This issue delves into the choices we must make as we begin to face the consequences of the Anthropocene. Reckoning with the grinding anxiety of climate change and the grief of losing our most precious species, how we cope with these fears will define us. Also, how Trump could reshape important courts, what’s caused California’s white shark boom, and tribal nations fight grizzly bear delisting.

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Public lands downside

One of the issues that this story didn’t include, but should have, is that our communities and school districts have no way of collecting tax revenues on federally owned public lands, but are still expected to provide the same level or quality of services (“Who sponsors, who pays,” HCN, 6/12/17). Currently, the state and federal…

by Jacque Price

Sliding into oligarchy

The chart in this article (“Who sponsors, who pays,” HCN, 6/12/17) clearly demonstrates a political system entirely corrupted by financial interests. Citizens have neither the resources, the time nor the expertise to compete against wealthy, well-organized interests that seek short-term economic benefits from the politicians they essentially own. Unless we adopt publicly financed elections, our…

by Thomas Bliss

Trading lions for bighorn

Unfortunately, we do not live in a land of undisturbed habitat where species with specialized habitat needs can live in balance with historical predators (“The cost of a comeback,” HCN, 5/29/17). The Sierra Nevada bighorn’s historical range and DNA profile were already limited, and multiple factors have subsequently further reduced their DNA diversity, habitat and…

by Gordon Lyons

Trail mix

As a former “traildog” (six summers in Glacier National Park), I much appreciated your June 26 issue on Western trails. I noted particularly the profile of Loretta McEllhiney, ace trails engineer, and Jacob Sax’s “Trailworker Slang,” though it should be noted that trail terminology and construction methods vary considerably throughout the West. Rick Bass’ essay should…

by David Stanley

Trails versus wildlife

Bravo, Rick Bass! But he didn’t go far enough (“A straight line in a contoured world,” HCN, 6/26/17). Trail construction destroys wildlife habitat — not just in the trail bed, but in a wide swath on both sides of the trail, where animals are inhibited from using their habitat. According to Ed Grumbine in Ghost…

by Mike Vandeman