Eco Report – October 7, 2021

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HEADLINES

The Indiana Environmental Reporter reviews the past and future of forests on state land. In the 1970s and 80s, Republican Indiana governors Orr and Bowen established three backcountry areas in state forests that would keep the backwoods intact and logging at bay. Today they are no longer safe from being logged.

—Norm Holy

A federal court in Los Angeles this week ruled that under former President Donald Trump, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the law when it failed to list the Joshua tree as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act — a decision that the Biden administration has continued to defend.

—Norm Holy

The AP reports the extinction of the splendid ivory-billed woodpecker and 22 more birds, fish and other species.  It’s a rare move for wildlife officials to give up hope on a plant or animal, but government scientists say they’ve exhausted efforts to find these 23.

—Norm Holy

Finally, after years of debate, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has laid to rest the claim that a little radiation is good for you, an idea called hormesis. Rarely does the commission take a position against the nuclear industry, but this time it rejected outright the industry’s attempt to weaken the agency’s regulations on radiation exposure.

—Linda Greene

On the heels of congressional Democrats calling the heads of fossil fuel companies and industry lobbying groups to testify about their role in spreading climate disinformation, campaigners published a report exposing the contributions of major advertising and public relations firms.

—Norm Holy

Importing trophy animals is very popular with Americans. More than 125,000 animals are killed each year for trophies. Trophies are primarily imported from Canada and South Africa, followed by Namibia, Mexico, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Tanzania, Argentina, Zambia and Botswana. From Canada, the top species are geese, mallard ducks and black bears. Polar bears are illegal to hunt.

—Norm Holy

CALENDAR

And now for our events calendar The Nature Sound Series continues with The Poetry of Leaves on Friday, October 8th, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Crestmont Park Shelter.  A guest storyteller will be present to talk about how the wind can howl, scream, sigh, murmur and roar, all coming from the rustling of leaves.  Bring your own seating.

Are you feeling Batty?  It is the beginning of the “spooky season,” and bats are the perfect complement to fall festivities.  Learn about Indiana’s winged mammals and build a bat house at Lower Cascades Park in the Sycamore Shelter on Saturday, October 9th, from 1 to 2:30 pm.  Bat house kits will be provided.  Register at Bloomington.IN.gov/parks.

You can learn the life-changing skill of making a fire by friction at this Rekindle the Ancient Fire program on Saturday, October 9th, from 12:30 to 4 pm in the Lower Cascades Park at the Sycamore Shelter.  You will learn everything you need to know about how to make a fire and leave with your very own bow-kit.  Registration is required by October 5th at Bloomington.IN.gov/parks.

Fall is a great time for Sowing Wildflower Seeds.  Fall planting mimics the way seeds grow in the wild.  Learn all about planting wildflower seed at this information session on Thursday, October 14th, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Allison-Jukebox Community Center.  Register by October 13th at Bloomington.IN.gov/parks.   Join The Nature Conservancy on Friday, October 15th, for Weed Wrangling at beautiful Green Bluff’s Preserve in Owen County from 9 am to Noon.  You will assist in removing invasive species autumn olive and multiflora rose.  Wear long sleeves and bring eye protection.  You should also wear long pants and sturdy, close-toed shoes.  Bring water and work gloves.  Contact the Indiana Volunteer team at [email protected] for more information and to register.