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| U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, speaks during a luncheon hosted by the Alabama League of Municipalities on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at Ralph & Kacoo's in Spanish Fort, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). |
A diminutive rodent, measuring only up to 6 inches in length and known for burrowing into the sandy dunes along Alabama's coast, has been designated as "endangered" since the days of the Reagan presidency.
Representative Jerry Carl from Mobile, Alabama, has raised his voice against this classification. Speaking before a gathering of businesspeople in Mobile, Carl expressed his intention to remove the Alabama beach mouse from the endangered species list.
In a speech to the Mobile Chamber, Carl likened the mouse to a rat, expressing his disdain for it. "I'd rather have a snake in my house than a rat," he remarked, while also declaring his intention to focus on this issue.
Carl's concern revolves around the fact that the beach mouse's status as an endangered species necessitates special permits for beachfront development projects. This, he argues, leads to increased costs for developers. While he didn't mention a specific project, the growing development along the Baldwin County coastline is a key factor in the beach mouse's endangered status since 1986, according to evaluations by federal agencies.
Previous reviews of the mouse's status since 1986 have found the potential for recovery to be uncertain. The latest review in 2019 by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service stated that the mouse's recovery is challenged by economic activities, especially given the current landscape of development and heightened storm intensity.
Noah Greenwald, the Endangered Species Director at the Center for Biological Diversity, shared that despite some recovery efforts, the beach mouse remains endangered due to ongoing development pressures and increased storm risks.
Denise Rowell, spokesperson for the Alabama Ecological Services field office, expressed willingness to meet with Carl to explain the role her office plays in assessing endangered or threatened species.
Amid these discussions, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is in the midst of a five-year status review for numerous species, including the Alabama beach mouse. This review aims to ensure accurate classification under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, potentially leading to changes based on the latest scientific findings.
Furthermore, a House Republican working group is scrutinizing the Endangered Species Act after a court overturned a Trump-era decision regarding gray wolves.
Carl, in a statement provided to AL.com, criticized the continued endangered listing for the beach mouse as an example of excessive government regulations. He pointed out that while the mouse population has rebounded, its status as an endangered species persists, potentially hindering economic activities.
Alabama ranks third in the U.S. for the number of endangered or threatened species, attributed in part to its abundant freshwater rivers and creeks supporting unique species.
Carl's advocacy is grounded in his membership in the U.S. House's Western Caucus' Endangered Species Act Working Group. This group, composed of Republicans, seeks to reform the Endangered Species Act for the benefit of both species conservation and the American population.
Since 1973, around 1,700 species have been listed as threatened or endangered, but only 3 percent have been considered recovered and delisted, according to the group's data.
While the debate continues, the challenge facing the Alabama beach mouse is not just limited to development. Past hurricanes and rising sea levels have also impacted its habitat, according to a 2019 review. The mouse's habitat spans the Alabama coast, but factors like hurricane damage and sea level rise have caused habitat destruction and recolonization.
With a focus on economic concerns, Carl's advocacy highlights the complexity of balancing conservation efforts and development along coastlines where the beach mouse resides.
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