Your weekly roundup of wildlife news from across the country
Cross-fostered Mexican Gray Wolf Pups Surviving in the Wild
Wildlife officials are reporting that for the first time, wolf pups born in captivity and fostered by wolf packs in the wild (a method called cross-fostering), has been successful. The success marks much-needed progress for Mexican gray wolves, whose numbers have been declining in recent years as wolves have been removed from the wild, but states are attempting to block new releases.
Find out more about what Mexican gray wolves need to recover, and what is standing in their way >
California Gets a New Wolf Couple
Wildlife officials have spotted a male and female wolf on remote cameras in rural California, identifying a new pair of adult wolves in the Golden State. The male wolf was a member of the Rogue Pack, making him the son of famed wolf OR-7. Biologists haven’t been able to identify the female wolf he is traveling with yet.
Find out more about California’s new wolves >
Sad Losses for Southern Resident Orcas
The deaths of two Southern Resident orcas, a well-known female and her calf, are bringing the plight of these endangered marine mammals into the spotlight. Conservationists are calling for action to help the dwindling population, which now sits at just 80 orcas. Southern Resident orcas are faced with a number of threats, but the most dramatic has been the loss of their primary food source: Chinook salmon
Learn more about the threats to Southern Resident orcas >
Election Day Impacts the Wildlife You Love
It’s an important message to consider as we come up on election day next week. Our democracy is only effective if people actually show up – and that’s why, next week, Americans must head to the polls to make some of the most important decisions in recent history.
Remember: The wildlife you love can’t vote, but you can >
Two More Florida Panthers Killed
We’re sad to report that Florida wildlife officials have recorded not one but two more deaths of endangered Florida panthers as a result of collisions with vehicles. One was a six-month-old male, the other a three-year-old female. This brings the total of Florida panthers killed by vehicles in 2016 to 28 – a number we can only hope doesn’t continue to grow.
Read about the work we’re doing to make Florida safer for panthers >
A Summer of Polar Bear Research
To really help polar bears navigate their rapidly changing environment, there’s a lot that scientists still need to find out about exactly how those changes are impacting the animals. This summer, we sponsored a student to help with research to answer some of the many questions experts still have about polar bears and how they are faring.
Meet Vanessa Muhlenruch, and learn about her research >
California: Vote to Ban the Bag!
The average use of a plastic bag is 12 minutes. The effect on wildlife and the environment will last forever. If you live in California, there’s a critically important issue on your ballot this year that you need to learn more about.
Learn about Props 67 and 65 and how they will impact the wildlife you care about >
Save the Sturgeon!
The pallid sturgeon has plied Earth’s waterways for 78 million years. But a century of dam building has led to habitat changes that may mean the end for this amazing fish. Biologists estimate that only 125 wild-born pallid sturgeon remain in the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. What’s worse, none have successfully reproduced in decades because too many dams now block their path and destroy their habitat. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation have the chance to change that, but they have recently released a plan that, far from helping these fish, will likely doom them.
Take action now to speak up for the pallid sturgeon >
State To Preserve Thousands Of Acres For Wildlife Corridors
The state of Florida recently signed deals to acquire and preserve several pieces of land as part of an effort to connect wildlife habitats throughout the state. This land – tens of thousands of acres – serves as a critical link in the network of wildlife habitats through the Florida panhandle. As development continues to spread, preserving these types of wildlife corridors is incredibly important, particularly to imperiled species that are seeing their native habitats fragmented by roads and buildings.
Learn more about these deals and what they mean for wildlife >
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