Wildlife

Experts Study Whale Species So Rare It’s Never Been Seen Alive

"It is the world’s rarest whale, with only seven of its kind ever spotted. Almost nothing is known about the enigmatic species. But on Monday a small group of scientists and cultural experts in New Zealand clustered around a near-perfectly preserved spade-toothed whale hoping to decode decades of mystery."

Source: AP, 12/05/2024

To Save Dying Swamp, Louisiana Aims To Restore Mississippi River Flow

"Louisiana has long relied on a vast levee system to rein in the Mississippi River and protect surrounding communities from flooding. But cutting off the natural flow of the river with man made barriers has been slowly killing one of the nation’s largest forested wetlands."

Source: AP, 12/05/2024

USFWS Adopts Lynx Recovery Plan, Proposes New Critical Habitat Designations

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last week finalized a recovery plan for Canada lynx, a species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and proposed new critical habitat designations to increase federal protections for the winter-adept felines in some areas. "

Source: Daily Montanan, 12/04/2024

"Monarch Butterflies May Soon Get Protections Under Endangered Species Act"

"Monarch populations have plummeted due to habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. Eastern monarch populations that migrate between Canada and overwintering sites in Mexico are estimated to have declined by more than 80 percent since the 1990s."

Source: NPR, 12/04/2024

Arizona’s Grijalva Will Step Down As Top Dem On House Resources Panel

"Raúl Grijalva, the top Democrat on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, will not seek to remain in that position in the next Congress, he said in a written statement Monday."

Source: States Newsroom, 12/03/2024

Reporting on Illegal Wildlife Trade – Story Ideas, Safety Tips and More

Illicit trade in wild animals and plants is a billion-dollar global business that threatens biodiversity and human health. Endless reporting opportunities range from exposing corruption and criminal networks to debunking claims about products derived from endangered species. Journalist Rene Ebersole shares insights from her 20 years on the trail of wildlife smugglers, poachers and other environmental lawbreakers — and introduces a new nonprofit dedicated to this beat.

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"Court Deals Setback To Efforts To Regulate Pesticide-Coated Seeds"

"A federal court this week dealt a blow to calls for new regulations on pesticide-coated seeds used in farming, ruling that US regulators were not acting improperly in exempting the seeds from registration review."

Source: The New Lede, 11/25/2024

The Resilient Sea Turtle, Beset by Threats

Sea turtles are in decline across the globe, victims of coastal development, algal blooms and, perhaps cruelest of all, plastic pollution. Marine biologist Christine Figgener, in a new book part memoir and part field guide, recounts the less than glamorous but rewarding work to spare them extinction, from arduous field work to viral video epiphanies. BookShelf editor Tom Henry reviews “My Life With Sea Turtles.”

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