BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Killing endangered animals while logging a forest or building a dam would not be considered illegal unless the animals were specifically targeted, under a new interpretation of the Endangered Species Act by President Donald Trump's administration that marks a sea change in how the landmark environmental law is enforced.
A directive sent to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees this week says imperiled animals or plants must be intentionally targeted for their killing to be considered illegal.
That's a sharp turnaround from past practice at the wildlife service, which historically held people liable even for accidentally harming protected species such as grizzly bears, manatees and spotted owls.
Experts said the change would allow timber companies to log forests in the Pacific Northwest even if they knew that doing so could kill imperiled birds nesting in the trees, or for developers to build a dam knowing it would kill salmon.
"This cuts against the entire history of the Endangered Species Act," said Dan Ashe, who led the Fish and Wildlife Service under former President Barack Obama.

#species #president #killing

Being a newlywed isn't always easy, but Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are reportedly thriving. The Daily Mail previously reported that the singer is "happier than ever now that she is Mrs. Kelce," adding, "married life has been blissful so far."
The pair have been lying low and "nesting" with their fur babies, cats Olivia Benson, Meredith Grey, and Benjamin **** on, and their white Samoyed dog. A source told the outlet that they "all get along because they got the dog as a tiny puppy and the cats took to the dog, so no fights."
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#life

Two Florida business owners have been charged with third-degree felonies after allegedly spreading about 1,500 "toxic" mothballs across a beach in hopes of keeping an "imperiled" bird species from nesting there.
If convicted, they could each face up to five years in prison, fines of up to $5,000 and up to five years of probation.
The problem started in late April when beachgoers noticed mothballs on the white, sugary sand on St. Pete Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and bird-loving volunteers from the Audubon Society mobilized. They plucked about 1,000 of the small, white orbs from the sand behind the Plaza Beach Hotel.
Massachusetts Homeowners Stunned After Town Warns July 4 Flags Threaten Endangered Birds

#white #april

From cookware to tech, TODAY lifestyle and commerce contributor, Jill Martin, shares deals for up to 80 percent off on home essentials for fall. Items include a Vicks humidifier, an Infini sculpt and lift gua sha, a cooling comforter 3-piece set from The Nesting Company, and more!

#today #nesting #company

A live stream of a nesting pair of honey buzzards is offering a rare glimpse into one of the UK's most secretive birds of prey.
The birds, which have laid two eggs in Sussex woodland, are being filmed around the clock as they incubate them and prepare for the arrival of chicks.
Experts say it is the first time such detailed nesting behaviour has been captured for the species, which migrates from West Africa in May.
"It's phenomenal, it is such an intimate glimpse in to this secretive bird. We are already learning so much about their lives," said Ash Walmsley, who is leading the project.
Very little is known about the unusual species, which feeds on wasp larvae, as they are often misidentified.

RRJOLL, Albania, June 13 (Reuters) - Some 200 protesters on Saturday tore down metal and razor wire fences surrounding a ‌luxury development site on Albania's Adriatic coast, in another ‌sign of growing anger against construction in environmentally sensitive areas.
Albanians have been protesting for weeks against a planned luxury resort backed by a company linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, near Vlora, which is famed for its flamingos and a turtle nesting ‌site.
On Saturday, villagers from ⁠Rrjoll, located in an area of sandy beaches and pine forests in northwestern Albania, protested against another ⁠project not linked to Kushner, saying it was being built on their confiscated land.
They waved Albanian national flags and shouted "Revolution" as they tore down the fences. Some scuffles with police broke out but the police ‌did not stop them from removing the fencing.
"The protests will not stop until the residents of the village of Rrjoll are compensated. We are 200 families whose land has been seized," said Zeke Nikolle Shullani, 56, one of the landowners who have been ‌protesting for several months.