Mash the monitors

Does anyone else see the irony of one invasive species complaining about another? Especially one that THEY caused?

NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
25 February 2006

HELP LOSE THE LIZARD - SEND A LETTER NOW

While Florida is under siege from many exotics, the Nile Monitor Lizard situation is still a brush-fire that has not yet erupted into a firestorm. The threat this animal is to Ding Darling NWR, Sanibel Island, and the surrounding coastal ecosystem integrity should not be down-played or ignored. Our wading birds and sea turtles have not evolved with a voracious tree-climbing, swimming, digging, predator such as this; it is a threat to one of our last major rookeries. The monitor lizard population is still localized and ripe for eradication if we can get action soon, otherwise it will become so dispersed that we will spend interminable dollars and time on control, rather than eradication. USDA-APHIS needs support from Congress so they can take the actions needed; as it is now they are effectively hamstrung by budget constraints.

Please help. All necessary information is listed below.

Carrie Sekerak, Wildlife Biologist
Ocala National Forest
40929 SR 19
Umatilla, FL 32784
(352) 669-3153

*****

This is an urgent call for action to acquire federal funding to help alleviate the problem of invasive species in Florida. Letters are needed BEFORE MARCH 1, 2006.

Florida's natural wildlife and plant communities are under attack by a host of non-native invasive species capable of permanently altering their natural composition. Unfortunately with many invasive species the problem has not been dealt with in a timely manner causing their populations to multiply and making them nearly impossible to remove. Such inadequate responses result in loss of native species, conflicts with humans, and huge expenditures to simply reduce but not alleviate the problem. However, if the response is timely and of appropriate strength it is possible to prevent problems before they become out of control. Some of the most imminent threats to Florida and potentially the entire southeastern United States are Burmese Pythons in the Everglades, Nile Monitor Lizards in Cape Coral, and Gambian Pouch Rats on Grassy Key. These species are relatively recent invaders of Florida and with the proper response can be eliminated before further spread. However, this cannot happen without YOUR help. It has been made clear by government officials that if people do not write letters informing them that they are concerned with this issue then there will not be any funding.

Below are actions to take to make your needs known for acquiring federal funding for invasive species work. There is an immediate need for these letters to be sent as funding deadlines are rapidly approaching. Please send as many letters as possible BEFORE MARCH 1, 2006. A sample letter is enclosed. It is best if you write your own letter addressing the main points in the sample letter. If you do not have the time or inclination then at the very least please print the enclosed letter, address, sign, and send it to as many people on the list as possible. The seven names in bold italic are especially important.

1. Fax a letter to the Florida Congressional Delegates stating the problem and need for control. A sample letter is included below. If you are able, personalize this letter or write your own, as it will be more effective.

2. Hard copy in mail to local and/or Washington address.

3. Follow up with a phone call -- especially to Delegates from your districts.


NOTE: EMAILS ARE THE LEAST EFFECTIVE FORM OF COMMUNICATION SINCE THEY ARE BOMBARDED WITH EMAILS AND ARE LESS LIKELY TO READ THEM.

*****

February 00, 2006

Dear Representative _______________:

USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services cooperates with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Health and Human Services, local counties and townships, private industry, and The Nature Conservancy to manage invasive wildlife populations to alleviate their adverse impacts on Florida's natural resources and property, and to protect human health and safety. USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services has unique operational and research knowledge and capabilities that are critical in Florida's efforts to manage invasive wildlife populations.

We respectfully request that the following questions be asked of USDA/APHIS officials during House and Senate mark-up sessions for the FY 07 budget.

I. How does APHIS/Wildlife Services plan to uphold their cooperative responsibility with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies to manage invasive wildlife populations that are damaging native species and our natural environment, and that threaten agriculture, private property, and human health?

2. Increasing populations of invasive wildlife in Florida result in an increasing number of requests for Wildlife Services assistance. The state, counties, and some townships provide cooperative funding to Wildlife Services for their assistance with these problems. How does Wildlife Services plan to fulfill their cooperative responsibilities in responding to Florida citizens' requests for assistance with problems caused by Nile Monitor Lizards, Gambian giant pouch rats, feral hogs, Burmese pythons, iguanas and other invasive species?

We request that USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services in Florida be allocated new funding in the amount of $2,000,000 in FY 07 for invasive species damage management to protect important natural resources, agriculture, human health and safety, businesses, and private property from adverse impacts due to invasive wildlife. Of the total amount, $1,500,000 is for operational activities and $500,000 is for methods development.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

*****

We request that USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services in Florida be allocated new funding in the amount of $2,000,000 in FY 07 for invasive species damage management to protect important natural resources, agriculture, human health and safety, businesses, and private property from adverse impacts due to invasive wildlife. Of the total amount, $1,500,000 is for operational activities and $500,000 is for methods development.

And how much will these folks get out of that 2 million?? Come on now they have to have their hand out wanting money some how for something if they are pushing an exact dollar figure.

So exactly how do they want the government to eradicate these non-native species? Do they organize an Anti-Non-Native Wildlife Militia to find and "take care off" these animals?

This is what you do. Capture them by the thousands. Then irradiate the males to render them sterile. Then release the sterile males back into the environment. Just like they did with Tsetse flies.

Case closed.

There was an article in one of the later issues of National Geographic about this issue. While I was reading it, I couldn't help but laugh. Here is one highly invasive species (Homo sapiens) complaining about other invasive species that are infringing on it's turf and self-suited modified environment....

So what do we do about mosquito's now, they bite and can spread diseases, I think it is time to napalm the mosquito world. They are bothering us, so we need to start a petition to get rid of them. We were here first! Oh, we can also remove the world of ants and termites. We do not need anteaters in the world anyway. Then we can remove the polar bears and caribou, they are in the way of our need to drill for oil in Alaska, we own the state, why do we not just use it for what we bought it for? Who is going to miss them? Santa and Coca Cola?