Rswimmerfreak94

Hello. I'm Emma and I would love to help edit Wikipedia...any help is greatly appreciated:)

Welcome Emma!

Wikipedia has a steep learning curve but the folks here are nice. :) I just wanted to ask you about your note on the talk page of Endangered Species Act about the law hurting California residents-its an interesting point, can you explain what you mean exactly? Again welcome to Wikipedia Cheers, Marcia Wright (talk) 15:42, 18 November 2009 (UTC) (<-four tildes create the signature)

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In Riverside County, Cali. in 1993, a huge, dangerous fire started. It destroyed 29 homes because the ESA forbid the homeowners (by penalty of law) to dig firebreaks (disking) in order to prevent the fire from spreading because 19 of the residents lived in an area in which the Stephen kangaroo rat lived. The ESA was trying to protect the rat, at the cost of the homeowners.

Another example is how the ESA prevents landowners that happen to have endangered or threatened species on their land from harvesting, planting, grazing their cattles, irrigating their fields, clearing brush, disking firebreaks around their homes and barns, or building new homes in order to protect the animal or plant. However, in reference to the story above and in many other cases, the animal or plant is more harmed than helped by the ESA. Apparantely, Fish and Wildlife Service biologist later said (after the fire) that the kangaroo rats had left prior to the fire b/c of brush that was too thick. So, not only does the ESA destroy human habitat by preventing land and homeowners to take care of their own property, but in many cases drives away the animals it is supposed to protect. There has been much evidence showing that homeowners rush to clear away any habitat that may be deemed suitable for an endangered species.

Most of the evidence I've found is compiled in the 6th chapter of "The Really Inconvenient Truths" by Iain Murray. (He cites all of his sources) Don't know if that helped at all...or if I was even very clear, but I tried to explain at least generally what I meant:) Rswimmerfreak94 (talk) 20:51, 18 November 2009 (UTC)

Dear Emma, Thank you, that was very helpful-I'm going to see if my library has this book and try to educate myself on this side of the debate. If you need any Wiki help, feel free to contact me on my user page. Sincerely, Marcia Wright (talk) 17:16, 19 November 2009 (UTC)

It's actually a very good book:) And thanks, I'll be sure to contact you if I need any help:) Rswimmerfreak94 (talk) 20:03, 19 November 2009 (UTC)