By Rhishja Larson •
October 28, 2009
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded 6 grants totaling $800,000 to determine the cause and stop the spread of deadly white-nose syndrome that has killed over a million bats in the Northeast.
Six grants have been awarded through the USFWS Preventing Extinction program for research to determine the cause, find a cure, and stop the spread of deadly white-nose syndrome in bats. Since its discovery in 2006, white-nose syndrome (WNS) has killed more than a million bats of six species in nine states - and biologists warn this is most devastating wildlife health crisis to face North America in the last 100 years.
By Rhishja Larson •
October 27, 2009
Bats may be considered a spooky Halloween mascot, but they are actually one of the most beneficial animals on the planet: 70% of the world’s bat species feed on insects - and one bat can consume up to 1,000 insect pests in an hour. Bats also play a critical role in pollination and seed dispersal.
Despite the fact that bats occur nearly everywhere on earth (except for arctic and desert extremes), 60 species of bats are listed as endangered. And in the U.S., an estimated million or more hibernating bats of six species have been killed by White-nose Syndrome (WNS) in nine states since 2006.
To help raise awareness for bats, here is a compilation of 10 facts about bats - and a diverse photo gallery of bat species celebrating the surprising cuteness of these creatures. Enjoy!
By Rhishja Larson •
October 2, 2009
Tejon Ranch Company (TRC) has received the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) for its PR scheme designed to distract the public from condor-killing real estate development plans.
Apparently, in Schwarzenegger’s California, the development of a luxury mountain resort in the middle of designated California condor habitat is an award-winning event.
By Rhishja Larson •
September 17, 2009
Endangered species protections have been reinstated for the gray wolf in the western Great Lakes region.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that Endangered Species Act protections are reinstated for the gray wolf in the western Great Lakes region.
However, the status may only be temporary.
By Rhishja Larson •
September 11, 2009
The Kern County Planning Commission has approved development plans for an exclusive gated community featuring luxury homes, golf courses, and hotels in the middle of designated California condor habitat.
Thanks to an elaborate marketing and PR campaign by Tejon Ranch Company (TRC), a massive development project in the heart of California condor habitat has been given the green light by the Kern County Planning Commission.
By Rhishja Larson •
September 9, 2009
Finally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing the status of the Pacific walrus to determine whether or not the marine mammal will receive Endangered Species Act protections.
The Center for Biological Diversity stated that the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) is facing a double threat to its ice habitat: Global warming and increased oil development.
A petition seeking protection for the Pacific walrus was submitted by the Center back in February 2008. After the USFWS failed to respond to the petition, the Center filed a lawsuit - prompting the USFWS to take action.
By Rhishja Larson •
August 28, 2009
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that they will consider listing the Sonoran desert tortoise as a distinct population.
A 90-day finding on a petition to list the Sonoran desert tortoise (Gopherus agasizzii) as a distinct population (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act has been announced by the USFWS. This announcement has come after the review of filed petitions showed substantial evidence that the Sonoran desert tortoise may meet the criteria of “discreteness and significance” required for distinct population segments.
By Rhishja Larson •
July 23, 2009
The American Pika (Ochotona princeps), a small relative of the rabbit, may be facing extinction as warming temperatures eliminate Pikas from their alpine habitat. The USFWS is expected to decide by Feb. 1, 2010 if the American Pika will receive endangered species designation.
An alarming number of Pikas have already become early victims of global warming. They are believed to be regionally extinct in in some areas of the Great Basin mountains of Nevada and Oregon, where more than a third of the American Pika population has disappeared.
Pikas are highly adapted to their alpine environments. Their dense fur makes them susceptible to overheating, and Pikas will die if exposed to temperatures as low as 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pikas do not hibernate, but instead prepare for the winter by cutting and sun-drying vegetation for storage, which they consume in the winter. This haying activity has given the America Pika the nickname “ecosystem engineer”
By Amanda Peterka •
October 15, 2008
Sarah Palin says the causes don’t matter. The Bush Administration admits they do, but says that since there’s no single source of greenhouse gases, wildlife agencies should ignore global warming.
