|
Friend,
It has been a wild year for wildlife. From fighting to protect Florida Black Bears to defending the Endangered Species Act to working to enforce a complete ban on ivory sales in California -- it has been a year full of animal action.
We are stepping up to Big Oil, Big Polluters, land developers and lawmakers every day to protect these animals and their habitats. But we can't protect endangered species alone -- we need your help. Can you make a small monthly contribution to sustain our work in 2016 to protect endangered species?
Here are some of the fights we've worked on this year:
Florida Bears: Simply unBEARable. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) voted to move ahead with Florida's first bear hunt in decades last October, killing 295 bears in only two days -- many of them mama bears that left behind dozens of orphaned cubs. Environmental Action members sent thousands of signatures of support and even presented the FWC with $5,000 to support non-lethal management tools like bear proof trash cans and public education. But orphaned bear cubs still need rescuing, and we need your help to stop the next bear hunt in 2016.
Florida Panthers: With less than 200 Florida panthers remaining in the wild, we need to act if these wild cats are to survive. The National Park Service can protect critical habitat for Florida panthers, but Big Cypress National Preserve, which provides a sanctuary for the rare Florida panther and eight other federally listed endangered species is under threat. The Burnett Oil Company is threatening this national treasure with attempts to expand drilling in the preserve - including fracking and seismic testing for fossil fuels.
Illinois Bobcat: When Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a law removing Bobcats from the list of protected species, he opened the door to cruel and unnecessary trapping and hunting of the regal cats for the first time in decades. Just a short time after the cats were considered an endangered species, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources estimates the bobcat population has grown to barely 5,000 statewide. Rauner's decision is a disappointing loss for Illinois and all lovers of wild things, and it is sad to see elected officials ignored tens of thousands of our pleas to save these beautiful animals. But the fight is not over! Rauner can revisit the decision next year, and we need your help to save the bobcats!
California Pika: Global warming is having a devastating effect on the California Pika. A recent study confirms that global warming has already reduced the habitat range of the pika and led to the extinction of local populations.
In addition to being a favorite sight for thousands hikers who live near or visit California, the pika is a key species for the Sierra Nevada ecosystem as their foraging helps to diversify and spread vegetation.We must act now to save this species from extinction before it's too late, but the Department of Interior list the pika as an Endangered Species and take the necessary steps to prevent its permanent disappearance. Donate now to help is move them to action on behalf of these amazing tiny critters in 2016.
Monarch Butterfly: Monarch butterflies are an iconic, beautiful species native to the U.S. that migrate up to 3,000 miles from Canada to Mexico, traversing most of the middle of the U.S. each year. But Monarch populations have declined 90 percent since the 1990s, and could go extinct in the next few years if action isn’t taken. Fortunately, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has opened a docket to consider listing the Monarch as an Endangered Species. This could give Monarchs, and their food source: milkweed, the protections they need to survive. But the Department of Interior so far favors a voluntary approach that relies on agro-chemical giant Monsanto to act on behalf of the species, rather than demanding immediate action to stop pollution.
Save the Elephants!: California is the second largest market for ivory in the U.S. The elephant poaching crisis reached its peak last year with about 30,000 of these amazing animals slaughtered for solely their tusks. With an estimated 96 elephants murdered for their tusks every day, taking all ivory off the market may be our last shot at stopping the killings. We asked Gov. Jerry Brown to enforce a complete ban on the commercial sale of African elephant ivory in California -- and he did. Now, we're fighting for tougher federal restrictions and a ban on Ivory trading in other states.
The Endangered Species Act: The Endangered Species Act is under attack from lawmakers, with a slew of legislation proposed this year -- including dozens of budget riders tacked onto unrelated bills -- aimed at restricting wildlife protection. The act protects more than 1,500 plant and animal species in the U.S. and over 650 foreign species, saving many from the brink of extinction, but the act itself is now under threat from conservative politicians backed by the oil and gas lobby.
We want to save all species to for future generations, and you know we won't let Big Oil and polluters stop us. So please help us protect these animals from going extinct. Please click here to help us protect our wildlife.
Thanks for all you do,
Sally and Environmental Action |
