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Humboldt marten
Center for     Biological     Diversity   

We Have to Save Oregon's Humboldt Martens — Only 200 Left

Martens are beautiful, fierce, cat-like animals — and only two populations of fewer than 200 of these little carnivores still survive in Oregon, on the central and southern coast. They've fallen prey to trapping and to logging of old-growth forests. Recent studies project the species could go extinct in the state if it doesn't get protection.

So the Center for Biological Diversity and allies filed a petition Tuesday asking Oregon's Department of Fish and Wildlife to protect Humboldt martens under the state's Endangered Species Act.

"New science clearly shows that it's a life-or-death situation for Oregon's Humboldt martens," said Tierra Curry, a senior scientist at the Center. "The fate of this cute little predator now rests in the hands of Oregon's decision-makers."

Read more in The Oregonian.

Coyote

Court Win: Feds Failed to Fully Study Idaho Wildlife Killing

In a powerful rebuke to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rogue Wildlife Services program, which kills millions of wild animals across the country every year, a federal judge has ruled that the program's shooting, trapping and poisoning in Idaho failed to adequately analyze environmental risks.

The court's ruling — issued last week in a suit by the Center and three other groups — found that Wildlife Services ignored controversy and uncertainty about the impacts of its killing program.

"This is a big victory for Idaho's native wildlife and a major rebuke to this trigger-happy federal program," said Andrea Santarsiere, a Center attorney. "Killing predators like foxes and coyotes is ineffective and inhumane."

The case will now enter its remedy phase, where the judge will consider possible solutions.

Read more in The Washington Post.

Lawsuit Launched to Protect Habitat for Florida Bonneted Bat

Florida bonneted bat

Florida bonneted bats have the smallest range of any bats in North America. Pesticide use and development have brought these funny-faced flyers with fancy ears to the brink of extinction — and now sea-level rise caused by climate change may be the final nail in their coffin.

That's why, along with partners, the Center filed a formal notice this week of our intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to designate lifesaving "critical habitat" for these animals.

Read more in our press release.

Yo'oko the jaguar

Borderlands Jaguar Yo'oko Shown Dead in Photo

Heartbreaking news: Yo'oko, one of only two jaguars known to be living in the United States, has been killed.

A recently obtained photo shows a jaguar pelt with markings that match those of Yo'oko, a young male who roamed Arizona's Huachuca Mountains in 2016 and 2017. Every jaguar's rosette markings are unique, making it possible to ID them. The cat's name, which is the Yaqui word for jaguar, was chosen last year by students of Tucson's Hiaki High School.

"This tragedy is piercing," said the Center's Randy Serraglio. "It highlights the urgency to protect jaguar habitat on both sides of the border and ensure that these rare, beautiful cats have safe places to live."

Read more in the Arizona Daily Star and watch a video of Hiaki High School naming Yo'oko.

Dugong

A New Day in Court for Okinawa Dugongs

Our historic case to save Okinawa dugongs will be in court today in San Francisco, preceded by a rally on the courthouse steps.

The Center and friends are fighting to halt construction of a U.S. military base in Japan that would wipe out crucial habitat for Okinawa dugongs, among the most endangered marine mammals on the planet.

"This huge airbase would be a death sentence for the Okinawa dugong," said the Center's Peter Galvin. "We have to save these wonderful, culturally important animals from this destructive project."

Read more in our press release.

Lion

Letter to Trump: Deny Import Permits for S. African Lions

In the wake of news that a famed lion may have been baited and shot in South Africa, the Center and allies this week urged the Trump administration to deny import permits for all lion trophies taken near Kruger National Park in the Umbabat Reserve.

The potential killing of the famed Western pride leader, known as "Skye" to visitors of Kruger Park, shed new light on a flawed management structure around trophy hunting in the area, as well as the use of baiting during lion trophy hunts in South African reserves.

"If a pride leader like Skye was shot for a cheap thrill, that's especially tragic because all his cubs will be killed by the new top lion," said the Center's Tanya Sanerib.

Read more in our press release.

Earth Overshoot Day graphic

Sign Up to Give Away Endangered Species Condoms

Earth Overshoot Day — the date when we've used all the resources the planet can renew in the entire year — falls on Aug. 1, 2018. That's a day earlier than last year and even earlier than the year before. We're putting the U.S. cities with the largest carbon footprints on notice that they need to take action to #MoveTheDate.

You can help by signing up to give away our new, limited-edition "global footprint" Endangered Species Condoms in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Detroit, Philadelphia, San Jose, Calif., Houston and Washington, D.C. Not living in one of the top 10 cities? No problem. Just let us know how you'd like to give away the condoms in your community. Sign up to be a volunteer condom distributor.

Is Treated Wood Safe for Making Planter Boxes?

Ask Dr. Donley logo

Our own Dr. Nate Donley is back with more #EcoAdvice about how to reduce toxic and harmful substances in your life and home.

"Treated" or "pressure-treated" lumber has been sprayed with a pesticide that prevents fungi and insects from breaking down the wood fibers. This kind of lumber has some very important uses, but is it safe to use for building planter boxes where food will be grown?

Find the answer in Dr. Donley's new column at the Center's Medium page.

Revelator: Ranking the Worst Light Pollution on Earth

Light pollution map

The Blue Marble is turning into a glowing globe. And in many places light pollution is affecting not only our ability to see the beautiful, natural night sky, but also our health. Artificial illumination at night, it turns out, is linked to some pretty major problems, from depression to cancer.

The Revelator analyzed light-pollution levels worldwide, revealing Earth's worst-affected cities and the most light-polluted metro areas.

Check out The Revelator's rankings and interactive map.

Rainblow

Wild & Weird: Whales Make Rainbows

Yes, whales can make rainbows with their blowholes. And yes, these "rainblows" contain luminous whale snot.

Check out this beautiful cetacean exhalation, refracting light into its constituent colors, on Facebook or YouTube.

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Photo credits: Photo credits: Humboldt marten courtesy USFWS; coyote by Alan D. Wilson/Nature's Pics Online; Florida bonneted bat by Kathleen Smith/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Yo'oko the jaguar courtesy USFWS; dugong by Julien Willem/Wikimedia; lion by arnolouise/Flickr; Earth Overshoot Day graphic courtesy Earth Overshoot Day; Ask Dr. Donley logo courtesy Center for Biological Diversity; light pollution map by Dipika Kadaba/Center for Biological Diversity; whale by Domenic Biagini.


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