The Palouse is a region south of Spokane that covers about 18,000 square miles of eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, and northwestern Idaho. This area produces about double the national average of wheat per bushel per acre. In other words, it's probably no stretch to say that the Palouse feeds a good share of the world. But if some eco-tyrants have their way, it might all come to a crashing halt. The Palouse is allegedly the habitat of the mythical Great Palouse Earthworm and they want this worm to be declared an endangered species.
From KOMO-TV NEWS:
The worm is said to secrete a lily-like smell when handled, spit at predators, and live in burrows 15 feet deep. There have only been four sightings.
But scientists hope to change that this summer with researchers scouring the Palouse regoin in hopes of finally finding the giant earthworm. Conservationists also want the Obama administration to protect it as an endangered species, even though there is scant scientific information about its existence.
"It absolutely exists," insisted Jodi Johnson-Maynard, a University of Idaho professor who is leading the search for the worm.
To prove it, she pulled out a glass tube containing the preserved remains of a fat, milky-white worm. One of Johnson-Maynard's graduate students found this specimen in 2005, and it is the only confirmed example of the species.
I'm no expert wormologist (or whatever they are called), but usually, if something is without color, it's either an albino, or it spends its time completely out of the sun. The color of this worm is, to me, indicative that it just might stay 15 feet below the surface. What if the reason no one hardly ever sees it is because it stays deep down in the ground?
All that side, if they can convince the Obama administration to declare it an endangered species, it could be a problem.
Farmers are keeping a wary eye on the process."The concern is whether a listing is going to end up curtailing farming activities," said Dan Wood of the Washington State Farm Bureau. "I dont know if people plan to stop all farming for the possibility of a worm being somewhere."
They should be worried and those of us who must eat to live should be a little worried as well.
In the San Joaquin Valley, irrigation water is being denied many farmers because of the Delta Smelt. No water, no crops.
I understand the need to preserve nature, but we need to make decisions based upon common sense and priorities. If they are successful in getting this worm declared an endangered species, bread might just become a little harder to come by and a lot more expensive.
VW.
They are going to legislate us out of food, water and our homes... too bad it won't affect the snobs in DC...
Before it's too late, they better protect Bigfoot, too.
PS - Think you'll enjoy the first picture on today's post!
Posted by: FlagGazer | Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 00:40