Editor:
To solve all four current Town problems, I suggest that the Town Board Revive the long established Town of Saratoga Wyoming Wild Animal Zoo and reappoint a new Zoo Keeper. For the recipients who have forgotten, our former Zoo Keeper, Chuck Bartlett, has resigned. The “Benny Walters” fenced field, (also known as the old Saratoga Baseball Field and Zoo), was full of “Whistle Pigs” and also home to our “Resident Deer”, Coyotes, Eagles and other native wildlife, including Saratoga kids. For many years, as the Whistle Pigs population grew out of control, with the help of the Chief of Police and Chuck’s staff, they regularly, usually at night, harvested by shooting and Rat Poisoning these pests. By reviving the Saratoga Zoo and renaming it as the “Saratoga Wild Animal Zoo” all the Town needs to do is repair the three gates and ask Keith McLendon to make a new sign, ask Game Warden Biff Burton to capture and release our pesky resident Deer into the Zoo, and ask for Volunteers who like to feed the Deer to do this chore for the Town Zoo Keeper. Mrs. Burton would best serve as our new Zoo Keeper as she is In charge of Parks and Recreation. The Town and Chamber of Commerce can then advertise and attract tourists to the “Only Wyoming Wild Animal Zoo” in the State. With water, the Whistle Pigs will naturally return and the Town, over time, could add an Aviary section with, Sage Chickens, Pelicans, Sea Gulls, Magpies, Black Crows and maybe an Eagle and Falcon. Also, over time, then maybe further add Moose, Elk, Badgers, Coyotes, Wolves, Bobcats, Mountain Lion and two Black and Grizzly Bears. For flavor, to fool the tourists and get a few laughs, add a Penguin and Flamingo. Of course, a few Water Snakes for kids to play with, and a nest of Rattlers to scare the tourists. An indoor Beaver and Muskrat Pond would be really unique. Then refer all the fish persons to visit the Fish Hatchery. Now, the Town would no longer need a fence “Variance Ordinance” and the Planning Commission does not need to waste its valuable time approving high ugly Variance Fences. Homeowners won’t need to fight with their ugly fence neighbors, the Deer lovers can watch the deer frolic and interact while feeding and watering them, the Flower and Gardeners can beautify their homes and grow their veggies, flowering bushes and beautiful trees. The Town can ease up a little on Dogs Running at Large so they can keep any tourist Deer out of Town. Saratoga will then grow as Tourists flock to Town to visit this unique Wild West Zoo, spend money at existing and new businesses, grow the economy, purchase homes, and local High School graduates can stick around and get needed employment. Since DIA greets visitors who fly into Denver with a huge artificial rearing White Horse, I think we need, at the Dog Park, near the Airport fence, a huge artificial Buffalo and Giraffe or maybe a huge Camel or Zebra and a welcome sign to visit our Wyoming Wild Animal Zoo. If you can get any tourists and visitors to smile, they will spend money and the Town will grow and survive! Otherwise, will the last person turn off the lights?
Leon Hetherington
Saratoga
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