Wal-Mart To Gopher Tortoises - Crawl In A Hole And Die
Published November 23, 2005
After work today, I went straight to the grocery store. Usually I shop at Publix, but today (for some inexplicable reason) I decided to go to Wal-Mart. Poor choice on my part. I can't complain about the prices, but the customer service was so bad that I was literally shaking my head as I walked out to the car.
So, my feelings about having spent almost a hundred dollars of my hard-earned money at the local hegemonic supermarket were already pretty negative. But then I got home and checked my email, and now I'm downright angry.
- - -
I'm on the Humane Society's emailing list, and the very first email I read after getting home (out of the dozens in my inbox) was one of their "Humane Action Network" alerts. And here are the opening two sentences of that email:
Florida's gopher tortoises have once again lost out to developers as another Wal-Mart store, this one in Palm Beach County, is constructed. Wal-Mart has been granted permits by the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife to entomb tortoises in their burrows rather than relocate them to suitable habitat.
As you can imagine, that got my attention! So I read the entire thing, and then checked out a few of their links.
Basically, what it comes down to is this: Wal-Mart is choosing to build a new store on the habitat of the gopher tortoise, which has been designated a "species of special concern" (in other words, their survival is threatened). The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) requires that developers on such land do one of two things. They can relocate the tortoises to another area prior to building, or they can pay for a permit to kill.
That's right. The revenue garnered from such permits is put into a fund to purchase land that will presumably be set aside for other gopher tortoises. However, if the developers choose this option, they get to kill every last tortoise on their plot of land.
RJ Elliott is a graduate student studying Criminal Justice at the University Of Central Florida. His likes include nature, sports, and pierced blondes. He dislikes daytime television, left-wing dictators, and lead-tainted Chinese imports. He is ambivalent about Angelina Jolie.
- Wal-Mart To Gopher Tortoises - Crawl In A Hole And Die
- Published: November 23, 2005
- Type: News
- Section: Sci/Tech
- Filed Under: Culture: Business and Economics, Sci/Tech: Science
- Writer: RJ Elliott
- RJ Elliott's BC Writer page
- RJ Elliott's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
I, personally, don't care much about Wal-Mart's issues with regards to unions, or their continuing expansion into new markets.
What does concern me a great deal, however, is when this huge, multi-billion dollar corporation chooses to kill large numbers of docile, struggling critters in order to save a few bucks.
That upsets me. A lot.
I personally don't care all that much about gopher tortoises
Furthermore, why pick on Wal-mart in this case? Do we have any data that other stores/corporations do not choose this option as well?
"why pick on Wal-mart in this case? Do we have any data that other stores/corporations do not choose this option as well?"
They probably do.
But I was alerted to this one particular case, and therefore I am writing about this one particular case.
Anyway, NO COMPANY should even have this option available to them. Florida is the only state that allows such a thing, with regards to gopher tortoises. Other states allow FEDERAL protection of this species. Florida allows them to be buried and suffocated, as long as the property owners throw a few bucks in a jar for a permit...
Well, that's not what your article addresses directly. I absolutely agree such a law is incorrect in the general (not the particular), but why slant it towards Wal-mart and not a call to legislative/judicial action?
I slanted it towards Wal-Mart because, after an unpleasant shopping experience in one of their stores, I received an email from the Humane Society about the "choice" they made with regards to gopher turtles.
And, I do call for government action, in the sense that I posted contact info for both Governor Jeb Bush and the FFWCC.
But, the fact remains that hounding government officials and/or agencies is rarely effective. However, justly demonizing private corporations for engaging in vile practices can often lead to them doing a 180, and apologizing for their original cold-hearted plans.
If you google "wal-mart" and "tortoises" this article comes up #1...
RJ is right: no one should have this option. It's barbaric as well as mindlessly callous & cruel. It certainly is nothing the state should be soiling its hands with. But what do you expect from anything associated with, let alone run by, the likes of Lee Scott?
Original Nancy from DC area.
I searched google for "crawl in a hole and die" because it's just one of those days...this article came up, and I have to say that even tho I'm having a bad day it's nothing compared to the horrific fate of those poor animals...I can't believe that Fish and Game would even consider trading money for LIVES - it really sickens me.
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Wal Mart in the news a lot recently.