GAO Finds Illegal Political Interference in Endangered Species Decisions Is Widespread

The Government Accountability Office released a report finding that politicization of endangered species decisions within the government is more widespread than Julie MacDonald. Press Release Center for Biological Diversity:

The report concluded that six of the eight species that have been delisted under the Bush administration had not met goals established in their recovery plan and that the Fish and Wildlife Service was not responding to petitions to protect new species in a timely manner.

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the report investigated a policy put forth by MacDonald that when reviewing petitions to list new species as endangered under the ESA, Interior should only consider information from their files that refutes claims in a petition, not supports them.

Sadly, this is hardly news ~ but the GAO report gives a stark account and emboldened legitimacy to conservationist’s account of the depth of the politicization of this administration’s Department.

Buffalo Slaughter Continues

The Buffalo Field Campaign Blog is sending out a notice of the Montana Department of Livestock’s intent to slaughter 9 bulls held in the Duck Creek bison trap.

Urgent Action : 9 Bulls in Trap at Duck Creek

Update 5/22 : 9 Bulls Slaughtered by the State of Montana

Wolf-watching areas sought in Idaho

The Idaho Conservation League (ICL) is proposing a Central Idaho wolf-watching area that if granted by the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) commission would spare wolves in areas surrounding highways in Central Idaho the impending wolf-hunt should delisting pass the test of litigation currently underway.

Should wolves have a sanctuary? – Idaho Mountain Express

There is a map of the ICL proposed area featured along with the article.

Groups file suit to overturn use of “4(d) rule” on Polar Bear listing

Earlier we noted Secretary of Interior, Dirk Kempthorne’s decision to list the Polar Bear as a threatened species.  Kempthorne was spreading around the idea that the ESA was not intended to regulate greenhouse gases, the principle threat affecting polar bear habitat.

Now, we learn of the “4(d) rule”, a waiver of protections normally afforded species given ESA protections.

Fortunately, Environmental Groups Seek Full Protection for Polar Bear by filing suit.

Studying the Wolverine

People are said to be largely unaware of the extent of needed protection for wolverine.  WIth snow-machines able to get higher and further up mountainous areas in the winter the human encroachment is increasing.  Here’s one uplifting story about a team studying wolverines in Montana :

A husband-and-wife team in Montana studies the elusive wolverine – Christian Science Monitor