I live in the Wood River Valley in Idaho (near Sun Valley). It is unfortunate to see the growth, but at the same time, most of the people like it. It creates jobs, more people move in for the jobs, build new houses, buy new houses.... I went to school here, moved away, then came back. The difference between then and now is unbelievable. It has basically tripled in population in 15 years. It is definately having an effect on the wildlife. Dead deer and elk on the sides of the highway is a common occurence.
On the front page of last weeks "Idaho Mtn. Express" is an article about domestic dogs attacking, killing, and partially eating numerous elk. The article states that the fish and game actually witnessed the attack on one elk, barely saving it, but have found 5 carcasses attributed to the dogs. Several people have witnessed the dogs chasing the elk down the barren hillsides (we are losing snow due to warm weather), and into the deep snow. The elk get bogged down, and killed viciously. It describes dogs jumping on the backs of elk, etc. This s**t totally pisses me off. I can not believe the attitude of people up here. They just let there dogs roam anywhere. It makes a guy contemplate shooting the damn things. The valley has turned into a liberal haven. Nobody will say anything about it, and the fish and game just have to deal. Furthermore, the anti-hunting faction has moved in, and you know their take on it will be to stop humans hunting, not the dogs. I don't know it just makes me sick.
-Dan