Written by Keith Rockmael
Published on February 1st, 2010
Even if the U.S. government continues its pseudo protection to save the planet’s wildlife and natural resources they can be thanked indirectly as they recently created a new National Wildlife Refuge System Coloring Book. Most people might not be aware of the U.S. Refuge System, which includes more than 540 refuges, with at least one in every state and one about an hour’s drive from most metropolitan areas. Here in the Bay Area we have a few including Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Newark. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Jerry James Stone
Published on January 8th, 2010
Scientists have found that Killer Whales in the North Atlantic Ocean differ in both diet and genetic makeup. In fact, they’re in the process of splitting into two different species all together.
Researchers examined the teeth of 62 whale skeletons, some that were hundreds of years old. They found that “type 1″ whales had longer teeth with significant wear in comparison to “type 2.” Type 2 whales fed on a combination of seals and fish. But type 1 whales stuck to dolphins and smaller whales, like that of Antarctic orcas.
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Written by Dave Dempsey
Published on December 2nd, 2009
The ancient lake sturgeon, a threatened species, is making a modest comeback in the Great Lakes after more than a century of overharvest and habitat destruction.
Even as news spreads of the possible imminent invasion of giant Asian carp in the Great Lakes, there’s also good news — the mammoth, native lake sturgeon is making a comeback, breeding where it hasn’t in decades. Once regarded by European settlers in the region as a trash fish, the sturgeon has long been venerated by Native Americans. Concerted habitat restoration and restocking programs have given new life to the fish, which can live over 100 years and grow to weights of 200 pounds and lengths of greater than six feet. In fact, one Michigan angler a few years ago mistook a resting sturgeon for a floating log — until it swam away.
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Written by Jake Richardson
Published on November 26th, 2009
The Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly species was identified in September by Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department biologists. 1934 was the last Maine sighting of the butterfly. The recent finding was in the hardwood swamps of Berwick and Wells.
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Written by Dave Dempsey
Published on November 20th, 2009
Bighead carp are one of two non-native species of Asian carp causing widespread concern among Great Lakes advocates. The other is silver carp.
Great Lakes advocates are calling it a “conservation emergency” now that non-native Asian carp have been detected within seven miles of Lake Michigan. They want an immediate closure of locks and gateways leading to the lake in a literally”last-ditch” attempt to keep the fish out.
The fear is that the giant fish will disrupt the valuable Great Lakes sport fishery by outcompeting species at the top of the Lake Michigan food web, consuming the forage fish the established species depend on — and like many of the other 180 non-native aquatic species already in the Great Lakes, causing general ecosystem disruption.
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Written by Daniel Hohler
Published on November 19th, 2009
Writing for GreenOptions I sometimes get contacted by PR firms wanting to promote projects. Sight unseen I usually shrug them off, I happen to only write about items that I have seen or used, and can feel good about endorsing. When MSNBC contacted me the other day with a preview of a new special on animal conservation, I figured it was probably more of the same stories I have seen over and over again. However, when I watched the preview it sucked me in. It is hosted by Jeff Corwin, a famous naturalist you have probably seen on TV. I can say wholeheartedly that this looks like something that I can feel good about endorsing.
Every 20 minutes a species will go extinct, 20,000 species this year, and this Sunday, November 22, 8PM Eastern MSNBC will be airing “100 Heartbeats” hosted by Jeff Corwin to fight back. You can watch the preview here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33490448#33490448
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Written by Daniel Hohler
Published on September 23rd, 2009
In 2007 federal protections were dropped for the protection of Yellowstone grizzlies. Ever since then, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition have been fighting to give protection back to the bears. They argued that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) failed to address the loss of essential food sources for the bears, whitebark pine seeds and cutthroat trout.
On Monday, September 21 they finally achieved what they were fighting for when Judge Donald Molloy ruled that inadequate regulatory mechanisms were put in place to manage the bears. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and six other groups, represented by Earthjustice, have a similar case pending in Idaho.
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Written by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Published on September 14th, 2009
According to reports, 13 cheetal and one swamp deer died Friday evening under “mysterious circumstances” at the Kanpur Zoo. Viscera samples and stomach content have been sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI). Results are expected sometime within the next two weeks. The samples will also be tested at the Lucknow forensic science lab to rule out “sabotage.” Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Zachary Shahan
Published on September 2nd, 2009
Communities of all sorts are being disturbed by the fires in California. As another result of climate change, bird communities are expected to see some big changes in other ways, according to a new report released on September 1.
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Tags:
animals,
biodiversity,
birds,
California,
Climate change,
conservation,
conservation management,
ecology,
extinct,
extinction,
Global Warming,
migration,
nature,
science,
species
Written by Dave Dempsey
Published on August 20th, 2009
An expert advisory committee this week released recommendations on restoring Minnesota’s dwindling moose population, whose decline one expert said is related to gradual warming of the state’s climate. “The moose, of course, is not an animal that deals very well with heat,’’ panel chairperson Rolf Peterson of Michigan Technological University said. “We wouldn’t even be here today if it wasn’t for climate change.’’
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