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November 12, 2009

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Letter: Thank Nellis Air Force Base for thinning out mud hens to make room for ducks

Monday, May 12, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Aquatic fowl live on aquatic vegetation. DUcks fly north in the spring, but coots remain and feed on the aquatic vegetation all summer. Our ponds are becoming overpopulated with coots, so when the ducks return in the fall, there is little forage left for them.

On every pond, it is "shoot the ducks and spare the coots." At Nellis AFB, there is an opportunity to reverse this. THis is the only place I know where a coot takeover can be averted. Therefore, to promote biodiversity as well as aircraft safety, I urge the commander to shoot all the fecund coots to save the food resources of his wetland for harried ducks. With ample food, ducks are unlikely to leave the security of the wetland.

Vernon Bostick

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