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In response to Peter Kendall’s March 8 article on endangered species, as a retired naturalist and past president of the Chicago Herpetological Society, I must protest taking any species off the endangered list in Illinois or in the nation. Until a species makes a comeback, such as the bald eagle, it should remain protected no matter what reasons there may be for destroying habitat.
The massasauga rattlesnake has never been common in its range. Being very secretive, it is often unknowingly destroyed by even minor disturbance of its range.
So many reptiles and amphibians in the Midwest have disappeared from our fauna in the last 40 years. I look forward to the day when ignorant politicians are added to the endangered species list.
