Nature Conservancy Lands in New York State
This map shows highlighted in orange the lands owned by the Nature Conservancy in New York State. Click on the lands for details.
Conservation
NPR
A bill to conserve endangered species — from the red-cockaded woodpecker to the snuffbox mussel — was passed by the U.S. House in a 231-to-190 vote on Tuesday.
The Recovering America's Wildlife Act would create an annual fund of more than $1.3 billion, given to states, territories, and tribal nations for wildlife conservation on the ground. While threatened species have been defined and protected under the Endangered Species Act since 1973, that law does not provide robust funding to proactively maintain their numbers.
The effort comes as scientists and international organizations sound the alarm about accelerating species decline.
HPAI Found in Michigan Red Fox Pups | Field & Stream
In an alarming discovery, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed that three red fox pups from three separate dens in Lapeer, Macomb, and St. Clair counties— from April 1 to 14—died from complications associated with bird flu. This is Michigan’s first confirmation of the highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI), in wild mammals.
STORK CHICK EJECTED FROM NEST BY PARENTS
"Birds like storks throw babies out of the nests because they are unable to support feeding too many chicks, and will only allow the healthiest chicks to survive."
The National Audubon Society’s case for “bird-friendly beef”
Muskrats are agile swimmers – Dickinson County Conservation Board
Muskrats are active mid-afternoon into the night, and they spend much of their time in the water where they look for green vegetation to eat. In the summer, they will dive to eat the roots of aquatic plants — they’re able to stay underwater for up to 15 minutes — and in the winter, they will swim under ice to look for vegetation. Muskrats can swim in frigid water due to something called regional heterothermia, which regulates blood flow to their non-furry feet and tails, allowing these body parts to be cooler than the main part of the body, so their main body stays nice and warm in cold water.
muskrat in the water
The water is a safe space for muskrats, because they can escape predators such as raccoons, coyotes and owls by diving deep or by swimming into their burrows and nests. They paddle with their large, webbed back feet and use their flat tail to help them change direction. They can even swim backward.