(Photo USFWS)
The full list of threats noted in today’s finding is long, including: habitat loss from livestock grazing, urbanization, border activities, off-road vehicles, roads, and mining; harm to individual tortoises from shooting, collection for pets or food, handling, and harassment; diseases such as upper respiratory tract disease, shell disease, and other pathogens; increased predation by ravens, coyotes, and feral dogs due to urban encroachment; inadequate legal protections, including on federal and state public lands; altered fire patterns due to exotic weeds; crushing and killing of tortoises by off-road vehicle users; and prolonged drought, exacerbated by the climate crisis.Sounds like a species that needs ESA protection.
Friends of Animals’ president, Priscilla Feral says, “Gov. Otter’s enthusiasm for wolf killing not only demonstrates a complete lack of conscience and understanding of the word ‘respect,’ it shows a lack of respect for nature and the ecosystem; wolves don’t need Gov. Otter—or anyone else—to manage them.”
Friends of Animals is calling for a boycott of potatoes grown in Idaho—the largest producer in the United States. One-third of all potatoes are grown in Idaho. Feral adds: “As long as Idaho is in the business of killing wolves, the nature-respecting public should stop buying potatoes there.” Look for potatoes grown in Maine, Colorado, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington and other states.
Commissioners plan to manage the wolf population toward the 2005 level of 520 wolves through regulated hunting. The 2005 wolf population figure was used as a target number because wolf conflicts both with wildlife and livestock increased that year, said the DFG.Funny, though, since the state expects to sell 70,000 tags for the privilege. And first in line is Butch Otter. What a guy!
Glacier National Park succors many creatures on the federal endangered species list, like grizzly bears and bull trout. Within a year, a little stonefly may join their ranks.(Via)
And if it does, it may mark the first time a critter has been deemed threatened by the Earth's climate.
Among the 29 animals and plants nominated for Endangered Species Act review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday was the Lednia tumana [pictured above], a mist forest fly that lives in cold-water streams fed by Glacier Park's icefields.
U.S. Geological Survey research predicts the park's 26 remaining glaciers could decay into snowfields by 2030.
The legend of a wild black cat roaming the East Bay hills continues.Maybe, maybe not. But an awesome and exciting encounter nonetheless!
For years people have reported seeing a big, dark cat — about the size of a mountain lion — but Lynn Reed and his wife Kathleen said they saw it about 6:30 p.m. July 30 near Pleasanton.
The Reeds were driving down the Dublin grade on eastbound Interstate 580 when Lynn Reed said he spotted a black creature moving near the Foothill Road exit.
Putting dinner plans aside, he took the offramp and drove over to the hill where he saw the animal. And there it was. Reed said he and his wife watched it for 10 minutes.
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