No. 1275, December 12, 2024

Win: Monarch Butterflies to Get Protection

Lifesaving news for legendary backyard butterflies — after a decade of advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finally proposed to protect monarchs under the Endangered Species Act. These once-common orange-and-black beauties have declined by a devastating 90% in recent years, with the latest count showing the second-smallest population on record.

“The fact that a butterfly as widespread and beloved as the monarch is now the face of the extinction crisis should be a trinational distress signal,” said Center scientist Tierra Curry. “What’s bad for monarchs is bad for people, and we have to stop pretending our health is somehow separate from the health of wildlife.”

Here’s something you can do to help: Tell U.S. grocery stores to adopt avocado-buying policies that protect monarchs’ winter habitat down in Mexico, where their forests are being destroyed to feed avocado demand in the United States.

In Point Reyes, Tule Elk Roam Free at Last

Thanks to many years of unflagging work by the Center and allies — plus tens of thousands of comments by Center supporters — the majestic and long-embattled tule elk of the largest herd in Point Reyes National Seashore in California are finally free of a lethal 2-mile fence. The fence has prevented elk from reaching water and food during drought, causing many to die.

The National Park Service has already partially removed the fence, which was built for the benefit of private livestock operators running their cattle on public land.

“Good riddance to the ungulate Berlin Wall,” said Center staffer Jeff Miller, who’s been fighting for tule elk since 2010.

Not everyone is happy about the fence removal, but we’ll fight to keep these elk free. Be part of our work for tule elk and other wild creatures with a gift to the Future of the Wild Fund. All donations this month will be doubled.

Support This Resolution to Save Red Wolves

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission just took a monumental step toward saving one of the most endangered species in the United States, unanimously passing a resolution to promote red wolf recovery. The commission pledges to work with the Fish and Wildlife Service to bring red wolves back from the brink of extinction and meet recovery goals.

This brave resolution comes at a critical moment: Only 16 red wolves remain in the wild, and they all live in coastal North Carolina. Since car strikes are the deadliest threat to these critically endangered carnivores — five wolves have been killed in the past two years alone — the Center has been working with the commission on a campaign to build wildlife crossings for them.

Speak up now to thank commissioners for their commitment to wildlife crossings and red wolf recovery.

Feds to Assess Gulf Drilling for Harms to Wildlife

A federal court has just approved an agreement between the Center, a Duke University scientist, and the Fish and Wildlife Service requiring the agency to reexamine how offshore oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico hurt birds, manatees, nesting sea turtles, and other protected species. The agreement resolves a lawsuit we filed in April.

“Every new offshore well is another toxic threat to marine wildlife, so I’m glad federal officials will consider looking at the harms of oil spills, light pollution, vessel strikes, and greenhouse gas pollution before greenlighting more Gulf drilling,” said Center attorney David Derrick.

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Friends and supporters, help us win our 2024 seal of approval and grow even stronger: Share your love for the Center and the wild world we're fighting for.

Write us a rave review now.

Revelator: Saving Marine Fish

Marine biologist Monica Biondo is on a mission to save the colorful marine fish who dominate the aquarium trade. These tiny “ornamental” fish often get ignored in conservation circles, but they badly need help.

Read more in The Revelator. And if you don’t already, subscribe to the free weekly Revelator e-newsletter for more wildlife and conservation news.

That’s Wild: Are Salmon Hats Back?

Recently several Southern Resident orcas were spotted carrying dead salmon on their heads like hats, to the puzzlement of scientists and delight of spectators.

This isn’t the first time orcas have sported fish-corpse headgear. In 1987 they were seen wearing “salmon hats” over a period of about six weeks. But as quickly as the fad started, it vanished again — until now.

Check out this video to see an orca in his dashing millinery and some social-media reactions. You’ll also hear from a scientist about why orcas may put salmon on their heads; it’s probably not to keep up with the Joneses.

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Photo credits: Monarch butterfly by Tierra Curry/Center for Biological Diversity; tule elk by Katie Booth/NPS; red wolf used with permission; manatee by Keith Ramos/USFWS, green sea turtle by James Watt/NOAA Office of Marine National Sanctuaries; Mexican gray wolf by Robin Silver/Center for Biological Diversity; parrotfish by Dmitry Domrin; orca and salmon graphic by Izzi Stein/Center for Biological Diversity.

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