Below is part of an email notification I received from EarthJustice and their court case requesting an injunction on the wolf hunt:

Here is the latest news on our case to protect the gray wolves of the northern Rockies.


Early this week, our legal team was in a Missoula federal court seeking an injunction to stop the wolf hunts in Idaho and Montana. Idaho's hunt began Tuesday, and Montana's is scheduled to begin September 15.

Our lead attorney on the case, Doug Honnold, made the strongest case possible for immediately halting the hunts: arguing for a population level of 2,000-5,000 wolves to ensure essential connectivity among wolves throughout the northern Rockies, and to create a legal safety net for wolves that prevents states from killing hundreds of wolves. This is occurring because of the decision by the Fish and Wildlife Service to remove northern wolves from the protections of the Endangered Species Act.

As of this afternoon, the judge continues to deliberate our request, and we aren't sure when he will rule.

What we do know is that when we previously asked this judge for an injunction to stop wolf hunts, he took a while to decide ... and issued a deliberative, thoughtful opinion that granted our injunction.

Regardless of the outcome, this case is just one part of our larger legal effort to fully reinstate federal protections for the gray wolves of the northern Rockies.

On this point, our goal is clear. We want to see the wolves come off of the endangered species list, but only under conditions that ensure the long-term survival of the species.

If I receive any more updates from either EarthJustice or Defenders, I'll post them...

I just saw an article yesterday (posted below) about wind farms in California, and their ability to chop up California Condors.  It's known that lead ammunition in the carcasses they eat is a leading cause of death for the birds, but this article talked about wind farms being another huge obstacle in the recovery of the condor.

http://www.examiner.com/x-13344-Wildlife-Conservation-Examiner~y2009m8d30-California-condors-wind-farms-on-collision-course

The L.A. Zoo receives all the condors that are injured or sick (we are one of the five organizations involved in the Condor captive breeding program, and the lead organization) and we (the volunteers) always hear about any that come to us for treatment.  I have not heard of any coming in with any injuries from wind turbines or any deaths from them either.  I have a meeting with department heads at the zoo next Friday - our Zoo Conservation Committee - and will be stopping by our Avian Curator's office; she is a member of the condor recovery team and I'll ask her about this issue.

Judi

What wonderful pics!  Your work seems like a dream job.  I'd love to do something like it now that I'm retired from teaching.

Hi Lizz,

I can only wish that this was my full time - paying! - job!  I'm a volunteer (docent) at the L.A. Zoo and it's so much fun and so interesting.  Most, if not all, AZA accredited zoos in the U.S. have some kind of volunteer program going; you should check out your local zoo - or art or natural history museum - to see what kinds of volunteer programs are available.  You won't reget it!

 

Oh Jen!  Glad to hear you're okay!  I'm not in the foothills, but I have other friends who are.  My spare bedroom was offered out a couple times but no takers...

Did you see the news a couple nights ago with the story of the L.A. Zoo taking in a lot of the animals from Wildlife Waystation? 

It had to happen sooner or later...got this Twitter follower request...

DumpsterSource
Location: Nationwide
   Web: http://www.dumpstersource.com/Default.aspx?pmc=TWIT
Bio: Rent a Dumpster Now!
Recently: two in one day!! http://bit.ly/2B59xF about 6 hours ago

  

Ei,

That's just too funny!  Thanks for the laugh!!

    

Did you know that the UN, in conjunction with UNEP/UNESCO, declared 2009 The Year of the Gorilla?  They did!  There's lots of stuff going on all over the world right now.  Hundreds of zoos all over the world have events planned to help YoG spread the word on gorilla conservation.  You can read all about YoG here - www.yog2009.org (there might even be an event where you are!)

Why am I posting about this, you might ask?     Well...the L.A. Zoo (we are one of over 100 AZA accredited zoos in the U.S. that have partnered with YoG) held its Go Gorilla weekend Aug. 29 and 30.  And...I just happen to have a small (well, I guess you could call 43 photos small) album to share - mostly of the gorillas and a few of our docents at our education tables...

http://picasaweb.google.com/Jusdancn47/GoGorillaWeekend?feat=directlink

Enjoy!

 

I'm very saddened to read about the wolf hunt. Is there anything we can do, like writing letters?

      

Dot in PA

Yes, Dot, there is something that can be done.  Go to Defenders of Wildlife's web site - www.defenders.org - click on the "take action" button below Ashley Judd's photo.  From there you can send a letter.  You might want to include this link in your letter (it's editable) from National Parks Conservation Association on the over-population of Elk in the hunt area -

http://act.npca.org/npca/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=26145898

Judi

   This actually could be a photo of a friend's back yard!  She has numerous little bowls of kitty kibble out for the feral cats from Santa Anita Racetrack and not only do the kitties come and feast but so does her skunk family (baby skunks are soooooo cute!) and a HUGE raccoon!  And we won't even talk about all the peafowl that wander down from the L.A. County Arboretum to dine on the kibble...   

I love this one!

 

Loved the movie of Beauty checking things out...there was one shot of her doing her "aren't I cute?" look that deserves another look...or is that a    look?

<a href="http://shakymon.com/thruway/archive/MainCamera_HighRes/20090830/MainCamera_HighRes_20090830-1237.jpg?" target=_blank><img src="http://shakymon.com/thruway/archive/MainCamera_Thumbnail/20090830/MainCamera_Thumbnail_20090830-1237.jpg?" >[/url]

 

The story goes: he landed on a Kayaker's boat, he wasn't eagerly ready to leave so they captured him, took him to a vet and will be transported to a rehabber. Adirondack, NY

Donna

Wow!  Did the article say anything about what, if any, injuries this baby had?   

Good job, Annie, and what a great shot of Archer's take off!   
 

Chat-sessions sound like a great idea! How about starting a list of suggested topics so that each official session is about something specific?

Cheers
Baerbel

Good idea!  Maybe we can get some special guests like we did before.  Anyone want to contact Mike Allen?   

And your box turtle, +35 yrs. old. WOW! Is that normal for box turtles??

Doris

Box turtles' average life span can be around 40 years although some species (there's 4 different species of box turtle) can live to over 100 years old!

Nest 1      Failed to hatch by Aug. 25  Oh well so much for nest #1, now were watching nest #2. Hmmm.    Hopefully this one is better.

Approximate dates loggerhead turtles are
expected to hatch::
Nest 1    Failed to hatch by Aug. 25
Nest 2    Nighttime hours between Aug. 27 and Sept. 3
Nest 3    Nighttime hours between Sept. 1 and Sept. 9

It's very possible that the nest was raided by predators (not just 4-legged but also 2 legged and winged), not an unusual occurance.  Keeping my fingers crossed for nest #2!

 

something just crawled out - don't know what - look now

It was a crab, the guy moved it out of the way. I think this is a new nest....the sand looks whiter..what do you think janet?

I just peeked at the cam and I think you're right, Donna.  Either it's a new location or they moved the cam back a bit, the sign is not as close to the cam as it was before.