Resolution in Committee
SR1711 Opposing the black-footed ferret programmatic safe harbor
agreement

There is a Resolution bill in our legislation that opposes the
black-footed ferret programmatic safe harbor agreement. Please take the
time to read through this resolution, and if you support black-ferret
ferrets you'll want to oppose this resolution. I've watched the battle
on the BFF front here in Kansas from the beginning and a small group,
in my opinion, is trying to bully other citizens of Kansas into their
way of thinking, now by trying to pass a bill under our radar. I am a
citizen of Kansas and I support BFF recovery efforts!

The hearing on this resolution is tomorrow, Thursday Feb 14th, so
please call and/or email the senators today!

You can find the Resolution bill at the link below. Click on the PDF
under Bill Versions Document to read it. Personally, I was appalled
at this resolution!
http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/sr1711/

Thanks to T. for points to consider/include when contacting Kansas
Legislators.

1. The BFF Programmatic Safe Harbor is designed to protect landowners
from burdensome regulations and will benefit both the landowners and
wildlife.
2. The black-footed ferret reintroduction in Logan County is one of
the most successful recovery sites in the nation.
3. Both black-footed ferrets and black-tailed prairie dogs are native
species that were once abundant in Kansas. That is no longer the case
and the citizens of Kansas are interested in having native wildlife
thriving in Kansas.
4. The reintroduction of black-footed ferrets into Logan County has not
cost adjacent landowners as suggested. Compare the farm/ranch revenues
across the area and it will become apparent that drought is causing
fluctuating revenues (if at all).
5. Plague, a non-native disease, is not caused by prairie dogs nor
ferrets. If plague were discovered in Kansas it would not pose a threat
to human safety. Plague has existed in North America for more than 100
years and there are an average of 7 human cases per year primarily
caused by contact with infected cats (data from CDC). More human deaths
per year are caused by livestock in North America than by plague.
6. As a citizen of Kansas I fully support the BFF Programmatic Safe
Harbor as a well-designed tool to conserve a native, endangered
species.

Your response need not be long or detailed. You can include the points
listed above, or simply, indicate the bill SR1711 and that you either
oppose or support it. If you are pro BFF you will want to oppose this
resolution bill. Our voices count! Many times bills are passed because
we don't even know about them to oppose them - they just slip through
without out knowledge. Please don't let this be one of them!

The hearing is Thursday Feb 14th, so please call and/or email the
senators today! Even if you are not a resident of Kansas you can still
contact the Senators to voice/email your polite opinion. I'm a firm
believer that the more people know about 'issues' the better.

Committee on Natural Resources -
http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/committees/ctte_s_nat_res_1/
Senator Larry Powell, [log in to unmask], Phone: 785-296-7694
Senator Dan Kerschen, [log in to unmask], Phone: 785-296-7353
Senator Tom Arpke, Phone: 785-296-7369,
 Email:[log in to unmask]
Senator Tom Hawk, Phone: 785-296-7360,
 Email:[log in to unmask]
Senator Carolyn McGinn, Phone: 785-296-7377,
 Email:[log in to unmask]
Senator Michael O'Donnell, Phone: 785-296-7391,
 Email:[log in to unmask]
Senator Ralph Ostmeye, Phone: 785-296-7399,
 Email:[log in to unmask]
Senator Dennis Pyle, Phone: 785-296-7379,
 Email:[log in to unmask]
Senator Greg Smith, Phone: 785-296-7367,
 Email:[log in to unmask]
Senator Caryn Tyson, Phone: 785-296-6838,
 Email:[log in to unmask]

Thanks to all who will be pro-active!
Troy Lynn
www.ferretfamilyservices.org

[Posted in FML 7702]