Community discusses pros and cons of changing Endangered Species Act

Congressional Republicans would like to make changes to the Endangered Species Act. The changes could mean some species would be removed from the endangered species list.

Reactions in the community are mixed about changing the act. Some said the act needs to be revised and updated while others said the act needs more support and should be left alone.

Community members in Idaho discussed the benefits of updating the act, like John Thompson, the director of public relations at the Idaho Farm Bureau.

“We applaud reform of the act because it is cumbersome. It has not had a good record of recovering the species it has listed. They have listed hundreds [species] and they have recovered dozens, if that,” commented Thompson.

However, groups like the Portneuf Audobon Society said making changes to the act could negatively impact species in Idaho. Chuck Trost, a retired biology professor at Idaho State University said over the last 50 years, some bird populations have gone down. Trost said he is not 100 percent sure why it is happening, but the act is a way to protect those species.

“I know there are a lot of birds in trouble and anybody that is going to weaken the endangered species act, I am going to fight it tooth and claw,” commented Trost.

One of the reasons, some said the act needs to be reformed, is because it hurts land owners.

“It does not give private land owners any incentive to help recover a species,” said Thompson. “For instance, if you were to find an endangered gopher or something on your land and you let the fish and wildlife service know about it, the federal government know about it, they are going to come in and basically come and take your land or limit what you can do on that land.”