APNewsBreak: Protection sought for rare woodpecker [More forest fires needed!]

The enviro-nazi groups are doing it again. They're trying to use the Endangered SPECIES Act on a SUB-SPECIES, which is simply an isolated or slightly variable RACE of a species (as Hunton Peck points out in his post on the black bear, and as Doogle points out in his range map from the Thayer software from Cornell Lab).

I would say that this is a travesty, but the sad fact remains that if the enviro-nazis succeed in using the ESA on sub-species and races, virtually ALL human development will come to a complete standstill.

But, of course, that's what these anti-human groups want. And I have no faith in the 9th Circuit to end these lawsuits either. This is a very dangerous, destructive precedent (if these kook environmentalists win).

Thanks for the ping, Jaz! I'm back for a couple days but I'm off to the field again on Sunday.

Thanks for your take on it, Fly. I suspected that was what was going on but my knowledge is very limited on our feathered friends.

Your statement regarding the ESA on sub-species and human development is so true, that has been the intention of the eco-freaks for way too many years. I wouldn't want to even try to guess the dollar amount they've cost this country in use of lands and resources but it's got to be somewhere up there close to our national debt.

Glad to hear you're getting a day or two off once in a while. :-)

Other than the western screech-owl I told you about on the cheetah thread, the only interesting critters I've seen were here where I live -- and last night.

While my wife and I were driving her sister home at night, I happened to come across a rattlesnake in the road (one of the rare paved roads where I live). I stopped the car and got out and grabbed a stick and moved the snake off the road. To my surprise, it was a sidewinder. I say "surprise" because all the other sidewinders I've encountered have been roadkill. I'm quite pleased that I was able (at least temporarily) to keep it from getting killed.

Now get this: Within one mile after moving on, we spied another snake in the road. I got out again and, through the headlights, discovered that it was a Mojave rattlesnake, or Mojave Green as they're called here. Again, I moved it off the road, but it took two sticks to do so as this snake was highly aggressive (unlike the very retiring and shy sidewinder). From what I've read, the Mojave Green is also considered to be the most dangerous snake in North America, as its venom is not just hematoxic, as all other rattlesnakes, but neurotoxic as well. As in cobra venom. Fortunately for Americans, it is seldom encountered as it inhabits area without much people.

Except for where I live, apparently. Ha ha!

Just so you know, I'll be staying home tonight.

All the best, George!

Snake ping to you too, Jaz! Yeah, I know I should probably kill them, but I've loved snakes since I was a little kid, and I just won't kill them.

Case closed. Lol!

That's interesting that you'd come across a sidewinder and a Mojave Green like that. They like asphalt at night because of the warmth and where I lived in So CA there were many rattlers in the mtns, hills and front country right down into residential areas that abutted the brush areas.

A group of us teenagers used to go out NW of Barstow to hunt rabbits and shoot. The closest I ever came to getting nailed by a rattler was out there and it was a Mojave Green. We were hunting slow and I passed a clump of brush of some type, when I got about 5 or so feet past it the rattler buzzed and believe me when I say I still remember it, it was loud. I'd walked to within a foot or two of him and never saw him, couldn't believe he didn't strike. That's the only MG I've ever seen and don't want to see another one. Oh, and he got shot. :) I've read that they're the most poisonous rattler in the country but I'm no authority.

I haven't killed rattlers for years unless they're close to homes or near residential areas. I don't like them but don't think there's a reason to kill them if they're where they're not a danger to people and pets.

You can have them, I'll pass. LOL!

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.