[tailchaser]

Recently some things have gone on with the listing of certain species by the US F&W that I noticed but didn't pay a whole lot of attention to. Most recently the Orca's in the Puget Sound. Something caught my eye in how they are determining this and led to conversation with several people that became very alarming on the trend.

First of all, the Orcas in general are not listed. The groups spend approximately 6 months there and then travel wherever they do after that point. The reasoning for listing them is they claim they talk by using different sounds and act differently than other orcas. Can you see where I'm going?

By getting this group listed it opens up the door to listing species that are not listed due to their geographical location that can be sized to whatever they're trying to accomplish. It also throws out any scientific genetic proof that the species is different. This is very troublesome. I can claim that blacktail in my region breed at a different time than the ones in the valley. They grunt differently and tend to act a bit different than yours do. Therefore, my numbers of animals are down significantly so they could qualify for an endangered list even though gentically they are exactly the same.

This is going to pave the way also to keep the snowy plover on the list here soon. A few years back the US F&W funded a genetic test by Oregon State to determine the validity of them being on the list. They proved that the inland birds are exactly the same as the ones on the coast and should not be listed at all. That was done in 2001. The feds have dragged thier feet since then because federal dollars comes with enlisted animals. By saying the ones on the coast only hang around the beaches, they can deem them as a different bird and bypass genetics that prove otherwise. Therefore keeping large portions of beaches closed to you and I and locking up more areas. Also, the funds keep rolling in to protect a species that is NOT endangered.

The scariest part of this, is that it can be applied to every region and species in your area. Just imagine what they could come up with to close your favorite river. It wouldn't be hard to prove one salmon is different from another because of the time of year it returns. Find a strain in one of the tributaries that has a low year for returns and classify it as endangered. You're shut down....... :bigshock:

Just something to think about..

tc

 

[tailchaser]

Well as usual some things were taken a little off of what I meant, but that's ok. My concern is that bisecting nonendangered species into small geographic areas will enable groups everywhere to disect our outdoor activities. The squirrel thing is a perfect example of how far out of hand it can get. Imagine if they sectioned off a piece of land after the point that you can't walk anymore because it would intrude on thier livelyhood to reproduce? Sounds stupid, but underestimating the people who push these issues is a grave mistake on how far they'll take things.

As of cleaning up the sound, your state government is failing you drastically if it takes listing of an animal to start picking up the trash that it's throwing in the water. I'm glad my federal taxes can support it. :hoboy:

ESA's may be a useful tool in management as long as it's not taken too far. The problem I see is simple in regards to the orcas. They are a migratory species that spend some time in your backyard. What happens when an alleutian goose lands on your property and someone sees it? Your land could come under specific rules laid out by the federal F&G. All I'm saying is they're treading on a real gray area as far as I'm concerned.

tc