Why would someone destroy the homes of defenseless creatures? Especially a protected species...
Add your name if you want the people responsible to pay the price!
"School workers razed owl mounds, leaving the burrowing owl population homeless.
"The land, about 10 feet by 10 feet, is at the North Lauderdale Pre-K-8 School, formerly known as North Lauderdale Elementary, but the city takes care of the property.
"The city said the school district knew about the owls, which have created about five burrows underground to protect themselves from predators.
"To keep the public away from the owls, the city set up a chainlink fence that was 6 feet high.
"But workers from the school district took down all of the fences, filled two of the mounds with sand and then used heavy equipment to run along all of the mounds to compact the sand and make the ground even," reported The Sun Sentinel.
In other words, this was NOT a simple mistake.
They did this on purpose.
"The mounds weren't in anybody's way. They damaged our owls. I'm very mad. We've cared for these things for 10 to 15 years. It's very disturbing," said Assistant City Manager of North Lauderdale, Mike Sargis.
No dead owls were found in the area, but it's possible that some were buried alive. How horrible...
What did the School District have to say for themselves?
Nothing. They won't tell Sargis what happened.
"We don't have a clear explanation. Nobody from the school board would give us one. The guy out there says he was told to do it," he said.
Sargis went on to note that a teacher called in defense of the school, saying: "We aren't killing the owls, it's the School Board that decided to do this."
But here's the worst part:
Florida burrowing owls are classified as threatened, making them a protected species, according to Carol Lyn Parrish, spokesperson for Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Don't you think this matter should be thoroughly investigated?
Shouldn't whoever ordered the destruction of these poor owls' burrows be held accountable?
Then add your name to demand that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission conduct an investigation, and see to it that whoever is responsible be punished accordingly!
