August 2021 - 5

MAILBAG
FLORA AND BEAVERS
Congratulations on another great photo issue. I
really enjoy all these amazing photos! However, I was a
little disturbed that your flora section contains images
of invasive, noxious weeds. You featured both Canada
and musk thistle, which are displacing native vegetation
all over Wyoming and the West. If you must publish
photos of these plants, I would add some explanation
that, although pretty, they are harmful and invasive.
On a different note, I loved the beaver article in
your March issue. Improving our riparian areas to keep
more water on the landscape longer, and improving
water quality, should be a priority for wildlife managers,
ranchers and farmers. Nothing does this better and
more cost-effectively than beaver dams. Thanks for
putting some focus on this topic!
Dan Smith
Boise, Idaho
BRINGING BACK MEMORIES
Tom Reed's story in the May 2021 issue brings
back memories.
In February 1961, a year-and-a-half out of high
school, I had $60 in my pocket and I jumped into my
1954 Chevy and did a round-trip from Eagle River in
northern Wisconsin to Riverton, Wyoming, to visit a
friend. I packed a sandwich when I left Wisconsin and
bought a soda and candy bar on the way out. Three days
later I left Wyoming with breakfast in me. I bought
a soda and candy bar on the way home. When I got
home I had a little over $1 left. If I would have had
a flat tire I would have been looking for work. It was
a great, little trip. I saw a lot of new country. What
an experience.
FISH TALES
Our readers help us celebrate
Fish Fridays at facebook.com/
wyomingwildlifemagazine.
Visit our Facebook page to contribute.
Since then I have traveled to nearly every state,
including Alaska and Hawaii. Most of those miles were
on the back roads. I'm 80 now with a travel trailer and
I can't wait to get back on the road again.
Jim Ayers
Eagle River, Wisconsin
THANKS FOR FROGS AND TOADS
I would like to thank you for the great article on
frogs and toads in the April 2021 issue. I also want to
thank author Jack Ballard and Wendy Estes-Zumpf
from the Game and Fish Department. What a great job.
S.R. Lenhart
Gering, Nebraska
STATE SYMBOLS
The page of state symbols in the May 2021 issue
is helpful and informative, but there's a conspicuous
omission. You neglected to include one of Wyoming's
most attractive species, the state butterfly, Sheridan's
green hairstreak. This hairstreak is worth profiling! The
category " wildlife " means all wildlife.
Ernest Williams
Clinton, New York
Ernest,
Thanks for the letter and suggestion. When putting
together the page for our state symbols, the Sheridan's
green hairstreak did not make the cut due to space
constraints. Although insects are not managed as
wildlife by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department,
the Sheridan's green hairstreak did appear in a photo
on the previous issue of the magazine (April 2021,
page 34) and was identified as the state butterfly
in the cutline. ~Tracie Binkerd, editor
GET IN TOUCH
Address letters to wyomingwildlife@
wyo.gov or Wyoming Wildlife, 5400
Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82006.
Please include your name, city and
state. Letters may be edited for grammar,
typographical errors and length.
Letters selected for publication
represent the volume received on any
given topic and their relevance to
recent issues of the magazine.
You can also send us a
message through our Facebook
page at facebook.com/
wyomingwildlifemagazine.
Submitted by Mandy DuPape
Submitted by Sherry Tarver
Submitted by Christopher Lee Delay
Wyoming Wildlife | 5
http://www.facebook.com/wyomingwildlifemagazine http://www.facebook.com/wyomingwildlifemagazine http://www.facebook.com/wyomingwildlifemagazine http://www.facebook.com/wyomingwildlifemagazine
August 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2021
