Category Archives: arizona-wildlife

Where We’re Headed

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Can This Book Help Stop The Current Mass Extinction?

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“There have been five known mass extinctions in Earth’s history, the most recent of which took out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Uncovering this history was a scientific triumph, but if we manage to prevent the next one that would really be something.

“This June, a team of six biologists calculated that since 1500, vertebrate species have been going extinct at rates up to 100 times faster than is typical—and the number is rising. In other words, the paper’s authors claim, a sixth mass extinction is now underway, and it’s being caused by human activity.

“Two of the paper’s authors, Gerardo Ceballos and Paul Ehrlich, along with Paul’s colleague and wife Anne Ehrlich, have just released a book on the topic. In The Annihilation of Nature: Human Extinction of Birds and Mammals, Ceballos and the Ehrlichs meticulously document a representative sampling of extinct, endangered and threatened birds and mammals. They assess the causes of each animal’s woes while making the case that humans should start caring.”  Sourced through Scoop.it from: inthesetimes.com

GR:  At a recent wildlife discussion meeting, a newcomer to our rural neighborhood commented that throughout most of her life growing up in Los Angeles, she hadn’t thought about wildlife.  Now, living in an area where small mammals, birds, and reptiles are common, she had become interested.  So, here’s our problem:  Most people in rich urban cultures have no reason to think about wildlife.  Thus, they have no reason to conserve energy and goods that are depleting Earth’s resources and wildlife carrying capacity. Adding to this problem, the people responsible for much of the land outside the cities–and live there–are concerned with harvesting the resources. For them, wildlife is just a nuisance.

Wildlife managers assessing fire impacts

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“For a second consecutive year, state wildlife managers are scrambling to assess the damage caused by massive wildfires that scorched four state wildlife areas in north central Washington, including the Methow Valley.

“Since mid-August, this year’s record-setting wildfires in Okanogan County have burned more than 505,000 acres, destroyed about 200 residences, and killed three firefighters.

“As of early this week the largest fires included the Tunk Block Fire, burning 10 miles northeast of Omak and listed at 167,840 acres and 79 percent contained; the North Star Fire, 25 miles north of Coulee Dam, which had consumed 215,406 acres and was 47 percent contained; and the Okanogan Complex Fire, west of Omak and Okanogan,Featured Image — 10312which was 133,142 acres and 85 percent contained. The Twisp River Fire, fully contained, burned 11,211 acres in August.”  Sourced through Scoop.it from: exposingthebiggame.wordpress.com

GR: After a fire, we should give deer and other wildlife access to nearby crops if they can use them.  Killing off animals that try to find food on lands we converted to farms is not ethical.  We must begin to conserve our dwindling wildlife populations and the ecosystems they inhabit.

California drought cause of odd animal activity?

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LOOMIS, Calif. — “The scarcity of food in the wild has been blamed for unusual animal activity during California’s drought including a recent bear attack, mountain lion sightings and an uptick in orphaned animals.

“But the devastating four-year drought that’s dried up streams and vegetation isn’t the sole cause, state officials and experts say. Instead, they say the drought is exacerbating long-term trends and natural animal behaviors in a state that is becoming increasingly developed.

“Pools and lush gardens in residential areas are attractive to animals forced out of their normal homes. The construction of roads and business developments, along with man’s increased movement into rural areas, had begun fragmenting habitats before the drought.

“You have a longer-term trend exacerbated by this acute change in water availability,” said Dick Cameron, a scientist who studies habitat fragmentation for The Nature Conservancy in California.”  Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.thonline.com

GR:  Drought is adding to wildlife woes in some places, but everywhere wild animals are suffering from human progress.  Our bulging population is using up the food that wild animals need, and our wastes are ruining wild habitats.

Why are Colorado wildlife biologists apologizing for the energy industry?

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‘Just pointing fingers at the energy industry is not a helpful solution to this difficult issue’

FRISCO — “A recent study showing that energy development in northwest Colorado significantly affects wildlife habitat drew national attention, and a curious reaction from Colorado’s wildlife agency, which seemed to be apologizing on behalf of the energy industry.

“The study showed that the region’s dwindling mule deer population shies well away from active drilling, to a distance of at least 800 meters. Deer displayed more nuanced responses to other infrastructure, avoiding pads with active production and roads to a greater degree during the day than night.”  Sourced through Scoop.it from: summitcountyvoice.com

GR:  Deer and other wildlife are declining and yet the management plans for stopping the decline remain too sensitive to human desires to be effective.  Construction, livestock grazing, mining, logging, and recreation have to stop if we wish to save our animals and ecosystems.  Just say’in.

Fish and Wildlife faulted in red wolf shootings

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“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the Endangered Species Act twice in the past two years when it gave private landowners permission to kill endangered red wolves near the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge…”  Sourced through Scoop.it from: telania.wordpress.com

When Water Is Gone – National Wildlife Federation

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Here’s an example of the commentary:  “A keystone species of California’s Carrizo Plain National Monument, giant kangaroo rats are starving as drought turns these once-vast grasslands into desert, depriving the rodents of plants and seeds they depend on for food. Before the drought, researchers estimated the rodent’s population in the hundreds of thousands, with up to 100 of the animals per acre. That number had fallen to only seven per acre this spring—a crisis for the entire ecosystem.

“Giant kangaroo rats are a main prey source for endangered San Joaquin kit foxes as well as for coyotes, raptors, snakes, weasels and other predators. In addition, the rats’ burrowing churns up nutrient-rich soils that lead to higher levels of plant and invertebrate diversity. Due to habitat loss outside the national monument, the Carrizo Plain kangaroo rat population is the largest remaining in California, says Justin Brashares, a professor of wildlife ecology at the University of California–Berkeley. “If we lose this population, we could see federal support for the start of a captive-breeding population.”  www.nwf.org

GR:  This is a refreshing change from the typical coverage of the California drought. The focus of most drought stories is on human problems.  Humans aren’t having problems like wild species are; the human population is growing.  Other species’ populations aren’t.  The World Wildlife Fund reports that more than half of all vertebrates are gone now and the losses are continuing.  Very little is being done to reverse the decline.  So.., are California representatives of the people telling them, and the rest of the world, to slow down?  No, not at all.  Much of the world still sees the profits to be gained from growing populations of consumers and workers.  That has to change.  Either we manage our population, or we let drought, flood, famine, and war do it for us.

Shrinking Sea Ice Forces Alaskan Walruses Ashore

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Global warming is forcing thousands of walruses in Alaska go ashore due to the shrinking loss of Arctic ice. www.ecorazzi.com

GR:  This may happen every year now until they are all gone.  Innocent creatures dying for our ignorance and carelessness.

Mass Whale Death in Northeastern Pacific — Hot Blob’s Record Algae Bloom to Blame?

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“Something lurking in the Northeastern Pacific is killing off the graceful giants of the world’s oceans. For since May of 2015 30 large whales have been discovered dead — their bloated and decaying bodies washed up on Alaskan shores. It’s an unusual mortality event featuring a death rate of nearly 400 percent above the average. So far, scientists don’t yet have a culprit. But there is a prime suspect and it’s one that’s linked to climate change.”

(Photo:  Bears consume the carcass of a beached finback whale on the Alaskan coastline. Image source: NOAA.)

“This month the US government declared an ‘unusual mortality event’ after it was confirmed that 30 large whales including 11 finback whales, 14 humpback whales, one gray whale and four other whales so bad off it that spotters where unable to identify the bodies by type were found dead. For large whales, whose numbers tend to be low due to size, low birth rates, and dietary requirements, that’s a very rapid mortality rate. As a comparison, all of 2014 only featured four large whale deaths in the Gulf of Alaska.”  Sourced through Scoop.it from: robertscribbler.com