I want to encourage our representatives statewide to support this bill. Also, add to it a measure to disallow County Commissioners, as well as Township Boards, the opportunity to hire people to destroy prairie dogs, moles and gophers and bill landowners for the expense. The 105 year old law is antiquated and not based on science. Every species in nature has a purpose and function, therefore, none should totally eradicated from an area as big as a Kansas county. As KDWP Secretary, Mike Hayden stated at the March 2009 KDWP Commission meeting in Topeka "there should be no annihilation, but control."
Far too many people, including many representatives who allow themselves to be influenced by farm organization lobbyists, are out of touch with scientific fact regarding the ecology of many species of wildlife. Unfortunately, based on false information, they grant themselves the right to allow or outright poach wildlife and many would resist learning to continue their poaching habits.