Endangered Pocket Golpher and Butterfly at Scatter Creek

[Mauser]

I called the WDFW today for a clarification on use at the Scatter Creek I and II release sites. There is an endangered Pocket Golpher and a butterfly on the sites. They have stopped the use of horses but there is no plan to stop hunting and dogs.

[ICEMAN]

Yet..... (sorry...didn't mean to be too negative.....)


Thanks for the info Mauser.

[boneaddict]

"endangered pocket gopher"  Now thats funny.  The only pocket gophers that are IN danger are the ones digging holes in my lawn.   

[GoldTip]

I hear pocket gopher tastes a lot like spotted owl.......

[Mauser]

On the surface a pocket golpher does seem 'funny' but these are the type of issues that can bite you where it hurts. My wife manages a store for a large chain company. They had a new store delayed for six years because of a worm that was reported to be in the area. After six years of 'study' it was concluded that the worm did not exist. To the WDFW's credit they are responding in a much more reasonable manner and just moving the horse activities to another site. I am sure they could have found someone to suggest locking the land up completely.

[boneaddict]

I understand....in the old days thats why you didn't tell people when you saw a wolf or a lynx or as mentioned a spotted owl.  They's shut the whole damn area down to everyone.  and those are "real" animals. 

[buck470]

Pocket Gopher? is that anything like the rodent that was pestering the girlfriend last night?

[Wacenturion]

WDFW has been trying to get rid of horses and associated field trials on Scatter Creek for years.....with no success.  Now without in house opposition (folks retire), they do it.  You know the old saying...."Sooner or later".  Pure and simple... it's a bunch of crap.  The limited horse use from field trials or neighbors accessing the hills by riding across Scatter Creek is pure baloney.
Again...Wildlife Management as it's finest.

As Iceman said...."Yet" is so appropriate.  Way back when Gov. Rossalini (sp?) dedicated Scatter Creek after purchase it was specifically for hunting and field trials....fact.  Those records exist

[Gutpile]

Golpher

Is a Golpher a Gopher that golfs?

[Pat/Rick]

I have never hunted there.Therefore, the fuzzy little *censored*s are most definently not endangered.Actually, they only taste like spotted owl when baked in a mushroom sauce. No, really.

[zelda02]

Exactly correct Wacenturion. The Northwest Field trial council and other dog groups continue to fight for rights to this location, the WDFW tried to pass us off to a hay field in Oakville that has not been suitable as of yet  to run a quality dog event. Hopefully we can get some more understanding that our usage of Scatter Creek obviously did not deter the gopher and the butterfly from propagating,  we have been using it for over 50yrs. What would Bill Murray do?