A friend sent me a copy of a story written by Staff Writer Matt
King concerning the Canada de los Osos Ecological Reserve.
It was quite interesting until I came across the paragraph that
reads:
”
Three years ago, the reserve was a denuded cattle ranch that had
been overgrazed and infested with non-native grass species that are
useless to wildlife and livestock. Under Coletto’s stewardship, the
land has rebounded.
”
Editor,
A friend sent me a copy of a story written by Staff Writer Matt King concerning the Canada de los Osos Ecological Reserve.
It was quite interesting until I came across the paragraph that reads: “Three years ago, the reserve was a denuded cattle ranch that had been overgrazed and infested with non-native grass species that are useless to wildlife and livestock. Under Coletto’s stewardship, the land has rebounded.”
I take great offense in that statement. My family ran the Stevenson Ranch, (Rancho Canada de Los Osos) for more than 26 years. never did we overgraze this ranch! It was cared for with great love. The love that we as cattle ranchers have for the land that we make our living off of.
It was my father and mother, Rocci and Kay Votano, who built the dams and watersheds across the ranch that helped utilize the feed not only for our cattle, but for the wildlife that we enjoyed and encouraged throughout the years.
We gave the state Fish and Game Department complete access to the ranch to study the various wildlife. It was because of our concern and love of nature that the wild turkey was reintroduced to the area by way of the ranch.
I could go on, but it boils down to this: Mr. Colletto is a good man. He was and is a good friend to my family. Although he may be the driving force behind the “Reserve” he DID NOT wave his mighty hand and “fix” the Stevenson Ranch due to poor stewardship.
Pam Votano Sequeira, Caldwell, Idaho
