LANSING, Mich. – Woody the Woodchuck's February weather prediction is a beloved event for many Michiganders, but warming temperatures could have an impact on that annual tradition.

According to findings from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), warming temperatures caused by climate change will shift habitats for some smaller mammals, including the groundhog.

Frank Szollosi, NWF outreach manager for the Great Lakes region, says in Michigan, one example is the flying squirrel.

"These squirrels have webbing between their arms and legs and body that allows them to glide through the air. It's really quite a sight," Szollosi says. "Climate is already having an impact in pushing these species further north in Michigan, and away from backyards in southern Michigan."

Szollosi predicts some animals native to southern states, including the armadillo, will eventually make their way as far north as some Midwestern states.

The report also notes habitat shifts for other species in Michigan, including the snowshoe hare, whose population is already dwindling, and the pine marten, a species recently reintroduced in the state but not thriving.

Szollosi says efforts to stem carbon pollution from a variety of sources will be required to protect small animals from the threat of climate change. The report cites the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan, which aims to reduce carbon emissions from power plants, as an important first step.

He's convinced that a recent stay of the regulations by the U.S. Supreme Court establishes no precedent.

"The legal and policy merits continue to be on the side of compliance with the Clean Power Plan," he says. "And certainly the science and our moral obligation to confront climate couldn't be more clear."

The report also suggests reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas industry, speeding the transition away from fossil fuels. Szollosi says both would result in positive outcomes for wildlife.



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A bill to exempt any Colorado livestock producer's personal information from the Colorado Open Records Act when they collect public dollars for livestock lost to wildlife is swiftly moving through the General Assembly.

Proponents said the law is necessary to prevent potential harassment and scrutiny over how ranchers are working to keep livestock safe from wolves.

Ryan Sedgeley, Southern Rockies field representative for the Endangered Species Coalition, said hiding the names of anyone who receives taxpayer money is not good policy.

"Senate Bill 38 invites the opportunity for fraud and abuse," Sedgeley contended. "Because when there is no accountability or transparency for who's receiving taxpayer money for damage, anybody can take advantage of that."

The measure has cleared the Senate. The House Ag, Livestock and Water Committee is scheduled to hear the bill today. Supporting the bill are 25 registered lobbyists representing livestock interests. The Center for Biological Diversity and Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition are lobbying in opposition.

Sedgeley pointed out most Coloradans support living alongside wolves and have doubled down on financial compensation for lost livestock, especially for family-scale producers. In addition to state and Colorado State University, Sedgeley noted new "Born to be Wild" license plates have already brought in $650,000.

"That directly goes to helping ranchers do this work," Sedgeley emphasized. "We also have a lot of nonprofit partners who are actually out in the field helping ranchers, getting them the materials and supplies they need. And there's a range-riding program that's been stood up."

Sedgeley added the actual threat wolves pose to livestock is very low.

"Less than 1% of cattle mortality is a result of wolves in places where there are actually significant amounts of wolves, like up in the Northern Rockies," Sedgeley observed. "And to put that in context, dogs kill about 11.3%; weather is responsible for 9.3%."

The push to reintroduce southern sea otters to greater sections of the California and Oregon coast is getting a big boost from a $1.56 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, part of the America the Beautiful Challenge program.

Over the next three years, tribes and nonprofit partners will build public awareness of the need to expand sea otters' range.

Robert Kentta, elected member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians' tribal council and board member of the Elakha Alliance, said his group is focused on helping sea otters thrive.

"Sea otters are an ultra-keystone species because they don't just maintain the habitat of the near shore ecosystem, they create that kelp forest habitat, which leads to abundance and diversity," Kentta outlined. "That's always been recognized by our tribal stories."

The animals once ranged along the entire west coast up to central Oregon but were decimated by the fur trade in the 18th and 19th centuries. Now they are mainly hemmed in by white sharks between Santa Barbara and San Francisco.

Advocates are encouraging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to launch a public scoping project in the next few years to support a resurgence of sea otters in Northern California and Oregon, possibly with donor animals from the northern sea otter populations in Washington and points north.

Andy Johnson, California representative and sea otter program lead for Defenders of Wildlife, said since sea otters eat shellfish, any reintroduction program will need to address the concerns of the shellfishing community.

"We're already working on some meetings with the fishing community, trying to get to a point where we all understand that the impacts to them will probably be minimal," Johnson asserted. "Maybe they don't need to oppose it, just on principle."

When the southern sea otter was listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1977, there were only around one thousand animals left, down from a historical population of 16-thousand.

A critical fish species in the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic menhaden, could be declining rapidly.
Or its numbers could be growing.
There is no data on Atlantic menhaden populations in the Bay, and fishing and conservation groups say that's the problem.

A bill in the Virginia General Assembly looks to shed light on menhaden populations in the Chesapeake.

Steve Atkinson, chairman of the Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association, said Atlantic menhaden is a keystone species and may be overfished in the Chesapeake Bay.

"They're extremely important as a forage fish because they feed fish, like our iconic striped bass, bluefish and trout," Atkinson explained. "But they also feed mammals and also seabirds, like our iconic osprey. For years, there's been concern that they are being overfished in the Chesapeake Bay."

The bill would provide $3 million for the study of menhaden populations in the Chesapeake Bay. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science has developed one study but Atkinson noted funding for the research has been elusive.

Tyler Nonn, owner and operator of Tidewater Charters, takes people fishing on the Bay every day. He said his business relies on healthy Atlantic menhaden populations. He pointed out there are times even the best commercial fishermen are unable to catch adult menhaden.

"Even those guys have trouble getting them," Nonn observed. "The consistency is not there. You know, we'll have a couple years where it'll be good. A lot of that has to do with environmental factors, but taking hundreds of thousands of pounds of them out of the Bay does not help the cause."

Studies indicate about 30% of the striped bass diet is Atlantic menhaden.

Atkinson emphasized oftentimes, their advocacy faces circular reasoning, when if there is no evidence of shrinking Menhaden populations, why fund a study? But he argued the health of the species is worth checking.

"When we raise these issues, the industry usually comes back and their comment is the same, which is, 'There's no science to support your concern,'" Atkinson noted. "We need to get additional science to show them once and for all whether or not there's a problem with menhaden in the Bay."

Atlantic menhaden are not considered overfished across the entire Atlantic coast, but local depletion may be threatening Chesapeake Bay populations.


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