Free Republic

In late 2020, Colorado voters did something relatively unprecedented in the nation’s history by voting to reintroduce wolves to the state. That process, several years in the works now, will involve transplanting wolves from Oregon — and even though the measure was given the goahead three years ago, some opponents of the measure remain skeptical. That in and of itself isn’t too surprising; you’d think that if people changed their mind on how they’d voted, it would likely happen after wolves returned to Colorado, and that hasn’t happened yet. A recent article at NPR by Kurt Siegler offers a good...

TAMPA - Unwanted nonnative pets ranging from shy hedgehogs to lumbering boa constrictors can be handed over with no questions asked this weekend at an amnesty event sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The program is offered only a few times a year in cities across the state. Saturday's event at Busch Gardens is co-sponsored by the city of Plant City.

Gov. Janet Napolitano has permanently reinstated the Arizona Invasive Species Advisory Council, a group that addresses threats from non-native species such as the roof rat, the yellow star thistle and the recently discovered quagga mussel... the quagga mussel, which has caused extensive damage in the upper Midwest, was found in Lake Mead, Lake Havasu and Lake Mohave along the Colorado River... the Game and Fish Department announced that an invasive fish thought to have been eradicated in Arizona, the bighead carp, has been found in Tucson's Lake Kennedy. It grows quite large and can damage ecosystems. The department also said...

Legislation designed to control and eradicate tamarisk was signed into law by President Bush Wednesday night, U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., announced Thursday... creating funding for a large-scale effort to control tamarisk, also known as salt cedar... "The tamarisk is causing severe problems throughout Colorado and the West," said Allard. "The President's signing of this legislation marks a major milestone in the ongoing effort by Congress and this administration to provide critical resources for the removal of this destructive and invasive species." The tamarisk has invaded the margins of streams, lakes and wetlands throughout the Western United States. An individual...

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles International Airport will spend $200,000 to uproot and replant dozens of palms trees that it illegally planted around the airfield five years ago. "We are delighted that they're following through, to right the wrong that was done," said Travis Longcore, science director of The Urban Wildlands Group, which first challenged the project. "We're very happy that it's moving forward." LAX officials expected the 92 Mexican fan palms would spruce up a grungy stretch of land just outside the airfield's chain-link fence. But some nearby residents complained that the tall palms blocked ocean views. The Urban...