"Shark Attacks Are Rare – And Related Deaths Even Rarer"
"Four people on average are killed in unprovoked attacks a year, yet humans kill 100 million sharks annually, say marine biologists."
Source: Guardian, 08/18/2011
Wildlife
Voluntary Sage-Grouse Protection Efforts Awarded $71 Million
Greater sage-grouse are at just 3% of their historical numbers, and warrant protection, according to the Bureau of Land Management. But since other species are in even more dire straits, the birds haven't been declared a threatened or endangered species. The US Dept. of Agriculture money is a work-around aimed at saving the birds and their habitat.
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Interior Probe of Polar Bear Scientist Baffles, Looks Political
Five years after writing about polar bears drowning, apparently from lack of sea ice, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement was suspended without a reason. Later he was told it was due to charges of "scientific misconduct" from a party or parties not identified.
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FWS Proposes To Expand Hunting at 10 Wildlife Refuges
Hunting, under certain conditions, is already allowed at more than 300 of the 553 sites in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Contact local environmental, animal rights, and hunting groups for opinions for or against these proposals that would allow additional species to be killed at 10 refuges in 8 states.
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"Federal Officials Investigate Eagle Deaths at DWP Wind Farm"
"Pine Tree facility in the Tehachapi Mountains faces scrutiny over the deaths of at least six golden eagles, which are protected under federal law. Prosecution would be a major blow to the booming industry."
Source: LA Times, 08/03/2011
Shark Week To Trigger Media Feeding Frenzy July 31
Shark Week may once have been an effort to relive "Jaws" — but in more recent years Discovery has used the event as a chance to educate the public about sharks, build awareness of the threats they face, and explain the need to conserve them.
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"Island Off Alabama Coast Bursting With Birds After Oil Spill"
"The 1,300-acre, man-made [Gaillard Island off Alabama's Gulf coast] is hosting more than 50,000 birds this summer as nesting pairs gather to raise babies. That number would be considered high in any year, but it's a particularly surprising sight a year after oil from the BP spill fouled surrounding waters."
Source: Reuters, 07/11/2011
"Judge Upholds 'Threatened' Listing for Polar Bear"
"A federal judge [Thursday] upheld the George W. Bush administration's decision to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act."
Source: Greenwire, 07/01/2011
Feds Award Millions for Environmental Projects
There is local news in these USDA and USFWS grants. These on-the-ground projects involve specific groups and individuals, offering prime examples of programs you can investigate to see whether federal tax dollars are being effectively and efficiently spent.
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