Recent tetrataenia News

[infernalis]

This was recently sent to me, I thought I would share... This took place in December.


San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has put a stop to turning Sharp Park over to the federal government by vetoing legislation that would have most likely turned the park and golf course back to its natural state. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors, voted 6-5 earlier this month to turn the park over to the federal government, two votes shy of overturning a veto by the mayor. The 400-acre course was built nearly 80 years ago on wetlands that is home to the California red-legged frog and San Francisco garter snake, both endandered species that inhabit the park. The supervisors were hoping that turning the land over to the federal government would have aided in restoring the park to its natural state, which would have helped both the frog and snake populations.

In vetoing the legislation, Mayor Lee cited skepticism to any federal money becoming available to turn the golf course into federal parkland. "I believe in striving for an equilibrium between environmental and recreational needs," Lee wrote in his veto letter to the board of supervisors.

City park officials have come up with a plan to protect both the California red-legged frog and San Francisco garter snake while retaining the 18 hole golf course by reconfiguring three holes and restoring the wetlands. The estimated cost to tweak the golf course is $5 million. The golf course is in San Mateo County but is managed by the city of San Francisco. In its current state, it is reported to operate at a loss of $100,000 a year. The city is currently working to restore 19 acres of habitat, according to a report in the San Francisco Examiner, and is working with San Mateo County officials to come up with a management plan for the park.

The California red-legged frog was made famous by Mark Twain's short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." Listed as threatened in 1996, Rana draytonii is the largest native frog in the Western United States. It grows from 1.5 to 5 inches in length and sports an olive or brown back and reddish legs and belly.

The San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) was placed on the Endangered Species list in 1967. It has been estimated that only 1000 to 2000 adult snakes remain in the wild. It feeds primarily on the California red-legged frog and can be found in densely vegetated bodies of water that has ample areas for basking.

http://www.thamnophis.us/thams/Protest.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Not sure if this is good or bad news as I have little trust in any branch/level of government.
Especially when it comes to the welfare of the environment or the creature that live in it, us included.

[infernalis]

Restoring a postage stamp size plot will not accomplish much.

20 acres out of 400?? please.

[EasternGirl]

I guess you could at least say someone is trying...it's better than nothing...a step in the right direction perhaps?

[Stefan-A]

Not sure if this is good or bad news as I have little trust in any branch/level of government.
Especially when it comes to the welfare of the environment or the creature that live in it, us included.
It's bad news.

Not to turn this into a general politics discussion, but over here the government is in the tricky position that it usually has to sell out the environment to some degree, no matter what's at stake. If a corporation, or any land owner wants to do something on their land, it's the government's job to enable it. It's not there to protect the environment, it's there to make sure you don't wipe out more than 90% (fictive number) of it.

[chris-uk]

Not good news really. I'm not convinced that the area could be converted back to its pre-golfing state soon enough to make a difference. But the mayor sounds like he's a bit of a corporate sell out, he can't even claim that his veto has saved the city money when the golf course will continue to loose money.

[infernalis]

It's terrible news really, money and politics aside, at least if the land was turned over to become a federal issue, the golfers would be tossed out forever.

No more lawn mowers, no more golf carts, no more people wielding clubs to strike out at the first slithering serpent to cross their paths, etc..

It was so close, so very close to happening, and then this...

[EasternGirl]

Oh okay...I read through it quickly the first time...the mayor stopped them from turning the land over to the federal government. Yeah, that's pretty crazy. What a shame...

[guidofatherof5]

Here's a link to the Mayor's Office.
I plan on crafting a professional message an sending it.

Office of the Mayor : Contact the Mayor (http://www.sfmayor.org/index.aspx?page=7)

[infernalis]

He may be busy golfing Steve.

[GarterGuy17]

Restoring Sharp Park, California (http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/restoring_sharp_park_california/index.html) I was researching the subject further and came across this its interesting to see what's actually being done and as it says on the bottom Its prohibited to mow and use motorized gold carts also near nine gold course holes that are close to the wetlands. At least it's a step towards reverting it back to its natural habitat.

[infernalis]

That was then (kinda old news) it just got shot down in December.

Business as usual at the golf course.

[Jeff B]

In vetoing the legislation, Mayor Lee cited skepticism to any federal money becoming available to turn the golf course into federal parkland. "I believe in striving for an equilibrium between environmental and recreational needs," Lee wrote in his veto letter to the board of supervisors.

Why doesn't he just say what he really means, " I couldn't care less about a frog and a snake, well now thats settled, let's go golfing"

[kibakiba]

That would give him a bad public view. When they word things "right", they're hated a lot less.

[EasternGirl]

Yep...politicians know exactly what not to say and exactly how not to say things...

[EasternGirl]

Here's a link to the Mayor's Office.
I plan on crafting a professional message an sending it.

Office of the Mayor : Contact the Mayor (http://www.sfmayor.org/index.aspx?page=7) Maybe someone could write a letter on behalf of the forum...if that is okay with everyone...I know that the dipwad is probably too busy golfing and tripping over snakes and frogs to give a rat's behind what we think, but at least we could go on record as saying what we want to say about the situation... What do you guys think?

[PINJOHN]

Maybe someone could write a letter on behalf of the forum...if that is okay with everyone...I know that the dipwad is probably too busy golfing and tripping over snakes and frogs to give a rat's behind what we think, but at least we could go on record as saying what we want to say about the situation... What do you guys think?
I would wish to avoid too sever a criticism of another nations politicians but i am sure we would all agree politicians of any country are in the main a lot of self serving pompous windbags with inflated ego's
I would suggest the best way to handle this particular windbag would be to attempt to make him a figure of mirth [something politicians view with terror] any letters about this situation should always refer to him with a un glamorous/belittling name [the first one that comes to mind is the caddy because of his enthusiasm to tote the golfers interests] but i am sure you all could come up with something better[crueler].
mud sticks so if a particular name was used often enough then this enemy of all thing hepetological would have to decide whether his best course of action was a change of direction.
a person or group can put forward the most accurate cogent and damming arguments possible just to see them dismantled by these vile creatures using misdirection, false statistics,psudo science,and out and out lies.
All the groups fighting this issue should agree a title for this guy and use it every time his name comes up.
THE ONLY THING A POLITICIAN CANT HANDLE IS TO BE DEALT WITH AS A BUFFOON LIKE CHARACTER OF FUN

[PINJOHN]

Further to the points above i forgot to mention [as if you did not already know] that politicians have many layers of protection between them selves and the public they are suppose to serve.... So attacks on their alleged image as a person to be taken seriously is seen by them as lethal and will get their attention faster than a cheetah on a harley davidson.

[chris-uk]

I've just pinged an email...


Hi Ed,

I hope you don't mind me calling you Ed, this is a personal letter to you as Mayor of San Francisco, and not a letter to the office of the Mayor of San Francisco, so I think an informal start helps.

As a UK resident, who hasn't so much as visited San Francisco, I'm fairly sure that my views on your policy decisions are of very little importance to you and that my letter won't even warrent a response. However, you should take it as an indication that the only reason I know your name is because of a recent decision you made to veto the legislation to turn over a golf course to the National Parks Service. As an enthusiastic garter snake owner I find it more than a little ironic that there is more that I can do than my American friends, to ensure that the Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia doesn't become an addition to the extinct animals list. What dismays me is that the captive population in Europe is not sustainable in the long-term because it's been subjected to significant inbreeding, so in the long-term the survival of the San Francisco garter snake depends upon protection in its natural habitat.

I find it incredulous to read that you, as an individual, took a decision to veto legislation that would have helped to protect the San Francisco garter snake and potentially allow the population to expand. I imagine that the "golfing lobby" has some significant influence and you caved in to your golfing buddies. I don't believe that your motivation for this is financial (the Sharp Park golf course runs consistently at a loss, surely the best financial decision would be to abandon the course and let nature work to restore the damage done over the last 80 years?). Closing the golf course would of course upset a lot of golfers (who the SF Government subsidises to play there), however golfers will find another golf course to play on and at the end of the day there are a great many more golfers in the US and if you run out you can stick a golf club in any kid's hands and teach him to play - there aren't so many San Francisco garter snakes left in the wild and when they are gone there is no getting them back.

The impression that I get is that the City was willing to do something to redress the balance of nature in this unique habitat, but you, the Mayor, an individual, decided that it wasn't in the interests of San Francisco to protect the garter snake (arguably North America's most beautiful snake) named after the city. So, I'd like to finish by congratulating you on single-handedly making a policy decision that may be the beginning of the end for San Francisco's garter, and I hope that in years to come that this shameful decision doesn't become the stain on your career that you are remembered for (because it will become a stain on your career if the tetrataenia population dies out, and I'd rather see them survive than blight your political career).

Regards,

Chris Dibben

It doesn't have the ridicule that PinJohn suggested, but I wanted to make a point of making it personal. What makes it personal is that the mayor used a veto on the legislation, that was him acting as an individual (albeit an individual puppet with his strings being pulled out of sight) so he should take responsibility for overturning legislation that had been passed democratically.

[PINJOHN]

Further to the points above i forgot to mention [as if you did not already know] that politicians have many layers of protection between them selves and the public they are suppose to serve.... So attacks on their alleged image as a person to be taken seriously is seen by them as lethal and will get their attention faster than a cheetah on a harley davidson.

[chris-uk]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//734/tetra_parody.jpg

[infernalis]

Maybe someone could write a letter on behalf of the forum...if that is okay with everyone...I know that the dipwad is probably too busy golfing and tripping over snakes and frogs to give a rat's behind what we think, but at least we could go on record as saying what we want to say about the situation... What do you guys think?

I am sorry to squash on your optimism Marnie, any such letter would go unnoticed.

A small handful of garter snake enthusiasts is not going to change anything.

Handing that property over to the federal government would have washed the City, County and state of California's hands of all responsibility of said lands.

There is something going on deeper than any concern for the preservation of threatened animals, We would be viewed as just another group of tree huggers (or snake huggers) and be completely disregarded.

[chris-uk]

Well I have got a response saying that my email has been received, it's contents are important the Mayor's office, etc... Hmm, they haven't really read it have they? ;)

[guidofatherof5]

Auto-reply. So typical.

[Light of Dae]

At a bare minimum the golf course should have signs posted to 'alert' golfers that this beautiful harmless Garter snake is endangered and that it is illegal to kill it. Something to at least protect it from people themselves, I know that it doesn't solve the issue of their dissolving habitat but at least its something. Like I said BARE MINIMUM. It's the very least the golf course could do...

[PINJOHN]

further to my earlier suggestion i just wish to make it clear that i did not mean you should ridicule this guy in any personal communication you have with him,but only on the public stage ...letters to papers, interviews on local media, posters in conspicuous places, any method by which the public can pick up on his new Monica ....this cant surely be an issue only to the garter community there must be residents of that great city who have objections to or have reservations about this situation there must without doubt be lots of nature oriented groups and preservation society's who would involve them selves in slagging off this turgid windbag

[EasternGirl]

Oh I have no optimism here...unfortunately I gave up on that in situations like these a while ago...I was just thinking that maybe we should just go on record as saying what we want to say about the whole thing. Not that anyone would care what we said...probably wouldn't even read our letter...but it would, at least, be said.

[infernalis]

further to my earlier suggestion i just wish to make it clear that i did not mean you should ridicule this guy in any personal communication you have with him,but only on the public stage ...letters to papers, interviews on local media, posters in conspicuous places, any method by which the public can pick up on his new Monica ....this cant surely be an issue only to the garter community there must be residents of that great city who have objections to or have reservations about this situation there must without doubt be lots of nature oriented groups and preservation society's who would involve them selves in slagging off this turgid windbag

Many citizens of San Francisco are aware of the plight..

http://www.thamnophis.us/thams/SF.jpg

[PINJOHN]

i really am convinced Wayne that giving a politician a severe dent in his image is the only thing which frightens them, if interested groups can come up with a amusing demeaning name for this guy they are half way there, American politics seems to be littered with people who made themselves a laughing stock and as a result set back or killed their grasping self centered career's

[EasternGirl]

So if we call him the "reptile ripper" or something like that...he might actually give a hoot that we are angry with him?

[infernalis]

But America is also the world capitol of "speech freedom", tens of thousands of bumper stickers go out every year calling our assorted presidents names, yet they get re-elected.

In a land where anyone can shout out whatever the want, no one pays attention anymore.