Wolf
Center for     Biological     Diversity   

Trump Sued for Revoking Protection for Alaska Wolves, Bears

The Center for Biological Diversity took the Trump administration to court again this morning, this time with a first-of-its-kind constitutional challenge aimed at Trump's decision to end an Obama rule protecting wolves and bears at Alaska's wildlife refuges from being killed in their dens and gunned down from the air.

President Trump signed legislation April 3 that was rushed through Congress under the Congressional Review Act. Our suit challenges the constitutionality of the Act, a 1996 law allowing legislators to repeal federal regulations adopted in the last few months of the previous presidential administration. Before 2017, Congress successfully used the Act only once -- in 2001 -- but Trump and the current Congress have now used it to revoke 13 different Obama-era regulations.

The fight is on to stop Trump's disgusting wildlife-killing law.

Read more in The Hill and consider donating to our Trump Resistance Fund.

Miami blue butterfly

Dow Urges Halt to Work Protecting Species From Pesticides

Dow Chemical is pushing the Trump administration to abandon legally mandated efforts to protect endangered species from three dangerous pesticides.

The ploy to abandon a nearly four-year effort to safeguard endangered species from these pesticides was revealed in letters obtained by the Center. Dow wants the Trump administration and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to withdraw "biological evaluations" that were finalized in January detailing how the highly toxic organophosphate insecticides -- chlorpyrifos, malathion and diazinon -- harm nearly all 1,800 threatened and endangered U.S. animals and plants.

"Unable to win on the facts, Dow is now adopting the same disgraceful tactics honed by the tobacco industry and the climate deniers to try to discredit science and scrap reasonable conservation measures that will protect our most endangered animals and plants," said the Center's Brett Hartl.

Read more in U.S. News & World Report.

Mountain lion

Wildlife Services Sued Over Colorado Carnivore Killing

In December 2016 the state of Colorado approved a highly controversial plan to use Wildlife Services, the federal government's animal-extermination arm, to kill as many as 120 mountain lions and black bears in a misguided experiment for the benefit of hunters. So along with our allies, last week we sued Wildlife Services over its Colorado scheme.

"I'm outraged that Colorado plans to kill bears and mountain lions to boost deer populations for hunters," said the Center's Collette Adkins. "The state relies on outdated and unscientific thinking that disregards the importance of predators. The scientific study our lawsuit seeks would show that Colorado's predator-killing program is ecologically harmful -- as well as ineffective and cruel."

Read more in The New York Times.

Center Seeks Records on Monsanto's Ties to EPA

Wildflower

The Center and U.S. Right to Know have submitted requests under the Freedom of Information Act seeking public records to determine whether pesticide giant Monsanto inappropriately influenced the Environmental Protection Agency in its declaration that the toxic chemical glyphosate -- the main ingredient in Roundup -- does not cause cancer.

"With many independent studies linking glyphosate to cancer," said Center Senior Scientist Nathan Donley, "it's vital to understand how much influence Monsanto had on the agency that's supposed to protect public health." Read more.

Giraffes

Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Giraffes

Africa's giraffe population has plunged nearly 40 percent over the past three decades, largely due to mounting habitat loss, hunting for meat and international trade in bone carvings and trophies.

That's why this week the Center and allies filed to protect giraffes under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The United States imported more than 21,400 bone carvings, 3,000 skin pieces and 3,700 hunting trophies over the past decade, so limiting that import will give giraffes important protections.

"There are now fewer giraffes than elephants in Africa," said the Center's Tanya Sanerib. "It's time for the United States to step up and protect these extraordinary creatures."

Read more in USA Today and check out our new giraffe webpage.

BLM Fracking Plan Endangers Sage Grouse in Utah

Sagr grouse

The Bureau of Land Management is proposing to auction off 15,000 acres of public land in Utah for fracking and drilling -- a move that will hurt local greater sage grouse that are already in trouble.

The Sheeprocks population of sage grouse in central Utah has dropped by nearly 40 percent over the past four years.

"Despite admitting that the Sheeprocks population is in critical condition and requires more protection, BLM officials want to encourage drilling in the sagebrush?" said the Center's Michael Saul. "It makes no sense." Read more.

Sockeye salmon mural

Rare Salmon Mural Unveiled in Portland Airport

Residents of Portland, Oregon -- plus millions of others journeying through the PDX airport -- will now be inspired and educated by the latest installment in the Center's Endangered Species Mural Project. The exhibit depicts a different kind of journey: the epic migration of Columbia River sockeye salmon from the ocean to their natal inland Oregon streams.

The nine-panel, 15-square-foot exhibit -- called Sockeye Salmon Bring the Ocean to the Mountains -- was painted and installed by Portland artist Roger Peet, who also spearheads our mural project. This nationwide art series aims to connect communities with local imperiled wildlife by highlighting threatened species of regional significance; so far it includes 10 murals across the country.

Read more in Willamette Week.

Solarize State Government Buildings -- Take Action

California state capitol building

To avoid catastrophic climate change, we must rapidly transition to renewable energy, and a concrete step we can take is installing solar panels on government buildings. But with a cabinet of climate deniers running the federal government, this step will require visionary leadership and political will at the state level.

Take a moment right now to tell your state representatives to put solar panels on all solar-compatible state government buildings and to obtain energy from local distributed solar energy for buildings not compatible with solar energy technology.

Protest

April 22: March for Science

Science is under serious attack by the Trump administration -- and that attack threatens to undermine our laws and liberties, drive endangered species over the brink of extinction, and hobble urgently needed action on climate change.

So when citizens march for science across the country on Earth Day this Saturday, Center staff will be there -- including our climate science director Shaye Wolf in San Francisco, climate staff scientist John Fleming in D.C., and senior attorney and biologist Collette Adkins in Minneapolis. We'll also be in Los Angeles; New York; Portland, Ore., and other cities.

Read commentary from Shaye in The Mercury News, an article by John at Medium, and an op-ed by Collette at Minnpost. Then find a march near you in which to participate -- and take a message of conservation and environmental protection with you.

Livecam of hippos and a stork

Wild & Weird: Five Animal Cams

Late to meet a work deadline? Stuck on a boring conference call? Never fear, these five amazing animal cams will make you forget all about it.

1. Katmai National Park Bear Cam
2. Weedy Seadragon Cam
3. Underwater Penguin Cam
4. Otter Cam
5. African Watering Hole Cam

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Photo credits: Wolf by furlined/Flickr; Miami blue butterfly by sunnyreggie/Flickr; mountain lion by warrenlynn/Flickr; wildflower by srasteria/Flickr; giraffes by beardymonsta/Flickr; sage grouse by Alan Krakauer/Flickr; sockeye salmon artwork by Roger Peet photographed by Jerry McCarthy/Port of Portland; California state capitol building by rscottjones/Flickr; march by Joe Brusky/Flickr; African watering hole livecam still courtesy Mpala Live!

Center for Biological Diversity
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Tucson, AZ 85702