Save Bigfoot!

Every so often a story comes along that really captures your imagination and, for me, this is one of them:

OTTAWA (AFP) – Bigfoot, the legendary hairy man-like beast said to roam the wildernesses of North America, is not shy, merely so rare it risks extinction and should be protected as an endangered species.

So says Canadian MP Mike Lake who has called for Bigfoot to be protected under Canada’s species at risk act, alongside Whooping Cranes, Blue Whales, and Red Mulberry trees.

“The debate over their (Bigfoot’s) existence is moot in the circumstance of their tenuous hold on merely existing,” reads a petition presented by Lake to parliament in March and due to be discussed next week.

“Therefore, the petitioners request the House of Commons to establish immediate, comprehensive legislation to affect immediate protection of Bigfoot,” says the petition signed by almost 500 of Lake’s constituents in Edmonton, Alberta.

A similar appeal has been made to the US Congress.

Now, I have complete confidence that the Canadian Parliament (not to mention the U. S. Congress) will give this proposal the consideration it deserves.

When not existing presents no barrier to being protected, it introduces a fresh, new argument for government action. Just imagine the possibilities!

The USDA could have its own space program so that it could inspect the green cheese on the moon. A worldwide movement could be started to protest Chinese degradation of the environment of the yeti. We could sleep peacefully at night confident that the tuna we’d eaten was mermaid-safe. And we could mobilize public opinion to close our border with Mexico over concerns about the chupacabra.