With apologies to Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland, I
will now lead you through a modern day fairy tale about the Endangered
Species Act (ESA). It begins like this:
"Babbitt announces new policy, plans to 'delist' endangered species,"
proclaimed a Department of Interior press release on May 6, 1998. "In
the near future, many species will be flying, splashing and leaping off
the list. They made it. They are graduating. They're coming back to
their native American soil, water and wind," claimed Bruce "The Mad
Hatter" Babbitt.
Tell that to the Mariana mallard, one of the "success stories"
proposed for delisting. It will not be flying, splashing or leaping any
time soon. That's because it is extinct! Ditto for the Guam broadbill
and three species of the Oahu tree snail. They have all successfully
"graduated" off the endangered species list, and into extinction!
And the ESA fairy tale only gets "Curiouser and curiouser!" as Alice
would say as she wandered through Wonderland.
Many other species proposed for removal from the list are not success
stories either. Several such as the Truckee barberry are being delisted
as a result of taxonomic error. This means that it was initially
identified as a unique species, different than any other plant, when
actually it is not unique, and should have not been listed in the first
place. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), a division
of Mad Hatter Babbitt's Interior Department, has acknowledged this, and
agreed to propose delisting.
There are several more so-called successes proposed for removal
because of data error, such as the dismal swamp shrew. This species was
severely undercounted when it was listed, and is actually much more
plentiful than previously thought. USFWS is proposing several delistings
on this basis as well.
The peregrine falcon's recovery was initially hindered by
bureaucratic bungling at the USFWS. In their August 25, 1998
announcement delisting the falcon, the Service heaped praise on itself,
claiming that it's "recovery program is unprecedented in the world and
in the history of endangered species conservation." This is a farce.
After elimination of the pesticide DDT in 1972, the falcon's
situation improved. Recovery was enhanced by breeding while in
captivity, and then controlled release of birds into the wild. Captive
breeding is discouraged under the ESA, and for several years USFWS
discredited this method of saving the falcon. Congress finally stepped
in and demanded that USFWS cooperate with the private sector foundations
that deserve the credit for recovering the falcon.
The bald eagle, our national symbol, is another example of claiming
credit where none is due. Once nearly extinct, the eagle has recovered
dramatically since the elimination of DDT in 1972, and also recovered
due to prohibitions that were placed on hunting. In addition,
legislation specific to the bald eagle already protects it regardless of
the ESA.
The May 6 "success story" announcement was held near a bald eagle
nesting site in western Massachusetts. It claimed to show how government
enforcement of the ESA is saving our national symbol. Actually, it
served as a prime example of non-ESA factors leading to recovery of a
species. The nest location is NOT a USFWS wildlife refuge or a
government owned wilderness. It is on private property owned by a
utility company, adjacent to a privately operated campground and canoe
rental recreation area!
Overall, of the 34 species the Mad Hatter claimed as "proof that the
act works," five are extinct, twelve listings were based on inaccurate
information, and three other species recovered because of the ban on
DDT. The rest improved because of actions initiated before the ESA was
law or because of actions taken independently of the ESA by state and
local government, private property owners and private foundations, for
example.
The Mad Hatter's henchmen have not responded well to this distressing
news. Like Wonderland's Queen of Hearts, they have shouted "Off with
their heads!" to anyone questioning their version of events. "It's their
own spin" says one henchman, while another points a finger within the
department and claims "a biologist error." This is apparently how
scientific peer review and sound science work at the Department of
Interior. When press flacks make a mistake, blame it on the biologists!
I appreciate the department cleaning up the endangered and threatened
species list. It is understandable that after 25 years and 1,138 listed
species, there will be a few mistakes made. Species will be removed from
the list for reasons other than recovery, such as the Truckee barberry.
They will also recover from factors not related to the ESA, such as the
bald eagle.
However, failures should not be claimed as successes. Secretary
Babbitt is struggling to find even one species that has been
legitimately saved by the ESA.
Secretary Babbitt claimed that "We can now finally prove one thing
conclusively: The Endangered Species Act works (emphasis in original).
Period." Yet after twenty-five years and 1,138 listed species, the best
he can come up with is a list of extinctions, mistakes, exaggerations
and false claims. Perhaps the Eaglet in Wonderland said it best when he
told the Dodo bird, "Speak English! I don't know the meaning of half of
those long words, and, what's more, I don't believe you either!"
Rep. Richard Pombo is a Republican rancher from Tracy, Calif.