Natural History Wanderings

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California ordered to consider protection for American pika in the LA Times. A Superior Court Judge orders the California Department of Fish and Game to consider putting the American Pika on the endangered species list.   This would be the first time a species is considered for endangered species status in the lower 48 states on the basis on climate change could be setting a precedent.

Crows Put Tools to Use to Access a Nutritious Diet story in New York Times on how New Caledonian crows use twigs as tools

New Grant Will Fund Nation’s Largest Urban Trail System story in the Bay Citizen on a $10.2 million federal grant to the East Bay Regional Park District.  The money will go to expand pedestrian and bike trails and create the largest paved urban trail system. Why paved urban trails?  The trails are considered part of an urban transit and recreation system that offers a very green form of alternative transportation.

Scourges of the East Bay? Wild Pigs and Turkeys The Bay Citizen story on the destruction caused to natural habitats and native species of flora and fauna by feral pigs and wild turkeys.  The  pigs and turkeys were originally introduced for hunting and others escaped captivity.  The story also describes efforts to capture and remove  pigs from public parks and lands.

Related Articles

• Ruling Favors the Pint-Size Pika (green.blogs.nytimes.com)
• $10 million grant to complete East Bay bike trails (sfgate.com)