Congress considers non-native species bill

 

WASHINGTON — A bill currently making its way through Congress, HR 767, may have an impact on how states deal with the problem of invasive non-native species.

Known as “Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, and Immediate Response Act,” the bill seeks, among other things, “to protect, enhance, restore, and manage a diversity of habitats for native fish and wildlife resources within the National Wildlife Refuge System through control of harmful nonnative species.”

Although the bill does not specifically make mention of any animal, referring only to “harmful nonnative species,” animal rights organizations and animal rescue groups have come out in opposition, as these organizations believe that the bill would provide funding for the killing feral cats, wild horses (mustangs), and other non-native species.

 

Carol Browner, chairperson of the National Audubon Society, has expressed the support of her organization for the bill.

“Audubon recommends that the committee pass HR 767. The bill encourages partnerships among the Federal Wildlife Service, other federal agencies, states, and other interests to protect habitat within the Refuge System from invasive species and establish immediate response capability to combat incipient invasions. This legislation is needed to improve the Refuge System’s ability to address the primary threat to refuge habitat.”

However another group, Alley Cat Allies, has sent a letter to U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., stating their opposition to the bill.

“Alley Cat Allies has sent a letter, also signed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States, urging Senator Barbara Boxer to oppose proposed bill H.R. 767. As we informed Senator Boxer, H.R. 767, … seeks to eradicate “harmful nonnative species” in federal wildlife refuges and adjacent private lands. Although the word “cat” does not appear anywhere in the proposed bill, the broad definition of “harmful nonnative species” could leave hundreds of species open to target — cats among them. As a result, many wildlife and animal groups are concerned that this bill, if enacted, could lead to the wholesale slaughter of numerous species, subsidized by citizen tax dollars.”

 

A local animal rescue group, “Hacienda O’Holland,” based in Solvang, also expressed opposition to the intent of the bill. Joan Cassidy-O’Holland, founder and director of the group, said that “the bill is way too vague in every part.”

Noting that she does not flatly oppose eradication in certain specific situations, such as the elimination of infestations of squirrels that put burrowholes in pastures, therefore causing injuries to grazing livestock, O’Holland advocated taking a closer look at the toll humans take on our environment.

 

“I don’t agree with the concept … who decides what is native and nonnative,” said O’Holland.

In one of the nation’s most notorious cases of animal cruelty, local rancher Slick Gardner was convicted of felony animal cruelty charges after a no-contest plea in 2003. Gardner was the subject of an investigation after he obtained nearly 150 wild mustangs from a ranch in Nevada. Mustangs are considered a nonnative species, as North America was populated with horses from Spanish exploration in the 1600’s.

Experts believe that there were horse populations in North America prior to 8,000 to 10,000 years ago, however that species became extinct. There are no native North American horse species.