response to “thinking like a mountain”

Leopold’s purpose of writing thinking like a mountain is to highlight the dangers the mountain faces at the hands of its enemies, in this case that would be humans, deers, livestock etc.

I think his audience was everyone, from the hunters who take pride in killing as many wolves as they can, to the herdsman whose aim is to protect his livestock from the wolves  he perceives as the to the policy makers who enact the laws that give the greenlight to the extermination of the wolves.

To my understanding Leopold is trying to put himself into the mountain’s shoes and he’s asking us to see the bigger picture, like how would you feel if they took the only shirt you had off your back and exposed you to the harsh unforgiving elements. The tress and bushes are the mountains lifeline, they’re the only clothes she can wear to protect her from the gashing winds and the constant rain with all the water that comes with it which runs all the way from her peak down to the river streams eroding everything in its way. On the contrary the bushes are the deer’s food of choice and its pointed hooves pierce through the mountain’s skin and the only friend a mountain has got are the wolves who feast  on deers and help “control” the cattle population.  But its sad when the mountain hears those last cries when the only friend she’s got takes in its last breath.