Latest News
The country's wildfire preparedness level just topped out. -
The major blazes currently raging in 11 states have the potential to exhaust all U.S. fire resources. Now that we've hit level 5—the highest there is—the United States can request firefighting aid from the military and international partners. Washington Post
Meat consumption could be driving extinctions. -
A new report finds that though climate change plays a huge role, the leading cause of modern species extinctions is habitat loss and pollution from meat production. Worldwide, livestock numbers grow by millions each year, and the places most likely to ramp up their meat-eating in coming years overlap with biodiversity hot spots. Mother Jones
L.A.'s famous puma gets killed trying to cross a freeway. -
P-32 was the first male mountain lion to successfully leave the Santa Monica Mountains—by crossing a freeway. Sadly, he was struck by a vehicle on Monday. The highways encircling L.A. County's pumas prevent the population's dispersal and gene flow between other wild cats. Advocates have long called for more wildlife crossings. Los Angeles Times
Melting sea ice could strand Pacific walruses onshore in Alaska (again). -
Walruses prefer to hang out on Arctic sea ice floes, but in recent years, melting has been so severe that the animals have crowded onshore by the tens of thousands—and scientists say conditions are ripe for the phenomenon to happen again this summer. Washington Post
The feds are killing birds to save fish—despite knowing it won't save fish. -
Earlier this year, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service OK'd a controversial plan to kill thousands of federally protected cormorants near Oregon's Columbia River—but newly released documents show that the service's own research found the cull would have no effect on the endangered trout and salmon populations it claimed to be saving. Oregon Live