By L. Kane Santa Monica
It saddened me to read Kevin McKeown’s letter, “stop poisoning the squirrels” (SMDP June 8, page 4). Is this our City Councilman? Last time I checked, squirrels were considered rodents.
Potential disease doesn’t send up a red flag? By the time there is an outbreak of a flea-borne disease, it’s too late. Prevention should be the name of the game when it comes to morbidity and mortality.
The analogy of “just because your dog has fleas, you don’t kill your dog,” does-n’t fit the case about rodents in a public park. It’s your dog, on your property.
If poison wasn’t put out, how many squirrels would be at Palisades Park when it has an unnatural habitat for squirrels? There are no predators. There are people who feed the squirrels. There is even cat food left out on the ground, west of the fence, for ferile cats — which again brings up the concept of caring for animals that are on your property.
Has Kevin seen all of the rodent burrows in the bluffs?
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 29, 2005. Read the original PDF.