Migratory Bird Treaty Act

Who wins and who loses with these 4 regulatory rollbacks? “In January, the Trump administration finalized a 2017 decision to ignore the prohibition on incidental takes. Now, if a protected bird is killed by a wind turbine blade, industrial pesticide, a commercial fishing longline, a toxic oil-waste pit or mine-tailings pond, there are no legal consequences” [High Country News, 5/27/20 (+)]

Endangered & Protected Species

Dams Central Focus of Endangered Fish Dispute in Oregon. “Scientists fear the imminent extinction of winter steelhead in Oregon’s Willamette River, and spring chinook are not doing much better as the government assesses the main danger to fish there: the 13 federal dams it operates. Environmentalists say the Army Corps of Engineers tried to upend that process by reallocating river water for cities, farms and industry that fish desperately need.” [Courthouse News Service, 5/26/20 (=)]

NPS investigates after vehicle kills nesting turtle in N.C. “The National Park Service said yesterday it is investigating after a nesting loggerhead sea turtle was found dead on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore beach, with signs that the creature was run over by a vehicle.” [E&E News, 5/26/20 (=)]

Alleged Irish 'Traveler' seized in rhino horn case. “Federal rhino horn smuggling charges brought against an Irish national surfaced in a Waco, Texas, courtroom today, nine years after the deal for which his brother already did time went down. John Slattery faces three felony counts of violating U.S. wildlife laws, according to the 2014 indictment unsealed today. He was seized by Ireland's An Garda Síochána, the country's national police force, and extradited last week.” [E&E News, 5/26/20 (=)]