Tips and Talking Points

Thanks for taking the time to send in a personalized letter, speaking up for tule elk at Point Reyes National Seashore. One of the best things you can do in your letter is discuss how wildlife and natural scenery motivate you to visit Point Reyes and other national parks.

Below is a list of talking points. If you have questions, contact the Center's Jeff Miller.

• Point Reyes National Seashore is supposed to be managed under the Point Reyes Act for "maximum protection, restoration, and preservation of the natural environment." There's no mandate for prioritizing commercial agricultural leases on these public lands.

• Natural values, native wildlife, public access and enjoyment should take priority over commercial activities at Point Reyes.

• Tule elk are an important part of the landscape at Point Reyes. Their recovery is a result of successful native ecosystem restoration, which is a key element of the Park Service's mission. It's taken a lot of time, money and effort to restore tule elk to Point Reyes, the only national park where they live. Tule elk should be allowed to roam free and forage in the park — not shot, removed, fenced or treated as problem animals.

• Right now the Point Reyes ranches enjoy not only subsidized grazing fees and housing, but also taxpayer-funded infrastructure and road improvements, and publicly funded projects. But commercial activities at Point Reyes should be required to accommodate native wildlife — not the other way around.

• The Park Service shouldn't allow any new agricultural activities at Point Reyes. Planting artichokes or other row crops will attract birds. And introducing sheep, goats, pigs or chickens will attract native predators such as coyotes, bobcats and foxes. Expanded ranching would only create new wildlife conflicts.

• Cattle ranching should only be allowed if it's consistent with preserving the natural environment. And agricultural activities such as mowing shouldn't be allowed in park areas where they harm endangered species or wildlife habitat, impair water quality, cause excessive erosion or spread invasive plants/diseases.

• Cattle are the seashore's primary source of greenhouse gases. So the Park Service's preferred alternative is inconsistent with its own "Climate Friendly Parks" plan.