Bear Conservation
Recent studies are showing that the population of black bears in Florida is on the increase and getting back to stable numbers due to management plans enforced by The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This group has put their policy on bears in place with the help of the locals and in my opinion can attribute a lot of the success of the program to the help of the locals. The bear population has increased in from just about 300 bears total to now around 3,000 bears. I think this shows the importance or rather the impact local peoples make on the formation and the success on policies. Without the support of the people the bear population may be completely wiped out in Florida by now considering the total population in Florida has increased from 750,000 people in 1914 and is now roughly 17 million and the bear population is the same estimate of 3,000 bears due to the management and protection policies established for the bears. The commissioner of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated that the focus on management of species along with the massive increase of human population. So as the human population increases the risk to the wildlife in the area also increases but it is our responsibility to take this into account and make sure we do not push our wildlife into extinction and the human population pushes to develop and industrialize the animal habitat.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The "Jumanji Effect"
Warm weather wreaking havoc
This year has been one of the most unusually warm winters on record. While the spring like weather has been a nice treat for most people this warm break posses a problem for the surrounding wildlife. The warmer temperatures have brought many hibernating species out of their winter retreats too early and they are paying visits to the local homes and towns. These animals who typically do not wake until there is a source of food available are now having to venture out in search of something to eat. This frequent sightings are causing a panic and an uprising for a solution. The animals are responding to the warm climate expecting it to be spring because after all they are unaware of a time frame that we as humans establish and are only respond to the climate. I feel like it is the responsibility of the local natural officials to educate the the general public on why these animals are out and about this time of year and what they are in search of instead of letting their imaginations run wild. The weather has effected everyone in some way but the more dangerous aspect is the lack of food either now or later when the food has been consumed because the animals have been eating for a longer time period than normal. I would hope that people will be willing to get involved and be more aware of the increasing stress these animals are facing and not add to the stress.
This year has been one of the most unusually warm winters on record. While the spring like weather has been a nice treat for most people this warm break posses a problem for the surrounding wildlife. The warmer temperatures have brought many hibernating species out of their winter retreats too early and they are paying visits to the local homes and towns. These animals who typically do not wake until there is a source of food available are now having to venture out in search of something to eat. This frequent sightings are causing a panic and an uprising for a solution. The animals are responding to the warm climate expecting it to be spring because after all they are unaware of a time frame that we as humans establish and are only respond to the climate. I feel like it is the responsibility of the local natural officials to educate the the general public on why these animals are out and about this time of year and what they are in search of instead of letting their imaginations run wild. The weather has effected everyone in some way but the more dangerous aspect is the lack of food either now or later when the food has been consumed because the animals have been eating for a longer time period than normal. I would hope that people will be willing to get involved and be more aware of the increasing stress these animals are facing and not add to the stress.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Speed up the Endangered Species Act
Adding to the Endangered Species Act.
When I first started reading this article the first thing that came to mind was that is was a great thing to be happening for the protection of these three species. They were recently listed as endangered species which directly puts them under the protection of the ESA and only makes sense for them to be more closely monitored and more heavily restricted from non-permitted use. However, thinking about it more in depth I kinda got a sinking feeling that it is good news covering some disturbing news. These animals were put on the endangered species list in 2005 and were not and will not be fully protected until, as the article states, 90 days after the new rule's publication which is not until April 4, 2012. Now I am all for the regulation and management of endangered species by local farmers and ranchers, I mean after all it is their property, and the captive breeding of zoos, but if an animal is placed on the endangered species list and therefore protected by the ESA I would like to think the protection and regulation of permits, laws, restrictions, and other legalities should take place a heck of a lot sooner than seven years. I for one as I said fully support all farm/ranch conservation and by no means wish for these people to have their land taken from them or to be told what they can and cannot do with their land now that a species is under the ESA. The Endangered Species Act is in place for a reason and that reason is to protect and to help bring the species on the list up to a healthy population and in turn get them off the list and I do think that sometimes it can be over used like in the case of a tiny useless fish halting the construction of a dam but it is in place for a reason. I would like to see the ESA and the species newly added to it to be enforced more rapidly because when a species is listed that means it is in danger and seven years is a long time when it comes to the well being of whats left of an entire population. I guess I am petitioning/advocating, which I know I shouldn't be doing, for a more fair for enforcement of the ESA for both the animals and the potential human interaction that will take place like in the case of these three African antelope that way as Gifford Pinchot would say, the greatest good for the greatest number for the longest amount of time.
When I first started reading this article the first thing that came to mind was that is was a great thing to be happening for the protection of these three species. They were recently listed as endangered species which directly puts them under the protection of the ESA and only makes sense for them to be more closely monitored and more heavily restricted from non-permitted use. However, thinking about it more in depth I kinda got a sinking feeling that it is good news covering some disturbing news. These animals were put on the endangered species list in 2005 and were not and will not be fully protected until, as the article states, 90 days after the new rule's publication which is not until April 4, 2012. Now I am all for the regulation and management of endangered species by local farmers and ranchers, I mean after all it is their property, and the captive breeding of zoos, but if an animal is placed on the endangered species list and therefore protected by the ESA I would like to think the protection and regulation of permits, laws, restrictions, and other legalities should take place a heck of a lot sooner than seven years. I for one as I said fully support all farm/ranch conservation and by no means wish for these people to have their land taken from them or to be told what they can and cannot do with their land now that a species is under the ESA. The Endangered Species Act is in place for a reason and that reason is to protect and to help bring the species on the list up to a healthy population and in turn get them off the list and I do think that sometimes it can be over used like in the case of a tiny useless fish halting the construction of a dam but it is in place for a reason. I would like to see the ESA and the species newly added to it to be enforced more rapidly because when a species is listed that means it is in danger and seven years is a long time when it comes to the well being of whats left of an entire population. I guess I am petitioning/advocating, which I know I shouldn't be doing, for a more fair for enforcement of the ESA for both the animals and the potential human interaction that will take place like in the case of these three African antelope that way as Gifford Pinchot would say, the greatest good for the greatest number for the longest amount of time.
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