Wildlife shouldn't go wanting

Utah has long been known as a refuge to the Mormon pioneers. But it also has a reputation as a safe haven for waterfowl and other wildlife.

But keeping that reputation is going to take some time and money.

"Restoring America's Wildlife Legacy 2007," a report issued by a cadre of advocacy groups, claims most of the 520 or more refuges managed by the National Wildlife Service are operating on a shoestring budget. Two of Utah's three national wildlife refuges are filling positions with temps and other part-time employees. The coalition would like to see $765 million pumped into operation and maintenance. If approved, Utah's three refuges would get a slice:

The Ouray National Wildlife Refuge south of Vernal — famous among birders for its sandhill cranes.

Fish Springs, near the Dugway Proving Ground.

The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge near Brigham City.

Bear River has fared the best. No positions have been eliminated, but some road projects have been postponed.

The reason the refuges have been sliding, of course, is because of national priorities. With a war to fund and everything from Medicare to Social Security to fret about, lawmakers have driven wildlife onto the back burner. It's a dangerous move.

It has been said that the way a nation treats its animals is a barometer of its humanity. And funding personnel to help with wildlife is not always practical — unless one counts expanding the spirit and gaining a greater appreciation for nature as practical concerns.

And that we do.

Refuges will likely not get all the money needed to create a true haven for waterfowl and other creatures, but anything that can be done in the way of funds will go a long way toward keeping the heart of America in the right place. A $15 million emergency package would help.

"Nature is man's teacher," wrote the American poet, Alfred Billings Street. "She unseals his eye, illumes his mind and purifies his heart."

If that's true, then nature offers a very great return on what is a rather small investment.

Don't let America's wildlife go the way of the world.