River otters are being killed in West Seattle. Particularly along Beach Drive, some property owners-annoyed with otters-simply call a pest control company to trap and destroy them.

River otters are being senselessly killed throughout Washington-the Evergreen State might not be so green after all. According to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife records, the agency currently allows for hundreds of river otters, thousands of beavers and other wildlife to be killed as pests each year, many of those being killed right here in Seattle.

As species that are not listed as threatened or endangered, they are by no means common. By killing theses species and others, we're removing functioning parts of an ecosystem and potentially creating other more serious problems for ourselves in the future.

Wildlife viewing is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the nation, accounting for millions of dollars for our local communities each year. In order to promote a wildlife friendly attitude in our state and in our city, we must first stop annihilating the wildlife that add great value to our homes and to our state. Many people more (come) to this state for the great scenery, outdoors and wildlife in our backyards. In order to preserve this precious Northwest way of life, we must protect those species that choose this area for home.

It's time we ask the state to change the current laws to provide an objective standard of significant damage before it allows our wildlife to be killed by persons who are merely "annoyed."

Ethel Williams

Beach Drive