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A concrete pipe below this coal ash impoundment failed, releasing coal ash and ash pond water into the Dan River. (Credit: USFWS/Steven Alexander)

PLEASE ACT: Coal ash pollution is toxic

Coal ash pollution is dangerous and gross. This waste — stored above ground and near water — contains arsenic, lead, mercury and other toxic chemicals that can poison people, water, and wildlife. Many of the substances even cause cancer.1     Coal Ash Pollution and Hurricanes Last week, flood waters in South Carolina associated with Hurricane Florence threatened to wash this toxic coal ash […]

Captive red wolf (Photo: John Froschauer via Flickr, CC 2.0 Licence)

UPDATE: Red wolves surviving the storm

The last 35 wild red wolves were almost directly in the path of Hurricane Florence’s landfall.   Red Wolves After Florence Because so many of you were so passionate in your response to our campaign to protect these amazing animals, we wanted to reach out to you with everything we’ve been able to find about how the intrepid canines are doing. We spoke with […]

American bison (Unsplash)

Get Social: Share Environmental Stories with Friends

Sharing stories about the environment on social media can help raise awareness and educate our friends and neighbors so that they can make informed decisions about leading more sustainable lives. In this week’s shares: red wolves, the Endangered Species Act and more. Social Shares for Facebook Social Shares for Twitter The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission just recorded the 21st Florida panther […]

Owl (Photo: Unsplash)

Interior to Baby Owls: “Drop Dead”

The energy industry gets the ultimate Get-Out-Of-Jail card for “accidentally” killing millions of birds each year, including baby owls and other beloved birds.   Imagine you’re a wildlife ranger who’s uncovered a cold-blooded case of avian murder. The perp has confessed to all the grisly details. He burned down his barn, despite knowing that some baby owls were nesting inside. He needed the […]

The Winner of the September Thneed Trophy Is . . .

The winner of the September 2018 Thneed Trophy is the ever-so-humble one-time-use plastic straw. Yes, it’s darned convenient and it makes it easier to drive while drinking (soda). But, unless you have particular disabilities, is it really necessary? Ask the sea turtle with a straw crammed up his nose. Think about the tiny plastic beads swimming in your beer. And the […]

A close-up photograph of a wolf pup.

Extinction stinks. This is how you can help stop it.

The Trump Administration is proposing changes that would gut the Endangered Species Act’s lifesaving protections for imperiled wildlife. Your action can help us stop these disastrous modifications and save wolves and other wildlife from extinction.   Extinction Is Accelerating We are lucky to share our planet with an astonishing diversity of life. If you’ve ever marveled at the effortless flight of an eagle overhead, […]

Bears-Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments (Photo: BLM)

Send a Message to Restore Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante

Congress can stop the Trump administration’s drive to drill, mine, log and develop national monument lands like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante for private profit. Urge lawmakers to stand up to keep our public lands in public hands.   The Beauty of Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante Bears Ears contains thousands of archaeological sites that detail centuries of human history. You can also find […]

Mining (Photo: Unsplash)

Full stop. Coal ash can poison groundwater.

Coal ash contains cancer-causing chemicals. Why make its storage LESS safe?   The Risk to Our Communities Coal ash is pretty nasty. It’s the waste that’s left behind when coal is burned — often at aging coal-fired power plants. It contains arsenic, lead, mercury and other heavy metals. These substances can seep into local groundwater, increasing community cancer risks and poisoning people, plants, and […]

Boat in Bristol Bay with mountain in the background. Photo: Flickr user echoforsberg (CC 2.0)

To save Bristol Bay, we need you

Alaska’s Bristol bay is the world’s most important wild salmon fishery. Unfortunately, the Trump administration seems poised to green light toxic mining that could threaten this irreplaceable place. The Threat to Bristol Bay A large gold and copper mine, along with a pipeline, could soon tear up Alaska’s pristine Bristol Bay — so we’re upping the ante on our campaign to protect […]

Photo of giraffes (Pixabay user anujohanna)

Spread the Word: Week of September 7, 2018

Spread the word about key environmental issues with this week’s social shares. In the spotlight this week: giraffes, bad news for bees, an emotional plea from an Alaskan fisherman, grey wolves, and much, much more. Spread the Word on Facebook Spread the Word on Twitter Inaction and delay are unacceptable responses to climate change. We must speed the transition to cleaner power and […]

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