ENDANGERED SPECIES THREATEN PROPERTY OWNERS

The June issue of the Missouri Conservationist magazine has an article about getting along with endangered species on your land. From a national viewpoint, the article is much more wishful thinking than fact.

It isn't that there should be anything intrinsically wrong with playing host to an endangered plant or animal on your farm. The problem originates with the Endangered Species Act and with the criminal and immoral methods by which a hostile, deeply entrenched and out-of-control U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services enforces the ESA against property owners.

Conservationist writer Dennis E. Figg mentions bald eagles nesting within sight of the Missouri capitol.

To be consistent with its enforcement of the ESA in other parts of the country, the Fish and Wildlife Service should have closed the entire area within a radius of two miles around the eagle nest. If that for the Missouri Legislature and state government offices to move, ran homeowners off their property and closed barge traffic on the Missouri River, then so be it. That sort of mindless abuse is daily heaped on people in many parts of the country because of idiotic enforcement of the ESA. The Supreme Court ruled that endangered species have priority over humans and must be protected, regardless of the cost.

The article mentions the Glen West family, who bought a home and 160 acres of land, including a cave that contains a colony of endangered gray bats. The bats were used to force the relocation of an electrical transmission line scheduled for construction through the property.

The family may like having endangered gray bats living in a cave 100 feet from the house. But wait until they try to sell the land or use the house as collateral for a loan. Under ESA enforcement by the Fish and Wildlife Service, property value plummeted the moment endangered bats were identified. If the power company can't use the land, neither can nearly everyone else, and the land value is ruined for resale.

The Conservationist article says to ignore dire warnings and personal horror stories. The article says that having an endangered critter on your land is both wonderful and safe. No way!

The horror stories are correct. This just hasn't become a widespread problem in Missouri -- yet. But that is because wise-use groups and local governments have won most of the battles to date. Green advocacy groups wielding the ESA battle axe are working hard to end private ownership of Ozarks property, stop economic activities that sustain the regions such as logging, farming and mining, and even end recreational activities such as hiking, camping, hunting and fishing.

The ESA ought to be repealed. The Fish and Wildlife Service, which has become hostile to both oversight and private-property rights, ought to be disbanded. Its functions should be combined with those of the Marine Fisheries Services and be assigned to a new, responsive and nonfanatical agency.

William F. Jud resides in Fredericktown.