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Sea otter
Center for     Biological     Diversity   

Help Us Fight Trump's Huge Expansion of Offshore Drilling

The next big fight is here, and we need your help.

The Trump administration just announced plans to vastly expand offshore oil and gas drilling, including in previously protected areas in the Arctic, the Atlantic and waters off the West Coast. More drilling means more horrific oil spills and lethal risks to wildlife like polar bears, sea turtles and birds. It will also drive us deeper into the climate crisis — contributing nearly 50 billion tons of carbon dioxide pollution (the emissions equivalent of driving 10.6 billion cars for a year).

But it's not a done deal yet.

The Center for Biological Diversity's Ignite Change network of volunteers and activists is about to kick into high gear to fight back. The coming months will be crucial in stopping this plan, but we need you with us to win.

Ready to fight back? Join Ignite Change to be part of this historic fight.

Cliven Bundy

Case Dismissed Against Bundy Clan Over 2014 Standoff

A judge in Nevada on Monday dismissed the case against Cliven Bundy, his sons and another man that stemmed from the 2014 armed standoff between the Bundy clan, their supporters and federal agents.

"Federal prosecutors clearly bungled this case and let the Bundys get away with breaking the law," said the Center's Kierán Suckling. "The Bundys rallied a militia to mount an armed insurrection against the government. The failure of this case will only embolden this violent and racist anti-government movement that wants to take over our public lands."

Read more in the Los Angeles Times and The Revelator.

Win: California Halts New Use of Bee-killing Pesticide

Bee

California regulators just announced that, at least for now, the state has stopped accepting applications from pesticide companies that would expand the use of products containing neonicotinoids. That means a halt on new uses of these dangerous pesticides — which harm bees, birds, butterflies and other pollinators — pending further review of their effects.

"As Trump's EPA works to weaken pollinators' protections, California's decision is a reassuring step toward reversing dangerous bee declines," said the Center's Lori Ann Burd. Read more.

Panama City crayfish

Two Rare, Aquatic Southeast Critters Proposed for Protection

In response to Center lawsuits, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed Endangered Species Act protection for Florida's Panama City crayfish and Tennessee's Barrens topminnow.

Both these freshwater critters have been languishing on waiting lists as their numbers plummeted. "The topminnow was first proposed for protection more than 40 years ago," said Center Senior Scientist Tierra Curry. "I'm hoping this proposal will be the turning point that keeps it from being lost forever."

The Center is working to gain protection for hundreds of imperiled freshwater species from the U.S. Southeast, a global hotspot of both diversity and extinction. Thank you for your support, which allows us to do this lifesaving work.

Read more about the proposals to protect Panama City crayfish and Barrens topminnow.

The Revelator: 83% of Florida Panther Deaths Caused by Cars

Florida panther

Roads kill, especially if you're an endangered Florida panther.

That was sadly true in 2017, according to The Revelator, which reports that last year vehicles killed at least 24 Florida panthers. That's a shocking 83 percent of 2017's total 30 known panther deaths — the highest-ever percentage of road deaths. Worse, many more panthers die annually than are born. We're working to save them, but with only 120 to 230 of the cats left, how many more highway fatalities till they reach a dead end?

Read the Revelator story.

Greater Sage Grouse Need Your Help Right Now

Greater sage grouse

The U.S. Forest Service is reconsidering land-use plans for greater sage grouse habitat across six western states. Unfortunately Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has made it clear he intends to gut these already weak plans to make it even easier for corporations to frack, drill and mine in the rare birds' habitat.

Greater sage grouse are completely dependent on intact sagebrush steppe for their survival. Tell the Forest Service: These special birds need increased protections consistent with science — including an end to all new oil and gas drilling in their habitat.

Foskett speckled dace

Rare Oregon Fish No Longer Endangered

We're breathing a sigh of relief for a rare Oregon fish: The Foskett speckled dace will soon have its Endangered Species Act protection removed, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Under the Act's lifesaving umbrella, it has come back from the brink of extinction.

"The Endangered Species Act has saved Oregon's unique Foskett speckled dace just like it's saved the bald eagle and hundreds of other species," said Noah Greenwald, our endangered species director. "I plan to go see this little fish myself as soon as I can."

The dace lived in a single spring in eastern Oregon's Lake County and gained federal protection in 1985. Cooperative agency management and fencing of the spring to keep out cows saved the creature, which has now also been established in a second spring.

Read more in The Seattle Times.

San Francisco Stands Against Offshore Drilling, Fracking

San Francisco

San Francisco on Tuesday became the latest California city to oppose fossil fuel drilling and fracking off the California coast. It follows Oakland, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Berkeley, Arcata, Goleta, Malibu, San Luis Obispo and others in passing resolutions against new offshore drilling.

The resolution follows the Trump administration's proposal last week to dramatically expand offshore expand offshore drilling in all U.S. oceans, which could expose the Pacific to new oil leasing for the first time in more than 30 years. If you're a Californian, help us save the Golden State's coast.

Javelina

Wild & Weird: New Video Shows Javelinas Mourn Their Dead

Javelinas are hoofed New World animals that look a bit like boars and roam the backyards and wildlands of the Americas as far north as the U.S. Southwest. When Dante de Kort, an Arizona fourth-grader, found a dead one in the woods, he set up a trail camera to capture footage of scavengers for a science fair. But he got far more.

In 100 videos Dante recorded never-before-seen behavior: Herd mates of a dead javelina returned for 10 days to nudge, nuzzle, and try to pick up the body with their snouts. They even lay down to sleep beside it, and Dante saw them chase away coyotes.

After biologist Mariana Altrichter saw Dante's footage, the two co-authored a paper on javelina mourning for Ethology.

Dante told us: "Most people think javelinas are stinky animals that nobody needs around, but when you look at them more closely, you notice they actually care for each other and come back for their dead."

Check out his groundbreaking footage on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram.

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Photo credits: Sea otter by Sean McCann/Flickr; Cliven Bundy by Gage Skidmore/Flickr; bee by Lars Hammar/Flickr; Panama City crayfish by Amy Raybuck/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Florida panther by Larry Richardson/USFWS; greater sage grouse by Jennifer Strickland/USFWS; Foskett speckled dace by Brian Sidlauskas/Oregon State University; San Francisco by sudhi_yhoo/Flickr; javelinas by Dante de Kort.

Center for Biological Diversity
P.O. Box 710
Tucson, AZ 85702