Court to Feds: Protect 1,800 Species From 5 Poisons |
Following a Center for Biological Diversity lawsuit, a judge just ordered the Trump administration to assess needed steps to help safeguard federally protected species from five ultra-toxic pesticides: atrazine, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, carbaryl, and simazine.
Now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must develop plans called “biological opinions” to better protect the 1,800-plus endangered animals and plants harmed by these pesticides. Thanks to another successful Center suit, the Environmental Protection Agency already found that each of the pesticides does harm protected species, with atrazine the most widely used.
“We’re thrilled this ruling will force the Trump Fish and Wildlife Service to take action to stop these dangerous pesticides from driving species like monarchs and California red-legged frogs closer to extinction,” said the Center’s Jonathan Evans. “But the real victory won’t come until the Trump administration reins in use of dangerous pesticides like atrazine.”
What would be even better? Ditching atrazine altogether. Tell the EPA to ban atrazine now.
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Trump Mauls Migratory Bird Protection — Again |
After severely hampering enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act during his first term— and losing in court when the Center sued — President Donald Trump’s Interior Department has done it again: rescinded the law’s ability to prohibit the accidental killing or harming of migratory birds by oil spills, mining pits, building collisions, and other threats.
This latest Trump attack was part of a sweeping move to suspend 20 Biden-era legal opinions and comes at a time when the birds are already dying by the billions. The law has long demanded accountability for both intentional and unintentional bird killings — after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, for instance, it made BP pay more than $100 million in conservation funds for the million-plus birds the spill killed.
Read our response in The New York Times and The Washington Post.
And back our work defending the wild from Trump with a matched gift to our Future for the Wild Fund. |
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In Memoriam: Raúl Grijalva |
The Center deeply mourns the passing of Arizona Congressman Raúl Grijalva, champion of working people, of the borderlands, of Tribes and grassroots activists, of justice for the dispossessed, of clean water and air, and of wilderness and wild creatures. A great friend to the Center for many years, he died last week at the age of 77 from cancer complications.
Rep. Grijalva was first elected to Congress in 2002 and became ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee in 2013, later serving as chairman. He worked to protect the Endangered Species Act, strengthen public lands, and advance environmental justice. He fought tirelessly to expand protections for the Grand Canyon against uranium mining, culminating in the establishment of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, among many other achievements.
“Raúl’s death is a devastating loss for the people of southern Arizona and everyone around this nation who loves the natural world,” said Kierán Suckling, the Center's executive director. “We can all look to him as the model of what every member of Congress and every person of dignity and hope should aspire to be.” Rest in peace, Raúl. |
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Suit Seeks to Protect 11 Species in South Florida |
Last week, with Florida allies, the Center sued the Trump administration for delaying Endangered Species Act protection for 11 South Florida species facing extinction-level threats: Florida Keys mole skinks, Key ring-necked and Rim Rock crowned snakes, and eight plants ranging from the Everglades bully to the Florida prairie clover.
The Fish and Wildlife Service, whose mission is to protect endangered species, had more than 400 employees fired Feb. 14 under orders from Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency. “These rare creatures called Florida home eons before Trump and his minions were born,” said the Center’s Elise Bennett. “We can’t let Trump further delay lifesaving protections by cutting off funding and firing the public servants committed to ensuring a future for our wildlife.” |
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How Many Florida Panthers Die From Car Strikes? |
The answer is: a lot — and more every decade.
Last year was especially tragic, with vehicles responsible for most of the 36 panther deaths. With fewer than 200 of these endangered cats left in the wild, every animal is precious.
Florida panthers are threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation, all driven by Florida's growing human population and the traffic and development it brings.
See how panthers’ plight has worsened over time in the Center’s new animation on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. (Share it too, please!) |
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The Revelator: Plastic Sucks |
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That's Wild: Playful Narwhals Caught on Video |
With a single, long tusk extending from their heads, narwhals are their own kind of unicorn — not as hard to find as the mythical beasts, maybe, but rarely spotted up close in the wild. Now, with the help of drones, researchers have captured beautiful footage of these elusive Arctic whales nudging fish with their tusks and seeming to play. Narwhals have historically fed on deep-sea prey like squid and halibut but are now often seen hunting nearer the surface. Scientists are still learning how adaptable they may (or may not) be to ocean warming and increases in ship traffic through their shrinking, once-remote habitat. Watch them playing on video at CNN. |
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Center for Biological Diversity
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