Your weekly roundup of wildlife news from across the country
Pacific Bluefin Tuna Are One Step Closer to Protection
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced this week that they have found the Pacific bluefin tuna may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and are moving forward with a status review. This is great news for a fish whose popularity among fishermen has cause its population to crash — experts estimate that Pacific bluefin tuna numbers have declined by a staggering 97.4%. The recent decision from NMFS is in response to a petition from Defenders and several other conservation groups to list the fish under the ESA before it becomes too late to avoid extinction.
Learn more about the plight of the Pacific bluefin tuna and how an ESA listing could help >
California Condor Flight Marks Another Milestone
A five-and-a-half-month-old California condor chick recently took flight from its nest in Pinnacles National Park. It may not sound like much at first, but this flight marks another fantastic milestone in the recovery of these endangered birds. Scientists say that a chick taking flight is the true sign of a successful nest – which makes this chick is the first of her species successfully raised in the wild in more than 100 years!
Alaskan Village Uses “Reverse Tourism” to Protect Walrus
The residents of Point Lay, a small native village on the northwest coast of Alaska, are used to receiving thousands of visitors each year: Pacific walruses. The animals haul out on shore in masses, waiting for sea ice to return. But interference from tourists can alarm the animals, even causing them to stampede – a situation that can be fatal for walruses. So instead of encouraging tourism, residents of Point Lay are asking tourists to stay away when the walruses are in town. Defenders’ Alaska team is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the region to fund remote cameras that can safely observe the animals without disturbing them, and to find new ways to aid Point Lay in their efforts to protect the walrus.
Watch the video from the Tribal Council on how tourism can impact walruses >
Do You Know Your Newest Refuges?
Today marks the end of National Wildlife Refuge Week! So we thought it would be a great time to highlight some of the newest additions to the National Wildlife Refuge System. Remember, these are your public lands – get out there and visit them!
Find out more about the newest lands protected for wildlife and their habitats >
(And, as a Refuge Week bonus, check out this blog on some of the best fall walks on national wildlife refuges across the country.)
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