Aila Webster

“Have you ever heard a jackrabbit scream? I can only compare it to a screaming child that you desperately want to help.” A falconer I knew said that I could only come hunting with her if I heard the sound of a jackrabbit dying, as it had brought grown men to tears. I became interested in falconry because it plays a significant role in species and habitat conservation. I was reminded of this story while reading about the proposed sale of millions of acres of public lands across the U.S. I fear our country is a dying jack rabbit, screaming into oblivion.

The public lands of the United States, and specifically my home state of California, should remain in the hands of the public and not be sold to private entities in the upcoming “big bill”. When I was thirteen, I went on a week-long trip in Idaho, along the Snake River. On that trip, I experienced sheer awe from seeing miles and miles of open land around me, as far as the eye could see. Apart from trails and highly regulated campsites along the riverbank, the land was wild and untouched. Today, significant parts of the land along the Snake River are being prepared for sale. That means that the awe-inspiring cliffs, forests, and wildlife could be sold to wealthy developers or timber companies. I will never forget seeing moose and bears running between the trees, unperturbed by our small raft. I can’t even bring myself to imagine the same river I drifted down for seven days to have no trees, no wildlife, or a big new resort invading what was a perfectly preserved landscape.

In California, my favorite mountain hikes may no longer exist. Every morning, when I woke up in my tent at my favorite camping spot, I could always hear the birds crowing as they enjoyed the trees and the morning light streaming in through the redwoods. I was seven years old, and my family and I woke up before the rush of other campers to start traversing the trails. My breath turned to fog as we reached the trailhead. Hiking is still one of my favorite activities, and seeing the waterfalls and valleys of my favorite hikes through the mountains and trees of California are memories I will never forget. These recreational lands were the start of my passion for environmental science and the outdoors. To sell the land that I, along with many others, grew up loving and appreciating is appalling. 

Can you hear the jackrabbit screaming? There is a way we can help. The way to cut taxes and provide more housing is not by selling the land that was previously wild and free, before the concept of the “United States of America” was even invented. If the federal budget were better allocated to provide aid and tax relief, rather than being mismanaged, it would yield a more favorable outcome. Another section of this bill discusses the potential for funding for green energy to be slashed. This means that projects attempting to create clean energy that does not further pollute the wild spaces of America will no longer be able to continue. Removing green energy investments means that energy prices will increase even further, hundreds of thousands of jobs created for and by clean energy will be at risk, and it accelerates us into a future where there won’t be enough affordable energy supply to keep America running. 

On a hike a few months ago, I was walking along the edge of a beautiful golden field filled with trees and wildlife. In the distance, I could see a jackrabbit frolicking through the open space beyond the trail. All I hope is that the wild land and animals one day find respite, despite the turmoil that could be unleashed with the passing of this bill.