National

Like guac and margaritas? Thank a bat. “It's no coincidence advocates are unleashing the bat signal this week. Today marks the beginning of Bat Week, and they want you to know just how important the conservation of the environmentally and economically friendly mammal is.” [E&E News, 10/24/19 (=)]

State and Local

Sea urchin explosion off Calif., Ore. decimates kelp. “Tens of millions of voracious purple sea urchins that have already chomped their way through towering underwater kelp forests in California are spreading north to Oregon, sending the delicate marine ecosystem off the shore into such disarray that other critical species are starving to death.” [E&E News, 10/24/19 (=)]

Discovery of California condor chick marks record in Southwest. “Wildlife biologists say a record number of wild California condor chicks have been documented this year in the U.S. Southwest with the discovery earlier this month of No. 5, a nestling found in Grand Canyon National Park.” [E&E News, 10/24/19 (=)]

Low Gunnison Sage Grouse count concerns state officials. “Colorado Parks and Wildlife and conservation groups are concerned about a low number of male Gunnison sage-grouse birds counted in this year's annual survey.” [Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, 10/24/19 (=)]

Op-Ed, Editorial, and Analysis

Editorial: Trump’s Gift to California. “Amid horrific wildfires and rolling blackouts, the Trump Administration this week brought welcome relief to the Golden State by allowing more water to be sent to farmers and folks in the south. Will California liberals accept the deregulatory gift?” [Wall Street Journal, 10/24/19 (-)]