Jackson, WY-- Late yesterday, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced that chronic wasting disease (CWD) was confirmed in a mule deer in the Wyoming Range mountains. The positive test signals that the always-fatal wildlife disease has officially hit an area that encompasses three entire winter elk feedgrounds: South Park, Horse Creek, and Camp Creek; and a portion of Dell Creekfeedground at Riling Draw road.
Environmental and animal protection groups today sued the Trump administration over its new regulations that dramatically weaken the Endangered Species Act.
Rock Springs, WY-- The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission will meet on July 18th and 19th to decide whether or not to require hunters to carry bear spray in grizzly bear habitat, how to control the spread of chronic wasting disease, and adopt regulations for wolf hunting, among other topics.
Montana-- Joining across international and sovereign lines, today the Blackfoot Confederacy -- comprised of the Piikani Nation, the Blackfeet Nation, the Siksika Nation and the Blood Tribe -- released a statement opposing the Trump Administration’s attempts to remove Endangered Species protections for grizzly bears in the
MINNEAPOLIS, MN— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service held its only public hearing on the Trump administration proposal to end federal protection for nearly all gray wolves in the lower 48 states in Brainerd, Minn.
Dozens of wolf activists gathered at nearby Gregory Park to oppose the delisting proposal. The rally featured speakers and chanting advocates with signs. Photos and video for media use are available upon request.
MISSOULA, Mont.— The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee on Tuesday will consider implementing additional measures to reduce conflicts between grizzly bears and people in the northern Rockies, as requested by conservation groups and others.
The number of grizzly bear deaths has spiked to unprecedented levels in recent years. In 2018, at least 120 bears died in the Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide regions. Most were preventable mortalities from human-related causes.
Seattle, WA-- This weekend, advocates across Washington gathered in several places to protest the Miami Seaquarium’s capture of the orca Tokitae, who is native to the Salish Sea and sacred to the Lummi Nation. The Lummi finalized their Totem Pole Journey with stops across the state-- a 23-day trip from Miami to Seattle to raise awareness about Tokitae’s situation. Tokitae is the only Salish orca who survived a cruel and massive capture of 40 whales in these waters years ago for sea circuses and parks.
Jackson Hole, WY-- Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal infection in deer, elk and moose, has expanded into Grand Teton National Park and ever closer to Yellowstone National Park in recent years. Updated maps created by Wyoming Wildlife Advocates and Sierra Club Wyoming Chapter display the geographical spread over time, and showcase the threats to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, the National Elk Refuge and the proximity of the deadly disease to elk winter feedgrounds in western Wyoming.
Miami, FL-- Hundreds will gather in support of the Lummi Nation’s mission to bring their beloved orca, Tokitae, back to her native waters and family in the Salish Sea. The Lummi Nation’s Totem Pole Journey begins with a rally in Miami,Florida, and will make its way to Seattle, Washington to call for the release of Tokitae-- an orca whale captured from the Puget Sound and in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium. The Lummi Nation recognizes it is their sacred obligation to bring her home to the Pacific Northwest.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife today held a hearing on the Tribal Heritage and Grizzly Bear Protection Act. Introduced by Rep. Grijalva, the bill would protect grizzly bears at a time when hostile state management and federal proposals, climate change and shifting food sources threaten their continued recovery. Grizzly bears are sacred to many Tribal Nations and as a top predator, play a vital role in balancing natural systems.
Tribal leaders today testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife in support of the Tribal Heritage and Grizzly Bear Protection Act. As noted by Lynnette Grey Bull, Senior Vice President of Global Indigenous Council and spokesperson for the Northern Arapaho Elders Society of the Wind River Indian Reservation, the Act is based on The Grizzly: A treaty of Cooperation, Cultural Revitalization and Restoration. It is the most signed treaty in history.
Hudson, WI-- Today, at a hearing about the Trump administration’s move to remove gray wolves in the Lower 48 states from federal Endangered Species Act protections, several conservation and community organizations spoke out against the proposal. The groups emphasized the dangers of removing federal protections for the gray wolf-- including delisting prematurely and pulling resources away from full recovery efforts.