The Endangered Species Act recently turned 45
years old.
I learned during a couple of PBS documentaries
about a few species on our planet that have been rescued because of this
legislation. I’m glad to see the peregrine falcon and the small key
deer that live in south Florida have not vanished from the face of the
earth.
For the most part, I believe we all, at some
level, appreciate the birds and the wildlife that share this planet with
us. But like many of you, I cringe when I hear the horror stories
of farmers in California fighting to keep their land because of the presence of
an endangered mouse or salamander. Mention black prairie dog to cattlemen
in Nebraska and you will learn what a nuisance these animals have become to
those involved in livestock production. Mention spotted owl to those
involved in the timber industry in the Pacific Northwest, and they will tell
you those owls have plenty of habitat. Wolves in Wisconsin, Minnesota and
Michigan are a serious problem for many who raise livestock in areas of those
states where wolf populations have grown in numbers no one expected.
Continue reading Endangered species at Brownfield Ag News.
