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Probing the past to better understand the present and prepare for an uncertain future. I think it’s fair to say that no field of history has grown more swiftly—in quantity or sophistication—in the 21st century than environmental history. The reason is, I suspect, self-evident: it’s in part a scholarly response to global warming, biodiversity loss, volatile and extreme weather events, and climate change–related diseases.
Last year, I published an opinion piece that asked, “Why are we killing the one animal that can increase wildlife habitat?” (VT Digger, Sept. 13, 2022).
All Vermonters can agree on some basic principles to prevent wanton cruelty to animals.
By far, the best thing we could do, for both the animals and human wildlife management, is to ban recreational trapping.
Just because something has been done in the past is no reason to continue with it today. On that basis, we should still engage in eugenics and sterilization, for example, or allow cockfighting.