West Dennis beach closed indefinitely after two piping plovers were killed

[foxfai]

WEST DENNIS, Mass. — A part of a West Dennis beach is closed after two piping plovers were accidentally killed by a vehicle late Friday night. Plovers are an endangered species.

“People can go to other beaches. I just don’t see the fuss,” said Cheri Holland, who is a Dennis resident.

“First of all, there’s many beaches in Dennis, and if you have a beach sticker you can go to any beach here,” she continued.

But that may not be the case for long.

The entire one-mile stretch of the non-resident parking lot is off limits, and that has some summer renters worried.

“That makes me nervous because if that were the case in July I’d be a little disappointed,” said Alex Tynan, who is renting for a week this summer in Dennis.

Elizabeth Sullivan is the Dennis Town Administrator.

“Immediately the town took steps to investigate and took precautions to stay in compliance of our habitat conservation plan with the state,” said Sullivan.

If the town doesn’t comply, they face a $10,000 fine. Sullivan says usually the town only has three to four nests on this beach, but this year it’s three times that amount.

“Right now, we’re actively monitoring 12 nests,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan says that shows the birds are thriving here, but the town also wants to provide a balance for recreational use. She says a vote on Tuesday will determine when and if the beach will reopen.

Renters like Tynan hope the beach doesn’t remain closed as the summer season fast approaches.

“Hopefully that’s not the case, but if so, I’m sure they’ll figure something out,” said Tynan.

[z-man]

It’s getting ridiculous. There are plovers everywhere now. Some are bound to accidentally die. I assume these were run over on the pavement as I don’t think you can drive on the beach there. That’s really going to suck if that stays closed all or most of the summer. It’s a huge parking lot. The other beaches will be mobbed. 

[bassmaster]

These turds are not endangered 

[toadfish]

Dennis beaches are already crammed in summer. Losing a mile of parking will be trouble.

 

[finbar]

7 hours ago, foxfai said:

WEST DENNIS, Mass. — A part of a West Dennis beach is closed after two piping plovers were accidentally killed by a vehicle late Friday night. Plovers are an endangered species.

“People can go to other beaches. I just don’t see the fuss,” said Cheri Holland, who is a Dennis resident.

“First of all, there’s many beaches in Dennis, and if you have a beach sticker you can go to any beach here,” she continued.

But that may not be the case for long.

The entire one-mile stretch of the non-resident parking lot is off limits, and that has some summer renters worried.

“That makes me nervous because if that were the case in July I’d be a little disappointed,” said Alex Tynan, who is renting for a week this summer in Dennis.

Elizabeth Sullivan is the Dennis Town Administrator.

“Immediately the town took steps to investigate and took precautions to stay in compliance of our habitat conservation plan with the state,” said Sullivan.

If the town doesn’t comply, they face a $10,000 fine. Sullivan says usually the town only has three to four nests on this beach, but this year it’s three times that amount.

“Right now, we’re actively monitoring 12 nests,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan says that shows the birds are thriving here, but the town also wants to provide a balance for recreational use. She says a vote on Tuesday will determine when and if the beach will reopen.

Renters like Tynan hope the beach doesn’t remain closed as the summer season fast approaches.

“Hopefully that’s not the case, but if so, I’m sure they’ll figure something out,” said Tynan.

Just a random thought - what happens if they find a dead Plover out on Rte. 6? 

[bdowning]

1 hour ago, finbar said:

Just a random thought - what happens if they find a dead Plover out on Rte. 6? 

12 mile backups?

[foxfai]

12 mins ago, bdowning said:

12 mile backups?

Detour lol.

[bassmaster]

Haha

[Gotcow?]

7 hours ago, bdowning said:

12 mile backups?

That's normal.

[z-man]

At what point do these things come off the endangered species list? I’ve seen tons of them on the beach this year. 

[Kones1]

They are everywhere now from northern Canada to the Caribbean.  Thousands. Tens of thousands. We had our chance to wipe them out in the 70's when there were supposedly only 600 pairs. The extreme environmentalists have control and will never relinquish it. Mismanagement at its finest. 

[Briand31]

Coyote's probably only kill 20 of em a night but a tire rolls over one holy hell breaks loose!

[phishallways]

10 mins ago, Briand31 said:

Coyote's probably only kill 20 of em a night but a tire rolls over one holy hell breaks loose!

I camp at a place by me where they limit access all the time on the beach (but they love our money), while stray cats pick them off constantly. 

[Briand31]

Exactly! there way of thought process is absolutely bizarre to me.

[z-man]

As usual Race Point ORV is now almost fully closed. Summer hasn’t even started yet.