Wildlife Promise » Friends of Wildlife

NWF, Wendy Williams and Baby Animals

David Mizejewski — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:56:56 +0000

If you’re a fan of Wendy Williams’ syndicated talk show, or saw her on Dancing With the Stars, you know that she’s a larger-than-life personality. As a regular guest on The Wendy Williams Show, and the first to bring on animal ambassadors, I’m happy to report that Wendy’s love of wildlife is growing.

It’s my goal to get it to match her enthusiasm for wigs and celebrity gossip!

In my latest appearance, I pulled out all the stops and brought some of the cutest, cuddliest baby animals around. In the face of such adorableness, even Wendy’s natural trepidation around wild animals melted away.

And even better, she helped me promote National Wildlife Federation’s Wild Animal Baby Adoption program!

Here’s the clip. Enjoy, and don’t forgot to adopt a wild animal baby and help support NWF’s work to protect wildlife.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Another Hawaiian Monk Seal is Found Dead on Kaua‘i

Les Welsh — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:49:24 +0000

The illegal, intentional killing of endangered Hawaiian monk seals unfortunately continues with yet another found dead on a northeastern beach on Kaua‘i. Known to researchers as RA16 and nicknamed “Noho,” the seal was born and raised in the waters around Kaua‘i. Hawai‘i state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and NOAA Fisheries has classified it’s death as “suspicious” and are investigating the killing. For those of us trying to save these critically endangered marine mammals, this is distressing news.

Hawaiian monk seal in its native habitat. Vanderlip.

Since November, three monk seals have died of intentionally inflicted head injuries on the islands of Moloka‘i and Kaua‘i. A fourth killing is still being investigated. The most recent killing brings the toll to five now, but locals suspect more are being killed off shore, never to be discovered. It is a federal crime to kill or harm a federally listed endangered species. Non-governmental organizations, including NWF’s Hawai‘i state affiliate, the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, have offered rewards for information leading to the arrest of the individuals responsible.

“Dog Running in the Rough Sea”

Known for generations as ‘ilioholoikauaua, or “dog running in the rough sea,” the Hawaiian monk seal is one of only three monk seals species found in the world. The Caribbean monk seal was last seen in 1952 and declared extinct in 2008, and the Mediterranean monk seal hangs by a thread with a wild population of just 600. The Hawaiian monk seal, with a population of less than 1,100 and dropping precipitously at 4% a year, is already struggling to survive and needs our help now to avoid a similar fate.

Hawaiian monk seals are at risk from entanglement in fishing gear and other marine debris, declining prey stocks, invasive species, coral bleaching, sea level rise, shark predation and ocean acidification. Adding to these threats, vocal resistance to critical habitat and recovery actions for the seal has taken an increasingly ominous turn as more seals turn up dead.

A Critical Year

Hawaiian Monk Seal. Photo by NOAA.

Even without the intentional killings, this is a critical year for the Hawaiian monk seal. Under the federal Endangered Species Act, critical habitat was designated for the seal in the 1980s only in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Nonetheless, the seal population continues to plummet there because of high pup mortality resulting primarily from tiger shark predation and starvation.

NOAA has proposed expanding critical habitat designation to the main Hawaiian Islands, where an increasing number of seals are residing and where there is a higher survival rate despite increased interactions with humans. Aggressive recovery actions, including translocating up to 20 young female pups a year from the NWHI to the main islands for three years to give them a head start in survival before being returned to the NWHI, are also proposed. But recovery efforts face stiff opposition from fishing interests and others who fear the seals’ competition for fish and those who see any federal protections as intrusion.

Myths and Vocal Opposition

As efforts to protect and recover the seal move forward, simmering resentment among some fishers who believe critical habitat designation will curtail their right to fish has been inflamed by myths about the seal. Large commercial fishing interests and others, looking to prevent expansion of critical habitat, appear to be making the seal a scapegoat for declining fish stocks, while the real reasons for that decline are ignored. Run-off from large-scale agriculture and development, invasive algae and other non-native marine species, overfishing, stream diversions, aquarium collecting and increased ocean acidification all negatively impact local fisheries. As for the monk seals, they are opportunistic feeders and regularly consume a wide variety of marine organisms.

To make matters worse, some of those opposed to protecting the seal have spread misinformation, leading people to believe that monk seals are not native to Hawai‘i and instead are themselves an invasive species. Archeological evidence and cultural references, including the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian Creation Chant – which specifically mentions the monk seal, all indicate its existence in the islands for thousands of years.

You Can Help

National Wildlife Federation is working with the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i and other community and conservation partners throughout the islands to speak up for the seal and build a constituency for its protection and survival. We are working to ensure federal funding for seal recovery efforts and we helped launch a public media campaign to dispel myths and underscore that the Hawaiian monk seal is a native species deserving of Hawaiian and national pride and the full protection of critical habitat and recovery.

Help stop the attacks on endangered Hawaiian monk seals! Please donate today to help National Wildlife Federation save seals and other wildlife from extinction >>

What a Squirrel Wants – #Squirrels4Good

Danielle Brigida — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:44:49 +0000

What do squirrels want? What do squirrels need? When you get right down to it, squirrels are a lot like us, just trying to survive in these urban and suburban jungles. And they do a great job. Craig Newmark of Craigslist is a big fan, and has partnered with National Wildlife Federation to support our Sciuridae friends.

Craig’s Pledge:

“Here’s the deal, for each time someone uses the hashtag, #Squirrels4Good on Twitter or on my Facebook page or NWF’s facebook page, I’ll give $1 to the National Wildlife Federation up to $5K. I will also donate $1 for each new follower I get over the next couple of weeks.”

To celebrate #Squirrels4Good, here are a few things that make squirrels happy and set them free:

To Stop and Smell the Roses

A Nap in the Park

Ice Cream Cones

The Perfect Photo

The Last Cookie in the Cookie Jar

To Watch Funny Cat Videos

A Mid-Afternoon Stretch (and Snack)

To Squeak Up for What They Believe In!

How You Can Celebrate Squirrels

Tweet using #Squirrels4Good or post about squirrels on NWF or Craig Newmark’s Facebook page.
Share and re-pin your favorite squirrel photos on Pinterest
Turn your garden into a squirrel-friendly Certified Wildlife Habitat with NWF

More than 735,000 Americans Support Action to Curb Carbon Pollution [VIDEO & PHOTOS]

Jenny Kordick — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:52:53 +0000

We asked you to speak up for polar bears, and you delivered! More than 735,000 Americans, including nearly 50,000 NWF members and supporters have sent letters to the Environmental Protection Agency in support of their proposed rule to limit carbon pollution from new power plant smokestacks.

This week, I teamed up with Ranger Rick and a polar bear to deliver the letters you sent to protect wildlife. The giant stack of boxes we delivered to the EPA in Washington, D.C. represent broad national support to curb carbon pollution (don’t worry–the boxes contained flashdrives containing copies of each comment rather than paper!).

The new proposed air pollution limits are essential for reigning in carbon pollution, which drives climate change– the number one threat to the future of wildlife. See what EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe has to say after the delivery:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Also, check out our photos from the event. More can be found on Wildlife Action’s Flickr page.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Wildlife needs your voice! The comment period for this rule remains open. Take action today to protect polar bears!

NWF Featured in “Best of Martha Stewart”

David Mizejewski — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:42:35 +0000

As National Wildlife Federation’s naturalist and media personality, I’ve been appearing on Martha Stewart’s daily talk show since 2005 to get her many viewers excited about protecting wildlife and joining NWF.

I’ve done appearances promoting everything from NWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitat program, to our international work to protect tropical forests, to our Wildlife Adoption program to National Wildlife Week.

During my most recent appearance, I brought on a variety of black and white animals, including a Vietnemese potbellied pig that decided to poop all over the table in the middle of the segment. It was pretty hilarious, but hey, a pig’s gotta do what a pig’s gotta do.

Sadly, the current incarnation of Martha’s show has come to a close after seven seasons. The crew just finished their last episode, and in celebration they’ve released a video showing some bloopers from this final season–and my segment with the pooping pig made it into the final cut!

You can watch the blooper reel here.

And here’s the full segment:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Martha, if you’re reading this, it’s been an honor and a lot of fun to be your guest over the years. Thanks for helping to spread NWF’s conservation message to your many fans.

Outdoors-women Tells U.S. Senate to Fight Smokestack Pollution

Brenda Archambo — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:41:20 +0000

Sen. Tom Carper with NWF's Brenda Archambo
As a life-long outdoors-woman and outreach consultant for NWF, I was thrilled to be invited to testify before the U.S. Senate Committee of Environment and Public Works sub-committee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety on April 17, 2012. My testimony primarily focuses on the fact that reducing mercury, air toxics and industrial carbon pollution will help protect our long standing investment in our outdoor heritage.

Across America, hunters and anglers contribute more than $10 billion to fish and wildlife conservation, and in a typical year pump another $75 billion into the economy.

The EPA is acting now to limit carbon pollution. They need to hear from you that Americans support limits on carbon pollution to protect wildlife at risk.

Archambo Testifies in U.S. Senate Subcommittee

Click here to view the embedded video.

Positive Action on Industrial Carbon Pollution

The Environmental Protection Agency’s recent action to crack down on mercury pollution from power plants coupled with the proposed first-ever national limits on industrial carbon pollution is a milestone in the fight to rein in air pollution that is causing a warming climate that seriously threatens people and wildlife. These actions will provide certainty to businesses and investors, spur innovation and deployment of clean technologies, and help to ignite the revitalization of our manufacturing sector.

In addition to the threat of climate change to game species, sportsmen and women like me are particularly concerned about mercury. This harmful air toxic settles from the air onto our lakes, rivers, and forests, polluting the environment and accumulating up the food chain as fish and wildlife consume the contamination. This is a game changer that directly affects many species which are revered as part of our state’s angling, hunting and conservation heritage.

Last December, over 14,000 Michigan conservationists participated in a tele-town forum on the impacts of mercury pollution and the importance of the Environmental Protection Agency’s EPA’s new mercury and air toxics standards to protect our nation’s people and wildlife. The extent and effects of mercury pollution in the Great Lakes region is an issue of going concern among sportsman as there are over 204 fish consumption advisories in Michigan.

Take Action for Wildlife

Please, join me today to help create a better future for wildlife by sending a message to the EPA in support of limits to industrial carbon pollution and ensure that the legacy we leave our children is a clean and healthy planet.

Dear Congress: More sturgeon, less pollution.

Frank Szollosi — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:07:46 +0000

My Michigan colleague, Brenda Archambo, is on her way to testify before the U.S. Senate to help ensure that a 200-million-year-old fish species doesn’t get wiped out by smokestacks, mercury and carbon pollution. Archambo leads a conservation group focused on preserving sturgeon species in Michigan and organizes hunters and anglers to defend public policies that preserve air, land, water and wildlife.

You can add your voice too, to fight pollution—the time to take action has never been more urgent.

Brenda’s leadership has not gone unnoticed. U.S. Sen. Thomas Carper (D-Delaware), chair of the Senate Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, asked Brenda to testify before his panel this Tuesday. She shared her story recently with the Petoskey News and in our new report, which focuses on the devastating impact of warming winters on America’s outdoor traditions.

Brenda—and the 1.7 million Michigan hunters and anglers she represents—are faced with hundreds of fish consumption advisories every year due to high levels of mercury and other toxins, commonly put into the air from coal-fired power plants both within Michigan and from neighboring states. And with increasingly warm winters, the ice on the upper Midwest lakes doesn’t get thick enough often enough to sustain cherished family ice-fishing traditions, nor 46,000 tourism and recreation jobs across the state.

Fortunately, the Obama Administration, Sen. Carper, Michigan’s Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D) and Carl Levin (D) and others in Washington are not putting the interests of big polluters ahead of public health, food safety, fishing traditions and local economies. The U.S. EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics standard, and the Carbon Pollution standard, put into place protections passed by a bipartisan Congress in the early 1990′s, and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush.

Brenda is traveling a long way from Cheboygan to protect sturgeon, family fishing traditions, and local economies. But we also need you to stand up too.

Take Action to Combat Pollution Today

Take action today by adding your comment during the EPA’s 60-day public comment window, which actually started April 13th. Share this link via Facebook, Twitter or other social media as well.

Details on Tuesday’s hearing…good luck Brenda!

Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety hearing entitled, “Review of Mercury Pollution’s Impacts on Public Health and the Environment.”

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

10:00 AM EDT

EPW Hearing Room – 406 Dirksen

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_id=9e3ece6e-802a-23ad-419e-915184add98c

Join Us for the Launch of NWF’s Storytelling Video Diary Series

Megan Blevins — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:01:20 +0000

When I was young, I was that kid who had a secret notebook and wrote down everything. Even at the age of 10, being a writer—being a storyteller—was all I ever wanted. I still believe in the power of sharing stories, so it’s a great honor to invite you to join the National Wildlife Federation as we kick-off our new Storytelling Video Diary Series.

Click here to view the embedded video.

3… 2… 1… Liftoff!

For the next six months we’ll publish weekly video blogs, such as this one about the Sky Dance of the American Woodcock.

There are 10 participants from around the Federation: Lindsay Hauswald, Carla Brown, Danielle Moodie-Mills, Beth Pratt, Bentley Johnson, Kendall Mackey, Tony Summers, Nic Callero, and Ryan Stockwell, and myself.

I know I speak for all the participants when I say “Welcome!” We look forward to sharing our stories from around the Federation with you.

National Wildlife Federation’s Storytelling Video Diary Series shares the candid tales of 10 NWF staffers from around the country; armed with their cameras in the Great Lakes, California, South Dakota, the Pacific Northwest, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC, these 10 staffers will share with you their individual trials, epiphanies and stories as they unfold in their daily adventures.

Of Puppies and Polar Bears

Melinda Koslow — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:25:51 +0000

Zeus the mini 'polar bear' poodle. Photo of Zeus by Ryan Peterson 2012, photo of polar bear by Susan van Gelder\Flickr.
As we continue to celebrate National Wildlife Week it was also brought to my attention that today is National Puppy Day. For some of us, our love for wildlife is coupled with a love for pets, whether cat, fish, dog or mouse. Though it’s important to remember that wildlife are not pets and pets are not wildlife, pets might be our first at-home interaction with animals and may help to foster that drive to protect all forms.

I am personally inspired by all sorts of wildlife but especially polar bears, and I wonder if it is a coincidence that my new puppy Zeus kind of resembles a polar bear. What do you think?

Viewing Polar Bears with an Amateur Camera and Healthy Respect

Zeus reminds me to tell the story of my first, and likely only, viewing of polar bears in the wild. About a decade ago, I was lucky enough to participate in an impromptu polar bear viewing in Barrow, Alaska.

Barrow, Alaska is the northernmost city in the United States, about 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle. I was there in the summertime as part of a larger project to help the city of Barrow adapt to climate change.

Summer Ice in the Chukchi Sea. Photo by Melinda Koslow 2001.
The summer of 2001 was an especially cold summer for Barrow, and that meant that the sea ice was still quite prevalent at the shore. That also meant that polar bears hadn’t quite left the area yet as they often do to follow the ice (and yummy seal meals) north.

A local Barrowite asked us if we’d like to partake in a trip to the point of Barrow, where he knew polar bears liked to congregate. Thankfully I had a basic camera and a will to experience. That was all I needed. We jumped at this once-in-a-lifetime chance.

He piled us into a all-terrain vehicle reminding us that it is important to carry a healthy respect for the world’s largest land carnivore. In other words, no getting out of the car, and definitely no feeding or attempts to cuddle the polar bears!

Polar bears on Chukchi Sea Ice near Barrow, Alaska. Photo by Melinda Koslow 2001.
Within minutes of being on the point, we were surrounded. Our hearts pumped so loud from joy – and a bit of fear – that the whole vehicle shook. We were humbled by their power, size and beauty, but also their vulnerability. We were humbled by their presence in general.

Polar Bears, Point Barrow, Alaska. Photo by Melinda Koslow 2001.
Our day ended rather abruptly as the bears began to notice us or the vehicle or both. Either way knew it was best not to test their territory. A curious young bear (seen here) started to slowly approach us. And though we wanted to say hi, that’s simply not a good idea.

It is important to have a large amount of respect whenever viewing wildlife in the wild.

As Sea Ice Diminishes

As we took in the experience we realized that regardless of their immense power and size – and ability to survive in both water and land in frigid temperatures – that opportunities like this for people to experience them in the wild are vanishing.

The Arctic is warming from global warming and the sea ice, especially in the summer months, is declining in astonishing amounts. This affects the wildlife as well as the people who live in Barrow. As the sea ice declines they are more vulnerable to flooding from large waves and shoreline erosion.

Protect polar bears from global warming by sending a message to the Environmental Protection Agency >>

Return to Barrow

Chukchi Sea. Photo by Melinda Koslow 2005.
I went back to the same spot in Barrow for four summers afterwards, and I never got the chance to see those amazing bears again. In fact, over the years the sea ice declined so much that by 2005, I captured the image to the right of the same shoreline. The sea is still stunningly beautiful, but it is also sad because I know what polar bear beauty is absent.

I share this adoration and concern with many people throughout the National Wildlife Federation and also with our young friends. Recently our scientist, Doug Inkley, received a letter from a 2nd grader who drew a touching picture of polar bears and dedicated herself as a friend of polar bears.

She and others remind me that there is hope for the polar bears. Every day we work together at NWF and with our partners, affiliates and members to reduce global warming to protect their habitat.

So again Happy National Puppy Day and Wildlife Week! Let’s go home and hug our puppies (or dogs, cats, kitties, mice, fish) or whoever it is that helps remind us of those more wild ones we also admire and work to protect. Zeus says so.

Zeus 13 weeks. Photo by Melinda Koslow 2012.

Get To Know Your Wild Neighbors

Cathy Curley — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 02:30:42 +0000

The prominent peaks of the Brother's in the Olympics
The world is full of the promise of adventure, exploration and discovery. From high mountain peaks to lush forests and broad open oceans, people are always looking and finding new ways to connect to nature in exciting adventurous ways.

For some people, these outdoor experiences are grand and deliberate, seemingly epic and beyond what any of us can even imagine.

For others, there is a need to get to know what the region has to offer through organized outings, clubs, city and regional programs.

We are fortunate that here in the Pacific Northwest there are many organizations and programs that provide opportunities to connect with nature in meaningful ways.

Join Us at a Seattle Be Out There Event April 7th

On April 7, 2012, through the support of National Wildlife Federation’s national and regional partners, the Pacific Regional Center is presenting a Be Out There event at Lake Union Park. This is a free, family friendly event where partners and area youth service organizations will introduce participants to the Pacific Northwest’s regional wonders, resources and opportunities for connecting kids and families with nature.

Photo credit: Erinn J. Hale

What: “Be Out There, Explore, Learn Grow” a family-friendly event hosted by NWF’s Pacific Regional Center
When: April 7th, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Seattle’s Lake Union Park,
860 Terry Avenue North
Cost: Free!

RSVP Today >>

During this exciting event a keystone partner, OAR Northwest, an adventure ocean rowing and education organization, will begin its Salish Expedition, title sponsored by the Canadian Wildlife Federation. At 1 p.m. the OAR Northwest crew will launch the specialized ocean rowboat from the park’s pebble beach, row across Lake Union and through the Ballard locks to begin the inspiring circumnavigation of Vancouver Island. Using pioneering satellite communications to deliver LIVE streaming video from the rowboat while underway, OAR Northwest connects families, students and classrooms to the extraordinary craft.

A Gaff-Rigged Schooner built in 1926
A “Get to Know” scavenger hunt will lead participants to nature activities at partner booths, model boats on the boat pond, and marine art on the deck of the historic schooner Lavengro.

Boating and sailing activities at The Center for Wooden Boats will make this fun for the whole family!

This event also serves as the launch of the Robert Bateman Get To Know Art Contest which seeks to engage children in getting outdoors and building meaningful personal connections with nature through the expressive arts. Categories for the contest include original works of art, writing, photography, videography and music inspired by nature and is open to youth up to age 19.

Want to volunteer for the event? Contact me, Cathy Curley, at curleyc@nwf.org for more information!

The National Wildlife Federation is dedicated to inspiring families and individuals to get outside and connect with nature. The world is full of adventure and wonder to discover, but you don’t have to row around Vancouver Island to have an adventure. Inspiration, fun and discovery can be found as close as your own back yard. Please join us, Be Out There and get inspired!