Wednesday, September 3, 2008

The National Key Deer Refuge has launched an online survey that asks for residents' input on a predator management plan to protect the endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbit.

Wildlife officials from the Big Pine Key preserve hope to gather opinions on how to resolve the contentious issue and produce a draft plan this fall, after a final public hearing on Oct. 23. After that, there will be two more public hearings before the plan is finalized.

Officials and residents have been collaborating on the issue for the past three months, after public outcry stopped the refuge's new program of trapping feral cats -- the rabbits' main predator -- because mostly raccoons were being caught. Some were euthanized because it is believed they can prey on marsh rabbit babies.

"It has made people do a little more research," refuge Director Ann Morkill said of the controversy, adding that alternative traps and methods of catching the cats have emerged.

The trapping program begun last year was based on a study conducted in the late 1990s that stated the marsh rabbit population likely would die off unless predators, especially feral cats, could be reduced. Previously a fixture throughout the Lower Keys, the marsh rabbit population now is mainly centralized on Sugarloaf, Big Pine and No Name keys, and Naval Air Station Key West on Boca Chica Key.

The survey is available online at www.fws.gov/nationalkeydeer/. A hard copy is available at the Marathon library branch, 3251 Overseas Highway, or the refuge's administrative office, 28950 Watson Blvd. To have a survey mailed, call 305-872-2239.

Completed surveys should be sent to the Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium, 236 Morgan Building, 2035 E. Paul Dirac Drive, HMB 236, Tallahassee, FL 32310.

The next public hearing is scheduled from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in Big Pine Key. The location has not been decided.

rbusweiler@keysnews.com