Endangered Species

 

Golden-Cheeked Warbler Sings ESA Victory Song. According to E&E News, “A federal judge in Texas has upheld Endangered Species Act protections for the golden-cheeked warbler in a decision that could stir mixed emotions for one top Interior Department political appointee. While she was still a private citizen affiliated with conservative organizations, Susan Combs petitioned the Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the warbler from the ESA list as an endangered species. Now, though, Combs is an Interior senior adviser and the nominee for a long-vacant assistant secretary’s slot in the department that just prevailed in the effort to protect the small, migratory songbird she thought undeserving of federal care. ‘The scientific evidence demonstrated ... threats jeopardized the Warbler’s continued survival, [and] a reasonable person could have concluded the Warbler remained endangered despite promising population predictions and a greater known potential range,’ U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks wrote. In his 23-page opinion issued Wednesday, the Austin-based judge further noted that the conservatives’ petition ‘failed to include any new information on a number of threats to the Warbler’s survival, which the Service is required to consider when determining whether delisting may be warranted.’” [E&E News, 2/8/19 (=)]

 

U.S. To Waive Environmental Reviews For San Diego Barrier. According to E&E News, “The Trump administration said yesterday it would waive environmental reviews to replace up to 14 miles of border barrier in San Diego, shielding itself from potentially crippling delays. The Department of Homeland Security said it would issue the sixth waiver of Donald Trump’s presidency under a 2005 law that empowers the secretary to waive reviews required under environmental laws if the border barrier is deemed to be in national security interests. Those laws include the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act. The waiver, which was published in the Federal Register today, helps clear the way for work to begin this month on replacing a second layer of barrier in San Diego, a steel-mesh wall that worked like a fortress when it was built about a decade ago but is now often breached with powerful battery-operated saws sold in home improvement stores. The waivers avoid time-consuming reviews and lawsuits challenging violation of environmental laws. The government awarded a $101 million contract to SLSCO Ltd. of Galveston, Texas, to build a barrier of 30-feet-high steel bollards, with options for an additional $30 million. Work is scheduled to begin this month.” [E&E News, 2/8/19 (=)]

 

Texas Butterfly Sanctuary Plans To File Emergency Restraining Order Over Border Wall. According to The Hill, “A butterfly sanctuary in Texas along the southern border with Mexico plans to file an emergency restraining order against the Trump administration to halt construction of the border wall through its property. The Corpus Christi Caller Times reports the National Butterfly Center was set file the restraining order in an effort to stop the excavator already near its property from beginning construction of the wall while it waits for its lawsuits to work their way through the court system. The restraining order would prevent construction of a 36-foot-tall ‘wall system’ for the time being. The center’s executive director, Marianna Trevino-Wright, told The Hill the restraining order had not yet been filed as of Friday but would be next week. The center posted on Facebook Friday showing bulldozing of trees and excavating already under way on a stretch of land near the sanctuary. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Army Corps of Engineers awarded a local company a $145 million contract to build the first six miles of a border wall system that wold go through roughly 200 acres of land that is within the center’s property.” [The Hill, 2/8/19 (=)]

 

Canada Also Offers New Right Whale Protections. According to E&E News, “The Canadian government is offering new measures to try to protect endangered whales in the wake of the announcement of a similar effort by American fisheries managers. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says its measures are designed to cut down on ship strikes and entanglements in fishing gear that threaten the North Atlantic right whale. The agency states that it is changing an area of ocean that is closed to snow crab and lobster fishing to include the area where 90 percent of the whales were sighted during the busiest parts of last year’s fishing season. It’s also reintroducing a mandatory speed restriction for some vessels that travel in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence starting April 28. Canadian officials announced the new measures yesterday afternoon. In the United States, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission announced Wednesday that it will consider options designed to reduce vertical lobster fishing lines in the water by as much as 40 percent. The lines pose a threat to the whale, one of the rarest marine mammals in the world.” [E&E News, 2/8/19 (=)]

 

New York Aquarium Receives Five Endangered Fish To Educate Public About Extinction. According to WABC, “The New York Aquarium has received five endangered sturgeon and has been designated a satellite research facility to educate visitors on the importance of these fish. The aquarium will give New Yorkers an opportunity to see these gigantic Atlantic sturgeon nose-to-nose, highlighting how the species has played a central role in New York State history and how conservationists are working to prevent their extinction. ‘The Atlantic sturgeon is an amazing fish that was once central to the identity of the Hudson and Delaware rivers,’ said Jon Forrest Dohlin, WCS Vice President and Director of the New York Aquarium. ‘In past centuries, the species was a big part of New York State’s regional trade in sturgeon meat and caviar. Of course, things have changed, and conservationists in New York and elsewhere are now committed to saving this imperiled species.’ They are now the latest inhabitants of the New York Aquarium’s Ocean Wonders: Sharks! The new additions were previously in the care of researchers at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory in Oxford, Maryland, since 2005 as part of a breed-and-release program. In 2012, the species was listed on the Endangered Species Act, with the population in the New York Bight considered Endangered.” [WABC, 2/8/19 (=)]

 

Two Endangered Tigers Were Supposed To Mate. But It Turned Deadly Instead, Zoo Says. According to USA Today, “Two rare tigers at the London Zoo were paired to mate in efforts to protect their species, until their first interaction turned deadly. Sumatran tigers Asim, a male, and Melati, a female, were being introduced Friday for the first time in the same space when Asim soon became aggressive and killed Melati, the zoo said in a statement Friday. ‘Everyone at ZSL London Zoo is devastated by the loss of Melati, and we are heartbroken by this turn of events,’ the zoo said. Asim arrived from Denmark 10 days prior as part of a European-wide conservation breeding program. ‘Asim is a handsome, confident cat who is known for being very affectionate with the ladies in his life – we’re hoping he’ll be the perfect mate for our beautiful Melati,’ head tiger keeper Kathryn Sanders said in a statement in January. The two tigers were held in adjoining enclosures before being in the same space so that they could ‘see, smell and react to each other.’ ‘As with all big cats, introductions, however carefully planned, are always considered to be high risk,’ the zoo said. London Zoo was hopeful though that their interaction would be positive and said they saw good initial signs of the match.” [USA Today, 2/9/19 (=)]

 

Wildlife & Conservation

 

AP | Bald Eagles Make A Soaring Comeback In Southeast Wisconsin. According to Record-Courier, “Gary Shackelford of north Rock County looked at the sky last March 11 and saw a remarkable gathering. Circling over his neighbor’s pond, bald eagles swirled in an aerial ballet. ‘I was astounded to see so many at once,’ Shackelford said to the Janesville Gazette. He walked closer to get a better view and began counting. Sixteen. Maybe more. Most were young and did not yet have their distinctive white heads. Many of us have never seen such a majestic kettle, which is the term for a group of eagles soaring together. But Rock and Walworth county residents are sighting eagles more often these days. Once listed on the state and federal endangered species lists, bald eagles have made a soaring comeback. Nesting surveys conducted last year by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources revealed a record number of nesting birds, with 1,695 nests occupied by breeding adults. The number included the first reported nest in 50 years in Walworth County, and 11 nests in Rock County. A resident contacted Sharon Fandel, a DNR district ecologist with the Natural Heritage Conservation program, to let her know of the nest in Walworth County. ‘He allowed me on the property,’ she said. ‘We were able to confirm it was a bald eagle’s nest. It has long been our suspicion there are more nests in southeastern Wisconsin than we are able to confirm in our aerial surveys.’ Milwaukee County remains the only county in the state without a confirmed nest. But Fandel said it is only a matter of time before nesting eagles are there as well.” [Record-Courier, 2/8/19 (=)]

 

NOAA Slashes Herring Quota As Population Drops. According to E&E News, “Fishermen of an important species of lobster bait will have to contend with a deep cut in quota this year due to concerns about the fish’s population. Atlantic herring are the source of a major fishery on the East Coast. NOAA announced yesterday that it’s cutting this year’s herring quota from nearly 110 million pounds to about 33 million pounds. A June 2018 assessment of the herring stock found that the fish’s population is declining. The report sounded alarms among scientists, fishermen and conservationists because of herring’s economic importance and because of its critical role in the ocean food chain. NOAA says herring aren’t overfished, but the catch of the species needs to be reduced to prevent overfishing. The fishery is based in New England.” [E&E News, 2/8/19 (=)]

 

Bill To Ban Wildlife Traps Ignites Emotions. According to E&E News, “A state bill that would outlaw most wildlife traps and snares on public land in New Mexico ignited three hours of emotional testimony at its first legislative hearing. Rural and suburban attitudes toward wildlife and protecting household pets collided yesterday at a hearing on the bill before a House committee on natural resources. The proposal from Democrats including Rep. Matthew McQueen of Galisteo would outlaw the use of traps, snares and poison with the intent capture or kill animals such as coyotes, foxes and feral hogs on state or federal land. It allows for misdemeanor fines of up to $2,000. Proponents of the bill described the indiscriminate cruelty of traps, while opponents said a ban would infringe on long-standing tradition and endanger livestock. Panel deliberations and voting were postponed.” [E&E News, 2/8/19 (=)]

 

Pelican Stranded By Gov’t Shutdown Flown To Warmer Locale. According to Associated Press, “Bert the pelican has finally found a flight out of the frigid Northeast. The juvenile brown pelican — likely steered north by high winds — had remained stranded at a Rhode Island wildlife facility due to the 35-day partial federal government shutdown. Officials at the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island wanted to relocate the bird to its natural, warmer habitat, but were unable to get the federal permits needed to move him to a southern locale. The Providence Journal reported Sunday that Bert was the guest of Coventry firefighter/paramedic Jonathan Pascua who flies for Pilots N’ Paws and generally works with four-legged creatures. The pelican became a sensation to bird watchers and dock workers, who nicknamed it ‘Bert’. He was flown to North Carolina on the way to Florida.” [Associated Press, 2/10/19 (=)]

 

Florida Considers Restrictions On Shark Fishing. According to Associated Press, “Florida may crackdown on shark fishing from the beach. The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will vote Feb. 20 on a plan to limit the practice and protect swimmers. The proposal would ban the spreading bloody fish parts in the water to attract sharks. Swimmers say the practice endangers them. It would also require that fisherman get a shark permit, not haul sharks out of the water before being released and restrict the types of hooks used. Fishermen say the restrictions will make shark fishing more dangerous because they remove the animals to safely take out the hooks before releasing them. Proponents say the sharks would be better off physically if the hook is left in rather than pulled into the air.” [Associated Press, 2/9/19 (=)]

 

Committee Investigates A Different Kind Of Invasion. According to E&E News, “The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will wrestle again this week with the multibillion-dollar challenge of how to uproot invasive species. Or, better yet, how to stop the myriad invasions in the first place. ‘Invasive species are a problem for the country,’ Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said at a 2017 hearing, ominously noting that ‘in Florida, there is the Burmese python, which can grow to more than 23 feet and weigh up to 200 pounds.’ Burmese pythons established themselves in the Everglades after escaping or being released as pets. They devour everything from wood storks and white-tailed deer to alligators and bobcats. They also compete with native predators for everything the Everglades has to offer. The upcoming hearing is cast as ‘The Invasive Species Threat: Protecting Wildlife, Public Health, and Infrastructure,’ indicating a focus on potential solutions that could range from drone monitoring and DNA detection to special fish passages that keep out the bad guys. The upcoming hearing could be also be a bit of a momentum-building exercise for bills, including Barrasso’s ‘Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver Act,’ which the Senate panel approved by voice vote last week. Similar legislation passed the Senate in 2017 and then stalled in the House.” [E&E News, 2/11/19 (=)]

 

Plummeting Insect Numbers 'Threaten Collapse Of Nature'. According to The Guardian, “The world’s insects are hurtling down the path to extinction, threatening a ‘catastrophic collapse of nature’s ecosystems’, according to the first global scientific review. More than 40% of insect species are declining and a third are endangered, the analysis found. The rate of extinction is eight times faster than that of mammals, birds and reptiles. The total mass of insects is falling by a precipitous 2.5% a year, according to the best data available, suggesting they could vanish within a century. The planet is at the start of a sixth mass extinction in its history, with huge losses already reported in larger animals that are easier to study. But insects are by far the most varied and abundant animals, outweighing humanity by 17 times. They are ‘essential’ for the proper functioning of all ecosystems, the researchers say, as food for other creatures, pollinators and recyclers of nutrients. Insect population collapses have recently been reported in Germany and Puerto Rico, but the review strongly indicates the crisis is global. The researchers set out their conclusions in unusually forceful terms for a peer-reviewed scientific paper: ‘The [insect] trends confirm that the sixth major extinction event is profoundly impacting [on] life forms on our planet. ‘Unless we change our ways of producing food, insects as a whole will go down the path of extinction in a few decades,’ they write. ‘The repercussions this will have for the planet’s ecosystems are catastrophic to say the least.’” [The Guardian, 2/11/19 (+)]

 

 

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