Piping Plover | Photo by NatureFramingham / flickr

The devastation that Hurricane Sandy brought to the East Coast was a strong reminder of the action needed to combat the impacts to wildlife of climate-fueled disasters by addressing climate change and protecting wildlife habitat.

The superstorm destroyed communities and wildlife habitats–including crucial habitats for piping plovers and many other shorebirds.

Wildlife Supporters Making a Difference

Wildlife advocates like you pledged to “vote for wildlife” when you went to the polls and made sure that your friends voted as well.

You urged the candidates and presidential debate moderators to ask about climate before the elections, and kept the pressure on to make the connection between superstorm Sandy and the increasingly frequent and devastating extreme weather that scientists see worsening because of climate change.

In key states where conservation-champions were in tight races, supporters of the NWF Action Fund, the political wing of NWF, helped get our message into the media, air TV ads, and get voters to the polls. That support made the difference between winning and losing.

In fact, all of the Democratic and Republican candidates endorsed by the National Wildlife Federation Action Fund won their important races, thanks to the support of NWF Action Fund members.

The success of candidates endorsed by the NWF Action Fund shows that the financial resources of Big Polluters are no match against strong grassroots support for candidates who are on the right side of important conservation issues.

Successes for Wildlife

What does the election mean for wildlife?

Climate Change

When it comes to climate change–the greatest threat to wildlife today–if President Obama’s campaign acts on his statements about our warming planet, we can look forward to continuing to tackle pollution from power plants. Right now, we are working with the Obama Administration to finalize limits on carbon pollution from new power plants and now have the opportunity to push for pollution limits on the biggest single source of carbon pollution in the country–our nation’s already-existing power plants.

Tar Sands

The Keystone XL tar sands pipeline was a big loser. In race after race including in Florida where Senator Bill Nelson was victorious, Senators opposing Keystone were rewarded by voters. We are now counting on President Obama to reject the pipeline that would set us in the wrong direction climate change.

Federal Budget

We must reach a fair and balanced budget. Voters sent conservation champions to Congress who will help make sure future budgets do not further endanger wildlife with deep and disproportionate cuts to conservation programs that have already faced damaging cuts. These investments are small–less than 1 percent of all federal spending–and deliver huge benefits to wildlife by keeping our waters clean and taking care of public lands where our panthers, bison, wolves and polar bears live.

Clean Water Act

With the strong leaders in the Environmental Protection Agency continuing their work, river otters and fish across our nation have hope that our small streams and rivers that have lost the protection of the Clean Water Act will once again be safeguarded from destruction and pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies can also continue their  efforts to restore the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay, the Mississippi River Delta and other cherished waterways.

What Happens Next

Exactly what happens next depends on whether Democrats and Republicans will work together to make progress on the important conservation issues facing America–and whether the GOP decides to return to the party’s Teddy Roosevelt conservation roots.

As Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, said today in response to the election results:

The election should be a wake-up call for any politician who doesn’t have a responsible plan for conservation, particularly on the heels of superstorm Sandy. Along with the extreme droughts and wildfires of the past summer, Sandy has not only increased the urgency of tackling climate change, but also thrust the environment back into the spotlight.

Winning More Fights for Wildlife

The devastating impacts of Hurricane Sandy are the latest in a long string of extreme weather events fueled by climate change that continue to threaten our wildlife. This year alone, record wildfires in the west forced moose to flee their burning mountain habitats and extreme droughts left many black bears searching desperately for food.

Now that the elections are over, it’s up to us make sure our elected leaders will take action to get critical policies passed to protect these and many more wildlife from climate change–before it’s too late.

It might not be easy–and we know Big Polluters and special interests will be a strong opponent–but together we can win more critical fights against Big Polluters and continue to create a brighter future for plovers, moose and black bears.

Help protect crucial habitat from worsening superstorms–take action to support limits on carbon pollution from coal-burning power plants.

Hurricane Sandy destroyed crucial habitat for imperiled piping plovers. Photo: Richard Seeley

Ready, Set, Vote!

Voting for wildlife-friendly candidates is bigger than any one race on November 6th. It means looking at your ballot before you go to the polls, researching candidates’ positions on key issues for wildlife, and making sure you have a plan to vote in person on November 6th or by absentee ballot.

Know Who and What You’re Voting For

Look at your ballot and compare candidates’ positions at Vote411.org. You can take notes with you into the polls on which candidates and proposals you plan to vote for.

In addition to voting for pro-wildlife candidates, residents in a number of states will have the opportunity to vote for ballot initiatives that have potential to shape the future of our wildlife and wild places. For example, residents of Michigan can vote YES on proposal 3 to help more of the state’s energy come from renewable sources such as wind and solar.

Know When and Where to Vote

Locate your polling place for voting and make a plan for what time you will vote on Nov. 6th.

Help Pack the Polls

Studies have shown that people are more likely to vote if they hear that their friends and neighbors will be voting, too. So please encourage your friends and family to vote, and make sure they have rides to the polls!

Defeat Big Polluters at the Polls

This past July, I saw record fires blaze through communities near my home in Colorado and severe droughts leave local black bears desperate for food. And just last week, Hurricane Sandy devastated not only communities across the East Coast, but also wildlife–crossing more than one hundred National Wildlife Refuges and destroying crucial habitat for imperiled piping plovers and many more shorebirds.

Yet, as these record-breaking extreme weather events–all with clear links to climate change–become more and more common, the fossil fuel industry continues to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into attacking pro-environment candidates and pushing a reckless agenda that puts their profits before the safety of communities and wildlife.

By researching candidates’ positions and voting, people like us who care about wildlife and vote can fight back against Big Polluters whose reckless behavior is increasingly putting wildlife in harm’s way.

Please SHARE with your friends to make this the largest voter turnout for wildlife ever!

Thanks for making your voice heard for wildlife this election!

Interestingly, this poll finds that most undecided voters believe global warming is happening:

Most undecided likely voters (80%) believe that global warming is happening, while only 3% say it is not happening – which is very similar to likely Obama voters (86% and 4%, respectively).

Undecideds are markedly different than likely Romney voters, fewer than half of whom believe global warming is happening (45%).

This new national survey found that 7% of likely voters remain undecided about whom they will vote for President. Voters are demanding information from candidates on how they plan to fight climate change. Given how close the election for president may turn out to be in key states, this should be a wake up call for the candidates to voice their plans.

Voters are also raising expectations for lawmakers to take action on climate change, as noted by The Hill’s Energy & Envronment blog:

Sixty-four percent of undecided voters believe Obama should be doing more to address climate change, and 72 percent say Congress should be doing more.

Want to know how you can help elevate climate change and conservation issues this fall? Read about the candidates’ views on conservation, and pledge to Vote Wildlife Friendly during the upcoming election.

Sue Brown hiking Hanging Lake Trail

On June 15^th, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar named western Colorado’s Hanging Lake a National Natural Landmark—and I completely agree.

Over Memorial Day weekend, I hiked the Hanging Lake trail outside Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and it is an amazing natural landmark. Since it is my husband’s favorite hike, I really appreciated getting a chance to finally experience it for myself.

Given the large snow pack and recent warm weather, the water levels were amazingly high at Hanging Lake and the falls were flowing. There is a large water log and weathered fallen tree jutting into the lake—a tree, that in fact, has been there ever since my husband can remember (that is the staying power of nature for you!).

I was also able to enjoy the benefits of clear alpine waters.  Nearby at Spouting Rock, the water cascaded over the cliff showering cold clear water on hikers. According to my hiking pal, the amount of water was unlike any he had ever seen —making a hike that he has enjoyed for years come alive in a whole new way.

Ah…the benefits of nature. Thanks to Secretary Salazar for naming Hanging Lake a National Natural Landmark – hope you all get a chance to visit soon!

Blue Columbine | Holmes Mller

Apparently previous residents in our home had not only had green thumbs, but green fingers and hands — as evidenced by the large garden plot with its own sprinkler system.

I love the concept of gardening, oogle over the items in the Smith and Hawken catalog, support the local food and urban gardening movements, but have never actually committed spade to ground until now…

My first attempt at gardening involved an elaborate plot to fly my friend Dru from Maryland to do our garden. After all, she gloats all summer long about fresh home grown veggies so I don’t see why she can’t work her magic here. However, the impracticalities of the miles between Colorado and Maryland, differences in growing season and varieties–not to mention, not having yet secured Dru’s willingness–made me abandon that plan.

So, now I decide that like Western pioneers before me, I will get close to the land and find my inner gardener and “vegetable whisperer.”

Colorado’s weather is fickle, and we still get snow in the spring, so no planting until after Mother’s Day is the common practice around here. But in the meantime, I bought some tools of the trade, have been reclaiming the soil from the weeds, and making my wish list of veggies to grow–knowing full well that the ratio of seed to plant for a successful edible vegetable is very low, but on I plow.

Then I find out that in May, the National Wildlife Federation is celebrating Garden for Wildlife month, and realize that there are other hardy souls out there at all levels, picking up the spade, buying native plants, and dreaming about the fresh salads they will enjoy all summer long.

So, cheers to all of us for reclaiming those weed patches, planting trees and shrubs for our wildlife pals, supporting the growing local food movement, and getting out there!

NOTE: If you or someone you know lives in the Boulder, CO area, please join us this Saturday, May 14 at the National Wildlife Federation’s Rocky Mountain Regional Center for our 6th Annual Native Plant Sale. We’ll start at 8am, and go until plants are sold out!

Learn more about attracting wildlife to your garden and how to create a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat^® >>