I think that squirrels have to be one of the cutest creatures that we encounter in the wild. They are small, agile, and down right entertaining to watch. So I will admit that I was a bit sad when I learned that the Mount Graham Red Squirrel is on the endangered species list, with a total population of only about 250 remaining squirrels.
The squirrel is native to Arizona, and the government of that great state has decided to step up and do something about the declining numbers. According to several news agencies today, Arizona is going to invest 1.4 MILLION DOLLARS to build rope bridges across roadways near the squirrels habitat, allowing the squirrels to cross the roadways without fear of being struck by JimBob in his pickup truck. While I am totally against animal cruelty, and totally for trying to save animals on the endangered species list, 1.4 million dollars is a bit much to spend on squirrels. Especially when studies suggest that only about 5 of the squirrels are killed each year while crossing the roadways.
Arizona is struggling financially itself, with many residents living below the poverty line. So when a government official was asked why the state was spending so much money on 250 squirrels. In his reply he stated that it wasn’t an issue, because they money they were going to spend was the federal governments, not Arizona’s. Great, that makes me feel much better over here in Tennessee, knowing that my tax dollars are going to save 5 squirrels a year. To add insult to injury, he goes on to state that if they don’t use the money, they will lose it. So in other words, he’d rather waste our tax dollars than use them for education, feeding starving humans, cleaning up the oil spill in the gulf, providing relief for the victims of flooding in Tennessee and Arkansas…the list goes on and on.
Arizona has already gotten so much grief today over their decision to spend $1.4 million dollars on rope bridges for squirrels that they have backed off of their stance a bit. Now they are apparently only going to spend $400,000 on the project. Only $400,000. Something tells me that $400,000 spent on food and medicine for needy children would save a lot more than 5 kids per year.
