[texbirds] Re: unwelcome news from Laguna Atascosa
- From: Martin Hagne <martinhagne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "dauphins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <dauphins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 23:05:27 -0500
Unless another one was hit i don't know about, The last ocelot killed was last
year. During the day. No gov vehicles were involved, it was public. It was a
female cat... one of the few breeding age females left on the refuge. It was a
big loss to the small population.
Martin Hagne
Bandera, tx
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 30, 2013, at 9:25 PM, "David T. Dauphin" <dauphins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> The new Refuge manager mentioned in the McAllen Monitor that two ocelots had
> been killed by vehicles on the Bayside Wildlife Drive. He failed to mention
> whether or not they were killed by "public" or by government vehicles, such
> as Border Patrol. He also failed to mentioned when (dates) these two were
> killed. And, he failed to mentioned if they were killed at night, when the
> public cannot be inside the Refuge, or during the day. Rather arbitrary, but
> within his prerogative. However, if he or the Friends of Laguna NWR truly
> want our support, more information should be forth-coming. These questions
> need to be addressed to the Regional Office in Albuquerque.
>
> David Dauphin
> Mission
> On Sep 30, 2013, at 9:12 PM, Robert Becker wrote:
>
>> Staff at Laguna Atascosa NWR informed us, via a posting on Texbirds this
>> afternoon, that from Oct. 15 onwards the Bayside auto loop will be closed to
>> private vehicle traffic. The staff representative cited the deaths of two
>> ocelots in recent years from vehicular traffic on the loop and the recent
>> findings that ocelots are frequently crossing the road and are moving about
>> in close proximity to the loop road, day and night.
>>
>> The bayside driving loop has exposed thousands of South Texas visitors to an
>> unparalleled immersion in prairie, thornscrub and littoral habitats and the
>> wildlife that dwells there. I know of no other place like it in the federal
>> NWR system. I am proud of this resource, and I often urge visitors to avail
>> themselves of it. This decision to effectively bar thousands of visitors
>> from enjoying this resource, however, is poor conservation policy and even
>> worse public policy.
>>
>> Refuge staff now decrees the loop road will be open only to cyclists,
>> walkers and scheduled guided tours. I am one of many visitors who is of a
>> certain age and physical condition who cannot walk or bicycle 13 miles in
>> the South Texas heat to appreciate the natural wonders of the refuge. The
>> bus or tram tours, while well meaning, are no substitute to the slow-paced,
>> measured and often solitary meanderings through the refuge that we have
>> cherished over the years. What about the rest of us who cannot walk or bike
>> the loop?? Those experiences will be lost forever if this policy is left to
>> stand.
>>
>> Why was the public not consulted before such drastic changes were foisted
>> upon us? There are indeed alternatives short of this harsh measure. How
>> about more limited hours, say 9 am to 3 pm, and slower speed limits, say 5
>> mph instead of 10 mph, and more speed bumps? How about more time spent on
>> enforcing the measures designed to protect the ocelots? And why should
>> conservation-minded birders, all of whom would stand up to be counted for
>> protecting these rare and beautiful mammals, be punished collectively for
>> the reckless actions of a thoughtless few?
>>
>> National parks and wildlife refuges rest on a bargain with the public. We
>> support them through our taxes, our volunteerism and the legislation that
>> creates and maintains them in exchange for the enjoyment for all of these
>> precious resources. This action at Laguna Atascosa must not stand. Join with
>> me in whatever way you are comfortable with in opposing this measure. I will
>> start with conversations with the offices of Rep. Filemon Vela and our two
>> U.S. senators. I hope the birding community takes notice and acts with me. I
>> hope the officials at Laguna Atascosa and others involved in this decision
>> reconsider.
>>
>> Bob Becker
>> Rancho Viejo
>> Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
>> //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
>>
>> Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission
>> from the List Owner
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
> //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
>
> Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission
> from the List Owner
>
>
Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
//www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission
from the List Owner
Other related posts:
