If you feel the way I do about hunting, fishing and environmentalists, maybe you can understand where I’m coming from. During my many years on this earth, the opportunity has presented itself to spend a lot of time outdoors, experiencing a diversity of activities with a variety of people. Although there are exceptions in every stereotyped category, 99 percent of those involved in outdoor recreation are conservationists at heart. We care about our duck, geese and fish populations. We try to leave the environment in a more sanitary condition when we leave it.

We donate to Ducks Unlimited, Salmon Forever and untold other groups that are responsible for providing recreational opportunities for our children’s future. Unfortunately, there is one individual residing on this Peninsula and writing for this paper who has his own agenda and will use every unscrupulous means at his disposal, including blatant lies, to try and get his point across. In his quest to ban driving on the beach his morals or ethics for attaining his goal have no bounds. He continually indirectly maligns the WDFW and county sheriff’s department for failing to control the amount of guns being bantered about the beach, in our gas burning, oil dripping killing machines, called trucks. According to him, our whole lives are spent running down injured birds and shooting every trumpeter swan, seal and sea lion within reach.

He neglects to add that seabirds and mammals die of natural causes every day, some have been caught in foreign off-shore drift nets and discarded, only to wash up on our shores. His articles seem to come out of an opium den rather than a wildlife alliance. Guns on the beach, guns on the beach – what a lovely way to portray our home to prospective residents and visitors, alike.

After reading his column and vomiting for the umpteenth time, it was time to get the facts and dispel his hallucinations. We called the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office and expressed our concern about Sparks’ writing. The sergeant said that he would speak to a sheriff’s office official who could substantiate any and all calls for shots being fired on the beach. Our call was returned in two days, after which they had reviewed computer reports indicating that there were 76 reports filed for shots fired in all of Pacific County and zero for the beach.

They also connected me with an officer who has patrolled the beach for most of the past five years and when questioned about shooting on the beach, he said, “During that period of time, other officers and myself have had very little problem with guns or shooting on the beach. Maybe, once a year we would get a call about a kid with a pellet gun or .22 shooting at seagulls, but that would be a rare occasion.”

When contacted, the WDFW enforcement officer scoffed at the idea and said that it has never been a problem for them. When the WDFW in Montesano was contacted, they expressed no confidence in the allegations.

Why does this individual have to intentionally and continuously lie to substantiate his environmental cause? Does he classify himself as a terrorist who wants to intimidate people to the point that they are afraid to drive the beach?

Take for instance his last column “El Nino” excerpt: “… microorganisms. Being that they are the baseline for the immediate food chain, if there are fewer micros in the water, then there are fewer fish and fewer albatross and fewer turtles and so on. And, ultimately, fewer fishermen, fewer boat repairs, fewer fishing rods sold, fewer charter boats – you get the idea.”

Some statement isn’t it? The man relishes the fact that through the change in our environment there will be no more fishermen or charter boats. Sick – no it’s worse than that – it is criminal!

It is a proven fact that recreational fishing has never depleted an ocean fishery. Fishing is clearly the most innocent and self-gratifying entertainment a child can enjoy. It also provides a stress-free environment where child and adult alike can spend quality time with each other.

But then again maybe Craig Sparks never allowed himself to enjoy sharing the recreational aspects of wildlife. He is too busy trying to make himself look like Saint Francis of Assisi while writing a column that makes a joke of true conservationists. Sparks does a fine job rehabilitating shore birds and marine life. Why doesn’t he do what he does best and leave the management of wildlife, fish and highways to the experts?

Craig Sparks, a true wolf in sheep’s clothing. Are wolves still protected?