Posted on 06/25/2003 7:34:10 AM PDT by SLB
CHEYENNE – Days after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated critical habitat for the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, landowners and officials expressed concern about the decision’s potential impact.
While Ralph Morgenweck, director of the Fish and Wildlife Service’s mountain-prairie region, said in a statement last week that the effects would be minimal, others are not so sure.
“The problem is this is our first critical habitat designation in the state,” said Matt Hoobler, agricultural coordinator for the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. “We haven’t gone through this realm.”
On Friday, the Fish and Wildlife Service released a report designating 125 miles of Wyoming rivers and streams that run through 10,540 acres of streambanks as critical habitat in Albany, Converse, Laramie and Platte counties. In Colorado, 234 miles of rivers and streams were designated as critical habitat for the mouse.
As a species listed under the Endangered Species Act, the mouse is already protected wherever it is found.
The critical habitat designation simply identifies land considered essential for the conservation of the species that may require special management considerations.
Impact on local ranchers would occur only if there is a federal interest involved, said Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Mary Jennings. In those cases, federal agencies will be required to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service on actions they carry out, authorize, fund or permit, that may affect the critical habitat.
But that’s still enough to worry Renee Taylor, the Casper-based environmental coordinator for True Ranches.
Taylor is particularly concerned about the private landowners in the designated area who might shy away from federal programs, such as the environmental quality initiatives under the Farm Bill, because it means they will have to interact with the Fish and Wildlife Service.
“There’s not a good track record of cooperation between the Fish and Wildlife Service and private landowners,” she said. “To avoid interaction, they’ll avoid taking advantage of programs. That’s a real loss to everybody.”
Hoobler agrees.
“Landowners in the state don’t like working with the Fish and Wildlife Service,” he said. “They might not be willing to go through the remolded criteria.”
Local rancher Charles Farthing owns land along Chugwater Creek and a few other small creeks that fall under the critical habitat designation.
He is frustrated because the Fish and Wildlife Service did not wait for the completion of a Denver Museum of Nature and Science study that will look at whether Preble’s mice are actually a unique species, or a University of Wyoming study that will examine the designation’s economic impact.
“It’s like they put a dartboard up and threw darts at it to decide,” Farthing said. “They talk about this being the best available science, but they haven’t waited to see what the museum brings back.”
Jennings said the concerns are probably based on a dislike of regulation and a fear of the unknown.
“Until people see it’s not gonna be a big deal, and it will work out OK, they’re going to be nervous,” she said.
Oh gee, I feel so relieved now. When is the federal interest NOT involved?
This is the toe in the door. In a few years they'll use this mouse to exploit property owners, suck wealth and impliment their hateful agenda.
FWS are freaking goons on a mission, loaded with anti-human/American envirocreeps. They're making the lives of people in my area hell as we speak.
If you live in Wyoming, do whatever it takes to run these treacherous creeps far away from your homes, towns and families. You've been warned.
HA!
They wont - it will just keep getting bigger & more restrictive
I didn't read the whole post but what's the problem? Sounds like something a few extra barn cats could take care of.
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.