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Exposing the Big Game

Monthly Archives: January 2019

Nuclear Threat Grows as US Prepares to Withdraw From INF Treaty

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Exposing the Big Game's avatarThe Extinction Chronicles

Today, there are nine nuclear nations and the risks are incalculable. But is anyone paying attention?
Today, there are nine nuclear nations and the risks are incalculable. But is anyone paying attention?
LAUREN WALKER / TRUTHOUT
BY
Jon Letman,
Truthout
PUBLISHED

With the US poised to begin its withdrawal from the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty on February 2, there’s been an uptick in media focus on arms control and the nuclear weapons, even as the US public remains largely disengaged.

The INF treaty, signed by the US and Soviet Union in 1987, led to the elimination of nuclear and non-nuclear ground-launched ballistic and cruises missiles with a range of roughly 310 to 3,410 miles (500 to 5,500 km). Since 2013, however, the US has accused Russia of violating the treaty at least 30 times, pointing to Russia’s SSC-8 ground-launched cruise missile as posing “significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security.” Meanwhile, Russia denies violating the INF.

In December, US Secretary…

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First bison calves born in Banff National Park in over 140 years

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Canadians are getting their first glimpse at the newest additions to Banff National Park’s wild bison.

Parks Canada released photos on Tuesday of the first bison calf born in the Panther Valley on April 22. Since then, two more have been born.

“Things are going really well, it was amazing the first calf was actually born on Earth Day, ironically,” Bill Hunt with Parks Canada said.

Hunt said there’s now ten pregnant females in back country Banff along with six males.

On Feb. 1, 16 Plains bison were transferred from Elk Island National Park, east of Edmonton, to the Panther Valley in Banff National Park.

It’s the first phase of a five-year pilot project to reintroduce wild bison to Banff’s eastern slopes.

“It’s a huge milestone in this project, this will help tie the cows to that site and for the calves born this spring, Banff will be the…

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A small island town prepares for a major earthquake

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Without a single hospital, Washington’s Vashon Island emergency responders work to avert disaster should ‘the big one’ hit.

Hallie Golden Jan. 30, 2019
https://www.hcn.org/articles/danger-a-small-island-town-prepares-for-a-major-earthquake?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email

This article was originally published by CityLab and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

When the ground starts shaking, Rick Wallace has three things to do: check on his wife and house, find his emergency stashes of food and water, and get to work.

As the manager of the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) on Washington state’s Vashon Island, it’s up to him to get the emergency operation team in motion when “the big one” hits the Pacific Northwest. That means jumping on his ham radio and instructing each volunteer member in the community to go to EOC headquarters (a large space at the main fire station) and report to the Island Incident Commander (normally the fire chief).

Vashon Island residents…

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Accidental firearm discharge at Wyoming hunter ed course

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RAWLINS, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department says no one was hurt in an accidental discharge of a firearm during a hunter education class in Rawlins.

The incident occurred Monday evening while instructors were preparing firearms for the hands-on portion of the class being held at the Department of Corrections Training Facility.

Game and Fish says it is conducting a review of the incident and will take appropriate action when the review is complete.

Game and Fish hunter education coordinator George Oberstadt says in a statement that the primary goal of hunter education is to teach safe firearm handling to prevent hunting accidents.

He says there are stringent protocols in place for firearm handling in hunter education classrooms to ensure safety.

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Should Oregon outlaw coyote hunting tournaments and similar events?

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https://kpic.com/outdoors/should-oregon-outlaw-coyote-hunting-tournaments-and-similar-events

by Mark Furman

Wednesday, January 30th 2019

The Humane Society of the United States released undercover photos and video the organization says investigators recorded in eastern Oregon during Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) 1st Annual Coyote Hunting Tournament last December. (Humane Society of the United States)

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EUGENE, Ore. – The Humane Society of the United States released undercover video Wednesday that the organization says investigators recorded in eastern Oregon during the “Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) 1st Annual Coyote Hunting Tournament” last December.

The Society also heralded new legislation introduced in the Oregon Senate to outlaw such events.

“Trucks pulled into the parking lot one after the other to unload the bodies of the animals,” Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, wrote in a blog post. “The contestants laughed and joked about their kills…

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Zebra dies in Carroll County after being left out in the cold

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POSTED 1:47 PM, JANUARY 30, 2019, BY , UPDATED AT 02:56PM, JANUARY 30, 2019

Photo view Sonya Kendall/Facebook

CARROLL COUNTY, Ind. – A zebra died due to the extreme cold in Carroll County.

Sherriff Tobe Leazenby told WLFI one of two zebras on the Pittsburg property died as a result of the cold.

Leazenby said investigators checked the scene, and the property met standards for outside animals, making shelter, food and water available. Investigators said it appeared the zebra got stuck in the fence and couldn’t get free.

A woman who posted a photo of the zebras said the shelter was “a carport with open ends.” Her photo of the zebras showed them out in the cold without a blanket.

The property also has kangaroos, but Leazenby told WLFI that the kangaroos were inside a shelter.

The incident remains under investigation.

Climate change: Planet-warming power of cattle urine can be avoided by restoring farmland, study finds

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Greenhouse gases from livestock can be cut by ensuring pastures are healthy, scientists say

Scientists have found restoring cattle pastures brings an unlikely environmental benefit by cutting the greenhouse gas emissions from cattle urine.

The planet-warming power of methane gas emitted by cows is well known, but their urine is also a contributor to climate change.

When the animals urinate on pastures, they produce the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, which like methane has a far more powerful climate effect that CO2.

Previous research on the Somerset Levels in the UK has shown how adding cow urine to grassland stimulates gas production by adding nitrogen to the system and increasing soil water content.

In a new study, scientists investigated the levels of nitrous oxide coming from cow pastures across Latin America and the Caribbean after pouring samples of urine onto them.

Environment news in…

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Wolf management, trapping hot topics in upcoming weeks in Montana Legislature

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  • TOM KUGLIN tom.kuglin@helenair.com
  • Updated 
Gray Wolf
MacNeil Lyons
TownNews.com Content Exchange

Montana lawmakers will consider about a dozen bills in the coming weeks that could shape the future of wolf management and trapping in the state.

Wolves and trapping have traditionally been contentious issues in Montana and this legislature is poised to have more debate about both than in the last few sessions.

Lawmakers have drafted bills on either side of the spectrum, with several pieces of legislation to expand wolf harvest to one that would study the non-hunting economic value of wolves.

https://www.sidneyherald.com/tncms/block/1539953/?disableTNStatsTracker=1
+7  
Wolf trap
Mike Ross with the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks holds a wolf trap.

Independent Record, 2015 file photo

On trapping, legislators have brought forth bills to require daily checks of traps and elimination of snares on public lands, while other bills would allow reimbursement for wolf trappers and limit trap setbacks…

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Japan earthquake, tsunami fears heighten after oarfish sightings but scientists say it’s not a bad omen

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  • Legend has it that when oarfish rise to shallow waters, disaster is near. But scientists say there has been no reports of increased seismic activity in recent weeks
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 31 January, 2019, 7:01pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 31 January, 2019, 11:47pm

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2184498/rare-sightings-oarfish-put-japanese-high-alert-earthquake

Julian Ryall

On Monday, an oarfish measuring nearly four metres from snout to tail was found tangled in a fishing net off the port of Imizu, in the north-coast prefecture of Toyama. The fish was already dead but was later taken to the nearby Uozu Aquarium to be studied.

Two more of the slender, snake-like fish were discovered in Toyama Bay nine days earlier. A record four oarfish were found in Toyama Bay in 2015 but that could be surpassed this year.

The species – characterised by long silver bodies and red fins – usually inhabit deep waters and the fish are rarely seen from the surface…

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Kretz Introduces Bill to Create Wolf Sanctuary on Bainbridge Island

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[Fine by me…]
https://www.kpq.com/kretz-introduces-bill-to-create-wolf-sanctuary-on-bainbridge-island/
file photo

POSTED BY: NEWSRADIO 560 KPQ NEWS SERVICES JANUARY 30, 2019

Olympia, WA – Seventh District State Representative Joel Kretz of Okanogan County says it’s time to “share the love” of Eastern Washington predatory wolves with the folks in Puget Sound, who want to protect the critters.

A legislator representing Bainbridge Island has introduced legislation that would prohibit the lethal removal of gray wolves. In response, Kretz introduced House Bill 1639, which would create the state’s first gray wolf sanctuary on Bainbridge Island.

“If that’s the kind of legislation that someone from Bainbridge Island is going to be running to impose on us who actually have wolves, maybe it would help broaden her mind a little bit to experience the benefits of wolves. So what better place than Bainbridge Island?

Kretz bill also provides guidance on when the state may use lethal removal of wolves on the island, specifically limiting such removal only after four dogs, four cats or even two children have been killed.

His message is simple: If Westside legislators who live on a protected island hundreds of miles away from wolves want to prohibit Eastern Washington ranchers and farmers from protecting their families and property, maybe it’s time to share those wolves.

“With this bill, we can deliver ‘em right to them. I’ve had lots of offers from the 7th District. If you need my stock trailer, I’ll bring a load of wolves.”

The measure is awaiting a hearing in the House Rural Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

Press release provided by the Washington State House Republicans.