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Please
keep protecting backcountry refuges
I was horrified to read
the recent article, "Back to the Backcountry," concerning the
possibility of WaveRunners and other personal watercraft in our wildlife
refuges. I would hope that USFWS, the County and State would do
everything in their power to nip this one in the shallows before it goes
any further. Nonetheless, given the present Administration, there is no
telling which way this could fly. Sadly, all over the county we are
seeing many of our refuges abused for man's needs instead of the needs
of the wildlife they were set up to protect.
As a volunteer in many
bird counts, I know firsthand that approaching our outer islands with
even the utmost care during breeding, nesting and fledgling seasons can
disrupt birds and cause them to leave their nests. It doesn't take much.
A baby bird left unprotected in the hot summer sun or winter winds for
even a short time can perish due to the elements. The rider of the
WaveRunner doing spins and racing around these islands is not concerned
for these creatures.
Existing regulations need
to be left in place to protect the very thing our refuges were created
to do: providing a safe haven for our wildlife and plantlife,
unthreatened by man. "Our" is underscored because all American pay for
these save havens. To allow a small group of businessmen to exploit
"our" refuge is a shameful concept.
I hope each of us will do
everything in our power to protect our wildlife refuges in the Keys and
elsewhere from WaveRunners and other personal watercraft.
Currently, thanks to
USFWS, the refuges in the Keys have successfully protected the many
birds, plants and other critters by providing a safe unmolested place to
call home. Let's keep it that way.
Katie Lyons
Big Pine Key |
