​ottawa.citynews.ca/national-news/thousands-of-plants-animals-at-risk-of-extinction-in-canada-wild-species-report-6172110

A new wildlife report completed in 2020 has finally been released and it paints a bleak picture for Canada's wildlife. Everything from plants to mammals, birds, and sea creatures were surveyed to determine their status and the statistics suggest that thousands of Canada's species are at risk of extinction if changes are not made to prevent it. Of the estimated 4, 883 species that are "threatened" in some way, 873 are critically imperiled due to human activity. In other words, if we do not make changes to how we are expanding and growing as a nation, we will destroy thousands of species in the process.

This destruction of our land affects everything from land to sea. Plants, trees, land species, air species, water species, everything is affected by the choices we as humans continue to make. In the report, it suggested that one of the solutions is to designate more of Canada's vast green spaces as protected land. By giving the land federal protection, it prevents continued development in areas where wildlife is directly affected by our expansion. Protecting our land is crucial in helping to stave off the inevitable extinction of so many native Canadian species. Grey foxes, caribous, polar bears, Northern elephant seals, and whales, are all in danger of going extinct if we do not act quickly to reverse the continued damage we are causing. As stated, the report suggest that Canada is losing  wildlife faster than it is replenishing it.

Conservation is a constant struggle between those who understand the importance of protecting our planet, and those who have the power to change things. When you look at polar bears, the proof is in the pudding y'all. Sea ice IS MELTING! Polar bears ARE losing their habitat. Why are we still debating whether or not this is true? There are still so many people who are triggered by things like "climate change" that bringing upon a real change that benefits our planet and our nation's wildlife is scoffed at. While we continue on this back and forth regarding our planet, species around us are dying off. In fact, it's estimated that 18 species in Canada went extinct in only 5 years. This is alarming and indicative of where we're headed if we do not meet these challenges head on and quickly.

Our planet is in turmoil. While we argue about whether animal agriculture is destroying our planet, native species are going extinct. While we argue about whether climate change is real, polar bears are dying off because their home is melting away. While we argue about whether trophy hunting contributes to conservation, African species continue to plunge towards extinction. Our inaction and constant bickering is causing irreparable damage to our planet. We need a clear, concise plan to move forward that demonstrates a serious commitment to protecting the species in Canada, and all across the world. What we're doing is not enough and as I've always said, extinction is permanent. You don't come back from extinction. We have to do more NOW before we lose more of our planet's species due to our negligence. Stop worrying about making people mad, everything around us is dying.

​worldanimalnews.com/after-nearly-being-hunted-to-extinction-grizzly-bears-may-be-restored-to-the-north-cascades-of-washington-public-comment-period-now-open/

The National Park Service & USFWS announced they were beginning an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to determine their options for reintroducing grizzly bears to the North Cascades of Washington. Historically, grizzly bears roamed these parts for hundreds of years until humans nearly eradicated them. In fact, the last grizzly bear spotted in the North Cascades was way back in 1996. The EIS will determine what the bets path is for reintroducing grizzles and eventually working towards removing the bears from the Endangered Species Act. While I applaud this news, I'm not incredibly hopeful as we watch the relentless assault on wolves unfold on a daily basis.

Until we can get people to understand the importance of predatory animals for an ecosystem, it's almost laughable trying to reintroduce a species like the grizzly. When you consider the amount of time and resources spent on rehabilitating a species, can we be confident that it will be lucrative for us given what we're seeing with wolves? As I stated, 45 years wolves spent under protections and within a mere 2 months of being delisted, hunting competitions involving wolves commenced. In some states, we're talking up to 90% of the wolves within the state being hunted legally. What exactly was the point of exhausting 45 years of efforts to rehabilitate wolves if there wasn't going to be any kind of educational program that followed? It seems to me that those 45 years were wasted as we watch wolves being hunted to near extinction once again.

If EVERYONE isn't on board with conservation, it will not succeed. If we're simply going to bring back grizzlies, delist them, and then watch them be eradicated until they inevitably require federal protection again, then what is the point? I mean, how much money and time are we willing to waste knowing that as soon as grizzlies are delisted, they'll likely be hunted to a point where they need protections again? We're literally watching this happen with wolves. It's been a mere two years since wolves were delisted and they're already in peril as calls to reissue those protections go unheard. That's why we need to shift society's view of these predators because if people don't respect them and their contributions to a healthy ecosystem, then we're bringing them back to inevitably be hunted. 

Look, I strongly support the reintroduction of any species that humans have pushed to the brink of extinction. However, I fear that without a continued education program that focuses on the importance of these animals, then what's stopping these hunters from waiting for their chance to shoot and kill grizzlies? I want to be positive but as I said, this story is already unfolding with wolves and it isn't going well.

Learn more about the reintroduction of grizzles through the link at the top of this post. What do you guys think? Can humans be trusted to respect grizzles once they're reintroduced or will history repeat itself?

​www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-humane-society-surrenders-1.6651136

Shelters all across Canada have reported an explosion of surrendered pets with some full to capacity. The reasons vary with inflation being the recurring theme, but one of the most difficult perils pet-owners are facing are a lack of affordable, pet-friendly rentals. In the story I linked, the PEI Humane Society has seen a 134% increase in surrenders versus last year, and it is being attributed to a lack of pet-friendly rentals. This is not limited to PEI. In fact, I reported on a similar story from Montreal, Quebec, where pet-friendly rentals are scarce and shelters are feeling the pressure. Why are landlords getting away with banning pets?

First of all, a good old contract and emergency deposit works wonders. Landlords simply have to ask for a deposit to cover any possible damage a pet might cause. In fact, the contract could also include that the renters take full responsibility for damages caused by pets. Photos of the rental are taken and compared upon vacating the accommodation to determine whether any damage was caused. Why are landlords not trying to work with people when it's as simple as a contract that binds renters in to taking responsibility? Secondly, why are they getting away with this? We cannot be advocating for adoptions when we know that there's no available accommodations for pets. We're literally adopting out animals knowing they'll end up back in the shelters. It makes absolutely no sense.

It's time for the Government to step in imo. Who doesn't have a pet anymore? I mean, c'mon! Animals are suffering at the hands of landlords who stubbornly ban them. Those searching for accommodations are put in to extremely stressful conditions as a result of having a pet as well, making searching for accommodations needlessly exhausting. There are solutions to the concerns that landlords have and I believe the government needs to step in and ban landlords from not allowing pets. It's ridiculous that in a time where more families have pets than those that don't, that a ban on pets is even allowed to exist. 

Let's be honest. I've got 6 nephews and I lived with two of them for a while. Kids are destructive AF. If a landlord is going to ban pets but allow children, it's almost comical if you consider how naughty and destructive children can be. If we're not going to ban children, then how are we banning pets when they are equally capable of destruction? This anti-pet rhetoric is causing shelters to overflow with animals, rapidly deplete their resources, and force workers to work longer to care for the animals. Shelters are struggling to care for the animals being surrendered and if we do not put an end to pet bans, this will continue.

Like I said, it's time for the government to step in and stop this nonsense. There are solutions that protect landlords and also make accommodations accessible to pet owners. There's no excuse for pandering to landlords and actively working against pet owners & shelters. No one should be put in a position where they have to consider surrendering their furry family in order to find a roof over their heads. It's completely unacceptable.

​What are your thoughts?

​worldanimalnews.com/wildlife-advocates-sue-to-stop-unscientific-senseless-wolf-slaughter-in-montana-help-stop-the-hunt/

Wildlife advocacy groups WildEarth Guardians & Project Coyote have filed a lawsuit against the state of Montana over their anti-wolf policies that are pushing wolves in the Northern Rockies towards extinction. The lawsuit claims that the state's wolf management policies are outdated, cruel, and not backed by science. The lawsuit comes amidst the state's wolf hunting season with wolf trapping beginning November 28th. If this is not prevented, up to 40% of the state's wolves be slaughtered by hunters this season, pushing them towards inevitable extinction.

The assault on wolves is motivated solely by greed. "Protecting Livestock" is often used as a defense of wolf slaughter, but these places fail to adequately protect their livestock. Instead of working towards ways to keep hungry wolves out, they'd rather just trap & slaughter them all. This supposed "wolf management" strategy is nothing short of animal cruelty and demonstrates a complete lack of understanding how wolves play such a vital role in healthy ecosystems. This sort of anti-wolf mentality almost makes it so that those who slaughter wolves feel some kind of pride over killing them instead of recognizing that they are contributing to an inevitable extinction. I often wonder if anyone has ever truly considered what happens when you kill them all? What next?

The moral of this story is that the current United States Government has the power to reinstate Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in the Northern Rockies. They have the power to protect wolves once again and send a very clear message that places like Montana are irresponsibly targeting wolves and have an outdated wolf management strategy. The assault on wolves is real. It's happening all over. Washington state is seeing wolves poisoned and slaughtered. Montana is actively trying to eliminate wolves entirely. The fact is, if we do not reissue them these life-saving protections, we will see their extinction. Too little too late is the typical approach to conservation, but the time is NOW to help wolves before we cannot bring them back from the brink of permanent extinction.