Wildlife

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US may lift protections for Yellowstone, Glacier grizzlies

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Biden administration took a first step Friday toward ending federal protections for grizzly bears in the northern Rocky Mountains, which would open the door to future hunting in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho.

https://apnews.com/article/us-fish-and-wildlife-service-alaska-montana-wyoming-idaho-ff09eccea665e580248c44692d46115d?

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YOU LOVE TO SEE IT: A Wildlife Refuge Stays Wild

The Biden administration announced Thursday that they would cancel oil and gas leases in the nation’s largest wildlife refuge, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Biden had previously suspended existing leases in an executive order on his first day in office, and this week’s announcement puts the nail in the coffin.

https://www.levernews.com/you-love-to-see-it-a-wildlife-refuge-stays-wild/

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? Wildlife refuges expand in Texas

The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge will nearly double in size. Photo: Jon G. Fuller/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Hundreds of thousands of acres will be added to wildlife refuges in Texas, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Why it matters: The new acquisitions and conservation areas managed by the National Wildlife Refuge System in Texas aim to conserve habitats and protect the state's diverse wildlife. The land will also be evaluated for potential recreational opportunities and public access. What they're saying: "Texas is one of the most biodiverse states in the U.S. with tens of thousands of native animal and plant species inhabiting hundreds of different habitat types," Amy Lueders, the Fish and Wildlife Service's Southwest regional director, said in a statement. The big picture: The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and the Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge along the Gulf Coast are expanding by a combined 150,000 acres. The Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge along the Texas-New Mexico border, the oldest national wildlife refuge in the state, will expand by 700,000 acres. Plus: Seven more acquisitions by the Fish and Wildlife Service have added more than 9,000 acres to the refuge system, including 3,000 acres in East Texas.

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Why Bringing Grizzlies Back to the North Cascades Is a Great Idea

Americans love our national parks because they are spectacular places where wildlife can thrive in abundance. The North Cascades is one of North America’s premier intact ecosystems, but it is incomplete without grizzly bears.

https://www.npca.org/articles/3323-why-bringing-grizzlies-back-to-the-north-cascades-is-a-great-idea#:

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Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote this week on a bill to strip protections for gray wolves

https://environmentamerica.org/updates/whos-afraid-of-the-big-bad-wolf/?

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5 Major Victories for Wildlife, Water and Public Lands

After years of advocacy work, NPCA scored massive wins for Alaska’s caribou, conservation of public lands and waterways, and protection of national parks from future oil and gas drilling.  

https://www.npca.org/articles/3776-5-major-victories-for-wildlife-water-and-public-lands