Would Anyone Accept An Actually Modest Proposal?
The government is mobilizing to save a species that might not actually, ya know, exist:
Federal wildlife officials say spending more than $27 million to research the suspected habitat of the ivory-billed woodpecker is worth the cost, despite conflicting views on whether the elusive bird even exists.
"There's enough out there that we've got to keep searching," said Jeff Fleming, a spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "It'd be irresponsible not to."
The agency this week released a 185-page draft plan aimed at preventing the extinction of the bird. The draft plan, which is open for public comment until Oct. 22, recommends spending more than $27 million in federal dollars on recovery efforts for the woodpecker.
"The opportunity to recover this icon of the ornithological world cannot and should not be passed over," said Sam Hamilton, regional director for the service's Southeast Region and leader of the recovery team.
Much of the recovery work has been happening in Arkansas, but projects are also underway in Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas, Fleming said.
It would be quite a good thing if this supposedly extinct bird was actually living the quiet life in the wilds of Arkansas. But, do we have to spend almost thirty million dollars on its well-being before we know it survives? How about just a couple million to conduct an exhaustive search for the bird first? If we find some, then we can pamper the hell out of them.
I know, I know. I'm just talking crazy now.
Animals, Environment | Rich Horton Monday, 27 August , 2007
