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California sea otters may be approaching extinction. Listed as "threatened" in 1977, the species has steadily declined since 1995 at a rate of 11% a year. Their biggest enemies are water pollution, fishing nets and infectious disease. A new kind of fish pot is also under suspicion but may be coincidental to the decline.
Jet skis banned in Voyageurs National Park and St Croix National Scenic Riverway. Voyageur's superintendent said the public overwhelmingly supported the ban which protects peace and quiet as well as nesting waterfowl. We have yet to meet anyone other than a jet ski owner who approves of them. Consider asking officials to ban them on waters near you and getting others to join you. North Cascades National Park has also banned jetskis, and the Park Service is considering the adoption of a nation-wide policy for their use in parks. Nothing is all bad, however. Much as we deplore the impact of jet skis on wildlife, the environment and human sensibilities, jet skiers played a critical role in protecting gray whales from Makah harpooners.
Some more positive news to lighten all this gloom:
Wildlife Damage Review (POB 85218, Tucson AZ 85764) is
petitioning President Clinton to ban use of Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide on public lands. Send SASE for copy of petition to circulate and send to Clinton.
The David Suzuki Foundation is suing Stolt Sea Farm on Vancouver Islandfor gross pollution. Fish feces 18 inches deep have been found as far as 150 feet away from the cages where the fish are confined. The unnatural concentration of wastes is a problem with fish factory operations as it is with land animal factories, which are the major source of water pollution.
Mountain plover being considered for ESA listing. With its population declining at an estimated 2.7% per year and an overall population decline of 60% between 1966 and 1991, this bird is being considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act. It nests in short-grass prairie areas, usually in conjunction with towns maintained by black-tailed prairie dogs. The reason for the declining population may be related to efforts to exterminate the prairie dogs to make way for human agricuoture. Naturalists are strongly recommending that the birds' habitat also be protected.
Worldwide publicity more than offset the defeat of Beverly Hills fur labeling proposition that would have listed methods used to kill animals whose skins were used to make fur coats. Sid Caesar, Larry King and Jack Lemmon supported the proposition.
The print edition ended here. The following items got squeezed out.
Greenbay Wisconsin birds adversely affected by PCB's in Great Lakes. One study found eagles nesting near the bay raise an averageof 0.3 young every year compared to 1.2 young for eagles nesting in the interior of Wisconsin. Young of various species have been found with deformed feet and bills. Mallard ducks were found to tolerate high levels of PCB's suggesting that it is unsafe for hunters to eat them. So they must kill them because they take pleasure in doing so.
Beavers attack Washington's famous Japanese cherry trees. They actually felled: 4 cherries, 5 white cedars, and one holly, and damaged 4 larger cherries, 2 probably beyond recovery. The Park Service's response: cage traps and the announced intention to reunite the family, thought to consist of three members, and set them free at an undisclosed location.
Spring 99 issue 89 Autumn 99 issue123 Updates 95
Introduction to CPAPR28
Introduction to Citizens for Planetary Health
Deer population determinants104 Whales 85
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