"This story is heating up. Bears, wolves and mountain lions are knocking at our door. The dilemma for us is the concern for the safety of the people living in the territory of these animals and the rights of the beasts to do what they do naturally.

Those who want to live near places that wild animals call home, are vulnerable to attack. Unless they take precautions, they will run into life-threatening situations from these animals.

We can move the animals into different areas, or limit the number of wild animals out there by hunting and culling. But I go into the wilderness to see nature, raw and beautiful. If it is changed into a manicured and managed park -- safe and controlled -- it loses something.

Wild animals have their rights to exist, too. Draw the lines and keep the gun handy, but don't tame the whole planet."

Get the Story:
DORREEN YELLOW BIRD COLUMN: Don't take all the the �mountain' out of Western mountain lions (The Grand Forks Herald 1/13)

More Dorreen Yellow Bird:
Yellow Bird: Tribe has made incredible journey (1/12)
Yellow Bird: 'DreamKeepers' breaks stereotypes (01/07)
Yellow Bird: Who is Indian? Who is really Indian? (12/16)
Yellow Bird: Changing roles with my daughter (12/15)
Yellow Bird: Sitting Bull's death on Dec. 15, 1890 (12/9)
Yellow Bird: Kidnapping tragedy affects us all (12/8)
Yellow Bird: Giving thanks to the elders (12/02)
Yellow Bird: Embrace the new but don't toss the past (11/24)
Yellow Bird: Spirit of the North brings wonders (11/17)
Yellow Bird: Native Americans proud to serve country (11/10)
Yellow Bird: Let's get serious about global warming (11/03)
Yellow Bird: The truth is scarier than fiction (10/28)
Yellow Bird: The spirit of the ancient Rainy River (10/21)
Yellow Bird: This year, I'm rooting for the hunters (10/20)
Yellow Bird: Introducing foreigner to Indians (10/14)
Yellow Bird: Enjoying another Indian Summer (10/13)
Yellow Bird: Sex and violence usually sells (10/6)
Yellow Bird: Don't upset natural flow of lake (09/30)
Yellow Bird: Hog farm not as bad as I thought (9/29)
Yellow Bird: Indian pageants not judged on looks (09/23)
Yellow Bird: It was a good year for canning (09/16)
Yellow Bird: 9-11 affected us 'to the very bone' (09/09)
Yellow Bird: Why are Indian students falling behind? (9/8)
Yellow Bird: Owning a home becomes more difficult (08/26)
Yellow Bird: Preserving culture through language (08/25)
Yellow Bird: Plants, planets and pies, oh my (08/19)
Yellow Bird: Time for gay rights has come (8/18)
Yellow Bird: Ushering in a new phase of life (8/13)
Yellow Bird: Healing through ceremony (8/11)
Yellow Bird: Going fishing with good friends (8/5)
Yellow Bird: My mother, the great recycler (8/4)
Yellow Bird: Skin color doesn't matter for group (7/28)
Yellow Bird: Those really long Indian names (06/30)
Yellow Bird: Children's stories getting better (6/24)
Yellow Bird: Not your average bear adventure (6/17)
Yellow Bird: Preserving tribal medicine (6/16)
Yellow Bird: Nature's wonders in own back yard (6/10)
Yellow Bird: Public school teachers deserve praise (6/9)
Yellow Bird: Where the land and wind heal the soul (6/3)
Yellow Bird: Women should be allowed to fight (6/2)
Yellow Bird: Rebate forms difficult but addictive (5/27)
Yellow Bird: Indian Country tourism could work (5/27)
Yellow Bird: Dragonflies important to Natives (5/20)
Yellow Bird: This year, a sad Mother's Day (05/12)
Yellow Bird: Crazy Horse monument worthy task (5/6)
Yellow Bird: The good SPAM and the bad spam (5/5)
Yellow Bird: Black Hills hurt by urban sprawl (5/1)
Yellow Bird: My mother, at the final chapter (04/22)
Yellow Bird: Taxes, bills and orange peels (4/21)
Yellow Bird: Sacred ceremonies are not a business (4/15)
Yellow Bird: Indian child welfare act a necessity (4/14)
Yellow Bird: Pow-wow crosses cultural lines (4/8)
Yellow Bird: An Indian guide to Lewis and Clark (4/7)
Yellow Bird: Columnist 'put his foot in his mouth' (4/1)
Yellow Bird: Events help teach about Native culture (3/31)
Yellow Bird: Native people are never unpatriotic (3/25)
Yellow Bird: All is still not equal for women (03/17)
Yellow Bird: Enough of the cold already! (3/11)
Yellow Bird: Don't cut funds for the elderly (3/10)
Yellow Bird: Mister Rogers was like an elder (3/3)
Yellow Bird: Worries have changed in U.S. capitol (2/25)
Yellow Bird: Great-grandfather Little Sioux (2/24)
Yellow Bird: Unity needed in journalism too (2/18)
Yellow Bird: Finding peace in uncertain times (2/17)
Yellow Bird: Astronauts were elite, courageous (02/04)
Yellow Bird: Through diversity comes unity (2/3)
Yellow Bird: We're cold and proud of it (1/28)
Yellow Bird: It could have been anyone (01/14)
Yellow Bird: Deer encounters, Part 2 (1/13)
Yellow Bird: Listen up roaming deer! (1/7)
Yellow Bird: Looking past stereotypes (1/6)