Prairie dogs moved to safer ground at Thunder Basin

Collaborative relocation project bodes well for recovery of prairie species

From the outside, it looked like a simple matter of moving animals from one place to another. But for our Rocky Mountain Representative Jonathan Proctor, it was a precedent-setting triumph for wildlife conservation on America's National Grasslands.

Proctor worked 16-hour shifts for seven straight days this July, helping trap 120 prairie dogs and relocating them to a protected area within Thunder Basin National Grassland in eastern Wyoming. Thus began a unique collaborative partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Wyoming Game and Fish, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and fellow prairie dog experts from the Humane Society of the United States, World Wildlife Fund and Biodiversity Conservation Alliance to relocate hundreds of prairie dogs from the periphery of this protected area to their new home at its center.

Prairie dogs are a "keystone" species of the Great Plains. They once numbered in the millions, or even billions, and provided abundant food and shelter for numerous other species of wildlife. But by the early 1900s, less than five percent remained as a result of plowing, poisoning, exotic disease and shooting. Prairie dogs live in colonies that once covered 10 to 20 percent of the Great Plains, but today these colonies cover less than one percent.

Read more here
http://www.defenders.org/about_us/success_stories/prairie_dogs_moved_to_safer_ground_at_thunder_basin.php

Save America's National Parks

For more than a generation, America's national parks haven't received the funding they need. To make matters worse, President Obama recently proposed cutting the park budget even more.

Tell Congress to save America's national parks
www.care2.com/go/z/e/AF.eJ/zKB2/BacyR

The United States national parks already suffer from a $580 million annual operating shortfall and a backlog of maintenance projects that exceeds $9 billion. But despite inadequate funding, the U.S. has made important progress toward protecting park wildlife and historic treasures. Save park funding »

If President Obama's park budget cuts are passed, it will further halt the progress made to improve the experience of the park visitors and protection of America's special places.

Urge Congress to protect America's national parks

Thank you,
Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team

Protect Habit for the Less than 100 Florida Panthers Left

 

Hi Green, There are less than a 100 Florida panthers left, making it one of America's most endangered species. Save the Florida panther. » Although the Florida panther was originally declared an endangered species by the federal government in 1967, the amendment to the Endangered Species Act which required each species so listed to also have "designated critical habitat" did not go into effect until 1978. As a result, no critical habitat exists for America's only big cat east of the Mississippi. The Interior Department has the ability under the Endangered Species Act to protect the remaining habitat now. Urge Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to designate critical habitat for the Florida panther today. » Thanks for taking action! Samer ThePetitionSite Save the Florida Panther    Take action link: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFZ4E/zKBF/b0hWS

 

August Mosquito Alert Gainesville from Alachua County Health Department

August 4, 2010 2:10 p.m.
This release sent at the request of the Alachua County Health Department.

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Health Department (ACHD) has detected mosquito borne diseases in the County. "Our sentinel
surveillance system indicates that disease transmission is occurring," stated Anthony Dennis, Environmental Health Director at the
ACHD. "Taking a few simple steps can drastically reduce the chances of contracting
a mosquito-borne illness."

Symptoms of West Nile virus (WNV) infection and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) may include headache, fever, fatigue, dizziness,
weakness, and confusion. Physicians should contact ACHD if they suspect an individual may have a mosquito-
borne illness.

Florida Department of Health (FDOH) laboratories provide testing services for physicians treating patients with clinical signs of
mosquito-borne diseases.

The ACHD continues to advise citizens to remain diligent in protecting themselves from mosquito bites by following the "5 D's,"
which include:

* Drainage - Check aroundyour home to rid the area of standing water, which is where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.

* DEET - When the potential exists for exposure to mosquitoes, repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or
N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide)are recommended. Picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus are other repellent options.

* Dress - Wear clothing that coversmost ofyour skin.

* Dusk and Dawn - Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active.

For more information on mosquito borne illnesses, visit the ACHD website at www.AlachuaCountyHealth.org

Garbage Bags and Wildlife Don't Mix

 

Hi Green Planet, The average American uses 300 to 700 plastic bags per year. Only a tiny fraction are ever recycled. Billions of these single-use bags end up in landfills, rivers and oceans. The bags can take 1,000 years to decompose. A groundbreaking bill in California would ban single-use plastic bags. Urge California legislators to lead the nation on a path to ban single-use plastic bags » The bags are found in virtually every body of water on earth. Seabirds, turtles, seals, sea lions, whales and fish are all at risk of ingesting the bags or becoming entangled. Let's be real, the convenience of a single-use plastic bag is not worth the threat to our oceans. Take action and urge California leaders to pass the nation's first statewide ban on single-use plastic bags » Let California's legislators know the nation is watching and hoping they lead the way to ban the bag! Thanks for making a difference! Andrea W. ThePetitionSite Plastic Bags Kill Marine Wildlife - Help Ban the Bag »   Forward to a friend >> Read the petition >>

 

Help Developing Countries Fight Climate Change

 

Hi Green, It's tragically ironic that the nations facing the most disastrous effects of climate change are also the least able to lower emissions or to cope with the consequences. Make sure developing nations get the help they need to fight climate change » Aid for climate change is about more than cutting emissions. It's about fairness. Those countries that have contributed most to global warming must do all they can to mitigate its effects, especially in nations with low emissions and high risk of climate-caused disasters. Developing nations have been promised billions in climate aid. Now, a UN Advisory Group has to make sure these promises become reality. UN nations will meet in Cancun this fall. Tell the co-chairs of the UN Advisory Group to have a plan in place by the Mexico meeting to make sure countries get the aid they need » Thanks for taking action! Emily V. Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team Help Developing Countries Fight Climate Change    Take action link: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFZUg/zKbH/BacyR

Audubon Oil Spill Update: Two Volunteers Help with Bird Rescue

You may vote every week through August 21 to help Audubon raise money for Gulf relief and restoration efforts. Thanks! August 2, 2010 Dear Andrew, Even as efforts to fully choke the 100-day spill this week appearing promising, oil continues to impact birds and their habitats, and Audubon immediate response efforts continue. But the hoped-for halt to the immediate crisis in the gulf will also set the stage for its long term recovery. Two Audubon Volunteers Help with Bird Recovery They wait for hours under a canvas canopy in the broiling heat of Port Sulphur, Louisiana, ready to spring into action when a radio call announces a transport boat is arriving with bird and wildlife casualties. On this particular day in July, Dale and Matt played their part in Audubon's Gulf Oil Response by assisting with the transport of twenty birds to the Bird Rehabilitation Center. Eleven oiled birds made it safely to the Center, while nine others were recovered either DOA or died on their way to the docks. Audubon transport aides have a heart-wrenching, but essential role in the rescue process. They ensure accurate documentation of the number, species and condition of the birds being brought to shore, as well as the transfer of the birds from the boats to the transport vans. The vans then take them to the Bird Rehab Center where highly trained professionals focus on new "saves" and prepare them for release. Matt, a New Orleanian working in the music recording industry, feels the emotional strain from his time on the docks. "This isn't my first day to see this, and it doesn't get any easier each time I do it. It's hard to wrap your head around why this is going on and to not think that we're all partially accountable. I know it's got me thinking and acting a lot differently, more responsibly." A retired Wisconsin native with a background in soil and water conservation, Dale hopes that some good can come out this devastation. "I wish that all Americans would realize the role we've played in helping create this situation. It's our demand on this type of energy (fossil fuels) that's caused this. If others could see what I've seen here, maybe we'd all take conservation more seriously." For now, both are acting to make a difference. A Prescription for Long Term Recovery  On Wednesday, Audubon and its Louisiana Coastal Restoration partners released a plan to restore wetlands—a critical step forward that will benefit birds, wildlife and people of the region. The recommendations included in the report, entitled "Common Ground: A Shared Vision for Restoring the Mississippi River Delta," by Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society and the National Wildlife Federation, outlines the necessary steps to restore and rebuild an ecosystem that has lost more than 2,300 square miles of wetlands—an area larger than the state of Delaware—since the 1930s. The three environmental organizations came together to seek solutions to one of our nation's most pressing environmental challenges. According to the report," The loss of coastal wetlands to oil contamination may speed up today's alarming land loss, leaving an already weakened ecosystem even more vulnerable to storms and other man-made assaults." The good news is that the collaborative effort is bringing together the expertise, knowledge and supporters of all three organizations. Learn more. Audubon Gulf Response Volunteers Keep Things in Tune on Grand Isle In this small Louisiana community, human and avian inhabitants alike are reeling from the oil spill's impacts. But thanks to our terrific volunteers, last weekend's music fans at the Island Aid Concert—held to benefit the town —were able to enjoy a much-needed good time, while Least Tern colonies went about their business as usual. Beach concerts can sometimes by tough on birds who are trying to care for their young, but our volunteer beach stewards kept things harmonious for all. Read more. Audubon to Testify on Behalf of Gulf Living Resources Melanie Driscoll, Audubon's director of bird conservation in Louisiana, will testify on a panel convened by the federal government's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement in New Orleans Wednesday, Aug. 4. Melanie will speak on behalf of the living resources of the Gulf Coast—birds, other wildlife, habitats and people—and urge the federal government to impose the highest possible safety standards and containment requirements on companies like BP so that a disaster like this never happens again. Melanie was asked by government officials to participate in the hearing because of her expertise and Audubon's recognized leadership not only now, during the oil disaster, but across the Gulf Coast for decades. Latest Webcast Gives a Taste of Coastal Bird Survey Training Based on feedback from our first two webcasts, we took a somewhat different tack and provided a thumbnail of our coastal bird survey training and a good introduction to using ebird.org for recording observations. For beginners and seasoned birders alike, everyone can help with Gulf restoration efforts by recording bird sightings and adding to the body of information we have about breeding, migration and other bird data to help Audubon scientists and others with recovery plans. Knowing how the spill is affecting bird populations is critical to how we ensure their ultimate recovery from the disaster. Even data from outside the Missisissipp River corridor is useful, so whether you are on the East coast, the West coast or somewhere in between, your citizen science efforts are important. Listen to the archives for our first three webcasts. You will need to register for each webcast in order to access the archives. May 24, 2010 Webcast June 23, 2010 Webcast July 21, 2010 Webcast Audubon Names New President David Yarnold has been named the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Audubon, effective September 1, 2010, giving new momentum to efforts to connect people with nature and their power to protect it. A passionate conservationist, Yarnold currently serves as Executive Director of Environmental Defense Fund and President of Environmental Defense Action Fund. Read more. Thank you for your continued support. Audubon 1150 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 861-2242 | audubonaction@audubon.org