It seems the white ibis that flock all over the place around here (just this morning two dozen of them were walking across the street out front and caused more than one car to slow to a crawl to avoid them) are officially endangered. Now, after ten years and with a population estimated at 90,000, that may change.
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will be reviewing the entire list of threatened species and might remove protection from the ibis and and snowy egrets. While a local population of 90,000 doesn't sound "endangered," removal from the list could open up habitat to development starting the cycle all over again.
On the other hand, some of these beasties on the list are critically endangered. The Sanibel Island rice rat is so rare nobody could find one for three years and, now they know its not extinct, may need to have some whole new islands built specifically for it to populate. (They're small as rats go and, apparently, disease-free.)
The Everglades mink and Florida panther both live in the swamp and are equally threatened. There are probably fewer than 200 panthers and nobody knows how many mink. Every year a dozen or so panthers are killed by cars or other panthers. Still, the population is ten times what it was 40 years ago, so that's something.
Meanwhile, the Great Python Hunt is coming to an end this weekend. Total estimated Burmese python population: anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000. Total kills in the GPH: 50 or so.
That'll help.
No comments:
Post a Comment