Animal Welfare / Public News Service

The Rio Grande Basin provides critical habitat to sandhill cranes, migratory and wintering waterfowl and many other species. (nm.audubon.org)

Monday, May 23, 2022

Champions for Biodiversity Want Biden Administration to Do More

Land-use changes, pollution, and climate change all contribute to declining biodiversity. Now a broad group of U.S. lawmakers wants the Biden …

A bobcat uses a culvert to travel underneath a highway. (National Park Service)

Bill to Build More CA Wildlife Crossings Gets Hearing Tomorrow

Between 2016 and 2020, more than 44,000 Californians reported hitting a wild animal with a vehicle. So tomorrow, state lawmakers will consider a …

In 2021, three endangered grizzly bears were killed through the USDA's Wildlife Services program. Of more than 400,000 wild animals killed, at least 2,700 were killed unintentionally. (Adobe Stock)

USDA’s Wildlife Services Killed More Than 400,000 Native Wildlife in 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report on its wildlife killing program, which aims to reduce the loss of livestock to carnivores…

Safe wildlife passages, either under or over roads, are estimated to have reduced collisions by more than 80%, according to Pew Charitable Trusts. (BridgetDonaldson/Virgina.gov)

NM Summit Works to Solve Safe Passage for People, Wildlife

Shrinking wildlife habitat puts big-game animals at greater risk of colliding with cars and trucks, and has led to the Wildlife Corridors Action Plan …

New Mexico could benefit from a competitive federal grant program that provides funding for safe wildlife corridor projects, but it requires 20% in matching funds. (state.nm.us)

Crossing to Safety Endangers Animals, People

A Wildlife Corridors Action Plan for New Mexico identifies 11 priority "safe passage" projects, such as underpasses and overpasses, to improve driver …

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating high numbers of manatee deaths along Florida's Atlantic coast. (Florida Fish and Wildlife/Flickr)

A Christmas Eve Memorial for Florida Manatees

A record number of manatees have died this year, more than a thousand, and conservation groups warn hundreds more will die from starvation and …

After COVID shuttered large meat-packing operations, many Nebraskans were able to purchase locally produced meat processed at local lockers. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Make Case for Expanding Main Street Meat Lockers

Advocates for independent rural farmers are urging state lawmakers to beef up mom-and-pop meat processing and storage capacity using American Rescue P…

The grey wolf was removed from the federal endangered species list in January. (Adobe Stock)

Next WI Wolf Hunt Blocked for Remainder of Season

A Wisconsin court has effectively ended any chance of a winter wolf hunt in the state. A coalition of wildlife advocacy groups sued earlier this …

Like humans, stress levels in pets often are reduced with enough fresh air and exercise. (Seaq68/PIxabay)

Don't Let Holiday Hustle and Bustle Overwhelm Fido and Fluffy

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Whether your pet is shy or outgoing, keeping them happy and healthy during the busy holidays can be a challenge. Your curious …

Cases of chronic wasting disease among Wisconsin's deer population increased to a 20-year high of nearly 1,600 animals in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Public Can Weigh In on WI Efforts to Tackle Chronic Wasting Disease

MADISON, Wis. - The Department of Natural Resources wants Wisconsinites to weigh in on its efforts to address chronic wasting disease. The always-…

Vitamin- and nutrient-filled jack-o'-lantern make nutritious treat for birds, squirrels and pigs. (onegreenplanet.org)

Leftover Pumpkins? Make Pigs Squeal With Delight

AUSTIN, Texas -- The trick-or-treaters are gone, but that doesn't mean your jack-o'-lantern has to be sent to the trash after Halloween. To help the …

In October 2018, Hurricane Michael inundated Surry County, N.C., increasing sediment in the Mitchell River Watershed. (Resource Institute)

Restoration Work Cleans Up Mitchell River’s Hurricane Michael Damage

ELKIN, N.C. - A Mitchell River watershed-restoration project has improved water quality and repaired damage from 2018's Hurricane Michael, as well as …

More than 100 Mexican gray wolves have been poached by humans since the lobos were added to the Endangered Species List in the 1980s. Fewer than 200 are left in the U.S. (Majurik/Adobe Stock)

Judge Orders Poaching Protections for Endangered Mexican Gray Wolves

TUCSON, Ariz. - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has six months to develop new language in its Mexican gray wolf recovery plan, after a judge ruled …

More than 70% of documented Mexican gray wolf deaths are human-caused, according to the environmental law firm Earthjustice. (Rebecca Bose/Wolf Conservation Center)

Judge: Plan for Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Must Address Poaching

ALBUQUERUE, N.M. - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has six months to develop new language in its Mexican gray wolf recovery plan, after a judge …

The Bridger-Teton National Forest occupies the traditional lands of the Shoshone-Bannock, Eastern Shoshone and Cheyenne people. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Court Rules Against Elk Feedgrounds

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- A federal court agreed with conservationists this week, ordering winter feeding of elk on the Bridger-Teton National Forest …

In 2018 an unknown hunter killed and skinned one of the few remaining jaguars in Arizona, a male named Yo'oko. (Center for Biological Diversity)

Groups Look to Expand Jaguar Habitat After Victory Against Proposed Mine

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The battle against copper mining the Santa Rita Mountains outside of Tucson continues - even though the feds just handed a …

During late summer and fall, bears eat and drink nearly nonstop in preparation for winter hibernation, a process known as hyperphagia. (Adobe Stock)

Safety Tips Offered for Pre-Hibernation Bear Sightings

JACKSON, Wyo. - Bears throughout Wyoming, including celebrated Grizzly 399 and her four adolescent cubs, are becoming increasingly active in search …

Because of river-flow reductions and habitat alteration and loss, the southwestern willow flycatcher teeters on the brink of extinction. (eBIrd.org)

Saving America's Wildlife Earns Bipartisan Support

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Wildlife experts say about one third of all wildlife species in the U.S. are in decline or vulnerable - which makes revived …

To create a route for the southern border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, the Trump administration used blasting techniques typically reserved for mining operations. (John Darwin Kurc)

Border Wall Map Reveals Damage to Landscape, Migration Routes

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A newly-released map identifies portions of the U.S.-Mexico border wall built by the Trump administration, and for conservation …

To fulfill President Donald Trump's promised U.S.-Mexico border wall, the administration waived requirements for environmental reviews and mediation. (wikipedia)

Biden Promises Environmental Damage Review of Trump's Border Wall

EL PASO, Texas -- The Biden administration has promised to conduct a damage assessment after announcing that billions diverted for construction of …

Castner Range, outside of El Paso, contains petroglyphs, remnants of failed tin-mining operations and small stone structures and pottery, according to the El Paso Community Foundation and Franklin Mountain Wilderness Coalition. (riograndesierraclub.org)

Conservationists Promote TX Castner Range for National Monument Status

AUSTIN, Texas -- West Texans who support the Biden administration's commitment to conserve 30% of the nation's lands, waters and ocean by 2030 want …

Black bears in Missouri typically are seen south of Interstate 44, although the population is growing. (Jillian/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Department Urges Missourians to Be 'Bear Aware' This Summer

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Late spring and early summer are when Missourians are most likely to come across one of the state's estimated 800 black bears - …

Bumblebees can die or be rendered sterile by systemic pesticides present in flower pollen. (PANNA)

Working in the Garden? Don't Forget About Bee Safety

PIERRE, S.D. - Pollinator gardens are gaining popularity this spring, but some well-meaning gardeners may not realize they could be harming the …

Wyoming is home to many wildlife-killing contests, including the Wyoming Best of the Best and other privately-run events. (Project Coyote)

Billboard Campaign Aims to End Wildlife-Killing Contests in Wyoming

CODY, Wyo. -- Drivers traveling from Cody to Yellowstone National Park will see a large billboard featuring a wolf and a call to action to end a …

A family of endangered Mexican gray wolves will be released on property owned by communications magnate Ted Turner, where work to breed endangered Bolson tortoises, aplomado falcons and threatened Chiricahua leopard frogs has been successful. (rewilding.org)

Mexican Gray Wolf Family Relocates to Friendlier NM Hunting Grounds

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The Mexican gray wolf is so threatened with extinction it was not included in the Trump administration's order to remove other …

Scientists and naturalists expect to use information from the recent City Nature Challenge to better understand and protect the natural world. (briankushner/traveisaudubon.org)

Houston, Dallas Prove to Be Global Biodiversity Hotspots

HOUSTON - Nature lovers know thousands of native animal and plant species occur only in Texas, and participants in the City Nature Challenge set out …

The number of animal-vehicle collisions has doubled in the past 15 years. (Heather Paul/Flickr)

Wildlife and Roadways Summit to Address Big Game-Auto Collisions

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- State agencies, wildlife biologists and conservation groups are convening a virtual summit to continue work aimed at reducing the …

According to Environment America, 90% of wild flowering plants need the help of animal pollinators to survive, and declining bee populations are extremely dangerous for the ecosystem. (Adobe Stock)

"Bee-ing" an Advocate to Save Pollinators Beyond Earth Day

HARTFORD, Conn. - Even though Earth Day has passed, groups advocating for bees hope people will continue to take steps to save these pollinators…

Connecticut, Maryland and Vermont all have banned the sale of neonicotinoids, bee-killing pesticide, according to Environment America. Florida has yet to do so, but the group hopes it also will take action in order to save the insect. (Adobe Stock)

On Earth Day, Environmentalists Push to Save Bees

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Today is Earth Day, and environmental advocates are calling on citizens to do their part to save the bees. National …

Wildlife-protection groups say despite promising numbers in certain regions, America's gray wolf population has not recovered enough to allow hunting of the animal. (Adobe Stock)

WI Group: Multiple Ways to Weigh In On Wolf Hunt

MADISON, Wis. - This week, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources began gathering public input on a new gray wolf management plan following …

Sea otters can weigh 45 to 65 pounds, and can be injured or killed by a boat strike. (Wikimedia Commons)

Otters at Risk for Boat Strikes as CA Salmon Season Opens

MONTEREY BAY, Calif. -- Salmon season starts this coming weekend, and it's expected to draw hundreds of fishing boats to the central coast. …

Once near extinction, in 2020 there were an estimated 316,700 bald eagles in the lower 48 states, including 71,400 nesting pairs. (Frank Fichtm�ller/Adobe Stock)

Bald Eagle Populations Soaring

NEW YORK -- A new report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service showed there are now more than 316,000 individual American bald eagles in the lower 4…

Bald eagles from Canada and the northwest Rockies migrate to Arizona in the winter months to build nests and mate. A 1999 survey found 74 nesting pairs in Arizona, up from only 11 in 1978. (Tagayuki Ogawa/flickr)

Bald Eagles Make Stunning Comeback from Brink of Extinction

MORMON LAKE, Ariz. -- Bald eagle populations in Arizona and across the nation have quadrupled in the last decade, after once being on the brink of …

From raccoons to bald eagles to domestic pets, at least four million animals die in traps each year, according to the Humane Society of the United States. (apvnm.org)

NM Governor to Decide Fate of "Roxy's" Trapping Law

SANTA FE, N.M. -- A dog that died through no fault of its own on a hike with its owner near Santa Cruz Lake in 2019 could leave a lasting legacy if a …

Jaguars are considered an Endangered Species across their range along the border of Mexico and state-level protections exist in Arizona and New Mexico. (defenders.org)

Scientists Identify More Jaguar Recovery Habitat in NM, AZ

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Jaguars once roamed much of the Southwest, and wildlife scientists say they've identified plenty of land where they could thrive …

Bills that would change wolf hunting in Montana have hearings before the state Senate Fish and Game Committee this week. (bkilzer/Adobe Stock)

Hunters: Wolf-Snaring Bill Could Harm Other Species

HELENA, Mont. - Some hunters are raising objections to a bill in the Montana Legislature that would allow the snaring of wolves in the state…

Animals can contract Chronic Wasting Disease through prions, which persist long after an infected animal dies by eating plants in contaminated areas. (PXhere)

Critics Say Feedlot Law Unnecessary, Shortsighted

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Wyoming lawmakers are considering a proposal which would require a governor's order before any of the state's winter elk feedlots …

Gray whales are one of more than 70 species that get trapped in gillnets, which have a large percentage of incidental bycatch. (NOAA)

President Vetoes Bill to Ban Fishing Gear Harmful to Dolphins, Other Sealife

MONTEREY, Calif. -- Groups that fight for healthier oceans are vowing to fight on after President Donald Trump vetoed a bill to ban an outdated type …

In Wyoming, 54 wolves were killed this year in trophy hunting season, with from 10 to 20 killed in livestock conflicts, out of a total population of 300. (Pixabay)

Advocates: Wolves Could Help Stave Off Disease in Elk, Deer

JACKSON, Wyo. -- The first case of chronic wasting disease in elk reported by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has reopened debate on current …

The carcass of the rufous hummingbird is stuffed and sold as an amulet or love charm. It's one species on a new list of illegally trafficked wildlife. (Avia 5/Pixabay)

Report: Wildlife Trafficking Jeopardizes Vulnerable Species

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A new report calls for a crackdown on the booming illegal wildlife trade - activity that's been linked most recently to the …

Wildlife advocates are concerned that drawing large numbers of elk to winter feedlots, where they are in close proximity for months at a time, could lead to outbreaks of chronic wasting disease. (NPS)

Game & Fish Seeks Public Input in Elk Feedlot Revisions

JACKSON, Wyo. -- The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is reconsidering how it manages the state's winter elk-feeding grounds, in part to mitigate the …

A 2019 poll by the National Wildlife Federation found nearly 85% of respondents in New Mexico said they'd like to see increased efforts to safeguard wildlife corridors. (dog.gov)

Western Big Game Benefits from New Tracking Tool

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A new report published by the U.S. Geological Survey includes detailed maps of Global Positioning System tracked migration routes …

A new U.S. Geological Survey report uses GPS technology to track animal movements through 26 corridors, 16 migration routes, 25 stopovers and nine winter ranges. (Wikimedia Commons)

GPS Mapping of Migration Patterns Can Help Protect Wildlife

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Wildlife managers in Nevada and across the West have a new tool to protect big-game animals and other migrating wildlife…

Cargill says it works with 600 "independent family farms" to produce turkeys in the United States, but groups are challenging that claim as potentially misleading. (Adobe Stock)

MN-based Cargill Faces Federal Complaint Over Turkey Labels

MINNEAPOLIS -- Many Americans are scaling back their Thanksgiving plans because of the pandemic. But turkey is still on the menu, and one Minnesota-…

Resilient landscapes in Michigan appear as bright green on a new mapping tool. (The Nature Conservancy)

Mapping Michigan's Most Climate-Resilient Landscapes

LANSING, Mich. -- Because animals in Michigan need safe places to go when temperatures surge or flood waters rise, experts have mapped out these …

The Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge is the largest blackwater swamp in North America, and one of the "Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia." (Stacy Shelton/US Fish and Wildlife Service)

Conservationists: Proposed Mining Project Threatens Wildlife Refuge

LAKE CITY, Fla. -- Conservationists say a proposed mining project near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge poses a real risk for the more than 400…

According to the National Wildlife Federation, 33 million tons of leaves and other lawn debris are sent to landfills every year. (Needpix/Creative Commons)

Leaving Leaves on Property Can Help Environment, Wildlife

BOSTON -- If you're feeling lazy about leaves piling up on your property, experts say you shouldn't. Leaving those leaves can help the environment as …

Grizzly bears were first protected by the Endangered Species Act in 1975. (Wikimedia Commons)

Governor's Grizzly Bear Advisory Council Makes Recommendations

HELENA, Mont. -- The Montana Governor's Grizzly Bear Advisory Council has released its recommendations to manage and protect the species, which the …

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