part of living in Montana
We are a culture bent on control. Or at least the illusion of control.
As a species, it’s been our route to the top of the food chain: Grow food, kill other predators, change the lay of the land to suit our needs, develop tools to an almost magical scale. The method has worked well for us – so far. We dominate the landscape.
But at the same time, most of us living in Montana have an appreciation for the uncontrolled, unregulated. Wild. Whether it’s by taking our own meat directly from an undeveloped forest, or just by taking a walk in that undeveloped forest, we appreciate the simple beauty of a wild landscape.
But living in Montana – with all of these things we can’t control – has its risks, its drawbacks.
We wrestle winters, plow snow, drive slippery roads, combat the doldrums of months of gray skies and frigid temperatures. We are wary of avalanches and freak storms and the risks of overexposure.
But we learn to live with them. Learn to enjoy the challenge of them, even, if sometimes in a grumbling sort of way. We gather firewood, stud our tires, wear layers, exercise caution, and learn to truly appreciate those moments of sunshine.
The same should go for those other parts of Montana that are, inherently, what makes this place Montana.
Cougars and wolves are as much a part of Montana as the long gray winters.
But we don’t try to change the weather. We learn to live alongside it, adapt to it, take preventative measures and exercise caution with it. Like it, even.
Why should we consider our predators any differently?
They are as much a part of the Montana we all love as the winters.
Yes, we have to find our balance living alongside them. Last fall’s hunting season was an inaugural attempt to maintain a balance. We do have to look out for number one.
But we also have to remember: We are living in Montana, after all.