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NFC: Fw: DEN Alert: Help Protect a Rare Florida Bird Species



DEN Alert:  Help Protect a Rare Florida Bird Species

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will vote this 
week on whether to weaken protections for the imperiled red-cockaded 
woodpecker.  The commission may take this action despite the fact 
that the woodpecker is listed as a federal endangered species. 
Federal officials and commission scientists have serious concerns 
about this potential action.

The red-cockaded woodpecker was once a common species across the 
southeastern coastal plain of Florida.  Once thriving in open, 
mature pine forests, the bird has lost more than 95 percent of its 
habitat since pre-settlement times.  Today, what remains of its 
habitat is highly fragmented and often of poor quality. What has 
been particularly devastating to this bird has been the loss of 
important nesting sites high up in the old pines where nestlings 
would be safe from predators.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Send a free e-mail to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation 
Commission and Gov. Jeb Bush and urge them not to downlist the 
red-cockaded woodpecker, but rather develop a common-sense, 
comprehensive plan to protect the remaining populations of the 
woodpecker. Thanks for helping to protect this rare and beautiful 
bird.


INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB: 

If you have access to the web, simply click on the link below which 
will take you to the DEN Action Center web site:

                        http://www.denaction.org 



If you don't have access to the Internet, please send your letter 
to: 

Board of Commissioners, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation 
Commission, c/o Bradley J. Gruver, Ph.D, Bureau of Wildlife Diversity 
Conservation via fax at: 850-488-6412 or via email at: 
gruverb at fwc_state.fl.us and to The Honorable Jeb Bush, Governor of 
Florida via fax at:  850-487-0801 or via email at: 
fl_governor at myflorida_com


SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Mr. Gruver:

As a resident of the state of Florida and an individual who is greatly 
concerned about our state's vanishing wildlife, I urge the Florida 
Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission not to weaken protections 
for the red-cockaded woodpecker. Instead, I urge you to develop a 
common-sense, comprehensive plan to protect the remaining populations 
of the bird.

The recommendation before the commission doesn't consider the 
biological status and vulnerability of the woodpecker. In addition, 
it's contrary to the conclusion of the woodpecker scientists, land 
managers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Most woodpecker populations are small, isolated and vulnerable to 
extinction.  More than 90 percent of  the woodpeckers' most suitable 
Florida habitat has been lost. Currently, only two sites in Florida 
appear sufficiently large and stable enough to provide long-term 
suitable habitat for the bird.

Thank you for considering my comments.

Sincerely,



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leading national conservation organization recognized as one of 
the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its 
habitat and known for its effective leadership on saving 
endangered species such as brown bears and gray wolves. Defenders 
advocates new approaches to wildlife conservation that protect 
species before they become endangered. Founded in 1947, Defenders 
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