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Letter to the editor

Catch, but don't keep critters

City officials want folks to stop taking animals out of parks.

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 13, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: James Borchuck] A Muscovy and her ducklings, which are considered feral domestic ducks, head for water. Duck compromise back for vote in Kenneth City

SEMINOLE - Over in Kenneth City, council members want to stop folks from feeding the Muscovies. In this city, council members want to stop people from eating the Muscovies. Not to mention the fish, turtles and other critters that dwell in Seminole city parks.

That's why they've asked city staff members to draft a resolution telling people that they are allowed to catch the fish, turtles, squirrels or any other park denizens. But they cannot take the beasties home to dinner - regardless of whether it's as a guest or as the main course. Instead, people must release them before leaving the park.

But there's a hitch: If it passes, the city can'tenforce it. That's because the state retains the right to oversee wildlife and does not allow municipalities to create their own rules, even if the regulations are more stringent than state law.

So why pass it?

Mainly to calm the worries of council members like Dan Hester, who recoiled after hearing that the bass in Blossom Lake Park disappeared and that dead fish and ducks have been found in City Park. Most troubling was a report that people have been seen carting off quantities of turtles. Some worried that the turtles ended up in soup.

Hester urged other council members to do something to protect the animals. And at a workshop earlier this month, other council members agreed that they could pass a resolution and post signs explaining Seminole's new catch-and-release policy. The proposal is expected to come back to the council later this month.

Mark Ely, the city's community development director, is drafting the resolution. In brief, he said, the goal is to explain to parkgoers that park creatures are "our property, leave whatever's there alone. Fish but put it back. ... You can't take anything out of the park other than the kid you brought with you (or) your family dog, your cat, your kid, your grandma."

As a matter of fact, Ely said, the city wants people to take their kids, dogs, cats, or other living beings with them when they leave.

"We don't take adoptions either," he said.

[Last modified February 13, 2008, 08:51:18]