We, the undersigned, call upon the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks and the Mississippi Forestry Comission to please take immediate action to work with state and local officials in creating tougher laws that will protect the gopher tortoise from being built upon and killed in large quantities, and put an end to permits that allow the destruction of these animals.
We ask that large areas of lands be set aside to enhance and encourage biodiversity instead of destroying it, and that our tax dollars be used towards conservation instead of destruction. We need more non-governmental entities to get involved with the research of Gopher Tortoises to help with saving this animal. Such entities could under go certain test to aquire a permit to work with the reptile! The laws that are in place to protect the animal are not being enforced! Many times over, companies sweep these laws under the rug...if they feel they can get away with it. This isn't going to save these awesome animals. Lets not forget other theatened and endangered wildlife thats also caught up in land developement animals such as: Eastern Indigo Snake, Black Pine Snake, Ivory Billed Woodpecker, Peregrine Falcon just to name a few! There are around 62 species of land dwelling animals that are either threatened or endangered! I ask this also...how good of a job are we doing trying to save any of these animals if we don't save their habitat as well? Its great that some animals like the gopher tortoise are relocated before land development occurs...but how long can this keep happening?! From the time a Gopher Tortoise takes his first breath so do speak, he starts constructing his burrow! When we relocate these animals they sometimes tend to stress, going from one place to another. This triggers what I like to call the H-bomb effect, for a 360 degree radius this affects the animals that were already in the habitat that the new animal was released. The ecosystem is so complex, that the slightest alter can offset the balance of nature in any given area! Gopher Tortoises play a key role in having a balanced ecosystem! Clearly, tortoise habitat is threatened by no burning, burning during the wrong season, replacement of longleaf with doghair stockings of loblolly; broadcast/aerial application of broad spectrum, long-lasting herbicides during site prep and/or planting release; conversion of habitat to subdivisions; fragmentation of habitat with roads, etc... So please, for the sake of the forest, people and the tortoise, take immediate action!! THANK YOU!! for taking the time to read this petition, for it is decision makers like you that make our state a betterand healthier place to live for both animals and people alike.
