Wild Animals Cause Wilderness Damage

The pristine government wilderness areas around San Francisco Bay are experiencing some significant challenges since they've become populated with wild animals. In particular, wild hogs and foxes are damaging the happy wilderness. The hogs tear up entire hillsides allowing erosion and the foxes are killing other species. As a result, wildlife management authorities are aggressively implementing a modified wilderness program where some species are more equal than others. According to District Wildlife Program Manager Joe DiDonato,

"If certain animals expand at the expense of endangered species or the general environment, we must take remedial measures."

The problems associated with wilderness areas are blamed on 200 years of human influence and, therefore, additional human intervention is necessary to assure that wilderness areas are true wilderness areas. As DiDonato says,

"We can't just let things slide and expect nature to work it out. In these lands, nature needs an active helping hand."

It would seem that these areas shouldn't be referred to as wilderness areas. More appropriate would be wildlife management areas or preserves. Also, no surprise nor frustration should be expressed by the authorities when wild animals show up and proliferate in areas that appear to be a wild. After all, how are the wild animals to know that they are entering the equivalent of a gated community?