I interviewed a developer an in an off-the-record talk he told me, (roughly), “I’m developing 21 acres of woods. If I discover an eagle’s nest I have to stop everything. My debt service is ($x/week) and I can tell you to the day when I’ll be bankrupt. I’ve got dozens of companies under contract and we’re talking about thousands of jobs and maybe other companies going bankrupt too. All over an eagle’s nest. Now I’d never do this, but the fine is $15,000 for disturbing the nest. So, over the weekend somebody comes in, chops down the tree and kills the eagle. Do you realize it is possible to relocate an eagle and its nest? There are licensed people who do that. But I don’t have that option. Am I going to let an eagle’s nest destroy my father’s company and put hundred to possibly fifteen hundred people out of work…probably not.”
You can repeat this story about almost any “protected” species. Listing a species has become the left’s favorite anti-capitalist scheme. We should probably do away with the list entirely. I read that 99.99% of all species that ever lived are now extinct. I’m sorry about that, but something else will take their place.
A county judge in Arkansas was telling my brother about how some mussels in a creek prevented the county from building a bridge. He said, “Next time we plan on building a bridge I’m going to hire some kids to get all the mussels and move them somewhere else.”