Old-Growth Timber

A lady from Missoula, Montana, who believed the environment was all important, purchased a piece of timberland. There was a large tree on one of the highest points in the tract. She wanted a good view of the natural splendor of her land so she started to climb the big tree. <br />n<br />nAs she neared the top she encountered a spotted owl that attacked her. In her haste to escape, the lady slid down the tree to the ground and got many splinters in her crotch. <br />n<br />nIn considerable pain, she hurried to the nearest doctor. She told him she was an environmentalist and how she came to get all the splinters. The doctor listened to her story with great patience examined her injuries and then told her to go into the examining room and he would see of he could help her.<br />n<br />nShe sat and waited many hours before the doctor reappeared. The angry lady demanded, "What took you so long?" <br />n<br />nHe smiled and than told her, "Well, I had to get permits from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management before I could remove old-growth timber from a recreational area. I'm sorry, but they turned me down unless we do an EIS to study the impacts of any wildlife in the area, do you have any crabs or other wildlife living in the recreation area we need to be concerned with?"