Endangered species act

[Michael Gochfeld]

Yes, LeRoy several interesting accounts.

In 1954, I believe, Roger Tory Peterson wrote Wild America----an account
of his around the continent trip with fellow ornithologist James Fisher
(UK). They mentioned the road-killed Key Deer, and if memory serves me,
it has something to do with their coming out on the road to pick up
cigarette butts.

It would be nice if regulators would educate first and threaten last.
In some jurisdictions that is indeed happening.

What about the story of putting out hacking towers to establish breeding
Peregrines in NJ coastal marshes.  The towers were positioned were there
were lots of food sources.  Peregrines eat birds, so breeding tern
colonies seemed like a promising food source, and indeed the birds loved
them.  Trouble was the Least Tern, a state endangered and federal
threatened species became their favorite prey.

MIKE GOCHFELD

Leptraps at aol.com wrote:

> You will like this!
>
> In 1989, while driving north on RT. 605 on North Key Largo, Florida, I
> stopped to visit one of my favorite spots Cary's Fort Loop (Now part
> of the North Key Largo Botanical Site, State of Florida Property), as
> I walked along Rt. 605, I found a male of the endangered, Heraclides
> aristodemus ponceanus in the grass, I assumed it was struck by a
> passing car. I pick it up, I could go to jail if it is found on my
> possession. However, what about the car that struck and killed the
> endangered species? Can they be held accountable for killing an
> endangered species? And if they are speeding while driving through the
> habitat, what then?
>
> I read something a number of years ago about the endangered Key Deer.
> A large number (50+) are hit and killed by cars it year. In the late
> 1980s, the drivers were charged. And if under the influence or
> speeding, even worse. However, I do not know or remember what the out
> come was.
>
> Also, during my last stay in Lake Worth, Florida, a Bald Eagle built a
> nest in a tree and commenced to fish the lakes of our golf course.
> They would shed feathers and children and adults alike would pick them
> up. Some months later, a notice was posted that the possession of the
> feathers of this endanger species was a violation and could get you
> "X" number of years in jail. The community was outrage at the threat.
> A Florida Fish and Wildlife officer came to a home owners meeting and
> confirmed the threat. He explained that people sold the feathers and
> that is the purpose for the law. The question was raised, why did not
> someone from the state come and educate the residence rather than
> threaten them? They had no idea collecting the fallen feathers was
> illegal.
>
> The community took the eagles to heart, the nesting area was fence off
> and a viewing platform erected on the opposite side of the lake. The
> following spring, a pair of Osprey's took over the nest when the
> eagles did not return. To the chagrin of residence of our community
> (We lived a private golf community), the endangered Borrowing Owls
> found the sand traps that summer. But that's another story.
>
> Cheers,
>
>
>
> Leroy C. Koehn
> 202 Redding Road
> Georgetown, Kentucky
> USA          40324-2622
> Tele.: 502-570-9123
> Cell: 502-803-5422
> E-mail: Leptraps at aol.com
>
> "Let's get among them"


 
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