Page 39 - 2007 DT 12 Issues

they wandered off. The episode had both Skomars. “I thought you might like to ing because without further words, he
exhilarated and depressed me because know how that dead animal business vanished into the fee booth.
feds had just announced they were turned out.” A decade later I still pause for a
saving the wild horses from death by I certainly did. Warner went on. friendly word with the fee booth guys
starvation by “thinning out” the herds. “The ranger found it right away. But it and as I leave I see in the background
This signaled their doom in Southern wasn’t killed; it died of a broken neck. Warner looking at me, stone-faced.
Nevada. I was among the last hikers to Those shotgun shells around it were But then that nervous twitch starts at
have mustangs as trail companions. just from guys taking target practice the corners of his mouth and he turns
A few hours later, still lamenting the long ago.” I was relieved to hear this. away. As I drive off, I seem to hear
loss, I was returning to my car when I Strange, though. I’d never noticed that noises resounding from the fee booth:
spotted something odd in the deep wash Warner had a nervous tic. The corners “Hee haw . . . hee haw.” ❏
ahead of me. With an ominous feeling, I of his mouth were twitching almost
hastened my step. The object appeared beyond control.
to be a large animal, its torso contorted I thanked Warner and started to
in death, its legs pointed to the
sky, its hooves nearly joined Desert Trumpet
as if in prayer. It was a dead
horse. Editor
It couldn’t have died more Barbara Wolin
than a day before. No flies, Contributing Writers
maggots. A healthy animal. Louis C. Kleber
I looked around, then froze. Jack Ryan
There were dozens of shotgun H. Dan Wray
shells littering the wash. About Barbara Wolin
this time, two youths from
Reno had been charged with Publishers
wantonly shooting wild horses. Norm Kresge
Had I come upon a copycat crime? move again, but Warner stopped me. Barbara Wolin
I got my cell phone out, but a call “Wait, Jack! One thing more.” The tic Administrative Assistant
to the Visitor’s Center dead-ended me. was very noticeable now and Warner Phyllis Lisi
There was only one way to handle this: covered it with his hand. “You know Gaffer
The guys in the fee booth would know that dead horse you found”? . . . Yes, Norman Wolin
what to do and do it quickly. When I Warner.” . . . “That was no horse. That
got to the fee booth, and first person I was a cow.” A cannonball hit me be- The Desert Trumpet is published month-
saw was Warner Skomars, the shepherd tween the eyes. ly by and for FORRC members. Statements,
opinions and points of view expressed by
of the crew and just the man to get me It took moments before I recovered. writers are their own and do not necessarily
action. I told Warner my story and, “Warner, I’ve hiked in Cottonwood Val- reflect those of FORRC. Please submit all
without a word, he got on the radio to ley for years. I’ve seen burros, horses, articles, photos and artwork NLT the15th of
each month by calling 515-5350. If you are
the ranger headquarters. In his best Sgt. even bighorn sheep . . . but no cows. interested in becoming part of the Desert
Joe Friday monotone he repeated my There are no cows there.” Warner Trumpet staff, contact Editor at 256-8043 or
story. “They’re sending a man out there agreed. “No cows except the one you forrcnews@cox.net
right away,” said was a horse.” Then he explained. FORRC is a non-profit 501 (c) (3)
Warner said, stone-faced as usual. “The ranger guesses that Saturday night organization dedicated solely to the welfare
“They said to thank you. Nice.” I left some ranch hands in the Sandy or Pah- of the Red Rock Canyon National Conser-
vation Area. FORRC provides volunteers
bursting with civic responsibility and the rump valleys got too much to drink and and funding for projects including envi-
knowledge that justice would be done. decided to have their own rodeo. They ronmental education, teacher workshops,
The following Tuesday I returned got too rambunctious and broke a cow’s natural resource protection, cultural resource
monitoring, hike programs and other services.
to Red Rock as Cactus Jack, ready to neck. The rancher would be upset losing Annual individual membership is $25.00.
tell visitors of the desert wonders. I a valuable animal like that to tomfoolery, General meetings are held four times a
paused at the fee booth, as always, to so the hands loaded the evidence in a year; Board meetings are held on the second
Tuesday of each month at the Visitor Center
exchange pleasantries with the crew. As pickup, drove it to the wash, dumped unless otherwise posted. Messages may
I drove off, someone popped out of the it, and reported it as a stray.” Warner’s be left at 255-8743. Visit our website at www.
booth and called to me. It was Warner twitch apparently became overwhelm- friendsofredrockcanyon.org

FORRC/May/2007 Page 7