A proposed amendment to the farm bill threatens the red wolf, the Florida panther and other endangered species. Proposed by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), the amendment would get rid of protections for endangered species that are entirely within the borders of one state. As the Wolf Conservation Center post states, this would impact “the red wolf in North Carolina, the polar bear in Alaska, the Florida panther, the San Joaquin kit fox in California, and the Maryland darter.”

It should be noted that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina found that the federal government’s power to regulate interstate commerce included the power to regulate the taking of red wolves on private land. The Court of Appeals refused to reconsider the case and the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari . Since precedent has been set by the courts given not only the Endangered Species Act, but also under interstate commerce, will this become an attempt to overturn the ESA AND our judicial system’s application of the interstate commerce clause?

The red wolf is classified as a “nonessential experimental” population, which is based upon the idea that the captive population is the necessary population… That captive breeding population is in many states throughout the U.S. in captive facilities. How would this inconsistency play out? Is it an inconsistency? There is so much more that must be considered before any extremely drastic change or decision should be made.

Regardless of your position on this topic, talk to our politicians about your take on the importance of biodiversity, the use of science versus politics in policy development, and the Endangered Species Act (which was enacted under Republican President Richard Nixon). Bring the debate of this amendment to the forefront, rather than allowing a cowardly attempt to slip it in an amendment to the Farm Bill. Democracy is important, change will happen, but overturning important legislation should not be hidden from the public.

Sorry for the long post.

@Elephantjournal published our update on #coyote night-hunting 2day.

PLEASE COMMENT on this article on the Elephant Journal page to engage in a great conversation about how to deal with these types of conflict. We will also answer questions throughout those comments. THANKS!!

njwight:

Happy Diamond Jubilee Her Majesty-love the Queen of the Savannah! (Go on-give her a click to get a better look!)

njwight:

Sleepy-head.

njwight:

Friday Favourite: I shot this in Sabi Sands, South Africa. It was my first leopard. (I often wonder if in leopard-speak he is flipping me the finger?) You never forget your first…

Here he is again: http://njwight.tumblr.com/post/16575338958/leopard

Awesome shot by our friend njwight!!

This is a piece I did for Reesenews.com last week. “Like” us at www.facebook.com/WildSides.org to see photos, quotes and info about red wolf conservation and deer hunting in North Carolina leading up to more red wolf film releases. See you there!

crc-rehab-blog:

Patient #15903, red-shouldered hawk orphan

Hatched one week ago. 

crc-rehab-blog:

Our first orphan of the year, patient #15812, had a minor surgery today to remove an abscess near his right eye.  This great horned owl arrived 52 days ago, miniature but healthy.  About two weeks ago, we noticed that his eye was swollen and then a few days later we found a tick on his eyelid. We think the two issues are unrelated, but the inside corner of his right eye was swollen and irritated.  Today we anesthetized him and opened up the area.  It was filled with brown necrotic debris. Immediately, the eye already looked better.  He will most likely need a few more minor surgeries to continue cleaning out the area, but he is well on his way to healing.  The last two photos show the bird post-surgery.  The lower eyelid is actually packed with gauze, so it still looks very swollen. 

North Carolina law allows daytime hunting of coyotes all year. A proposed amendment to that rule allows for nighttime hunting and the use of electronic calls and artificial lights.

This poses a potential threat to the endangered red wolves who, despite larger size and other differentiating features, can look similar to coyotes.

The red wolf population in northeastern North Carolina of between 90 and 100 individuals is the only wild red wolf population in the world. During the gun seasons from October to December of 2011, seven red wolves died as a result of human’s suspected illegal activity, including gunshot.

Some people want to control the growing coyote population by hunting. They say shooting coyotes will help the red wolf, even if some red wolves are killed.

However, biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believe hunting coyotes allows more breeding coyotes to come into an area. Instead, the biologists sterilize and release them back into the wild. This allows the territorial animal to keep other breeding individuals away. It also keeps the nonnative coyotes from interbreeding with native red wolves.

The public comment period for this amendment to allow night-hunting of coyotes ends Monday, April 16. Submit your comments either by email to regulations@ncwildlife.org or by filling out this online form. 

For more information about the proposed rule see T. DeLene Beeland’s article from Scientific American.

Informative Article by T. DeLene Beeland in Scientific American.

“

Anyone may submit comments on the proposed rule change by writing an email (regulations@ncwildlife.org) to the Wildlife Resources Commission, or filling out an online form. If emailing, specify your comment is about night hunting coyotes with artificial lights, include in the message body where you live, and include if you agree or disagree with the proposal and why.

The public comment period is open until April 16, 2012.”