Wildlife corridor takes bite out of property rights


Members of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors are privately voting on an ordinance that would create a wildlife corridor that stretches across the county.

At face value this sounds like a good idea to make a safe path for our local wildlife, but at what cost?

This “corridor” could effectively take away land from farmers and individuals by preventing their use of their land (up to 50 percent). The county would not need to pay for the land (circumventing eminent domain), and the taxes on this unusable land would still need to be paid.

And if this land is set aside, how will we ensure that the wildlife will use it? I am the last person who wants a mountain lion hit on the freeway, but even if this land is set aside, there is no guarantee that it will actually be used.

I think at the very least this issue should be voted on by the people, not a select few on a board. But don’t take my word for it; please read up on this issue for yourself.

A great resource is colabvc.org/?s=wildlife+corridor, and attend the planning commission meeting at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 25 at the county government center.

Kimberly Moshier
Moorpark