Experts are now assessing the status of four wildlife species found in the Midwest to determine whether or not they should be included under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The United States environmental law, put into effect in the 1970s, is designed to protect “critically imperiled species from extinction.”
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT MAY OFFER PROTECTION
Included on this list are the wood turtle, the northern bog lemming, the regal fritillary butterfly and the rusty-patched bumble bee. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has initiated status reviews in light of recent petitions calling for the protection of 25 species. Upon the completion of this review, the agency will decide whether a listing, either as “endangered” or “threatened,” is warranted for each species.
Prior to the decision, information regarding the current status of these species may be submitted to the agency from September 18, 2015 to Novermber 17, 2015.
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT: THE FOUR SPECIES
The northern bog lemming is a small rodent, found in North America – particularly in mossy forests, woodland bogs and wet subalpine meadows. They are characterized by cylindrical bodies, which are covered with long grey or brown fur. The species is currently threatened by timber and peat harvests, as well as climate change.
cdn2-b.examiner.com
The regal fritillary is found in prairies and grasslands in the east-central United States. It is commonly mistaken for the Monarch butterfly due to its distinctive orange and black color. Due to the development and expanse of agricultural practices, the habitat of this butterfly is being destructed.
The rusty-patched bumble bee could become the first bee in United States history to potentially receive federal protection under the ESA. The species used to thrive throughout the east and upper Midwest of the United States. However, its population has declined by 87% in recent years. Major threats include pests, disease, habitat destruction, pesticides and climate change.
The wood turtle lives in woodland bogs and streams in the northern states. However, the destruction of its surrounding habitat has greatly reduced the number of wood turtles in the wild. Furthermore, humans have inadvertently impacted total population numbers through illegal collection, road kill related deaths, and farming accidents.
NATURE IS BEAUTIFUL. LET’S DO OUR PART AND CONSERVE IT:
Those with a love for fishing may be able to help out conservationists while taking part in their favorite pastime. The US federal government has recently backed plans to develop a new fishing app—completely free and available for download on both Android and iOS devices—that scientists hope anglers will use to help collect data for endangered species across the nation.
The Dual Purpose New Fishing App
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has recently teamed up with Fishbrain, a social media network for fishermen, with the hopes of creating an app where anglers can log information regarding any endangered species they encounter. Using Fishbrain, users would be able to record up to fifty endangered species per fishing trip, which may aid conservationists in determining where the threatened populations of animals live.
Additionally, the new fishing app will be able to help out anglers worried by environmental factors including unruly weather and poor water quality. Fishbrain will be able to provide this data to both fishermen and conservationists, helping better inform anglers on where the safest places to fish are, while providing researchers with key information that would help them determine the cause for the declining populations of endangered species.
A Fishy Social Media Platform
But the new fishing app is so much more than just a conservationist’s aid. The Fishbrain app is also an entirely new social media platform, tailored to optimize fishing trips for anglers across the country. For starters, the fishing app provides vital information automatically to the user, such as weather, tide levels, and air and water temperature—factors that could drastically alter the success of your fishing trip.
Do you hate having to spend hours fishing in order to realize you’re not in the best place for reeling em’ in? Now you won’t have to. One of the Fishbrain app’s key features includes the ability to see where other anglers are fishing for and where–and how well they’re doing. Like-minded fishermen can use this app to determine where the best fishing spots are, without having to go through the trouble of finding out the hard way.
Fishbrain will also analyze data already recorded by other anglers in order to tell you how to catch more fish. Details such as what the most effective type of bait to use in a specific body of water has been in, and what weather conditions are the most suitable for catching your favorite type of fish, will also be available.
More than Just a Fishing App
The USWFS has partnered up with Fishbrain in order to help animals listed under the Endangered Species Act. The bill not only promotes the well-being of different types of fish, but also encompasses birds, mammals, insects and reptiles.
This being the case, those with the new fishing app are encouraged not only to record any sightings of endangered fish, but also of any creatures protected under the Endangered Species Act. The USFWS Environmental Conservation Development team made a list that comes pre-installed on the app of all possible endangered species you might find on your trip, and includes extensive information about the different species, including their behavior, preferred bait, and the likeliness of finding them based on environmental variables. The list also includes species that are expected to one day become endangered species, due to their rapidly declining populations.
Conservationists hope that the data logged by the users of Fishbrain will help efforts to restore the populations of endangered species. The fishing app already has over 750,000 downloads—a good sign for researchers and anglers worldwide.
You can download the free app for yourself here to start helping conservationists worldwide—and catch more fish while doing it!
Tech has ways of improving the world we didn’t think possible. For more technology related stuff, check out Clapway Trends:
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) helped file a lawsuit on Monday against the Miami Seaquarium, in an effort to free Lolita–the Seaquarium’s orca whale and main attraction for more than 40 years. PETA hopes to see her transferred to a more humane environment, where she would be free to behave as she would in her natural environment.
THE PROSECUTION
PETA plans to free Lolita by suing the Seaquarium on the grounds of violating the Endangered Species Act by keeping an orca whale in captivity. The Seaquarium bought Lolita for $6,000 dollars in 1970, after she was captured at just 4 years old off the coast of Washington in 1970.
PETA claims that ever since, “Lolita has been unable to swim any meaningful distance, dive, forage, or carry out virtually any natural behaviors,” claiming her tank to be one of the smallest orca habitats in the world, measuring only 80 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 20 feet deep–not very much space for a whale measuring nearly 10 feet in length to feel at home. Additionally, Lolita is forced to perform for crowds 7 days a week, and all by herself, as her orca-buddy Hugo passed away in 1980. PETA is requesting for Lolita to be placed in a sea-pen with other orcas, made to mimic a more natural habitat, giving the aging star a much-needed retirement, where she can practice hunting and communicating with other orcas–two activities she has not been able to take part in for more than 40 years.
THE DEFENDANT
The Miami Seaquarium has recently issued statements claiming that it “provides first-class care for Lolita. She remains healthy and thriving after 45 years of residency.” Rejecting PETA’s insistence that she be placed back into a more natural and free environment, the Seaquarium is reluctant to let go of their star attraction, as she draws in the most customers on a daily basis.
The Seaquarium was also quick to fire back on violating the Endangered Species Act, claiming that even if orcas were moved to the endangered species list, there would be no reason for the orca to be moved, as she is placed in excellent care already. Other critics of PETA’s plans claim it would be “cruel and traumatic” to free Lolita at this stage, as after such a long time spent in routine captivity, some believe it would be cruel to place her in such a different environment, expecting her to adapt so quickly and at such an old age.
THE COURT RULES ON FREE LOLITA CASE
This is not the first lawsuit that PETA has tried to file against the Seaquarium in the hopes to free Lolita, with two previous attempts already dismissed by District Courts. In November 2011, PETA joined up with the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service in order to get Lolita on the Endangered Species List, hoping that she would then become protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Although NOAA has since added her to the list, courts have ruled that this doesn’t affect her being owned by the Miami Seaquarium. The courts again dismissed charges in 2014 by the ALDF and PETA in 2014, this time claiming that their cruel treatment of Lolita violated the Seaquarium’s Animal Welfare Act License.
PETA hopes for their most recent lawsuit to be taken a bit more seriously this time around, asking for those who support their cause to free Lolita to band together outside of the Seaquarium’s doors, where they petition every day from noon to 2pm.
Do what you can to save the beautiful aspects of the natural world. Atmoph gives you a way to appreciate this in your own home:
