L E T T E R S
November 6, 2007
Recently, the Denver Post editorial board wrote about the alleged "Preble's meadow jumping mouse." They couldn't figure out whether the critter was endangered or not.
If memory serves, sometime in 1998 one little “mouse” vertebrae was found in Wyoming. Rumors, speculations, and “you’re going to have to stop doing business while we take a look see,” were used to shut down some resource production.
Yes. Before verifications had even begun, people were ordered to stop production including farming, ranching, mining and logging.
So far, the cost of this “look see” has run well over $20,000,00 with no ceiling in sight.
This would be like ordering your newspaper to stop the presses while someone from the Center for Bio-diversity haggles with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over an allegedly rare ink bug someone thought they spotted in habitation under one of your desks.
So although this common mouse never reached a confirmed status of “listed,” and sound scientific research verified this mouse to be quite common - i.e. "not endangered or deserving of listing," the non-scientific community claim they need at least two more years to go through the process of removing this critter from the books.
You may not know this, but the ESA has been seized by thugs as their tool of choice to gain control of land and water across America. They care not about saving creatures.
For a good example of ESA run amuck, look at the takings of Colorado water to provide watering pans for touch and go birds in North Platte Nebraska.
Newspapers could serve its community of readers by recommending that either all portions of the Endangered Species Act be equally recognized, or be completely reformed. Why? To stop these frivolous ESA filings that refuse to provide the human, cultural and economic impact studies as requested within the defines of ESA.
I like holding and reading a newspaper. Better than computers. So never do I want the thugs to stop the presses in search of an ink bug.
Roni Bell Sylvester