Owner of crane idled by ospreys regrets reporting the nest

Here's an example of the imperial federal government at work:

TAMPA — Jani Salonen says he wishes he had never reported that a family of ospreys had taken residence atop a crane he owns at the Port of Tampa.

"It's probably one of the bigger mistakes I've made," Salonen said Tuesday after port officials told him he could not move the osprey nest without federal approval.

Salonen now estimates he is losing $8,000 a day because of the nest, and his dilemma has reached the governor's office in Tallahassee.

Salonen said he has 12 employees who are idle because of the nest. If the delay continues, he may have to send some home...

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved the plan to move the nest but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied the permit.

So a bunch of useless bureaucrats are once again standing in the way of the country's economic health; this time to protect a stupid bird who chose a crane to build a nest. This is one of countless stories that depict the real costs of an overbearing regulatory state that doesn't give a rip who they hurt as long as their rules are followed. Remember that the next time some dopey politician says we need more regulations.