Moorland Forum – Understanding Predation Report Launch

Posted on February 8, 2016 by GarryRogers

Framing a new dialogue for biodiversity: science and local knowledge https://t.co/wWXE28S37p #BTO #GWCT #RSPB #NGO https://t.co/3Mk3cRlpT4... www.moorlandforum.org.uk

GR: This work begins with an inventory of a select group of species. And this is where research on the factors contributing to species numbers must begin (http://wp.me/p26kDO-xC). Predation is mentioned, but many other factors could be involved. Human impacts through habitat use and removal, climate change, toxic chemicals, livestock, and recreation are just a few of the possible explanations for wildlife population changes.

AZGFD.gov Sunday is last day to hunt Arizona’s quail

Posted on February 4, 2016 by GarryRogers

PHOENIX — “With nothing but sunshine and spring-like temperatures in the weather forecast for this weekend, there’s really no excuse for hunters not to get out in the field and chase quail one last time.
“The season for the state’s three main species – Gambel’s, scaled and Mearns’ – ends Sunday, Feb. 7. The general bag limit is 15 quail per day in the aggregate, of which no more than eight may be Mearns’ quail. The general possession limit is 45 quail in the aggregate, of which no more than 15 Gambel’s, scaled or California quail in the aggregate may be taken in any one day. The 45-quail possession limit may include 24 Mearns’ quail, of which no more than eight may be taken in any one day.” azgfd.net

GR: Many of these beautiful birds will die over the next 72 hours. Shouldn’t killers be given psychiatric treatment rather than living targets?

Arizona Game & Fish Department – Off Highway Vehicles

Posted on February 4, 2016 by GarryRogers

“Off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation is one of the most popular recreational activities taking place on public and state lands in Arizona. Please obey the laws, stay on designated open roads and trails, and ride safely and responsibly.” www.azgfd.com

GR: The sights and sounds of humans on foot and on wheeled vehicles are disruptive to wildlife. Numerous studies have shown their harmful effects on foraging and reproductive success. So why would a wildlife management agency promote such behavior? Why in the midst of the great mass extinction of life on Earth would a government agency promote activities harmful to wildlife? Oh, wait a minute, is it for money? Crazy. Will voters ever come to respect wildlife and require their management agency to dedicate its efforts to protection?

Making Friends With Crows

Posted on January 27, 2016 by GarryRogers

GR: Here’s an excellent DIY post for all you biophiliacs. We have ravens (also corvids) around Coldwater Farm, but they will probably respond just as the crows do.

Feeding and watching wildlife can be worthwhile, but can lead to problems. Here are two links to the laws and advice concerning wildlife in Arizona: FAQ (covers laws), Living With Wildlife (covers individual species).

“It’s a lot of fun to feel like you have wild friends, and feeding birds is a great way to connect with nature. I’ve been asked many times how to make friends with local corvids, crows in particular. While this post is mostly aimed at American crows in North America, it’s applicable to most corvids. However, please be aware of local laws regarding feeding birds.

“The best way to get on a crow’s good side is through their stomach. Unsalted peanuts in-shell work wonders (i.e. crow crack). The best thing you can do is put out peanuts consistently and don’t look directly at the birds when you do so (at least initially). Be conspicuous about you being the one to drop the food, but do not throw the food toward the crows or look at them initially, but do make sure they are in the area. Then, go back inside. It may take them no time at all to come to your food, or it may take them a while before they trust it. Crows are very neophobic and suspicious, and even if it’s a food they love, they will be careful simply because it came from a human. (I suspect if you live in an area with high traffic or restaurants nearby, they will take less time to come to your offering than if you live in a quiet, low-traffic suburban area.)” From: The Corvid Blog By Jennifer Campbell-Smith

Inside the US agency charged with killing a ‘mindboggling’ number of animals

Posted on January 20, 2016 by GarryRogers

“Wildlife Services funds the lethal control methods, but they don’t fund the nonlethal,” says Fox. “That in and of itself disincentivizes nonlethal methods, and incentivizes the reliance on the federal government for predator control. The reliance on an agency for that kind of subsidy is really, really hard to counter.” www.theguardian.com

GR: The policies of the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Service demonstrate the way American land-use agencies place the interests of ranchers first and the interests of wildlife and the land second. It is clear now that as long as land managers must fear politicians controlled by special interests such as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (http://bit.ly/1Nkudid), and the National Livestock Producers Association (http://www.nlpa.org/), there can be no safety for wildlife and its habitats. Of course, the destruction of nature by its appointed stewards is not limited to America; human governments worldwide conduct it. Will we ever see a government created for the good of the Earth and all its creatures? In the midst of the great human-caused mass extinction, it appears that we will not.

I write EcoSciFi, science fiction with an ecological theme. Here’s an idea for a story about the future of nature conservation: As the destruction of wildlife becomes apparent to all people, privately funded wildlife-protection militias embedded with the animals will spread. Local governments will oppose these defenders of nature, arms manufacturers will sell to both sides, and violence will escalate. Humanity will have created another force behind its descending spiral to oblivion.

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and Wildlife Conservation

Posted on January 19, 2016 by GarryRogers

GR: Most nature conservationists work to benefit humans by preventing destructive overuse of wildlife, vegetation, and soil. In the midst of the sixth mass extinction and reading about the losses of our great forests and soils, I believe it is clear that homocentric conservation has been ineffective. Placing nature beneath humans is the wrong approach. It’s time to recognize the equal importance of other species, both plants and animals, on the Earth. In fact, it’s time to begin reducing human numbers and returning the land to the animals.

This article by Marc Bedner discusses the history of the relationship between hunting and wildlife conservation.

No Refuge for Wildlife

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Marc

“The armed hunter-rancher occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge shows the need for the Federal Government to enforce wildlife protection laws. Unfortunately, wildlife refuges were designed from the outset to benefit hunters, not wildlife, in accordance with principles the Boone and Crockett Club developed a century ago.

Teddy Roosevelt with dead elephant

“Theodore Roosevelt, a notorious big game hunter, co-founded Boone and Crockett with George Bird Grinnell (who founded one of the first Audubon societies). Membership in the Boone and Crockett Club was originally restricted to men who had killed at least three different large species of American wildlife, including bear, bison, caribou, cougar, and moose. Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, which traces its origins to President Theodore Roosevelt, is one of 336 wildlife refuges (out of a total of 560) which allow hunting.

“Among the early members of the Club were Aldo Leopold and Gifford Pinchot. In 1905 Roosevelt appointed Pinchot as the first Chief Forester of the U.S. Forest Service. After working for the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico, Leopold developed Pinchot’s principles of scientific forest management into a new science of game management. In conjunction with the Boone & Crockett Club, the Wildlife Society certifies game managers as trademarked wildlife biologists in accordance with principles now called the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.” –Marc Bedner (read more).

World’s wildlife trade regulator meets to assess compliance with multilateral rules, strengthen measures to prevent extinctions and tackle illicit trafficking | CITES

Posted on January 13, 2016 by GarryRogers

This post includes summary statements on several popular species. I’ve included grey parrots here as an example.
“The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently the range State with the largest volume of exports of wild-sourced grey parrots. According to trade records reported by importing countries, DRC has exceeded the annual export quota for various consecutive years. There are no recent scientific studies on the status of the DRC populations of grey parrot, which can provide a science base for the establishment of quotas. There are however suggestions that the populations are declining. Furthermore, there exists an alarmingly high rate of mortality (50% or higher) in domestic transport before the export takes place.

“In the light of the current situation, the Standing Committee is asked to consider a recommendation for all Parties to suspend commercial trade in grey parrots from DRC until all the concerns and recommendations have been sufficiently addressed.” From: cites.org

GR: CITES appears to have no ability to reduce poaching or illegal trafficking in endangered species. The organization follows ponderously behind as popular species are captured or killed for fun, food, and profit. Of course, there have been valuable contributions by CITES, but Earth’s animals and plants are dying so rapidly now that the contributions have little meaning. One might argue that the damage caused by a gathering of 500 participants from across the globe exceeds the value of the organization’s continued existence.

So, what can we do to protect wildlife?

Most people might say that they appreciate wild animals and plants and want them to survive. People have paid for wildlife refuges, landscape linkages, inventories, ecological research, and interventions on behalf of endangered species. However, these conservation efforts have not offset the harm caused by air pollution, construction, invasive species, farming, livestock production, and trafficking. Will we act to increase spending for conservation? Will we act to begin reducing our population? Perhaps both answers are yes, but if we ask if our acts will be sufficient to protect wildlife, the answer is probably no.

Decision to declare lions endangered comes just months after the death of ‘Cecil the Lion’

Posted on December 22, 2015 by GarryRogers

GR: American trophy hunters just aren’t rich enough to stop this move. In other instances, it is clear that protecting economic interests is more important to the Fish and Wildlife Service than protecting wildlife (e.g., the Greater Sage Grouse: http://www.fws.gov/greatersagegrouse/status.php). That’s the way it is in America. Government agencies that actively harm the wildlife or ecosystems in their care are just one more consequence of a government controlled by money.

Exposing the Big Game

http://time.com/4157046/lions-endangered-species-act/

“If hunting is part of a conservation strategy, then it’s part of a failing strategy,” said Dan Ashe, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on a conference call for journalists. The rule is “not reacting to Cecil specifically or any other incident specific, but rather an overwhelming body of science that says that lions are threatened.”

Hefty fees paid in the by hunters of big game like lions ostensibly help fund conservation efforts. But some wildlife experts question whether the policies have been effective as implemented. Lion populations have declined by 43% during the last 20 years, according to the FWS.

The endangered listing comes along with a number of new policies, including new permit requirements for hunters hoping to import trophies from lion hunts. The agency said it will only issue permits in accordance with science on how best to conserve lion species. The rules…

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Another gray wolf pack identified in Methow Valley | Exposing the Big Game

Posted on December 10, 2015 by GarryRogers

“The Methow Valley is now home to two gray wolf packs, with a new pack confirmed to be living in territory that includes Loup Loup Pass.

“State and federal wildlife officials last week confirmed the presence of the gray wolf pack and said it will be designated the Loup Loup Pack, reflecting the prominent landmark within the wolves’ range.” exposingthebiggame.wordpress.com