More: Damage to the Endangered Species Act is not done just by Repugnants. As reported by Jeffery St. Clair at
Counterpoint.com, Montana Democrats met with an Endangered Species review panel during the Obama administration to urge the delisting of gray wolves in the Yellowstone region. They told the panel that delisting the wolf would be a crucial factor in close Senate and gubernatorial races. Three scientists on the panel were removed for being "pro-wolf". Politics, not science, once again prevailed in the decision to de-list the wolves. In the two years since then the Park's population was reduced by 12% by hunters waiting outside Park boundaries to kill wolves. Sometimes these modern day assassins used GPS telemetry from wolf collars to track the stealthy animals to their deaths. When Obama took office there were 146 wolves in Yellowstone Park; today that number has fallen to 70. Five hundred wolves have been killed in the last two years in the wolf-hating state of Idaho. This irrational, cruel slaughter must stop. It is time to again extend federal protection to grey wolves in the Northern Rockies to save them from the crazies.
One of the perennial goals of the right-wing is repeal of the Endangered Species Act; barring that passing laws that cripple its proven effectiveness. The Biden Administration is moving to reverse rollbacks instituted during the Trump Regime. It has proposed re-introducing the 4(d) rule that extends protection for endangered species to those listed as threatened, and eliminating language that requires economic considerations in determining a species status under the Act. A third proposed rule streamlines agency consultation process for major federal actions that impact a protected animal. Conservationists applaud the proposals, noting that determinations to protect a species should be made on science, not profit. The reversals reflect the on-going commitment to conserving America's wildlife said the director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Repugnants have repeatedly used the Congressional Review Act to take aim at environmental protection laws. Recently a proposed redefinition of "critical habitat" passed the Senate. Biden stated he will veto the measure if it reaches him. Also proposed was removing the long-eared bat [photo] from the endangered list. Plecotus auritis is one of twelve bat species infected by white-nose fungus that is killing millions of bats in North America.
