Wildlife Weekly Wrap-up

July 22, 2016

Your weekly roundup of wildlife news from across the country

FWS Removes Endangered Species Protection for the Lesser Prairie Chicken
On Tuesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially announced its decision to remove Endangered Species Act protection for the lesser prairie chicken in response to recent court rulings. Far from being recovered, this imperiled bird is in serious trouble, with its population cut nearly in half, and its habitat of native prairies and grasslands reduced by an estimated 84%. FWS will review the species’ status once again to determine if it can be re-listed under the ESA, and we hope for the prairie chicken’s sake that the agency does so quickly.

See what Defenders’ president had to say about this news >

White-nose Found in Second Species of Washington Bat
Officials in Washington this week report that a silver-haired bat tested positive for the fungus that causes deadly white-nose syndrome. While the bat was not actually sick, experts worry that this bat or others like it may be spreading the fungus to other bat species in the region that may be more vulnerable to the disease.

Learn more about the discovery of white-nose syndrome in Washington >

Great News for Loggerheads in Georgia! Loggerhead sea turtles – listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act – passed a recovery milestone in Georgia this year. With more than 2,890 nests along Georgia beaches this summer, the sea turtles set a new nesting record AND surpassed one of the goals that the state had set for the species’ recovery: to reach 2,800 nests by the year 2028.

Read about loggerhead sea turtles in Georgia >

Atlantic Seismic Testing Could Threaten Endangered Wildlife
The Obama Administration has ruled that there will be no drilling for oil and gas in the Atlantic, at least for the next five years. So why would they allow seismic testing to look for deposits of fossil fuels, knowing it could have grave consequences for whales, sea turtles and more?

Learn about how seismic testing could impact marine life, and see what you can do to help >

Navy Ordered to Lower Sonar Levels to Protect Whales
Last Friday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court in San Francisco ruled that U.S. officials were wrong to allow the Navy to use sonar at levels that can harm marine mammals.

The World’s Most Endangered Gray Wolf is Under Attack
For years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delayed releasing Mexican gray wolves due to loud anti-wolf voices in both Arizona and New Mexico. When they stepped up to the plate this year and released two pups in New Mexico in April, with plans to also release two more adult wolves, New Mexico’s Game and Fish Department sued them. Now, as the agency prepares to plan out recovery efforts for last year, it’s vital that we show our support for Mexican gray wolves. Here’s how you can help:

Learn about the problem, and help spread the word >
Sign the petition asking Secretary Jewell to have FWS redouble its efforts to recover Mexican gray wolves >
Support our work as we continue fighting for Mexican gray wolf recovery >

Between a Dam and a Spawning Ground
One of the largest freshwater fish in North America is making its last stand in the murky waters of the upper Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers. A century of dam building has cut it off from its breeding grounds, and if we don’t act quickly, a new project could mean extinction for this ancient species.

Find out how you can help the pallid sturgeon >

The Not-so-secret Lives of Glacial Harbor Seals
As ship traffic increases in Alaska’s icy Disenchantment Bay, scientists are taking a closer look at the lives of the harbor seals that rely on the bay for shelter to raise their young. Thanks to new research, they’re expanding what we know about these seals and how they use the bay, and hope to use this knowledge to help humans and seals continue to share this important habitat.