New Calves Born To Endangered Orca Population
The endangered orca population living off the coast of Oregon and Washington has already welcomed five new calves this year – and now more could be on the way!  The latest aerial surveys of the population released this week show that these orcas are doing well. Experts say they look healthy and some of the females may even be pregnant. These aerial surveys are an important tool that scientists use to monitor the status of this population, particularly in years when salmon runs are low. They also provide some great photos we know you’ll love.

Washington Takes a Stand on Wildlife Trafficking
It’s shocking but true: The U.S. is one of the world’s largest consumers of illegal smuggled wildlife and wildlife products. Experts estimate that roughly 350 million plants and animals fall victim to this trade each year to satisfy consumer demand for ivory, shark fins, skins and other wildlife parts. But, working with Defenders and our conservation partners, the state of Washington is taking a stand. The state is currently voting on a ballot measure which would give state officials more power to fight the flow of wildlife trafficking within its borders. If you live in Washington, we urge you to Vote YES on I-1401 on the WA State Ballot.  By voting yes on I-1401, you’ll be helping to close wildlife trafficking loopholes and provide the tools necessary for state law enforcement to prosecute wildlife traffickers.

Good and Bad News for Oregon’s Wolves
This month, news surfaced that a wolf was shot and killed near Prairie City, Oregon by a coyote hunter. Illegal killing of wolves by coyote hunters, intentional or otherwise, remains a primary threat for wolves, and this is especially true where wolves are reclaiming new habitat, like they are in Oregon. As wolves continue to recover, one of the best ways we can help is by encouraging state wildlife agencies to educate hunters and local communities about the potential presence of wolves, their status as a protected species, and how to tell the difference between wolves and coyotes. An investigation on this incident is pending; because wolves are protected by the state Endangered Species Act, it is illegal to shoot them, except in the defense of human life. But while this is clearly a devastating loss, we also received some good news: another of Oregon’s wolves has ventured into the Cascade Mountains in northern Klamath County. This dispersing male is one of several moving west in Oregon where there is vast suitable habitat for this species. Although this is a wonderful sign of wolf recovery in Oregon, we could see a proposal to lift wolf protections as early as next month when the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission reconvenes to evaluate what level of protection is warranted as wolves continue to recover in Oregon. If the commission makes any changes at all, we have urged them to consider only downlisting the species from endangered to threatened. This would enable wolves to continue to receive the vital state protections they need while acknowledging that wolf numbers in eastern Oregon have improved.

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