California’s struggle with wildfires has been attributed to global warming but it’s time to take a realistic approach and review the poorly designed environmental rules and regulations that contribute to the annual infernos that rage across my state.

Protecting human habitats is a secondary concern for many environmentalists who zealously push to protect any animal on the “endangered species” list without an eye for the broader implications of their policies.  One animal in particular is the kangaroo rat.  Because of it’s endangered status farmers, ranchers, and property owners are forbidden from clearing shrubbery where the rodent lives.  This shrubbery and undergrowth on California’s hills and back country is allowed to slowly build until it becomes a tinder box waiting for ignition.

For example, San Diego has protected over 170,000 acres of habitat for more than 1,000 plant species and 380 animal species.  The urge to protect endangered species is admirable, but the resulting fires burn with such intensity that it actually makes it harder for the animals and the habitat to recover.

California, and the federal government, need to loosen environmental regulations and make way for common sense.  For example, San Diego recently burned fifteen acres of grassland at the March Stephens’ Kangaroo Rat Preserve in an effort to prevent wildfires.  This is sound environmental policy that, unfortunately, is not duplicated on a widespread basis.

“The core problem is that species protection prohibits many ordinary fire precautions,” wrote Hugh Hewitt, a California radio talk show host. “You cannot clear coastal sage scrub, no matter how dense, if a gnatcatcher nests within it – unless the federal government provides a written permission slip which is extraordinarily difficult to obtain.”

Environmentalists and CNN have attempted to link the fires to global warming, but employing commonsense strategies, such as cleaning up the brush and using controlled burns, will prove far more beneficial to both humans and animals than slinging wild accusations.  The environmental movement has noble goals but they need to seriously examine the side effects of their policies.

Related Articles

1. What’s That Smelt? Environmentalism Gone Bad
2. California Cities to Sue State Over Budget
3. Help California, Legalize Weed
4. PETA Can Bite Me
5. Fifth ACORN Video Released