KGUN 9 News- Tucson
Aired June 15, 2010
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SAFFORD, Ariz (KGUN9-TV)-The Arizona Department of Transportation plans to spend $400,000 to help squirrels cross the road safely.
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The squirrels are severely endangered Mount Graham Red Squirrels. They are only found on that mountain. A count taken in 2009 indicates there are only 250 left in the world. That works out to $1600 per squirrel.
The squirrels are severely endangered Mount Graham Red Squirrels. They are only found on that mountain. A count taken in 2009 indicates there are only 250 left in the world. That works out to $1600 per squirrel.
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ADOT will build 41 "canopy crossings", essentially small, rope or webbing bridges to help the squirrels avoid cars as they cross roads.
ADOT will build 41 "canopy crossings", essentially small, rope or webbing bridges to help the squirrels avoid cars as they cross roads.
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Dr. Robin Silver of the Center for Biological Diversity says researchers think cars kill about six of the rare squirrels a year but it is hard to be sure of that number because scavengers clean up the road kill so quickly.
Dr. Robin Silver of the Center for Biological Diversity says researchers think cars kill about six of the rare squirrels a year but it is hard to be sure of that number because scavengers clean up the road kill so quickly.
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9 On Your Side wants to know if bridges for squirrels, even endangered squirrels, is a good use of public dollars. KGUN's Craig Smith put that question to Linda Ritter of ADOT.
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9 On Your Side wants to know if bridges for squirrels, even endangered squirrels, is a good use of public dollars. KGUN's Craig Smith put that question to Linda Ritter of ADOT.
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Craig Smith: "I'm just thinking of other things that have had to be set aside for the moment: rest stops closed, paving and road maintenance deferred, things of that sort and people will say, well, why squirrels, why now?"
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Linda Ritter/ADOT: Why squirrels right now? The squirrels are an endangered species, the most endangered in the world and we do have a responsibility to mitigate the environmental impact on those squirrels."
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Linda Ritter says the money is Federal dollars. ADOT has to use it for squirrels or lose it.
What do the squirrels' neighbors think of the plan?
Linda Ritter says the money is Federal dollars. ADOT has to use it for squirrels or lose it.
What do the squirrels' neighbors think of the plan?
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Mount Graham camper Glenn Smith says, "Survival of the species is very important to me."
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Mount Graham camper Glenn Smith says, "Survival of the species is very important to me."
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Craig Smith asked: "But balanced against the cost?"
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Glenn Smith:"But again you have to think of the humans being employed first and their plight."
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Safford resident Josh Boivin favors the plan: "I think it's a pretty good thing. I think if they can save the squirrels and keep the population alive for my kids to enjoy I think that'd be a real good thing. "
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But Safford resident Silvestre Rivera thinks the money would be better used elsewhere. "That'd be kind of nice to just get that money and return it to our school systems vs. the squirrels. I'm sorry. I like squirrels but our children are more important I think."
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I honestly watched this story with my mouth hanging open.
Many of you know that my family owns a cabin on Mt. Graham & let me just say- these squirrels are EVERYWHERE!!!
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(This is an image I found of a "possum bridge" in Australia.)
So how does the squirrel know it's supposed to use the crosswalk we're providing?
Will we post signs that say "Squirrel Crossing This Way"?
And since we've taken all of the money from our schools to pay for this kind of crap, how exactly do we expect the squirrels to be able to read those signs?
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Has anybody ever considered changing their name from "Mt. Graham Red Squirrel" to just "Red Squirrel"? Then you could find them anywhere & they wouldn't be endangered. Just a thought.
Has anybody ever considered changing their name from "Mt. Graham Red Squirrel" to just "Red Squirrel"? Then you could find them anywhere & they wouldn't be endangered. Just a thought.
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I CANNOT WAIT to see these contraptions go up. You should've seen the pictures on the news. They look every bit as ridiculous as the name "squirrel bridge" sounds. I only wish the news website had a copy of the video on their website so you could've all seen it. Crazy. Just freakin' crazy!
Keepin' our eyes "peeled" for Disneyland.
Somehow we made amazing time & had checked into the hotel & were in the park by 1:00 pm. Hey, who's that lady? Oh, yeah. She's usually just known as the camera chick. Actually, it's Mommy!
Love it, love it, love it!
This particular Pluto spent a LOT of time with my kids, to the point that some of the people in line were getting ticked off & Mommy was wondering what was going on! It was almost as if he might have known us or something.......hmmm, just something to think about. 
See that RESERVED sign? Well, if the Disney staff kicks you out of your LEGAL parade-viewing spot & then lets other folks sit there 10 minutes later, leaving you with nowhere to sit or stand, just speak up! They just might lead you right down the middle of the parade route, right behind the "Donate a day, Get a day" folks, with people cheering on every side. You MIGHT get plopped right down in the middle of the VIP section, with staff shooing random strangers away from you like you're the president of the USA or something. Can't be mixin' the important people with the commoners now, can we? 
Then, since you're obviously such special people, your kids just may be chosen to participate in every aspect of the parade, right down to the dancers coming into your VIP section & dancing with you. Man, it's awesome to be important.
I was so relieved that we got to see some of the "good princesses" this time around. 3 years ago we saw Jasmine literally 15 times in 2 days & none of the original ladies. How many times can you have 1 princess sign your book? Sleeping Beauty is Emma's all-time favorite, & I could hardly tear her away.
Ack! Who's driving that car?
Grandma apparently gives better loves than Mommy when you wiggle out of the seat belt, stand up in your stroller & pitch head-first onto your mouth. Blood, spit, everything. Nice. 
Who's that guy? Hey- that's Robert Irvine from Dinner: Impossible!
Just a side note- the Jedi Training show is AMAZING! These guys are SO good. If you want your kid to get chosen to participate, all you have to do is dress them in something Jedi or Star Wars. There was a kid wearing a Jedi wrap/coat thing & he was chosen within 3 seconds of the show starting. Something to think about if you're going..... 
I have to admit, I have actually been practicing the "self-portrait" shot just so I can be included in some of our family memories. 
