17 years later, feds still playing politics with threatened lynx

Routine studies delayed, protections lagging … Staff Report The U.S. Forest Service started dragging its feet on protecting lynx ever since the wild cat was designated as a threatened species in 2000, and that pattern continues to this day. The Center for Biological Diversity has released a document suggesting that the agency’s Northern Rockies office

Western governors seek to weaken Endangered Species Act

Suggested changes would lead to extinction of some species Staff Report Governors of western states talk a good game when it comes to natural resources conservation, but when the rubber hits the road, they’ve never really been willing to walk the walk. At its recent meeting in Montana, the Western Governors Association endorsed a  policy

U.S. Supreme Court rejects fossil fuel industry effort to remove protection for threatened polar bears

Global warming seen as main threat to Arctic predators Staff Report Endangered Species Act protection for polar bears will remain in place following a U.S. Supreme Court decision late last week to reject an attempt by the fossil fuel industry to overturn the 2010 listing. At issue was a decision by the U.S. Fish and

Can the Endangered Species Act withstand the GOP assault?

Lawmakers rally to block attacks on key environmental law Staff Report Conservation-minded lawmakers are rallying to counter the GOP’s seemingly endless attacks on the Endangered Species Act. In a letter to President Barack Obama, 91 members of Congress warned that Republicans are “doubling down” on their efforts to undermine protections for threatened plants and animals.

Endangered Species Act changes would send many plants and animals towards oblivion

Huge coalition sends letter to President Obama criticizing proposed new petitioning rules Staff Report A federal plan to tweak the Endangered Species Act isn’t getting much love from conservation advocates, who say the changes would make it much harder to start the listing process. To reinforce their concerns, 175 environmental and social justice organizations sent

Environment: Feds extend comment period on controversial Endangered Species Act changes

Proposed changes would make it harder for citizen groups to petition for protection Staff Report FRISCO — The feds will give the public an extra two months to weigh in on proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act, with a new comment deadline set for mid-September. In May, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and

Biodiversity: Louisiana black bear recovery hailed as endangered species success story

Recovery goals met, USFWS proposes delisting Staff Report FRISCO — In a textbook case of endangered species conservation,  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists last week said they’ve met their recovery goals for the Louisiana black bear and moved to take the species off the endangered species list. The subspecies of black bear lives only

Feds seek to tweak Endangered Species Act

Modernization aimed at keeping regs in line with science, political pressure and court rulings Staff Report FRISCO — Federal biologists say they want to freshen up the Endangered Species Act to “reflect advances in conservation biology and genetics, as well as recent court decisions interpreting the Act’s provisions.” According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Colorado: Yet another Gunnison sage-grouse lawsuit

Wildlife advocates say dwindling birds need full protection of Endangered Species Act Staff Report FRISCO — Dwindling Gunnison sage-grouse will have to wait a bit long to find out what kind of endangered species protection — if any — they will get. Following the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision to list the birds as

GOP attack on endangered species fueled by “Tea Party fantasies’

House report fails to cite any peer-reviewed science By Summit Voice FRISCO — Anti-environmental Republicans in the House are once again twisting the facts and distorting science in their efforts to dismantle the Endangered Species Act on behalf of various extractive and environmentally harmful industries. An analysis released last week by the Center for Biological