Little gophers could cause big problems at Lewis-McChord
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. -- A tiny animal is causing huge problems at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
The base is busy prepping for a major exercise scheduled for Wednesday, but that training may be interrupted if any Mazama pocket gophers turn up.
The federal government is considering listing the underground critters as an endangered species, which could mean the base would have to stop using as many as 1,000 acres of prime target land.
Larry Weaver lives in Thurston County. He said he and hundreds of other private landowners are also facing the loss of land due to the gopher. Weaver said there's no reason to protect the species because the gophers rarely leave their holes and are doing just fine on their own.
"In my opinion, we can't get rid of them (if we tried)," he said. "Not only are they not threatened, you can't get rid of them."
Thurston County homeowners have been fighting the gopher battle for years, ever since the county and state listed the species as threatened. Homeowners have to get a $5,000 study done and move their buildings if just one gopher is found.
Many of the gophers have been moved to a nearby sanctuary, but the fact remains that government protection of a species comes first.
"People are going to be unhappy about any restrictions you put on a person's property, but we also do have an obligation to one, comply with federal and state law and two, protect the species," said Thurston County planning director Scott Clark.
Weaver thinks the government should worry more about protecting homeowners.
"If we're protecting one species, why is the other species -- mainly the landowner -- why are they not protected as well?" he said.
JBLM officials say they'll comply with protecting the species, but say they will also continue their training. No decisions on the animal will be made right away. There is a 60 day comment period and then the government will take up to a year to decide if the gopher should be included on the endangered list.
The base is busy prepping for a major exercise scheduled for Wednesday, but that training may be interrupted if any Mazama pocket gophers turn up.
The federal government is considering listing the underground critters as an endangered species, which could mean the base would have to stop using as many as 1,000 acres of prime target land.
Larry Weaver lives in Thurston County. He said he and hundreds of other private landowners are also facing the loss of land due to the gopher. Weaver said there's no reason to protect the species because the gophers rarely leave their holes and are doing just fine on their own.
"In my opinion, we can't get rid of them (if we tried)," he said. "Not only are they not threatened, you can't get rid of them."
Thurston County homeowners have been fighting the gopher battle for years, ever since the county and state listed the species as threatened. Homeowners have to get a $5,000 study done and move their buildings if just one gopher is found.
Many of the gophers have been moved to a nearby sanctuary, but the fact remains that government protection of a species comes first.
"People are going to be unhappy about any restrictions you put on a person's property, but we also do have an obligation to one, comply with federal and state law and two, protect the species," said Thurston County planning director Scott Clark.
Weaver thinks the government should worry more about protecting homeowners.
"If we're protecting one species, why is the other species -- mainly the landowner -- why are they not protected as well?" he said.
JBLM officials say they'll comply with protecting the species, but say they will also continue their training. No decisions on the animal will be made right away. There is a 60 day comment period and then the government will take up to a year to decide if the gopher should be included on the endangered list.
Send them to that other Washington: Congress- the House of Representatives especially - NEEDS more gophers so it can sleep longer every day!
Seems to me they would make excellent sniper targets. They should be on the endangered list.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2umEFHeo6mw
Rodenator!
 @Glassman I want to try that thing on mountain beavers. They have killed several
evergreens near our property and I have found very large burrows on our property.
Common sentiment amongst the ignorant folks is that one more or less species driven extinct by actions of ignorant humans is not really a big deal.
@Larry*X*K "Thurston County homeowners have been fighting the gopher battle for years, ever since the county and state listed the species as threatened. Homeowners have to get a $5,000 study done and move their buildings if just one gopher is found." I don't think it's ignorant to not care for the gopher when one decides to take up residence on your property thereby causing you to have to move your home, barn, gagrage, etc.
I'm all for blowing those no good little critters' to mars. If I find em', I kill em', simple as that. There is no "I'm sorry, are you endangered" kinda' BS, they die. Period! End of story, end of statement. Bye-bye now.
I stupidly thought the story was about the possibility of broken ankles for the folks out in the field. Â Wow.
In the good old days if you could shoot you could get 50 with a 69 cent box of 22 shorts.
who cares about these pieces of crap. They tear up yards and ruin fields. Just don't tell any one that you have them and kill them off.
We humans keep overpopulating this planet and destroying everything.
Save the Rodents! **marches with activist signage**
Sounds like the same thing we have in Roy. My neighborhood was built in the mid 90's and we had to set aside land for these critters. Of course they don't understand anything about fences and land so they tend to make my yard their home as well.
When are the AMERICAN  people going to wake up ?  The whole environmental movement is to take away peoples property away,or curtailing its use.  The communists in the late 50's saw this and joined up .  There was Ted Turner who came up with cartoons for little kids about saving the environment ,it was strictly propaganda.Â
@Maynard G Krebbs Next time instead of ordering the main course, try ordering just a side order of conspiracy theory
"I'm alright. Don't nobody worry about me......"
Tastes like chikon.
"Homeowners have to get a $5,000 study done and move their buildings if just one gopher is found."
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move their buildings? like, their house, if one gopher is found? i'm confused.
 @SwampThing Yes, yes they do.
 @SwampThing Say Wa
Sounds like the same methods that are used to protect animals in Congress that ruin everything. Sounds like PETA's playing a role in this.
@Zoso Unlike Congress, PETA actually is trying to benefit Americans and has a budget that they follow.
 @northwestsurfer  I can appreciate your sarcasm, but there are plenty here who believer you're serious.
 @northwestsurfer  @Zoso Best laugh I've had all day!
@Glassman @Zoso Unfortunately, its a reality though. You ask any American if they think Congress is on our side, and they will all tell you NO. Congress passes laws, that they say benefits their constituents, and Americans; but any idiot with a general understanding of the political system knows that the only beneficiaries here are the lobbyists and the industries and coporations they represent.
I watched a documentary on Jack Abramhoff a year ago or so, it disgusted me how our government works.
Sounds like SOMEONE out there needs a "pet project" to waste taxpayer money on. Why not adopt a congressman, or senator instead? Same annoying vermin except for the fact that the gophers are cute and SMART.
As much as I am for protecting species, there is a point where it becomes so burdensome to protect them that it gets ridiculous. Protecting at all costs just isn't worth it to me.
Ferrets will fix this problem naturally.
Little buggers cause so much damage, I say trap time!
Send them to Cuba
Nothing but a few mole traps wouldn't fix
Need a gopher hunt - a bounty?
It seems the Army needs a pro. Send in Carl Spackler
Â
Sandy: I want you to kill every gopher on the course!
Â
Carl Spackler: Check me if I'm wrong Sandy, but if I kill all the golfers, they're gonna lock me up and throw away the key...
Â
Sandy: Gophers, ya great git! The gophers! The little brown furry rodents!
Â
Carl Spackler: We can do that; we don't even have to have a reason.
Â
 @pbs7mm Greasy, grimy gopher guts!
 @Doxie "And me without a spoon"
 @al_wa ;-)
@pbs7mm Varmints.Â
 @pbs7mm FREEZE GOPHER!
It won't be to a big problem for JBLM. They'll just pick up and move training to another location and SaWa will be out that facility. Can't help but wonder just how many millions of dollars will be moving with them. All this for a gopher that no body has ever heard of or could care less about.
 @lmdk2 Although you most likely not going to live to see that day, but it comes when visiting alien species will regard the human race with such grace and gratitude. It will be long overdue if you ask me