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Local News in Brief : Seal Beach : Saving Threatened Birds From Foxes to Be Topic

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Protection of two endangered bird species against red foxes in the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station will be discussed at a public meeting this evening in the City Council chamber.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Navy are sponsoring the meeting to gather public comment for a planned environmental impact statement on protections needed for the California least tern and the light-footed clapper rail, which nest in the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge located on the military base.

The goal is to control non-native red foxes that roam the wildlife refuge, said Tracey Schwarze, public affairs officer for the station. Wildlife experts contend that foxes prey on the birds, which nest on the ground in the salt marsh, and are seriously depleting the fowl population. That led to a controversial program to trap the foxes in 1986.

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But the trapping program was challenged in court by an animal-rights group, the Animal Lovers Volunteer Assn. Federal judges have refused to halt the trapping but have asked the Navy to draft an environmental impact statement on protection efforts.

Schwarze said there currently is no trapping under way in the refuge.

Other efforts to protect the birds have included an electric fence around the tern nesting area and nesting platforms for the clapper rails.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, located at 211 8th St.

Written comments will be accepted through Feb. 15. The environmental impact statement is expected to be completed in December.

For information, call (213) 594-7214 or (213) 594-7215.

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