Before the Clean Water Act, our nation’s waters were in trouble. The average loss of wetlands in the United States was nearly half a million acres annually. Lake Erie was considered functionally dead, thanks to industrial pollution and farm run-off. Ohio’s Cuyahoga River caught on fire more than a dozen times in the century before […]
Tag: National Wildlife Federation
POLL: Should the Reddish Egret’s habitat be protected?
Hurricane season is again upon us, with storms threatening communities, homes, and wildlife habitat in their path. As communities recover in the wake of these storms and floods, we must implement common-sense policies to help rebuild a more nature-based, resilient landscape to better protect people and wildlife like the reddish egret. The good news is, […]
POLL: Should the Migratory Bird Treaty Act remain in place and be enforced?
This is for the birds. One of America’s oldest conservation laws and wildlife successes is under attack. Passed during the Woodrow Wilson administration in 1918, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was passed as a result of dramatic declines in American bird populations. Realizing the need for broad protection, Congress made it: “unlawful at any time, […]
Advocates Raise Millions for Wildlife Bridge in Los Angeles
It’s not an easy life for the mountain lions and other animals that make their home in the Santa Monica Mountains. Because they’re so isolated, Los Angeles mountain lions are almost 100 percent likely to become extinct in 50 years due to inbreeding, which can cause health problems and unusual behavior. Leaving their territory is […]
Why the Line 5 Oil Pipeline Threatens the Great Lakes
An aging oil pipeline moves 23 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids per day along the bottomlands of the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron crash into each other in the heart of the Great Lakes. This pipeline – Line 5, built in 1953 – is operated by the same company […]
POLL: Will the promise of “crystal clear water” be broken by Trump?
President Trump has said that he wants the nation to have “crystal clear water,” and it would be hard to find anyone who would disagree with that. However, last week, the Administration released an executive order that would take the country in the opposite direction — rolling back a rule aimed at bettering the drinking […]
The U.S. House of Representatives Declares War on Wildlife and the Environment
Can the second session of the 113th U.S. House of Representatives be any more harmful to wildlife and the environment than the first session of 2013? It appears that they can! On January 3, 2014, the U.S. House of Representatives convened to start its second session of the 113th Congress. By the end of the […]
How to Enjoy Owls in Winter (or Anytime)
Owls have been in the spotlight recently, from the DC snowy owl to the Colbert Report. They are incredible and elusive creatures. Here are some ways you can experience and learn about owls first-hand this winter. Go on an owl walk, or “owling.” Winter is actually a great time to search for owls (as long […]