News from the Frontline

Feds Killed Nearly 1.6 Million Native Animals in 2016


black bear istock

The federal government’s wildlife killing agency, Wildlife Services, recently released its body count, admitting to killing 1,594,595 native animals in 2016. This alarming death toll translates to over three deaths per minute. Casualties include 997 bobcats, 415 gray wolves, 407 black bears, 21,286 beavers, and 76,963 coyotes. The program also admitted accidentally killing 39 domestic dogs. Wildlife Services commits this slaughter using a variety of cruel tools, including trapping, snaring, poisoning, and aerial gunning. Wildlife Services must enter the modern era of ethical wildlife management and use the wide variety of effective, nonlethal, proven tools. It’s time to endthewaronwildlife.

Read more >>


Progress in Protecting Chaco at New Mexico Legislature


Chaco Culture pc WG

A resolution defending the Greater Chaco region from fracking won approval in the New Mexico House of Representatives this month. House Memorial 70, “Protection of Chaco Landscape,” drew unprecedented support from Tribes and Pueblos. Although much more remains to be done to fully protect this sacred landscape from the oil and gas industry the resolution builds on a similar request from the Navajo Nation which asks the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to stop fracking in Greater Chaco until the agency can fully protect the landscape and its people. Working together, WildEarth Guardians is helping to amplify the chorus of voices calling for the protection of Greater Chaco.

Read more >>

Protect the Wild from Destructive “Wreckreation”


Lewis and Clark National Forest, Forest Service Northern Reg

Guardians is calling on the U.S. Forest Service to protect the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana from motorized recreation. This national forest is a vital wildlife corridor between Greater Yellowstone and Glacier National Park. Motorized roads and trails split habitat into ever-smaller pieces, disrupting wildlife movement and draining sediment into pristine streams. Under political pressure, the agency wants to further fragment this wild landscape. More than 3,600 miles of old logging roads—most now unnecessary—already slash across this forest. Join us in asking the Forest Service to eliminate these destructive roads and let this wounded landscape heal.

Take action >>

Guardians Targets Public Lands Giveaway for Fracking


red desert oil and gas pc WildEarth Guardians

We challenged a Trump administration plan to auction off more than 32,000 acres of public lands in Wyoming to the oil and gas industry. The plan would hand over the rights for industry to drill and frack in Wyoming’s high desert, undermining our climate and clean air and threatening the region’s wildlife. These fracking plans come as the Trump administration is moving to sell nearly a million acres of public lands throughout the American West to the oil and gas industry in 2017. The Wyoming challenge is part of our mounting efforts to confront these giveaways and protect our public lands and climate.

Read more >>

Water Transfer Challenged to Protect Rio Grande Flows


Rio Grande near Los Lunas pc WildEarth Guardians

Our work to protect flows in the Rio Grande continued with a legal challenge of a plan by the City of Rio Rancho that would decrease river flows in nearly 100 miles of the Rio Grande. Our challenge will be heard by the New Mexico State Engineer whose job it is to ensure accountability of water resources in the middle valley. The proposal involves discontinuing the use of water on a farm in Socorro County and “transferring” that water upstream to offset the diversions from a well field for the City of Rio Rancho which lies upstream. This transfer, if not carefully mitigated, will diminish flows in nearly 100 miles of the Rio Grande and further imperil native fish and wildlife. Guardians will continue to fight for the Rio Grande by pursuing policies that ensure a living river.

Read more >>

Community Drinking Water Demands Utmost Protection


Marlies at Indigo Springs Willamette Forest

A coalition of 11 conservation groups, including WildEarth Guardians, spoke up for rural communities by opposing timber industry and Oregon Board of Forestry efforts to suppress a report about logging’s harm to clean, drinking water supplies. In letters to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and the Board of Forestry, we demanded the release of the original report, which identified logging as a risk to drinking water in coastal towns. We also requested stronger policies to put drinking water protections first. Eighty percent of Oregonians rely on water from upstream forests, and it’s time to ensure protection of this vital resource.

Read more >>

Settlement Reached in Idaho Wildlife-Killing-Contest Saga


coyote howling Sam Parks

Guardians and our allies reached a settlement recently with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Idaho that makes it a little more difficult for the sponsors of wildlife killing contests to host them on public lands. Under the settlement, the BLM must notify the conservation groups if the agency receives an application for a wolf- or coyote-killing contest on public lands in Idaho. These cruel contests award prizes such as firearms or cash to contestants who kill the most or largest animals. Public lands should be safe havens for wildlife, not a place for killing contests. Our challenge against the Forest Service for similarly failing to regulate these unethical contests is ongoing.

Read more >>

Wild Lobo Count Is Up, Grave Threats Remain


Mexican wolf pups Interagency Field Team

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2016 census reports 113 Mexican wolves in 21 packs are roaming eastern Arizona and western New Mexico, up from the previous year’s 97 wolves. Lobos still face significant challenges, including poaching and low genetic diversity. 2016 was a landmark year for success in cross-fostering, with at least three captive-bred pups introduced into a wild den surviving until the end of the year. Obstruction from New Mexico is preventing new wolves from being released. Immediately releasing more Mexican wolves will allow this iconic species to play its integral role in the Southwest’s wild lands.

Read more >>

 Pro-Public Lands Resolution Passes in Washington State


MBSNF creek pc USFS

King County, Washington, became the latest county to join the movement in support of public lands on March 6, when the county council passed a motion opposing efforts to allow states to privatize public lands. Citizens across the West overwhelmingly oppose states’ efforts to privatize the public lands all Americans own. County councils or boards of commissioners in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, and Wyoming have passed resolutions declaring that America’s public lands provide tremendous benefits to their residents and should be retained for future generations. WildEarth Guardians was invited to testify in support of the motion before the King County Council.

Read more >>

Clock Runs Out on Pro-Wildlife Bills in New Mexico


coyote and pup pc dollarphotoclub

Two pro-wildlife bills in the New Mexico legislature got closer to becoming law than ever before but hit the end of the legislative session before becoming law. The bill banning coyote-killing contests passed out of one House and two Senate committees with bipartisan support, as well as passing the Senate floor, but did not get a House floor vote before the adjournment. The bill to ban trapping on public lands endured a lively and equitable debate, but the Senate Conservation Chair requested a committee substitute that never came to fruition. Nevertheless, our efforts are gaining momentum, with public support broadening and understanding of the need for reform deepening and the Governor's signature within reach for 2019. 

Read more >>

Finally, Some Justice in the Second Malheur NWR Occupation Trial

Sandhill Cranes at Malheur NWR Credit: USFWSSome of the occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon in early 2016 finally received a dose of justice. On March 10, a jury found each of four defendants guilty of at least one felony charge in the armed occupation. While deserved, the recent guilty rulings also highlight the breach of justice from the earlier not guilty verdict of Ammon Bundy and the other ringleaders of the occupation. Nevertheless, we can take some satisfaction that a jury refused to provide legitimacy to these extremists wanting to take our public lands.

Read more >>


Trump Administration Delays Protections for Imperiled Guitarfish


Guitarfish pc Johan Fredricksson, Creative Commons

Guardians is condemning the Trump administration’s delay of much-needed protections for two species of imperiled guitarfish. Blackchin guitarfish (Rhinobatos cemiculus) and common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) are threatened by fishing and need the strong protections of the Endangered Species Act to escape extinction, but a January 20 memo from the Trump White House postponed the effective date of many final rules, including the rule finalizing protections for the guitarfish. Delaying implementation of these protections makes it more likely that guitarfish will continue to decline toward extinction. Guardians calls on the Trump administration to immediately implement key safeguards for guitarfish and all imperiled species.

Read more >>

photo credits: (Left column) black bear—iStock. Chaco Culture—WildEarth Guardians. Lewis and Clark National Forest—Forest Service Northern Region. Red Desert oil and gas—WildEarth Guardians. Rio Grande—Jen Pelz. Indigo Springs, Willamette National Forest—USFS. coyote—Sam Parks. Mexican wolf pups—Mexican wolf Interagency Field Team. MBSNF creek—USFS. coyote and pup—dollarphotoclub. Sandhill Cranes at Malheur NWR—USFWS. guitarfish—Johan Fredricksson, Creative Commons. (Right column) Kadin and Makai Bacon—Tanja Bolle. bear save the date—Ray Rafiti. Caring Cent logo—Caring Cent. Mountainfilm on Tour—Telluride Mountainfilm. PIELC announcement—PIELC.

 

 

 

Donate Now!

Share this message:

Email Facebook Twitter

 

Activist Spotlight

Kadin Bacon Snapshot

Makai Bacon snapshot

An enthusiastic shout-out to our amazing volunteers, including Kadin and Makai Bacon pictured above, who made this year’s Telluride Mountainfilm on Tour in Santa Fe the best ever. We depend on our volunteers to sell raffle tickets, help with seating, answer questions, and generally be incredibly helpful. Thank you to the following individuals for your time and energy—you inspire us!

John Josef
Harvey Van Sickle
Whitney, Kadin, & Makai Bacon
Donielle Carrillo
Jonathan Day
Stacie Singleton

Let us know if you would like to volunteer at events in Santa Fe or Denver.

 

Howling Affair STD card image

Upcoming Events

Put these dates on your calendar!

Tree Planting Event
April 1 (RSVP today)

Aveda and Mark Pardo Salons Earth Month events throughout March/April

Denver Howling Affair
May 5 (tickets on sale)

Santa Fe Membership Meeting June 6

Santa Fe Guardians Gala
Oct. 6

Albuquerque Treehugger Bash Dec. 7

 

 

Caring Cent logo

Now you can also support WildEarth Guardians every time you shop. Dedicate a credit card to be your “rounding” card. Purchases made on this card are rounded up to the next whole dollar, and the difference is donated to Guardians. Once you register a card, you can cap your monthly donation, make one time donations, and suspend your card. Learn more and register here. 

 

 

YCC-crew-no-photo-credit-needed-300.jpg

 

Guardians is organizing a forest management Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program in New Mexico from April 24, 2017 until October, 20 2017 for local New Mexican youth between the ages of 18 and 25. Learn more today and apply by April 7th.

 

So, How'd it go...


Telluride Mountainfilm with sponsors 2017

On February 24, WildEarth Guardians screened Telluride Mountainfilm on Tour in Santa Fe, N.M. Like previous years, it was a superfun and high-energy evening. We are so grateful to spend time with our friends and family. We featured The Super Salmon, directed by Ryan Peterson. It is the story of a super salmon and the human community that works to protect the fish’s stunning habitat. If you want to be inspired as an activist, we highly recommend the film.

 

 

PIELC 2017 meme

The Public Interest Environmental Law Conference in Eugene, Oregon, is an annual gathering of environmental lawyers, citizens, and nonprofit professionals who share strategies, celebrate victories, and strengthen alliances. Nine Guardians staff members attended the March conference and led eight panels on a variety of subjects, including carnivore protection and public lands coal mining. We always enjoy this yearly opportunity to connect with colleagues in other organizations and explore working in collaboration.

 

Current Actions page button

There is strength in numbers; together we are making a difference. Guardians is grateful for this community. You are participating like never before! When we act and give collectively, we are able to increase the effectiveness of our strategies to protect and restore the wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and health of the American West. You are supporting our efforts on behalf of coyote protections in the New Mexico legislature, filing suit for bears and lions in Colorado, and keeping fossil fuels in the ground across the West. Thank you for your continued support!

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay Connected:

Facebook Twitter Google+ Instagram Flickr YouTube rss

WildEarth Guardians' mission is to protect and restore the wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and health of the American West.

* ARIZONA * CALIFORNIA * COLORADO * MONTANA *
* NEW MEXICO * OREGON * WASHINGTON* 

MAIN OFFICE: 516 Alto Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501 Phone 505.988.9126
© WildEarth Guardians.

If you received this message from a friend, you can subscribe.

Unsubscribe or reduce the number of emails you receive by Managing Your Subscription

View this message as a webpage

Powered By Blackbaud