Eleventh-Hour Attack on Endangered Species | Feature Story Polar Bears in Deep Water Polar bears are in serious trouble. As Arctic sea ice speeds toward another record low this year, more polar bears have been seen swimming in open water off the northern coast of Alaska -- when they would normally be on stable ice.
Although polar bears are strong swimmers, scientists are worried to see bears swimming so far from the nearest shore or sea ice -- one was seen at least 60 miles from shore. Such long distances can lead to exhaustion or drowning in the search for the sea ice they need to hunt seals, den and mate.
“We have some observations of bears swimming into shore when the sea ice was not visible on the horizon," said biologist Steven Amstrup, a polar bear expert from the U.S. Geological Survey. “In some of these cases, the bears arrive so spent energetically, that they literally don’t move for a couple days after hitting shore.�?
Read more from the Christian Science Monitor.
|  | | Feature Story Be Sea Otter Aware! Each year, Defenders and our partners celebrate the important role sea otters play in their coastal ecosystems. This year is no different. With events throughout the U.S., in Canada and as far away as Australia, we’ll be giving these playful critters their due from September 21st through the 27th.
In California, the state legislature officially recognized the last week in September as Sea Otter Awareness Week -- making it a permanent annual celebration in the state!
Visit our website for more information on ways you can participate in this annual series of events!
|  | | Defenders Updates Same Old Drill? As Congress returned from their 5-week recess, one of their top priorities was energy. But rising gas prices are spurring calls to let Big Oil spoil our coasts with more drilling. More than 40,000 Defenders supporters have spoken out to Members of Congress and the Administration against more drilling off our coasts. And Defenders staff is hard at work on Capitol Hill, advocating for smarter, cheaper and cleaner solutions. >> Learn More Another Brutal Season In the wake of the defeat of a ballot measure that would have ended Alaska’s brutal aerial hunting program, Defenders is preparing for another bloody season. We’re redoubling our efforts to pass the PAW Act in Congress -- legislation that would end this terrible practice, and prevent programs like it from spreading to the lower 48 states -- and will continue our fight to hold state officials accountable. >> Learn More Your Lands, Your Wildlife Last month, Defenders headed out to Salt Lake City, Utah to attend the Outdoor Industry Association’s annual Summer Market convention. Our outreach activities to this growing and influential constituency included our booth and a session with renowned nature photographer Joel Sartore. We also promoted our latest campaign: Your Lands, Your Wildlife, featuring an essay contest to highlight treasured public lands. Have you had a memorable encounter with wildlife in America’s national forests or on Bureau of Land Management lands? Tell your story and you could win $1000 in outdoor gear!>>Learn More |  | | Wildlife Heroes Best Friend for the Black-Footed Ferret Mike Lockhart knows a thing or two about black-footed ferrets. As a biologist with the Fish & Wildlife Service, he was instrumental in bringing these weasel-like animals back from the very brink of extinction -- and returning them to the wilds of the American Plains.
Before retiring in December 2007, Mike released the first ferrets to the Kansas prairie since they disappeared from the state decades ago -- onto land owned by Larry and Bette Haverfield (former Wildlife Heroes).
Mike has been a vocal critic of Bush Administration plans to poison prairie dogs -- a move that could derail ferret recovery since they depend on the rodents for prey and shelter.
In the meantime, the Kansas ferrets appear to be thriving, so far. Thanks to Mike’s hard work and dedication over the years, the future for the highly endangered black-footed ferret is a little more secure.
Read more about the Kansas ferrets and see a video from the Wichita Eagle
|  | |   Cheetah They’re the fastest land animal in the world -- but cheetahs are running for their lives. Habitat loss, declines in prey and genetic inbreeding are threatening the future of these spotted cats. Learn More about Cheetahs Whether you are an activist looking for ways to make your voice heard or a biologist seeking a conference where you can share your latest paper, Defenders has an event for you. Click here for the latest upcoming events. |
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