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Cute but Dangerous and “A Non-Deadly Solution”
May 20, 2004
Dear Editor,
I read with interest the letter to the editor from Georja Umano
Jones about the ground squirrel controversy. (“LETTERS:
Don’t Scapegoat Squirrels,” May 18, 2004)
I must respectfully disagree with Ms. Umano Jones and Mayor Pro
Tem Kevin McKeown's assertions regarding ground squirrels in Santa
Monica. I know Georja well, love her to death and know how she
cherishes animals, as I do. But the distinction must be made between
domesticated and "clean" mammals and those that destroy
property and plant life, endanger the public safety and create
a health hazard to both humans and
other animals.
The situation on the bluffs is much of the same situation confronted
by cities up and down the California coast. From La Jolla to Big
Sur, the California ground squirrel has created tremendous problems
for cities, municipalities and it citizens. According to the University
of California's Agriculture and Natural Resource department, the
California Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi) is one of the
biggest pests facing humans in California.
Not only do they burrow into cliffs causing erosion and other
damage, but they subsist on all forms of plant life and according
to the UCIPM, "will enter gardens and devour vegetables in
the seedling stage. They may damage young shrubs, vines and trees
by gnawing bark, girdling trunks, eating twigs and leaves and
burrowing around roots. Ground squirrels will gnaw on plastic
sprinkler heads and irrigation lines. They also eat the eggs of
ground-nesting birds and may limit attempts to attract quail to
the yard."
Moreover, and perhaps the most dangerous aspect of the ground
squirrel, is that its cute and playful demeanor brings it into
close contact with humans (as Georja mentions).
This may seem innocuous and even appropriate to the casual observer,
but most persons are unaware of the fact that the ground squirrel
may be carrying a whole host of diseases,
including bubonic plague, which is carried by fleas that can also
be transferred to dogs and cats. This is why ground squirrels
are classified as non-game mammals by the California Fish and
Game (essentially classifying them alongside rats and other pests).
We can all be reasonable and compassionate with animals but let
us not endanger the lives of humans or the health and safety of
our plant life, animal habitat and our domesticated pets at the
expense of this emotional issue but potentially dangerous pest.
Lance Arthur Schmidt
Santa Monica
May 21, 2004
Dear Editor,
With regard to Olin Ericksen's article, I have a few comments. (“A
Gnawing Problem,” May 17)
This mass killing of squirrels by the City happens every few years
with the same arguments each time, with a casual dismissal of the
morality. Kill a few hundred squirrels with $10,000 worth of poison,
whatever the public outcry and then be done with it.
There are no creative solutions. Just same ole same ole prescriptions
of murder.
I ask the city to please call in a state official from Fish and
Game Dept. on alternatives.
The State officially recommends insecticide bait stations for controlling
flea vector as opposed to the more expensive, environmentally risky,
health risky and far less cruel method of poison bait. Unofficially,
they probably go along with the County and Ramirez, the County Killer.
For several years there has been experimentation with using food-administered
contraceptives for wildlife to control population. This would allow
a gradual die-out by attrition or the colony rather than annihilation
by poison. It is not effective, I understand, on the deer population,
but is on other wildlife.
Joe Ramirez is a liar. Death by bleeding to death is very, very
painful. The last case of plague in LA County was either 1929 or
39. It was cured quickly by antibiotics. Plague is not a serious
threat as it is easily cured. You have to balance the immorality
of repeated killing of thousands of animals against the negligible
risk of infection.
Relocation is not an option. Relocated animals have a 90 percent
death rate within weeks or months.
The kill-off methods the City has used do not work. Always some
survive and 6 to 7 years later they have to kill them all again.
People mostly love them. Accept that. Operate within that parameter.
Rather than spending $10,000 for the poisoning again, have Animal
Control use humane traps and have the City take them to a vet for
disease testing for $200. Only diseased colonies are supposed to
be wiped out.
The City cannot prevent the tree squirrels form eating the bait
and dying. They are a protected species and cannot be destroyed
without F&G approval.
It is time the City refuses to do the County’s dirty work, especially
as the County is not following State guidelines.
The City has to take the moral high ground rather than the more
expeditious route of the same ‘ole, same ‘ole repetitive killing.
Find a creative and non-deadly solution. Please.
Ed Muzika
Santa Monica |
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