Miami Wal-Mart Developer Warned by the Feds as Opposition Grows

The developer of a South Dade Wal-Mart near Miami is receiving a warning from federal officials that building the superstore could threaten wildlife.

Ram Realty plans to build a Wal-Mart and apartments in southern Miami-Dade County on the site of a former University of Miami campus. The problem, the feds say, is that construction plans could destroy disappearing pine rockland forests in the area.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife sent a letter to developers last week saying the construction of the mixed-use development could threaten at least eight endangered animal species, according to The Miami Herald.

Florida bonneted bats are among the animals and plants only found in that ecosystem and are threatened to become extinct if the Coral Reef Drive site is razed, wildlife officials say.

For more information, click here to read Thursday’s story of The Miami Herald’s coverage.

A petition is being circulated on MoveOn.org specifically in opposition to the big box store being built at the site.

According to the MoveOn page, the petition will be delivered to Gov. Rick Scott once it has 5,000 signatures, and it will ask that “any development of the rare endangered forest lands in South Florida” be stopped.

People from around the country are signing the petition in support of the cause.