Latest news with #USFishAndWildlifeService
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
3 critically endangered California condors relocated during Arizona White Sage Fire
WHITE SAGE, Ariz. – A trio of some of the most endangered birds in the world were relocated from their home in the Vermillion Cliffs of Arizona due to the White Sage wildfire. California condors are the largest land birds in North America, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The White Sage Fire began near White Sage, Arizona, on July 9. The fire quickly spread, forcing the closure of the Kaibab National Forest and several areas nearby. By Saturday, the fire had spread to 58,639 acres and was 27% contained. Grand Canyon's North Rim Closed For Season As Massive Wildfire Devastates Historic Lodge, Landscape There are roughly 82 GPS-tracked California condors located in the southwest region of the United States, said Tim Hauck, The Peregrine Fund's California condor program director. California condors typically relocate themselves and fly north into Utah's high country during the summer months, so when the White Sage Fire started, the only condors they needed to watch out for were three mentor birds housed on the Vermillion Cliffs. "We knew that the fire started on the 9th, we'd been monitoring that," Hauck said. Hauck said as the fire gained momentum up the Kaibab plateau on July 10, they decided to move the three mentor condors housed in a flight pen on top of the Vermillion Cliffs. World's Oldest Known Wild Bird Lays Egg At 74 Years Old "We've seen this before with the Mangum Fire in 2020," Hauck said. "They came through that same area." Hauck said during the Magnum Fire, they were worried about being able to get the birds out. They didn't want to have that same concern again with the White Sage Fire. "We got there early and got them out," Haucks said of relocating the condors this time. The condors are now being safely monitored at another facility away from the fire. 'They're out of harm's way," he said. Southwest Monsoon Season: What You Need To Know California condors have been around for thousands of years, dating back to the Pleistocene Era, which ended more than 10,000 years ago. "It's a very, very old species of bird," Hauck said. Hauck said condors used to be native all across North America, from British Columbia in Canada, all the way down to Mexico. But by 1940, the condor was restricted to the coastal mountains of southern California, the U.s. Fish and Wildlife Service reported. "They were down to just 22 birds left in the world in 1982," Hauck said. "So that's how close they came to becoming extinct." Hauck said by 1987, conservations collaborated in a "major effort" to get the condors away from extinction. "We trapped every single condor in California and brought them into captivity to start a breeding program," Hauck said. The California Condor Recovery Program is led by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and is an international multi-entity effort. In 1992, there were enough condors to start releasing back into the wild. They started in California, and started moving outward from there. Four years later in 1996, the first California condors were reintroduced to Arizona and Utah, Hauck said. How To Watch Fox Weather Since the breeding program began, many organizations, scientists, zoos and conservationists have maintained an effort to rehabilitate the condor population. The birds of prey still remain critically endangered, but the condor is heavily protected and closely monitored, Hauck said. He said the Peregrine Fund works closely with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Arizona Game and Fish and the Bureau of Land Management to continue the breeding program. As part of the program, the Peregrine Fund helps release California condors raised in captivity into the wild each year, Hauck said. "We're trying to protect this species at all costs," Hauck said. Hauck said at the end of 2024, there were a total of 566 condors, with 369 in the wild between Arizona/Utah, California and Baja California, Mexico. For tips on things you can do to protect the California condor population in the wild, visit the U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service website here. For more on the Peregrine Fund and their efforts, click article source: 3 critically endangered California condors relocated during Arizona White Sage Fire Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Beavers put to work saving two Utah rivers
National Parks are often referred to as 'America's best idea.' That's what followers of the National Parks and Forests Supporters believe, anyway (and they're probably not wrong). Earlier this month, the Facebook page highlighted another great idea, this one regarding a unique conservation effort. The unique conservation effort is… beavers. In 2019, researchers began moving captured beavers who had become a nuisance to humans along stretches of the San Rafael and Price Rivers in Eastern Utah. The idea is that beavers—often considered nature's engineers—reshape river landscapes by felling trees and building dams. All of this busy activity conserves water and creates wetlands that sustain countless other species. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, they are 'one of the most cost effective and sustainable solutions for ecological restoration and climate change resilience.' And our desert rivers are indeed in need of ecological restoration. Human activities including the constructions of reservoirs, dams, and diversions have depleted their crucial water supplies and consequently degraded natural habitats of the local flora and fauna, as reported by Utah State Magazine. Cue the beavers. Two years after they joined the small pre-existing population, Emma Doden, a then-Utah State University graduate student who participated in the conservation experiment, told the BBC that her team found dams in regions where they had previously never been observed. While a number of the 47 total translocated beavers died or moved away from the target restoration area, 'a few of these beavers stuck where we put them. And even the ones that didn't – we had some move 20km [12 miles] downstream, which is pretty far for a small little animal – they are probably still helping the system, as the river is so degraded,' she said. [ Related: Beavers, snails, and elephants are top grads from nature's college of engineering. ] By 2023, the experiment was still working. The researchers saw more dams than before their study on beaver translocation, behavioral ecologist Julie Young at Utah State University told The Wildlife Society. Some beavers improved regions of pre-existing analog dams—or human-made beaver-like dams built for environmental restoration purposes. 'What heavy machinery and government programs couldn't do, a few rodents pulling sticks through the mud did better,' the National Parks and Forests Supporters post concludes. While the post doesn't cite specific evidence backing their claim regarding government intervention, there's no arguing that beavers—like invasive-plant-eating goats—are a more natural solution. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
US border authorities make shocking discovery after looking inside woman's bag: 'Stated that she did not know if she was allowed'
A San Antonio resident is facing federal wildlife trafficking charges after authorities found two infant spider monkeys hidden in her car during a border crossing, reported myRGV. Johana Mar attempted to enter the United States through the Brownsville Gateway crossing when officers discovered the baby primates concealed inside a bag. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took her into custody on June 9. After being detained, Mar acknowledged bringing the protected animals across the border without authorization. "Mar stated that she did not know if she was allowed to bring monkeys into the U.S. and that is why she did not declare them to (CBP). Mar stated that she received the monkeys from a friend who she only communicates (with) through Facebook and Whatsapp," according to the criminal complaint. Mar had no documentation or licensing for transporting endangered species across international boundaries. Spider monkeys face extinction, making their illegal trade an attack on conservation efforts. Every smuggled animal is a loss to wild populations already struggling with habitat destruction. These primates are nature's gardeners, spreading seeds that grow into the trees and plants other wildlife depend on for survival. When their numbers drop, entire ecosystems suffer. Illegal animal trafficking also creates pathways for disease transmission that can jump from wildlife to humans or domestic animals. Smuggled creatures often carry pathogens that pose health risks to border communities. The underground market for exotic pets drives poachers to capture more animals from their natural homes, accelerating the decline of endangered species. Border protection agencies train officers to spot hidden animals during routine vehicle inspections. These partnerships between customs officials and wildlife experts help intercept more smuggling attempts before protected species enter illegal markets. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. You can help protect endangered primates by supporting wildlife conservation organizations that focus on habitat preservation and anti-poaching efforts. If you plan to view animals for entertainment purposes, pick accredited facilities that participate in breeding programs for endangered species rather than roadside attractions or circuses exploiting wildlife for entertainment. Contact your congressional representatives about funding for wildlife protection programs that give border agents better tools to catch smugglers and save protected animals. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Independent
17-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
The fight to save ‘adorably odd' mammal from edge of extinction
US authorities are considering extending Endangered Species Act protections to the pangolin, often described as the "most trafficked mammal in the world", due to poaching. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is looking to include four Asian species – the Chinese, Indian, Sunda, and Philippine pangolins – and three African species: the white-bellied, black-bellied, and giant pangolins, under the act. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, seven pangolin species are nearing extinction. The World Wildlife Fund has reported that pangolins are heavily trafficked, largely because of demand for their scales in traditional Chinese medicine, as well as for their meat. The Temminck's ground pangolin, another African species, is already protected under the law. Scientists believe that there may be two additional pangolin species yet to be recognised. The Endangered Species Act, signed into law in 1973 with bipartisan backing, is vital for preserving global biodiversity and preventing the extinction of iconic species. It currently protects over 2,000 species. Conservation and environmental groups say habitat loss from climate change is just one reason the act is especially critical today. The endangerment listing, once finalised, would help strengthen trade and import restrictions of pangolin parts in the US, except in the case of scientific or other conservation purposes, according to the Center. It is illegal to trade them; the pangolin received certain commercial trade protections under the 2017 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. But tons of poached scales representing thousands of pangolin have been found by authorities around the world in recent years. 'I'm delighted the United States is doing its part to save these adorably odd creatures,' Sarah Uhlemann, international program director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. ' Pangolins are on the razor's edge of extinction, and we need to completely shut down any US market for their scales. There's no good reason for anybody to ingest any part of a pangolin.' The pangolin eats insects and rolls into a ball when threatened by predators. The Fish and Wildlife Service said pangolin populations have declined due to targeting by poachers and criminal activity, noting 'proceeds from the illicit sale of pangolins and other imperiled species often fund serious crimes, including drug and arms trafficking.' While the act requires endangered species listing regardless of their origin, the designation could also assist in prosecuting smugglers violating the protections. Advocates, including from the International Fund for Animal Welfare and other national and international groups, have for years petitioned to list the pangolin. In 2020, these organisations and the Fish and Wildlife Service signed an agreement to enforce listing deadlines. Polar bears, as well as penguins — similarly not found in the US — have also been in discussions for listing over the years. Monday's move comes despite President Donald Trump's efforts to weaken the act, aligning with ongoing conservative criticism that it stifles economic growth. Trump's executive order declaring an 'energy emergency' in the US says the act can't stand in the way of energy development, signaling that protections could be rolled back. The Trump administration already plans to cut habitat protections for endangered and threatened species, in an effort to redefine the long-standing meaning of what constitutes 'harm."
The Independent
17-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
The world's most trafficked mammal on ‘razor's edge of extinction'
US officials have proposed extending Endangered Species Act protections to the pangolin, a scaled mammal dubbed the "most trafficked mammal in the world". The US Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking to include four Asian species – the Chinese, Indian, Sunda, and Philippine pangolins – and three African species: the white-bellied, black-bellied, and giant pangolins. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, seven pangolin species are nearing extinction. The World Wildlife Fund notes the animals are heavily trafficked, largely due to demand for their scales in traditional Chinese medicine, as well as their meat. The Temminck's ground pangolin, another African species, is already protected under the law. Scientists believe there may be two additional pangolin species yet to be recognised. The Endangered Species Act, signed into law in 1973 with bipartisan backing, is vital for preserving global biodiversity and preventing the extinction of iconic species. It currently protects over 2,000 species. Conservation and environmental groups say habitat loss from climate change is just one reason the act is especially critical today. The endangerment listing, once finalised, would help strengthen trade and import restrictions of pangolin parts in the US, except in the case of scientific or other conservation purposes, according to the Center. It is illegal to trade them; the pangolin received certain commercial trade protections under the 2017 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. But tons of poached scales representing thousands of pangolin have been found by authorities around the world in recent years. 'I'm delighted the United States is doing its part to save these adorably odd creatures,' Sarah Uhlemann, international program director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. ' Pangolins are on the razor's edge of extinction, and we need to completely shut down any US market for their scales. There's no good reason for anybody to ingest any part of a pangolin.' The pangolin eats insects and rolls into a ball when threatened by predators. The Fish and Wildlife Service said pangolin populations have declined due to targeting by poachers and criminal activity, noting 'proceeds from the illicit sale of pangolins and other imperiled species often fund serious crimes, including drug and arms trafficking.' While the act requires endangered species listing regardless of their origin, the designation could also assist in prosecuting smugglers violating the protections. Advocates, including from the International Fund for Animal Welfare and other national and international groups, have for years petitioned to list the pangolin. In 2020, these organisations and the Fish and Wildlife Service signed an agreement to enforce listing deadlines. Polar bears, as well as penguins — similarly not found in the US — have also been in discussions for listing over the years. Monday's move comes despite President Donald Trump's efforts to weaken the act, aligning with ongoing conservative criticism that it stifles economic growth. Trump's executive order declaring an 'energy emergency' in the US says the act can't stand in the way of energy development, signaling that protections could be rolled back. The Trump administration already plans to cut habitat protections for endangered and threatened species, in an effort to redefine the long-standing meaning of what constitutes 'harm."
