Dear Rock Chick,

May I say, as politely as possible, that you are unbelievabley full of shit. There are something like twice as many white tailed deer in the US, for example, as there were when Columbus landed. With much less place for them to be. Mankind has inherited the responsibility of keeping their numbers in check. As one of the ex-leading chicken thieves of Brazos County, Texas, I can assure you, from personal observation, that foxes are skillful, avid chicken thieves themselves. Where foxes are plentiful, they must be controlled. I agree that a mounted posse isn't the way but, still, it needs to be done. Not only chickens but house cats and small dogs make Reynards dinner. Would you be so casual if it were your cat some fox killed? Up in the hills, you yourself, could be dinner for some bear or cougar. There's scarcely a year here in Northern California when it doesn't happen. Man and nature are uneasy neighbors. Live with it.