DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE E NEWS 13APR12

ARTICLES on Earth Day, Yellowstone bison, panthers, ANWR, artic oil drilling, national forest and the new Defenders of Wildlife website....Enjoy!

View in Browser   |   Donate Now   |   Sign Up   |   Share: Take Action Pledge a Day for the Earth Sunday, April 22 is Earth Day -- and what better way to show your appreciation for our wildlife and wild places than giving back a few hours of your time? Whether you pick up trash in a local park, create a haven for wildlife by planting native shrubs in your backyard or get your friends together to restore habitat in a nearby national wildlife refuge or forest, there’s something each of us can do in our own communities to give wildlife and wild places a hand. Take the Earth Day pledge today -- and get your hands dirty for wildlife! Feature Where the Wild Bison Roam For nearly a century, most of America's last truly wild bison had been confined to Yellowstone National Park. But last month, a herd of these iconic animals ended a historic journey at a new home on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in northeastern Montana. For many years, Defenders and our conservation partners worked closely with the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer to make this win for wildlife possible on the Great Plains. And Defenders' supporters from across the country sent more than 225,000 messages to state and federal officials urging them to do more to protect and restore America's wild bison. The historic bison relocation is the culmination of years of hard work -- but it's just the latest step in our efforts to restore these iconic animals to the American Prairie. Watch a video of Defenders' Jonathan Proctor as he talks about the historic bison move. Learn More on Defenders Blog. Wins for Wildlife Progress for Panthers New nighttime speed restrictions are now in effect along a deadly 5-mile stretch of road in Florida, where nine endangered panthers have so far been killed by cars. The slower speeds should give the big cats enough time to avoid being hit. Defenders and our conservation partners worked with area landowners and local and state officials to make Keri Road (CR832) a safer crossing for panthers. >> Learn More "Jurassic Park" Bill Rejected Thanks in part to the urging of more than 5,000 Defenders supporters, Florida Governor Rick Scott vetoed a bill that would have allowed non-native species to roam on state lands. The veto of the so-called "Jurassic Park" bill is a huge victory for the Sunshine State's ecosystems and native wildlife -- which already face challenges from exotic species running wild. >>Learn More Senate Votes to Protect Arctic Refuge The U.S. Senate decisively rejected a plan to hand over the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to Big Oil. Nearly 9,000 Defenders supporters in key states across the nation urged their Senators to oppose opening this natural treasure to Big Oil's drills. >>Learn More New Course for Forests The Obama administration unveiled its final forest planning rule last month, making a strong commitment to wildlife and land conservation. Over the past three years, Defenders supporters have sent more than 200,000 messages to federal officials helping to secure stronger protections for these public lands and the lynx, martens and other wildlife that depend on them for survival. >>Learn More Feature Stunning Images Nearly 8,000 amazing photos were submitted -- and more than 35,000 Defenders supporters chose the winners. In the end, James Yule's adorable photo of a mother grizzly and her cub was the Grand Prize winner of Defenders' third annual Photo Contest. "I think it is a great honor to win this contest amongst nearly 8,000 entries," James told us. "I am truly elated about the award." James will travel to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for a photo tour with renowned photographer Jess Lee to sharpen his already spectacular shutter skills. See high-resolution images of all the winners in both Wildlife and Wild Lands categories on Defenders Blog. See more incredible photos like these in DEFENDERS quarterly -- Donate $20 or more online to secure your subscription today! Defending Wildlife A Site to See! Defenders.org is all new and ready for your visit! From fascinating facts about your favorite wild animals to information about what Defenders is doing to protect our nation's treasured wildlife and wild places -- and what you can do to help! -- the entire site has been redesigned from the bottom up, making it easier to find what you're looking for. If you haven't already, visit the new Defenders.org today! Your IRA or 401(k) can help ensure a future for wildlife! With Thanksgiving Coffee Company, you can help save wolves with your next cup of joe. Bison A bison's winter coat is so thick and well insulated that snow can cover their backs without melting. Learn more about bison. Download our latest wallpaper for your computer desktop! Connect with Defenders! Defenders is on flickr! Join our group to share your wildlife photos Defenders' Cindy Hoffman has a tip that will help make your garden toad-ally cool. Watch Cindy's Video.     © Copyright 2012 Defenders of Wildlife Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities. Defenders of Wildlife can be contacted at: 1130 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036