my son to inherit something akin to what we now have, focusing on the basics first then worrying about the SUV and the last few degrees of home heating later.

So, do we encourage people to find solutions to these problems, or pray for divine intervention?

Laurence Padman, Corvallis

Environmentalism isn’t a new religion

I’d like to respond to Warren E. Sisson Jr.’s claim of the alleged “new religion” of radical environmentalism (Letters, June 4).

Perhaps he would prefer to stick to some of that old-time religion?

Leviticus 25:23 states: “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine (God’s) and you are but aliens and my tenants.”

Pope John Paul II stated, “The most profound and serious indication of the moral implications underlying the ecological problem is the lack of respect for life evident in many of the patterns of environmental pollution.”

It seems those radical environmentalists are lurking everywhere and they’ve been proselytizing their wacky environmentalism since ancient times.

Don Boucher, Corvallis

We need to fully fund state colleges

Having taken Italian at OSU before we spent winter quarter in Siena, I was saddened by the closing of that program due to budget necessities.

I have no doubt those forced to make difficult to impossible decisions have done the best they can.

I am sure they appreciate the problem of monolingualism and the value of having OSU student experience different cultures.

I know the students in the classes I attended were getting real benefit from learning a different way of putting thoughts together.

Learning about Italy was fun, and it helped expand their world. I regret other OSU students not having this experience.

The blame lies with us taxpayers, or rather with us non-investors. We underfund institutions like OSU, and that is like not putting gas in our car or leaving the kitchen out of the house plans.

When all your choices are bad, there is no way to avoid doing some damage and causing some pain.

We need to provide better options by fully funding our schools.

Don Caughey, Corvallis

Global warming bill needs Smith’s work

Our economy is suffering, energy prices are out of control, and we hear more every day about the negative effects of global warming that are already happening.

It’s time for us to act and take control of our energy future.

A strong global warming plan will protect workers, create new jobs, help consumers bring energy costs back under control, and boost the economy by spurring investments in 21st century clean energy technologies.

The Senate is about to consider a global warming bill.

Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden should work to strengthen the bill.

A strong global warming bill must do what scientists tell us is necessary; make polluters pay to ensure that we have public benefits and not private windfalls; speed investments to the cleanest, cheapest, safest, and fastest emissions reductions; and protects jobs, workers, habitats and vulnerable communities.

Laura Dunn, Corvallis