I beg to differ pdq. The "trouble" began thousands of years ago with human encroachment for industrial, agricultural and housing purposes, with the resultant loss of habitat and the effects of uncontrolled and/or poorly researched environmental pollutants.

Also in some cases, pure entertainment and sport played a part, as well as the introduction of alien species, intentional or otherwise and in the case of the bison, in some regions of North America, as a pawn of deliberate genocide or in other instances folklore, based on fear and ignorance.

Quite often the basis is not so much human survival, as a lack of innovation and out and out greed.

This has been particularly hard on any organism, Òcute or uglyÓ, that is niche specific in it's requirements, or rather, not particularly cosmopolitan in nature or organisms whose populations are low to begin with and therefore more vulnerable to changes in their environment, wrought by human activity or other variables.

While a scientific background may provide some with tools, not possessed by others, it does not guarantee that those tools will be used with intelligence, wisdom and without prejudice. Or as my old departed father-in-law often exclaimed, ÒIsnÕt it amazing that you can educate the stupid.Ó

Both sides of the Spotted Owl controversy are not without their prejudices. Mine tends to lie on the side of environmentalists, but I will continue to remain skeptical of anyone who proclaims that their opinion has more credence than others, because they think theyÕve learned a thing or two, about a thing or two, scientific or otherwise.

Oh yeah, as a basis for my own prejudices, at one time, I had the good fortune to have a job which entailed natural history and geological background research, the reports of which were presented to our government and eventually led to the establishment of this and this, amongst others. LOL

While it was an incredibly fulfilling position, that utilized my Òscientific backgroundÓ amongst other stuff and although I consider my part relatively minor, given the politics of such endeavours, it does not buy me any more credibility than you pdq, nor any others on this thread.