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WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS

GRIZZLY BEAR COMMENT PERIOD OPEN

Right now, even though grizzly bears are still listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, there is a movement to strip them of their protections, paving the way for state-supported trophy hunts.

Anti-wildlife factions are seeking to delist a number of grizzly populations: a Wyoming petition seeks to strip protections from all grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, a Montana petition wants to end protection for grizzlies in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, and Idaho seeks to delist all grizzlies in the entire lower 48.

The state of Montana is currently seeking public opinion on the possible delisting, but only until January 5, 2023, inconvenient timing due to the holidays. To submit your comment online, go here. For postal mail, send comments to Wildlife Division, Grizzly Bear Plan and EIS, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620. Comments can also be emailed to  fwpwld@mt.gov.

To read more about this issue, go here.

Photo by John Thomas on Unsplash

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

ORANGUTANS

Orangutans are currently facing extinction due to the destruction of habitat for palm oil plantations. Rain forests are clearcut and planted with the oil palm tree, which not only creates a monoculture devoid of biodiversity, but steps are then taken to eradicate any native wildlife. As many as 1,000 to 5,000 orangutans are killed each year on palm oil plantations. Palm oil production is also a leading cause of climate change due to deforestation.

Other species, such as the Sumatran rhinoceros and Sumatran tiger, are being decimated by these plantations.

Unfortunately, palm oil is found in 50% of household products, including shampoos, make-up, soaps, lotions, detergents, peanut butter, even sweet food items such as pie and cookies.

You can help by no longer buying products that contain palm oil. There are numerous chemical names for palm oil derivatives including Vitamin A palmitate, palm kernel oil, sodium laureth sulphate, sodium dodecyl sulphate, stearic acid, hydrated palm glycerides, cetyl palmitate, and many other names you can check here.

To learn more about this issue, click here.

Photo by Mark Flanagan on Unsplash

GREEN TIP

WASH YOUR CLOTHES IN COLD WATER

Washing your clothes in cold water can do a lot to cut down on pollution, saving as much as 500 pounds of carbon dioxide a year and up to 80% of the energy required to wash your clothes.

To cut down on even more pollution and save energy, consider then hanging your clothes up to dry rather than using a dryer.

In addition, choosing a washing machine that is certified by Energy Star will ensure even more energy savings and less pollution, saving 400 pounds of CO₂ each year, which amounts to planting a quarter acre of trees.

Photo by Filip Zrnzević on Unsplash

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

Join in with the Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count between December 14, 2022 and January 5, 2023.

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was started in 1900 as a way of celebrating, rather than hunting, birds. Each year, thousands of bird watchers around the world tally up all of their sightings. This gives researchers an accurate picture of how bird populations are changing.

Observing areas are set up in so-called CBC “circles.” Each circle has its own 24-hour period for observing birds, so you only have to dedicate one day to contributing to this valuable project. Sign up to see which day of observation is applicable in your area’s circle.

If your area does not have an existing CBC circle, you can apply to set up your own by clicking here. If you don’t have time to contribute, but want to donate to the effort, click here.

To read more about the event and sign up to help, see this page.

Photo by Richard Sagredo on Unsplashh

WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS

PIKAS VANISHING IN THE GREAT BASIN AND SIERRA NEVADAS

The American pika, a charismatic and vocal relative of the rabbit, is vanishing from areas in the Great Basin and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Pikas live in the cool spaces between rocks in talus slopes in alpine areas. They cannot survive long in temperatures above 70 degrees F. As the earth warms rapidly due to anthropogenic climate change, pikas are forced farther and farther upslope until there is nowhere higher to go, and populations then die out.

In winter, they don’t hibernate, but rely on insulating snow layers to stay warm. However, with the reduction of snowpack due to warming, this layer of protection is dwindling.

A recent Nevada report revealed that pikas are now reduced to inhabiting only twenty-two of the hundreds of mountain ranges in the state.

Read more about them here.

Photo by Alice Henderson

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

FLORIDA PANTHER

The Florida panther lives only in south Florida. Though it originally roamed as far west as Louisiana, today it occupies only five percent of its historic range, and only 100-120 remain.

The reason for this decline is habitat fragmentation and loss caused by increasing human development. Roads encroaching into their habitat mean panthers killed in vehicle collisions, and the small population means increased vulnerability to genetic isolation, diseases, and parasites.

Conservationists have long worked to get critical habitat designated for the Florida panther. They’ve also petitioned for the panthers’ reintroduction into places such as the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. These attempts have been futile thus far. Though protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Florida panther still has no designated critical habitat.

You can read more about the efforts to save them here.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

GREEN TIP

FREECYCLE

Have a washing machine, weight set, clothes, or maybe a bookcase you no longer need? Instead of throwing them out, list them on Freecycle. It’s a free website where community members can list items that can be reused.

Likewise, before making a purchase, check out your local Freecycle listings to see if something on there will work for you.

You can find all kinds of useful items on Freecycle, like tools, paint, step ladders, and more. And there are often fun items, too, like LPs and books.

Check out what your local community has to offer by entering your zip code on this website.

Photo by Sven Brandsma on Unsplash

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

PENGUIN WATCH

Want to help with the conservation of penguins? Here’s a wonderful project you can do from your own home! Help scientists understand survival rates and breeding timing by counting penguins and their chicks recorded on time lapse cameras deployed in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

You can do this from anywhere — you just need an internet connection!

Read more about the project and how you can contribute here.

Photo by Cornelius Ventures on Unsplash