To whoever claims they are in charge of managing wildlife in Washington state and Skagit County.

As a fifth generation Skagit farmer I have witnessed the disgusting and disappointing decline in government agencies and co-managers’ inability and lack of knowledge to manage the coexistence between humans and wildlife, which previously was successfully accomplished here in Skagit County.

With the Fish and Wildlife Department’s 2020 relocating of 325 goats from Olympic Mountains into the North Cascades, where it now appears only four of these goats are left alive and the government agency claims it’s a success. (KING 5, May 3). This is not success.

The importation of 98 elk contaminated with elk hoof rot imported into eastern Skagit County during a wet cold snowy storm that prevented elk from being relocated to a proposed higher, drier elevation.

This disastrous relocation fumble left elk in unfamiliar locations with no winter food or shelter. Many diseased elk that did survive ended up on the wet valley agriculture floor.

Now elk hoof rot is rapidly spreading throughout the agriculture floor. This disease is a death sentence to elk as it literally rots the elks’ feet off. (KOIN News). This disease is already spreading into our domestic livestock.

Now these same wildlife managers plan to establish grizzly bears in the North Cascades without any first-hand knowledge if there is adequate food supply, shelter needs and how these predators can coexist with the human population.

These government agencies and co-managers’ importations have disrupted our natural established ecosystem, causing needless suffering to humans and wildlife.

After decades of one-party control with failed policies, it is past time for change in state government. We must get common sense back into wildlife management by electing common sense candidates that do not support the jobs program that has no accountability.

Aileen Good

Sedro Woolley Wash.