United States nature
Articles in ‘United States nature’
July 26th, 2009
A report recently released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2009 claims that a remarkable one in every five Americans watches birds, and that birdwatching contributed $36 billion to the U.S. economy in 2006.
The original report (
pdf here) says that birdwatching was worth 82 bilion dollars accounted for 671,000 jobs and reaped in 11 billlion dollars in tax revenue. The first five US states with greatest birding participation rates were Montana (40 percent), Maine (39 percent), Vermont (38 percent), Minnesota (33 percent) and Iowa (33 percent). The study states that the average birder is 50 years old and likely to be female, with a better than average education and income. California is near the bottom of the list at 15%, a percentage greater than only four other states (New Jersey, Texas and North Dakota at 14% and Hawaii at 10%).
Picked up on
Wildlife Extra.
North America nature, United States nature | Tags: Birdwatching in the US, Contribution of birdwatching to the US economy|
July 23rd, 2009
The
American Pika (
Ochotona princeps), a small relative of the rabbit, may become seriusly endangered because of global warming as rising eliminate Pikas from their alpine habitat. The US government may decide to afford them endangered status.
Eco Worldly
A worrying number of populations of Pikas have already disappeared. They are now believed to be extinct in some areas of the Great Basin mountains of Nevada and Oregon,
where more than a third of the American Pika population has been wiped out.
A 2003 study showed that 9 out of 25 sampled populations of American Pika had disappeared, causing biologists to conclude that the species is reaching extinction. Because they live in Alpine mountain regions, they are very sensitive to high temperatures, and are considered to be one of the best early warning systems for detecting global warming in the western United States. Because their regular habitat’s temperature rises, the American Pikas move higher up the mountain.
Pikas can die within an hour if the outside temperature reaches above 23°C (75°F).
Wikipedia (
Climate change, North America nature, United States nature | Tags: American Pika, American pika extinction, American Pika habitat, Animals at risk from climate change, Climate change and wildlife, Ochotona princeps, Pikas in Nevada, Wildlife at risk from global warming|
July 22nd, 2009
Nature holidays, United States nature, Wildlife holidays in the USA, Wildlife tourism in the USA | Tags: Alaska wildlife, Bear viewing at Brooks Falls, Bear watching at Brooks Falls, Bears on Brooks River, Nature tourism in Alaska, Watching bears eating salmon, Wildlife accommodation in Alaska, Wildlife trips in Alaska|
July 22nd, 2009
A partial survey of Pacific walrus estimates their minimum population at just 15,164. A 1990 aerial survey estimated the population at 201,039 in the same region, but the count is likely to have missed a number of animals
Anchorage Daily News
See also:
Canada, Greenland to do High Arctic walrus survey The movement of walrus is becoming increasingly important as the Arctic sea ice shrinks (CBC)
North America nature, United States nature | Tags: Alaska wildlife, Pacific walrus, Population of walrus in Alaska, Walruses in Alaska|
July 20th, 2009
The death of Shaiunna Hare, a 2-year old child from Florida in the coils of an 2.5 metre Burmese python has sparked an official crackdown to eradicate the 100,000 of these predators in the state.
The Guardian
The pythons are also a
severe threat to the unique eco-system of Everglades.
North America nature, United States nature | Tags: Burmese pythons in Florida, Dangerous snakes in Florida, Deaths from pythons, Do pythons kill people?, Snakes in the Florida Everglades, Wild pythons in the US|
July 20th, 2009
New York Times editorial. “Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has upheld a Bush administration finding that the Endangered Species Act is not a suitable tool for restricting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases threatening the polar bear and its habitat. We agree, with this codicil: There are steps Mr. Salazar can and must take under the act — steps that the Bush White House would not — to protect the bear..”
Arctic nature and wildlife, North America nature, United States nature | Tags: Ken Salazar on polar bears, Polar bears, Polar bears and oil|
July 20th, 2009
A single wolverine has returned to Colorado for the first time in 90 years. Wolverines used to be common south of
Canadian border, but there are now only an estimated 250 to 500 wolverines in the lower 48 states. Wolverines were severely persecuted in the past by trappers who prized their almost waterproof fur, ranchers who killed them with poison bait and developers who divided their range with highways and other infrastructure.
New York Times
According to the Colorado Wildlife Divsion “Occasional reports of wolverine sightings were investigated, but wolverines were never officially documented. In spring 2009, researchers with the Greater Yellowstone Wolverine Program tracked a wolverine from Grand Teton National Park south into north central Colorado utilizing satellite-collar technology. The wolverine was the first confirmed in the state in 90 years.”
North America nature, United States nature | Tags: Colorado wildlife, How many wolverines are there in the USA?, Wolverines, Wolverines in America, Wolverines in Colorado, Wolverines in the US|
Some fantastic and rare photos of US hummingbirds in mid flight fron Environmental Grafitti. Image: John C. Stroud