MADISON – After four rare whooping cranes were shot and killed in Oklahoma, conservationists worry about the fate of the endangered bird in Wisconsin if a sandhill crane hunt were to be approved in Wisconsin.
The four cranes were killed in December, according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, andan investigation is ongoing. The four birds were a part of the Aransas-Wood Buffalo population, which contains about 506 birds in total, according to 2019 population estimations.
Though it’s unclear why the birds were killed, or if it was an accident, theInternational Crane Foundationis concerned that similar events could take place in Wisconsin if the legislation to establish a sandhill crane hunt is approved. Some advocates worry that hunters could get sandhill and whooping cranes confused, potentially harming the very small population in the Eastern migratory population flyway.
As more wolves are killed around Yellowstone National Park, numerous groups are upping the pressure on both state and federal agencies to reduce or stop the death count.
After the Associated Press reported on Jan. 6 that 20 wolves from packs residing in Yellowstone National Park have been shot and killed, concern has grown over what continued trapping could mean for tourism, let alone the park’s research. Out of the 20 wolves, 15 were shot in Montana, and Montana’s trapping and snaring season, which started three weeks ago, is slated to run through mid-March. One more park wolf has been killed in the past week.
In response, 30 ecotourism business owners who operate in and around the Park sent a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland last week, asking her to relist the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act.
Concerned about recently passed state laws that have legalized more methods to hunt and trap wolves and increased the limit to 10 wolves per trapper, the business owners are worried Yellowstone could lose more of the estimated 94 wolves that remain.
“Wolves are not just essential to my business but make up 70% of my sales as a wildlife photographer and gallery owner. My customers travel from all over the world for a chance to see a wild Yellowstone wolf. The current slaughter of Yellowstone wolves will be detrimental to my livelihood,” said Chris T. Hoff, photographer and owner of Yellowstone Wild the Gallery.
As of Jan. 12, it’s been 26 years since the first eight wolves to be reintroduced were brought to Yellowstone Park. Now, as the park prepares to celebrate its 150th birthday, some are wondering if the killing of so many wolves will give the park and the surrounding regions a black eye.
Visitor polling in Yellowstone consistently places wildlife viewing in the top three reasons people want to visit the park. In 2005, when park visitation was more than 2.8 million, the annual economic contribution from wolf viewing was estimated at around $35.5 million. Park visitation has almost doubled to more than 4.4 million visitors in 2021 while the economic impact is now about $80 million annually.
Outside the park, most residents of the Paradise Valley are directly or indirectly affected by the recreational tourism industry driven by the park. The lodging industry in Paradise Valley alone generates $1.8 million in state taxes, driven in large part by tourists coming to Yellowstone.
While Gov. Greg Gianforte repeatedly says that Montana is “open for business,” those who depend on wolf tourism are worried about being forced to close. Up until now, Yellowstone wolves have offered great opportunities for wildlife viewing, particularly in the Lamar Valley. But guides say hunted wolves are less tolerant of people and less likely to be visible to the public.
“The states around Yellowstone Park fail to make any viable economic argument for the need to dramatically reduce wolf populations. At the same time, they pay no regard to the harm inflicted on our prosperous ecotourism industry. This lack of rationale reveals an underlying pathology that threatens not only our livelihoods with extinction, but the wolf population itself. There couldn’t be a more clear-cut case for an imminent threat to a species,” said Nathan Varley, wildlife biologist and owner of Yellowstone Wolf Tracker.
After wolves in the Northern Rockies came off the endangered species list in 2011, Montana put a low quota – no more than five – on the number of wolves that could be killed in hunting districts 313 and 316, which are just north of the park border in Park County. But that changed in August, when a Fish, Wildlife & Parks commission, appointed almost entirely by Gianforte, eliminated the quotas, creating only advisory quotas for each FWP region.
In September, after three wolf pups were killed outside the park in the early days of Montana’s hunting season, Yellowstone Park superintendent Cam Sholly asked Gianforte to stop hunting and trapping around the park. The AP reported Sholly sent a second more urgent letter on Dec. 16, to which Gianforte responded, saying it was up to the FWP commission to make that decision.
As of Jan. 14, Region 3, which includes districts 313 and 316, reports 65 wolves have been killed out of a total of 160 statewide. The commission is required to review once 82 wolves are dead in Region 3 but they don’t have to stop the season.
In September, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it would review the wolves’ status to determine if relisting is warranted. The problem for some is a USFWS review takes up to a year. The businesses asked Haaland to expedite the review.
“We recognize that living with wolves on the landscape has a cost; conflict mitigation and compensation for depredations takes time, money, and resources to address. However, wolves are essential to the wildness of the Greater Yellowstone region and to the region’s thriving tourism economy,” the letter said.
In the meantime, some are trying to make changes at the local instead of the federal level.
The Gateways to Yellowstone Business Coalition – some of the members also signed the Haaland letter – is calling on the Gianforte and FWP commission to save the livelihoods of the coalition and reinstate the two-wolf quotas in districts 313 and 316. “In sum, managing wolves with a conservative harvest close to the boundary of Yellowstone but using less conservative harvests farther away from Yellowstone Park within Park County (if that is what those locals so choose) could lessen much of the controversy,” wrote the coalition on its website.
But they aren’t the only ones going that route. The Endangered Species Coalition also recently asked its supporters to petition Gianforte and FWP Director Hank Worsech to close 313 and 316 to hunting and trapping.
In late August, the Endangered Species Coalition was one of the first groups to petition the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a status review of the gray wolf. By then, several groups had already called for emergency relisting of the wolf, but the Fish and Wildlife Service didn’t act, choosing instead to initiate the review.
A sign at the edge of an exclusion zone warns of the closure of a footpath after an outbreak of bird flu in the village of Upham in southern England, February 3, 2015.(photo credit: REUTERS/PETER NICHOLLS)Advertisementhttps://trinitymedia.ai/player/trinity-player.php?pageURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jpost.com%2Fhealth-and-wellness%2Farticle-692815&unitId=2900003088&userId=43dabe08-2b1a-4c7c-bafe-85ac9a956566&isLegacyBrowser=false&version=20220118_e4e3582abc3c23eae0811f504234052bc260c7f5&useCFCDN=0&themeId=140Five human cases of the H5N6 strain of avian influenza have been reported in China in recent weeks, the Center for Health Protection (CHP) of the Hong Kong Department of Health reported on Thursday. Two of the patients have died.Four out of the five cases had confirmed exposure to poultry, although it is as of yet unclear how the fifth case got infected, according to the Department of Health. All the cases were infected in December.The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Friday that all the cases had a history of exposure to poultry prior to infection and that none of their family members had developed symptoms. No epidemiological links were found between the five cases.Top Articles By JPostRead More
PA minister panned for blaming Hamas for floodsAdditionally, between January 7 and 13, four new cases of human infections of the H9N2 strain of bird flu were reported in China. All four are in mild condition and have already recovered. All had a history of poultry exposure and no epidemiological links were found between the four cases. 24 cases of H9N2 were reported in China in 2021.A spike in the number of human infections caused by H5N6 has been reported in China in the past year.Workers in protective gear seen in Moshav Givat Yoav, in northern Israel, December 29, 2021, following an outbreak of the Avian influenza. (credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)According to the WHO, the rise in H5N6 cases may reflect the continued circulation of the virus in birds and enhanced surveillance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The WHO added that the zoonotic threat remains elevated due to the spread of the viruses among birds, but that the overall pandemic risk associated with the strain of bird flu has not significantly changed.The increase in human infections caused by the H5N6 subtype of avian influenza is causing concern among experts, who say that a previously circulating strain appears to have changed and could be more infectious to people.”The increase in human cases in China this year is of concern. It’s a virus that causes high mortality,” said Thijs Kuiken, professor of comparative pathology at Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, to Reuters.A Simple Method to Reduce Neuropathy (Watch)Sponsored by Health Today NewsOn Friday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that a wild bird in South Carolina was found to be infected with highly pathogenic Eurasian H5 avian influenza, the first case of this variant of bird flu found in the US since 2016.The bird, a wild American wigeon, was found in Colleton County, South Carolina. Other variants of the bird flu have been detected in the US in recent years.The USDA added that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still considers the risk to the general public from the variant to be low. No human infections from the variant have occurred in the US.The USDA advised people to minimize direct contact with wild birds and advised bird owners to practice good biosecurity and keep their birds isolated from wild birds.A large number of bird flu outbreaks have been reported throughout Europe, Africa and Asia in recent weeks, mostly due to the H5N1 subtype, which comes from the H5 lineage, according to the World Organization for Animal Health.Over a million birds were found to be infected with the variant in Israel in recent months, although Israel’s Agriculture Ministry declared on Friday that the outbreak is now under control.The OIE has urged countries to increase surveillance for HPAI outbreaks, as the virus has been reported in over 40 countries since July.[Gallery] Experts Discover Girl Born From Two Different SpeciesSponsored by Entrepreneur[Pics] At 74, Hillary Clinton Lives In This HouseSponsored by https://afternoonedition.com/Recommended byThe H5N1, H5N3, H5N4, H5N5, H5N6 and H5N8 subtypes of HPAI are circulating in bird and poultry populations across the globe, sparking concern at OIE which called this an “unprecedented genetic variability of subtypes… creating an epidemiologically challenging landscape.”Earlier this month, OIE Director General Monique Eloit told Reuters that “this time the situation is more difficult and more risky because we see more variants emerge, which make them harder to follow.””Eventually the risk is that it mutates or that it mixes with a human flu virus that can be transmitted between humans then suddenly it takes on a new dimension,” she added.Germany’s Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, told the German Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) that Europe is experiencing its “strongest avian flu epidemic ever.”The institute added that “there is no end in sight” as the virus spreads throughout the continent and around the world, with new cases reported on a daily basis.
“The most significant factor in increased mortality in 2021 was a source we’ve never really had before – and that is starvation,” explains Patrick Rose, Executive Director for the “Save the Manatee Club”.
That starvation all came down to one main factor: “We’ve had such severe loss of seagrasses and that’s directly related to too much nitrogen pollution,” says Rose.
The pollution is rising for a number of reasons.
“Whether it’s from failing septic systems to the ground water, improperly treated sewage and for fertilizers and runoffs,” explains Rose.
Though the majority of deaths occurred on the East Coast, the F-W-C has started implementing several solutions.
“At this point in time, in order to stave off a repeat of this, they’re looking at some supplemental feeding for the first time also on the east coast of Florida.”
But due to warmer forecasts throughout the holiday season, the effectiveness of those solutions have been mixed.
“They really haven’t had any significant results from that yet because we’ve had an unusually warm winter so far,” says Rose.
In Southwest Florida, a leading cause of death for manatees is red tide.
“We’ve had more than three hundred manatees die in a year from red tide. So if you start adding all these things up together, the manatees are having a pretty tough time.”
And of course, boaters play a significant role, too.
“We had over one hundred manatees die from watercraft injuries this year, and likely more than that – that’s what we know about,” says Rose.
“In Fort Myers, they’ll be up the orange river, at the type power plant, but in weather like this which is unusually warm, they’re more spread out.”
Ultimately, Rose says the solution starts with us.
“We have it within our control as humans to stop the excess nitrogen from our wastewater. So whether that’s getting off of septic tanks, getting to advanced wastewater treatment – put the water back as clean as you took it out!”
So, if you’re out boating this weekend and happen to find a sick or injured manatee, you’re encouraged to report it to the F-W-C by calling 1-888-404-3922.
After a 1.5 year, multi-prong pressure campaign demanding better animal care and living conditions conditions at Project Chimps, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has announced a $20 million commitment to its Georgia sanctuary. According to its press release, HSUS is allocating $5 million in 2022 toward the creation of habitat space for the chimpanzees and $15 million in operational support to be distributed evenly over the course of 10 years. The campaign, called #ChimpsDeserveBetter, was led by the grassroots animal advocacy groups Chimps Deserve Better, Progress for Science and TheirTurn.
Lindsay on a porch at HSUS sanctuary Project Chimps (photo: Crystal Alba)
“We are pleased that HSUS has pledged critical funding to create a new habitat for the 81 chimpanzees who reside at Project Chimps,” said Donny Moss, a NYC-based Chimps Deserve Better campaign organizer. “After living in laboratories and being subjected to cruel research experiments, these chimpanzees deserve to spend their final years in as natural a setting as captivity can provide.”
After a 1.5 year, multi-prong pressure campaign demanding better animal care and living conditions conditions at Project Chimps, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has announced a $20 million commitment to its Georgia sanctuary.
The animal rights community learned about the plight of the chimpanzees in May 2020 after Project Chimps sued two former employees who launched a website exposing poor animal care and living conditions at the sanctuary. Following online actions and protests at the homes of HSUS board members, Project Chimps dropped the lawsuit against the whistleblowers, Crystal Alba and Lindsay Vanderhoogt.
Following protests by grassroots animal rights groups, HSUS dropped its lawsuit against Project Chimps’s whistleblowers Crystal Alba and Lindsay Vanderhoogt
Starting in July 2020, the animal rights groups launched a broader campaign calling on HSUS to hire a veterinarian with chimpanzee experience and create enough habitat space at Project Chimps to enable the chimpanzees to have daily access to the outdoors.
Animal rights activists around the country called on The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to create additional yards at Project Chimps so that the 81 chimpanzees in their care have daily access to the outdoors.
“With a new veterinarian in place and funding to break ground on a new habitat, we are pausing the protests against HSUS,” said Bob Ingersoll, a San Francisco-based primatologist and organizer on the Chimps Deserve Better campaign. “We hope to replace the protests with an open dialogue about the changes being made to improve the lives of the chimpanzees.”
“The infusion of funds will help improve the facilities, if spent wisely,” said Lindsay Vanderhoogt, a whistleblower with Chimps Deserve Better. “But we’d also like to see a change in culture where management prioritizes the welfare of the chimpanzees in the decision-making process.”
“Five million dollars is a significant step towards providing the chimps with adequate housing and daily outdoor access,” said Cory Mac, a Chimps Deserve Better campaign organizer with Progress for Science, an anti-vivisection animal rights activist group in Los Angeles. “We look forward to hearing more about how HSUS and Project Chimps will be moving forward to guarantee these necessities along with instituting improved health care and practices for the chimps.“
ByMichael MacDonaldThe Canadian PressPosted January 16, 2022 8:50 amNews: Head of Alberta paramedic union wants more done to protect staffclose videohttps://globalnews.ca/video/embed/8499669/#autoplay&stickyiframe=miniplayer_8499669_61e717105c0a2&mute&embedAutoPlayThe city of Longueuil, Que., will meet with an animal rescue group to discuss alternatives to culling dozens of deer living in Michel Chartrand Park. The news comes after the city announced in November it had revived a controversial plan to kill most of the deer living in the urban park – Jan 9, 2022
Fed up with nuisance deer raiding gardens and colliding with vehicles, a town in central Nova Scotia has hired four crossbow hunters to kill up to 20 of the animals inside town limits.
“There been a lot of property damage, and it’s not just gardens,” said Mike Dolter, Truro’s chief administrative officer. “Trees are getting eaten, and they’re adapting to plants thought to be deer-resistant …. We’ve had aggressive deer, particularly in rutting…
Good news doesn’t get any more in-your-face than this. One thousand fin whales, one of the world’s biggest animals,were seen last weekswimming in the same seas in which they were driven to near-extinction last century due to whaling. It’s like humans never happened.
This vast assembly was spread over a five-mile-wide area between the South Orkney islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. A single whale is stupendous; imagine 1,000 of them, their misty forest of spouts, as tall as pine trees, the plosive sound of their blows, their hot breath condensing in the icy air. Their sharp dorsal fins and steel-grey bodies slide…
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revisit part of its decision not to protect Yellowstone National Park’s bison as an endangered species.
The Buffalo Field Campaign and Western Watersheds Project groups have been fighting since 2014 to have Yellowstone’s bison declared endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
They have argued that two separate groups of bison in the park are genetically distinct. Rather than set a population limit of 3,000 animals for the entire park, they said, the limit should be 3,000 for each herd, or 6,000 overall.
The Fish and Wildlife Service, citing a different study, has argued that the herds are not genetically distinct and rejected the listing petition in 2019,the Billings Gazette reported.
The federal agency failed to articulate why it chose one…
The golden-cheeked warbler’s habitat in Central Texas has shrunk due to expanding suburban development.(Steve Maslowski/U. S. Fish And Wildlife Service, Steve Maslowski/U. S. Fish And Wildlife Service)
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When a group of researchers at Texas A&M’s Natural Resources Institute published the firstpeer-reviewed studythat surveyed the presence of a brightly colored Texas songbird across a huge swath of Texas, the results were astounding: The population of the endangered golden-cheeked warbler in the state was estimated to be 10 times larger than previously thought.
A juvenile humpback whale has been spotted in the Antarctic entangled in fishing gear, leading to calls from conservationists for better protections along migration corridors.
The sighting last Wednesday by scientists aboard the Crystal Endeavour occurred at Mikkelsen Harbour on Trinity Island, on the western side of the Antarctic peninsula.
The researchers from the Colombian Antarctic program, PhD candidate Logan Pallin and Dr Natalia Botero-Acosta, approached the small whale to take a skin biopsy to help determine its genetic origin, sex, cortisol levels and diet.
Pallin noticed the whale’s dorsal fin was missing, and it was trailing fishing gear and…
Workers in protective gear seen in Moshav Givat Yoav, in northern Israel, December 29, 2021, following an outbreak of the Avian influenza. (credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)According to the WHO, the rise in H5N6 cases may reflect the continued circulation of the virus in birds and enhanced surveillance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The WHO added that the zoonotic threat remains elevated due to the spread of the viruses among birds, but that the overall pandemic risk associated with the strain of bird flu has not significantly changed.The increase in human infections caused by the H5N6 subtype of avian influenza is causing concern among experts, who say that a previously circulating strain appears to have changed and could be more infectious to people.”The increase in human cases in China this year is of concern. It’s a virus that causes high mortality,” said Thijs Kuiken, professor of comparative pathology at Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, to Reuters.
