— today is a blue bird day, which is fortunate since thunderstorms were in the forecast, causing some concern about muddy road conditions for the arrival of the large horse trailers carrying the bison. after years of political negotiations, and months of planning, everything is lining up for the special occasion. . read : return of the buffalo to fort peck
art ecology science & animals
From articles
Academic and news articles regarding endangered species and habitats.
VICTORY
—mountain caribou are an “ecotype” of the more widespread woodland caribou. they are uniquely adapted to life in very snowy mountains. caribou hooves are the size of dinner plates and act like snowshoes. the animals can survive all winter eating arboreal lichens found on the branches of old-growth trees only accessible in winter. read : caribou protected as endangered species in major wildlife victory
PERSONHOOD
— this summer, the yurok tribe declared rights of personhood for the klamath river, likely the first to do so for a river in north america. a concept previously restricted to humans (and corporations), “rights of personhood” means, most simply, that an individual or entity has rights, and they’re now being extended to nonhumans. read : klamath river now has the legal rights of a person
COMING OUT SWINGING
— the rule changes followed a united nations report that said 1 million species worldwide face extinction as a result of human activity. wednesday’s lawsuit came on the heels of a separate report that 3 billion birds have been lost since the 1970s. read : the trump administration weakened endangered species act rules — 17 state attorneys general have sued over it
HERE’S WHY
— it’s unknown how many and what types of whales historically plied the waters off new york city, but scientists believe they were an important top predator—and that their return to the biggest city on the atlantic bodes well for the ocean’s long-term health. read : whale populations in new york harbor are booming—here’s why
NEW RULES
— now comes a new usurpation that would seem a ridiculous caricature of anti-environmentalism were it not so worrisome. read : you can’t put a price tag on life more : the species act, endangered
OVERBLOWN CHANGES
— overall, many of the changes finalized last month are far more modest than environmentalists and the media have portrayed. and some of the more substantive changes, such as restoring the regulatory distinction between threatened and endangered species, will likely reduce conflicts with landowners and encourage more collaboration in species-recovery efforts — all without reducing the act’s effectiveness at preventing extinction. read : new endangered-species regulations are good for species
A FIGHTING CHANCE
— what, then, does it mean to list a species in connecticut that has no protection two hours down the road? read : endangered species rollbacks a serious threat
HOW MANY ARE TOO MANY
— if a vessel reaches either limit on a trip, it would have to return to port and wait five days before it can resume fishing. federal scientists would evaluate the vessel and turtle interactions during that time and potentially provide guidance. read : sea turtles for swordfish? feds may lift cap on endangered species
ASSURANCE COLONIES
— they watched with anticipation as about a thousand southern mountain yellow-legged frog tadpoles and three adult frogs enjoyed their first few minutes of life in the wild. the amphibians hesitated a moment before cruising toward clusters of foliage to settle into their new habitat. reintroducing these sensitive amphibians back into their native ecosystem is a significant milestone in the long slow battle to rehabilitate the species. read : conservationists fight to save critically endangered amphibians
THAT HOTSPOT
— that device is connected by cable to a buoy floating above that transmits data by satellite to scientists on shore. from there, captains can be alerted to slow their ships down or reroute. read : california sound system tries to keep whales and ships apart
SCHOOL IMPROVE SURVIVAL
“in the past when we have raised animals for wild release, they have been released in kind of an ad-hoc manner — choosing an area that looks pretty good and letting the animal go.” read : finishing school helps critically endangered animals prepare for life in the wild
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