Defenders of Wildlife Blog

Scotty Johnson, Senior Outreach Representative

Jaguars.  Mention the word to people who know nothing about endangered wildlife?  They imagine a tuxedoed Richard Branson, or James Bond speeding round a precipitous cliff.  Tell these people you work on jaguars?   They look at your hands, presumably to spot grease under your fingernails.  The fun comes in telling them otherwise.

Jaguar (Photo credit: USFWS)

The spotted cat—a magnificent, elusive, elegant, highly endangered creature — once roamed the continental United States as far north as the Grand Canyon, even as recently as a fifty years ago.  They return here from Mexico, where Defenders supports a jaguar preserve.  They’re the only roaring cat in the Western hemisphere and the largest cat in the Americas — at least they used to be, until humans arrived, with guns. Then jaguars were driven from their ancestral homelands.

The good news?  The big cat is back.

Last month, research cameras revealed the presence of a healthy male jaguar less than forty miles south of Tucson, Arizona.   Wildlife lovers celebrate his arrival.  Developers, however, who are busily eyeing his habitat for the copper beneath, are not so thrilled.  Having an endangered species nearby could delay their already controversial project.

They should be concerned, and not just because of jaguars.   The proposed mine — dubbed Rosemont — is an industrial-scale ecological nightmare.  The brainchild of a Canadian mining company called Augusta the project would be a mile-wide, half-mile-deep open pit mine that will—if approved—dump hundreds of millions of tons of mine waste laced with mercury, lead, arsenic and other toxics on more than 3,000 acres of Arizona National Forest and ecologically important tributaries. It’s opposed by local citizens, county and federal officials, health experts—anyone with common sense.

Yet, sometimes common sense isn’t all that common—and neither are the species that used to roam this area.   Eight federally listed endangered species dwell within the proposed mine area.  Half of these—the jaguar, ocelot, Chiricahua Leopard Frog and Pima Pineapple cactus—are likely declining in status.  This means that even though the Endangered Species Act protects them, they may still be slipping toward extinction.

What is happening south of Tucson is a scenario repeating throughout America:  As habitats are fragmented, deforested, drilled, polluted, destroyed, altered by climate change and left uninhabitable, species suffer.  Extinction ensues.

Extinction isn’t moral, ecologically smart, or democratic.   Americans are overwhelmingly against extinction.  A recent poll [PDF] showed that 84 percent of Americans across demographic and political lines support the Endangered Species Act — the principal law to stop extinction. We have an obligation to preserve for future generations the astonishing diversity of life our generation is privileged to witness.   Scientifically, species, their habitats and the interactions between them maintain healthy ecosystems.  They are the fabric that all life depends on, including us.  And when that fabric is torn, we begin to lose some of our most basic necessities — clean air, water and medicines, to name a few.

©David Stein

South of Tucson, a magnificent jaguar has made his presence known.   He is an example of what we stand to lose if we fail to halt the mass extermination of species currently unfolding—an extinction crisis so severe it compares to five previous extinction events found in the geological record—the last one seventy-five million years ago with the dinosaurs.  Scientists call it the Sixth Great Extinction.

In Arizona, a fiery and influential coalition of diverse groups, including Defenders, has banded together to stop extinction by informing the public, the media and engaging decision makers, including members of Congress of what we have to lose if they refuse to act.   Like that big cat, they stand up, and are making a difference.

This coalition and many like them across the nation serve as inspiration to us all.  It’s time we stand up and make a difference for the generations to come.  This jaguar’s entrance is symbolic, not just of the many diverse species, lands and waterways he inhabits, but of a spirit rekindled – the spirit of life through conservation, reemerging strong and resilient.

You can help kindle that spirit.  You can be a part of protecting endangered species like the jaguar all across this nation.   This year, against whatever odds, Defenders will continue to push against the flood of extinction creeping across America. Become one of Defenders’ Wildlife Advocates.   Learn what you can do to make a difference, not just with your money, but with your heart and your time.   Download this free Citizens Advocate handbook [PDF] and email me today to learn how you can get involved.   Together, we are unstoppable.  Together, we will beat extinction.

The Supreme Court decision not to hear an appeal of the 10th Circuit Court decision upholding the Clinton administration’s Roadless Area Conservation Rule is a huge victory for wildlife.  As a part of the team who helped establish the rule, I can say that the 11-year battle was well worth it.

The “roadless rule” was a directive from President Clinton to protect all remaining roadless areas on our national forests.  Of the 192 million acres of national forests in the U.S., 58.5 million acres — or nearly 30% — are without roads.  These areas are important places for wildlife and the anchors for biodiversity across large areas of the western and eastern states.  Roadless areas provide critical habitat for many threatened and endangered species, and include many watershed areas that are a critical source of drinkable water for major metropolitan areas across the West.

Tongass National Forest, Alaska

President Clinton signed the roadless rule in January, 2001, to resounding criticism from Members of Congress who saw this as usurping Congressional authority to create new wilderness areas. At the time, I was a member of the Clinton Administration, and along with General Counsel at the President’s Council on Environmental Quality Dinah Bear (now a Defenders Board member), we argued that the President was not creating new wilderness, but simply using his executive authority to protect these essential public lands.  Other critics of the policy argued that this was done at the end of the administration with little opportunity for public input, despite the fact that the President’s action was the culmination of more than two years of work, an extensive outreach effort, and the most public comments ever received in history on any administration proposal. Legal challenges ensued, but a three-judge panel gave a unanimous ruling that the Clinton roadless rule was legal, and last week the Supreme Court allowed that decision to stand.

What does this mean for wildlife? It means that they can continue to count on the safety of some of their most important habitats. In the northern Rockies, for instance, road development is a clear detriment to the recovery of grizzly bears. It fragments their habitat and increases their chances of a run-in with humans. Protecting roadless areas will give grizzly bears an anchor to build their populations and will aid in their recovery. You can find another example in the Pacific Northwest, where maintaining the headwaters of rivers and waterways is critical to the recovery of many threatened and endangered salmon species. While dams are one clear impediment to their migration upstream, roads in their nesting areas can create erosion, which pollutes the water and interferes with salmon spawning and development. Since existing roads in many national forests are already creating erosion problems, new roads would only make matters worse. Protecting these remaining roadless areas is an important part of the effort to restore iconic salmon runs in the region.

The battle to protect wildlife can be a long and winding road – pun intended.  In this case, the outcome is a vindication of the hard-fought work of President Clinton, Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck, and all of us who believed it was the right thing to do.  And wildlife will be better off as a result.

The Florida black bear was removed from the Florida state endangered species list on Friday, a step forward in the recovery of this unique animal.

A subspecies of the American black bear, the Florida black bear population dropped to 300-500 individuals in the 1940s and 50s due to habitat loss, development and excessive hunting.  But thanks to improved land management and a serious recovery effort over the past few decades, the population has recovered to between 2,500 and 3,000 bears in total in the state of Florida.

The Florida black bear’s removal from the Florida state endangered species list is a sign that recovery efforts for the species are working.

Florida black bears exist in several sub-populations in the state, with 1,000 bears in the largest population and 20 or so in the smallest.  The smaller, isolated sub-populations are a concern as habitat fragmentation and development increases in Florida.  These bears are wide-ranging animals that travel far to find food, shelter, and mates.  That’s why wildlife corridors-natural pathways that link bear habitat areas- are essential to bear conservation.

Defenders of Wildlife established a Florida black bear conservation initiative in 1994 with the Habitat for Bears Campaign, and has since worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on long-term plans for managing and connecting bear habitat throughout the state.

While delisting is a marker of success, the species still needs careful stewardship to ensure that it keeps thriving.  As development increases, so do conflicts between bears and communities.  Public education about bear-proofing trash cans and preventing dangerous encounters is vital to the safety of bears, people and pets.  Continued conservation measures are also needed to ensure the smaller bear sub-populations grow to a sustainable size.

The Florida black bear still has a ways to go before we can say that its recovery is complete, but the delisting is a great sign that this species is on its way.  Defenders of Wildlife is proud to have made a significant contribution to the recovery effort for this special bear.

“Coast to Coast” is a summer blog series highlighting some of America’s most imperiled wildlife. By using the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s new state-by-state endangered species map, we will tell stories about native plants and animals in unique landscapes where Defenders will be focusing its conservation efforts in coming years.

One of the world’s most endangered animals is also arguably one of the world’s most adorable. With limbs dipped in black and a mask like a bandit, the black-footed ferret looks like a stretched-out panda bear. But don’t be deceived by its cuddly appearance. This critter is a voracious nocturnal carnivore that preys almost exclusively on prairie dogs.

The ferret’s habitat once extended across the Great Plains from Canada to Mexico. Unfortunately disease, habitat destruction and elimination of their primary food source have taken a toll on this small predator. Today, less than five percent of the ferret’s original prairie dog colony habitat remains. As people moved westward, the prairie disappeared, and so did the ferret’s food source. Prairie dogs became the target of widespread eradication efforts.  Considered vermin because they clipped the grass short on their colonies, ranchers went to great lengths to rid their newly acquired land of prairie dogs. Some states, such as Kansas, passed laws that required the killing of all prairie dogs. Piles of poisoned prairie dogs can be seen in photos from the turn of the last century. With no food and nowhere to go, the black-footed ferret was on the brink of extinction. The species became so rare that by 1974 no known ferrets remained in the wild. When the last captive black-footed ferret died in 1979, the species was presumed to be extinct.

Then in 1981 one lucky dog stumbled upon a ferret in Wyoming. Watch the following video to find out about the incredible find back in 1981.

Researchers discovered that a few dozen ferrets lived in the area and continued to monitor the population for a few years. Then tragedy struck; disease proved deadly to prairie dog and ferret populations, and brought the black-footed ferret once again to the brink of extinction. Their numbers dwindled to a scarily low 18 individuals in 1986.

Those last 18 ferrets found were brought into a captive breeding program. Over time, biologists became very successful at breeding ferrets; over 7,000 kits have been born in captivity. Once numbers reached a sustainable level, ferret reintroduction began. . Now, nearly two decades later, the ferret is on the road to recovery. Last year marked the 30^th year anniversary of their rediscovery and the 20^th year of their reintroduction to the wild. They have been reintroduced to 19 sites from Canada to Mexico. Of these, four sites are considered a success, two have failed, and the other 13 are yet to be determined.

Listen to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service describe the important recovery efforts under way in the following podcast:*

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Defenders of Wildlife supports this small predator’s success as an official member of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team. Over three dozen governmental agencies and non-profit organizations pool their resources and expertise.  While partnering with federal agencies, Defenders also partners with tribal and private landowners to secure crucial habitat for the prairie dog and the black-footed ferret. We have helped with ferret recovery efforts at Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Lower Brule Reservation, Cheyenne River Reservation, Rosebud Reservation, and with private landowners in Kansas, among other sites.

It takes a team to save valuable species. Without coalitions like this, rare species don’t stand chance.

Click here to learn more about what Defenders is doing to help black-footed ferrets.

To find out how you can help, visit the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Program at www.blackfootedferret.org

*The podcast featured in this blog post was edited to comply with file size restrictions.  The content of the podcast has not been changed.

When we think of endangered species, certain animals come to mind: storybook favorites like wolves and elephants, or flashy rainforest birds.  You probably

An endangered male Florida grasshopper sparrow sings in Kissimmee Prairie Preserve, Okeechobee County, Florida

don’t think of the Florida grasshopper sparrow, a small brown and yellow songbird, singing from the safety of tall grass.  But there are hundreds of endangered species like them and though they might not command the attention that others do, they are no less important.

The population of the Florida grasshopper sparrow has dropped 80 percent over the past ten years, and though experts aren’t sure why, it’s likely that the bird’s decline is related to human activity.

In fact, there are over 50 species listed as threatened or endangered in the state of Florida, but only a few are well known.  (Ever heard of the Choctawhatchee beach mouse,  or the sand skink?)  However, each species is a vital part of their ecosystem, and each deserves the  attention and conservation effort that is needed for their recovery.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service doesn’t have the capacity to fund recovery for all of them at once,  so research and early action is the key to keeping ecosystems stable and avoiding the high cost of preventing species extinction.  The Florida grasshopper sparrow may be small and secretive, but it’s just as important to protect as the biggest of bison.

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Click here to listen and learn more about Florida endangered species, with commentary from Laurie MacDonald, Florida Director of Defenders of Wildlife!

Florida is in the midst of a baby boom, but not one you might expect.  There are 50 percent more sea turtle nests on Florida beaches this summer than in past years, a pleasant surprise to wildlife researchers.  The threatened loggerhead and endangered green and leatherback turtles are all species that nest on the Florida coast.

Newborn sea turtles like these have a long swim ahead of them. We can help them get the best possible start by turning off artificial lights at night and keeping away from their nests.

Scientists aren’t sure what caused the sudden spike in the nest count, though some of the turtles may have increased their food intake this year.  What we can be sure of, though, is that we need protections for sea turtles to ensure that we have more banner seasons like this one.

Turtle Excluder Devices, or TEDs, help prevent sea turtles from being caught in fishing nets.  Regulations requiring most shrimp nets to have TEDs have been in place since the 1990s, but exempted nets still capture over 28,000 sea turtles every year.  The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recently proposed to close the gap and extend the requirements to all shrimp nets, but wildlife opponents in Congress are moving to block this recovery effort.

Defenders is working hard to fight this opposition and make the oceans safer for the tiny hatchlings that will soon be heading out to sea.  Meanwhile, you can help sea turtles by reducing artificial lights at night if you live near nest beaches, since they can confuse and attract sea turtles trying to crawl back to the water.  Make sure to keep kids and pets away, too.  You can also help by picking up beach trash, which can attract raccoons and other predators.

Conservationists can feel hopeful that Florida nest numbers are up.  The true test, though, will be the number of turtles hatched on Florida beaches that return to lay their own eggs, many years from now.

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  Click to listen to the Public News Service story with Defenders representative Elizabeth Fleming’s commentary!