Wind turbines on the Great Lakes? Not a great idea for the birds

Saw an interesting article today about how putting wind turbines on the Great Lakes could do serious harm to the birds around and migrating through the Great Lake region.

Traditional wind turbines create a horrendous level of bird kills. Endangered birds such as bald eagles, which are federally protected,  and bats – which are threatened by the white nose syndrome plague – are losing their lives in continually growing numbers due to strikes by wind turbines.

Los Angeles City Council to approve lifesaving wildlife corridor

Would this wildlife overpass at Banff, Alberta, Canada be the model for the new Liberty Canyon/ 101 Wildlife Corridor overpass through L.A.?

Wildlife in and around one of the countries biggest metropolises is about to get a lifesaving reprieve.

On Tuesday, Los Angeles’s City Council Planning unanimously voted to approve a Regional Wildlife Linking Zone in the hillsides of Los Angeles between I-5 and I-405, which will be added to the City’s municipal code. This will establish a zone to protect open space connectivity in any new building permits.

8 members of Congress honored for defending wildlife and the Endangered Species Act

Many Americans have bones to pick with our members of Congress over a variety of issues. But sometimes, some of them do get it right. This evening eight members of Congress were honored for their staunch defense of wildlife and of the Endangered Species Act.

The “Champions of the Endangered Species Act” reception in Washington, D.C. features former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt and honors Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tom Udall (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and House members Don Beyer (D-VA), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Betty McCollum (D-MN), and Niki Tsongas (D-MA).

200 lions to be killed in Zimbabwe – yet they’re threatened or endangered elsewhere

One of Zimbabwe’s largest and most successful wildlife reserves, the Bubye Valley Conservancy, recently announced that its population of 500 lions is unsustainable, and their numbers must be reduced by at least 200.

Since the world outcry regarding the trophy hunting kill of Cecil the black-maned lion, trophy hunters have definitely scaled back, though they’re still “enjoying” their kills. But the number of lions in Bubye are vying for diminishing resources, much of this due to human proliferation, and this creates problems.

Some Montana cattle ranchers work to co-exist with wolves

There’s finally some good news regarding the fate of wolves in at least one Western state. Traditionally cattle ranchers – especially those in Montana and Idaho – make a point of killing wolves to prevent them from killing any cattle. Now some Montana ranchers are finding ways to co-exist.

New wildlife corridor to be built in Washington state

A green bridge near Grevesmühlen, Germany. Will the new one in Washington state resemble this?

This Tuesday, the Washington State Department of Transportation will break ground on a wildlife crossing that will span Interstate 90, a major thoroughfare linking the Seattle area with eastern Washington. The 150-foot-long (45-meter) wildlife bridge – about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Seattle near the Snoqualmie Pass – will be the largest of its kind in the state.

America’s Top 10 Cities for Wildlife

Wildlife is adaptable. Studies continue to show that in our largest metropolises, foxes, raccoons and coyotes also thrive. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Consider the lone mountain lion that’s apparently trapped in-between urban sprawl in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park.

So it’s welcome news that the National Wildlife Federation is honoring the Top 10 Cities for Wildlife as part of its celebration of National Wildlife Week 2015.

Obama and 2 states to appeal ruling on federal protection for wolves – but who do the wolves appeal to?

Great Lake wolves have shown a recovery in numbers. Scientists, who consider the Great Lakes wolves’ territory to include nine states, have established populations of about 3,700 animals total in just three — Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Even so, a  federal judge’s recent order restored legal protection to gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region.

Catch tonite’s first show of PBS series: Earth: A New Wild

As the effects of climate change make themselves irrefutably present, Nature and especially its wild animals are being deeply impacted. And the relationship between humans and Nature is being sorely tested.

Toyota learns to let Nature take its course

Retention pond at Toyota’s Mississippi plant retention pond – now certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council as a Wildlife at Work program

Humans are wise to learn from Nature. Rather than insist on creating a picture perfect habitat, environmental specialists learned that letting Nature “win” has many rewards for wildlife.