Nikole Ordway » A Diver’s Journal

A VICTORY!!!!!

So I realized that a lot of the time people always talk about the negative that is going on with wildlife and habitat conservation…sometimes it makes you think what can I, one person, do to really help…But I want to let you know you do help!!!!

Take a look at what Defenders of Wildlife has done…

In the Fall of 2008, Defenders supporters in Montana helped keep noisy, polluting helicopters out of an area of northwestern Montana that “may be the single most important basin [watershed] for carnivores in the Rocky Mountains”[1]. The helicopters were to be used to service luxury ski vacationers in the Whitefish Range directly west of Glacier National Park. In winter, this remote and very snowy corner of the Rocky Mountains is home to denning grizzlies and lynx and wolverines that stay active all season. This area is one of the last strongholds for lynx – a threatened species in the lower 48 states. To survive the winter and birth their kittens, these wild cats need to hunt snowshoe hares and other prey – and they need peace and quiet to do it. Wolverines are rare and tough scavengers that birth their kits in mid-February, far from disturbance from people or other animals. Mom wolverines dig down into eight feet of snow or more to make dens to shelter their young from disruption. Just imagine the trauma that loud helicopters and groups of skiers would cause these rare and sensitive animals. There are far better playgrounds for these people than the last-remaining wilderness habitat for these imperiled carnivores! Fortunately, an official with the Montana Department of Natural Resources decided just that and denied two helicopter skiing applications. Big Sky Defenders submitted more than 60% of comments received and were a big factor in helping this official make the right decision for wildlife. In fact, the Associated Press reported that “most of the people who wrote in said they were concerned about helicopter noise over private land and the disruption it would bring to area wildlife”[2]. Thanks to all the people who spoke out, grizzly bears will den undisturbed, and lynx and wolverines will have the peace and quiet they need to raise their young in Montana’s wild and beautiful wilderness for years to come.

Thanks to people who care and have taken 5 minutes out of their busy lives to give our world’s creatures a fighting chance!!!

Keep up the support!!! And you can always ask me to help you learn how YOU can help.

Nikole

Hey guys…I just started looking at the website Defenders of Wildlife and on this site there is a link labeled Action Center

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LOOK AT THIS LINK….

I have found a way to send my voice to governmental authorities about issues I care about.

Example, today I sent a message to Brian Bilray about action that needs to be taken to help undo the damage caused by the Bush Administration’s callous disregard for the laws that protect our wolves, polar bears and other imperiled wildlife. If you would like to send this same action chick on this link below before Feb. 2, 2009

http://action.defenders.org/saveesa3

Another take action on this site that I found to be interesting was the Take Action of Green jobs and Wildlife. America could put nearly 60,000 people to work within 90-180 days by funding important conservation projects on public lands — projects like restoring wetlands, reconnecting habitat across highways, removing invasive species, rehabilitating native forests and prairies, and making facilities and buildings on public lands more energy efficient. Projects like these projects would have tangible benefits for imperiled wildlife, could keep local construction, electrical, landscape and other companies working throughout 2009 and would provide the next generation of workers with the skills they need to lead a green revolution in our economy. Speak out for creating green jobs to protect lands and wildlife by filling out the form on Defenders of Wildlife to urge President Obama and your U.S. Representative and Senators to help create jobs that will protect our wildlife and our environment.

The florida manatee is a large aquatic relative of the elephant. They are grayish brown in color and have thick, wrinkled skin on which there is often a growth of algae.  Their front flippers help them steer or sometimes crawl through shallow water. They also have powerful flat tails that help propel them through the water. Despite their small eyes and lack of outer ears, manatees are thought to see and hear quite well.

The largest population of manatees is found in Florida, where there are over 3,000 individuals. Destruction and degradation of their coastal and freshwater habitat.  The leading known cause of death is by boat strikes; propellers and hulls inflict serious or mortal wounds. Most manatees have a pattern of scars on their backs or tails after surviving collisions with boats. Scientists use these patterns to identify individuals. Manatees are also vulnerable to cold water. They have been found crushed or drowned in flood-control gates and suffer harm from exposure to toxic red tide. In addition, a large number of manatees die from unknown causes each year.

Florida manatees are federally listed as Endangered and state listed as Endangered. *Endangered Species Act; **Marine Mammal Protection Act; Florida Endangered and Threatened Species Act; Florida Administrative Code; Florida Marine Sanctuary Act; ***CITES Appendix 1.

So as a Floridian I wanted to know how I can get educated on how to help the manatees in my areas…

1st  As a boater on the inter-coastal waterways, I need to be alert and aware of my boating skills…my boat should stay wake-less while traveling in the waterway so that the manatees have time to react to my boat.

2nd As a captain and scuba instructor I should inform my customers about the manatees and remind them to not harass the manatees

and 3rd refer to the website Defenders of Wildlife to give me and others ideas on how to help the species get some attention from the public, media, and government.

There is VICTORY for the Florida Manatees…

Thanks to the encouragement of many wildlife supporters and Florida Governor Charlie Crist’s leadership, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted on December 5th to delay action on the proposal to to downlist the manatee on the state’s imperiled species list and requested a thorough reexamination of Florida’s criteria for evaluating and safeguarding its imperiled species.

The Commission’s decision to maintain the manatee’s endangered status until a full review of the state’s listing criteria can take place represents a huge victory for our manatees and for Florida’s wildlife in general. Addressing the state’s flawed classification system will help ensure that all imperiled species in the Sunshine State receive the protections they need. The Commission also adopted a new management plan that will aid recovery of the manatee.

The manatee is a special, iconic species that people around the nation associate with Florida. With a record-breaking 417 deaths documented in 2006, it is clear that this species remains at risk and requires the highest level of state protections. With Governor Crist’s and the Commission’s continued commitment, Defenders will continue to work hard to ensure that the manatee and other imperiled members of Florida’s unique ecosystems receive the attention and protections they deserve.

Thanks for getting educated about manatees!