Date: 5/10/25 12:00 pm From: Peter Saracino <petersaracino...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Helping save the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Fellow lovers of endangered wildlife.
As you may have heard, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the species
that are protected by this act, are currently under threat. Lovers of
endangered wildlife are being urged to provide comments on the Federal
Register regarding the proposed rule change to the ESA. The comment period
ends May 19, 2025 - (FIND THE LINK BELOW)!
For a bit more background:
Under the proposed new definition of “harm”, species would still be
protected from intentional killing, harassment, injury, pursuit, capture,
collection or attempting to engage in these activities. However, HABITAT
LOSS would no longer be considered as a source of "harm". Its is obvious
that it is fundamental to keep the ability to protect important habitat and
prevent degradation or loss of habitat that plants and animals need to
survive.
As the ESA has been applied for decades, actions like freshwater
diversions, wetland drainage, land development, and other habitat
disturbances at important nesting, feeding, and roosting sites of
threatened and endangered species have been prevented or changed to protect
our rarest species. This rule change would impact how and more importantly
where many types of development could or would proceed.
You don't need to be a scientist to send comments; if you are concerned
then you should submit them. Here are some general guidelines you might
consider including:
Urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the Endangered Species
Act and withdraw the proposed rule.
Tell your specific story about why the proposed rule change matters to you.
Include your personal experiences and why you feel it is important to
protect their ecosystems under the ESA.
Share that this rule change would be devastating to endangered species like
the Whooping Crsnes. Habitat loss and unregulated hunting were the driving
forces of the Whooping Crane’s path to extinction in the 1940’s, when there
were only 21 Whooping Cranes left on the planet.
Thanks to the ESA, there are now over 690 Whooping Cranes in the wild.
Encourage policy makers to use science-based decision making in their
interpretation of “harm”.
Do not copy and paste a template letter- similar letters are all lumped
together and counted as one comment.
Use facts and cite your sources when able.
Be respectful- overly aggressive or exaggerated comments don't have the
intended result.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Act
(ESA) has saved 99% of the species it protects- and it protects thousands
of species.
Every little bit helps! And if not we folks, then who??!!??
Thanks for considering.
Sar
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