Archive for the 'Invasive Species' Category

Nov 12, 2007

Nesting Eagles in Everglades Refuge

The Sun Sentinel in Florida reports that a pair of nesting bald eagles has been spotted at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, in a portion of the Everglades that is off-limits to the public.
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee NWR is located seven miles west of the city of Boynton Beach in Palm Beach County, [...]

Nov 06, 2007

Pushing for Passage of the REPAIR Act

Back on October 24, this blog reported on the passage of H.R. 767, also known as the Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, and Immediate Response (REPAIR) Act. This important bill now moves onto the Senate, and if it is passed and signed by President Bush, it will allow the government to begin awarding grants to fund [...]

Nov 02, 2007

Nutria Invasion

The Statesman Journal in Salem, Oregon recently published an article on one of the most problematic invasive species in the National Wildlife Refuge System — the non-native nutria.
Nutria are South American aquatic mammals that were originally introduced into North America for the fur-farming industry. When it became clear the market for their fur was [...]

Oct 28, 2007

Natural Disasters Hit Refuges

In the last few months, two natural disasters have hit several national wildlife refuges hard. The August flooding in the Midwest has had a costly impact on the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The Associated Press reports:
Days of flash flooding in August along the Minnesota-Wisconsin line left parts of the refuge scarred and [...]

Oct 24, 2007

House Passes REPAIR Act (HR 767)

On October 22, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 767, the Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, & Immediate Response (REPAIR) Act, which addresses the costly issue of invasive (non-native) species in the nation’s wildlife refuges. The bill now moves to the Senate for action.
The REPAIR Act was championed by Democrat Ron Kind (WI), who is co-chair [...]