Gm520-Endangered and Threatened Wildlife Determination

The Department of the Interior protects America’s natural resources while honoring our various heritage, cultures, and tribal communities as well as supplies the energy of the future. The primary focus is within the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Federal Government. The existence of wildlife and plants is constantly threatened as a direct result of humanity. Global Warming is finally receiving acknowledgement necessary to make a difference in the wasteful and destructive routines of human expansion. Artic wildlife is experiencing the most difficulties as the surrounding glaciers are all melting. Our primary focus is on polar bears as they rely on masses of ice to rest after hunting for food. With the emergence of warmer climate, the areas of ice are diminishing leaving polar bears swimming for even longer until they drown from exhaustion. A federal regulation was passed in May of 2008 to protect the polar bear species from extinction by adding them to the endangered list. This should be a wake-up call to every individual living on the planet Earth as it is time to take responsibility for our actions and start making serious changes. Continued decrease of sea ice levels is expected in the future which affects the entire span of polar bears which reclassifies their status as threatened and endangered. The initial process began with a 12-Month Petition Finding and Proposed Rule during the year 2007. Polar bears are considered threatened with critical habitat under The Endangered Species Act of 1973. According to the Act: “Through Federal action and by encouraging the establishment of State programs, The Endangered Species Act of 1973 provided for the conservation of ecosystems upon which threatened and endangered species of fish, wildlife, and plants depend on.” (FWS, para. 1). Comments from the public were encouraged and were to be received by April 9, 2007, Alaska local time. The Proposed Rule was made final within the following year. The final ruling of the

References: 1. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service: 50 CFR Part 17. (2008). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Threatened Status for the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Throughout Its Range; Final Rule. Federal Register: Vol. 73, No. 95. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved from: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi 2. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service: 50 CFR Part 17. (2007). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Petition Finding and Proposed Rule To List the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) as Threatened Throughout Its Range. Federal Register : Vol. 72, No. 5, Proposed Rules. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved from: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi 3. Elliott, T. (Dec. 28, 2010). Global Warming is all About Politics and Nothing to do with Climate. The Cypress Times. Retrieved from: http://www.thecypresstimes.com/article/News/Opinion_Editorial/GLOBAL_WARMING_IS_ALL_ABOUT_POLITICS_ AND NOTHING TO_DO_WITH_CLIMATE/38062 4. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Digest of Federal Resource Laws: Endangered Species Act. Last Updated: June 29, 2007. Retrieved from: http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/ESACT.HTML 5. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Polar Bear Critical Habitat: Some Frequently Asked Questions. Last Updated: January 30, 2012. Retrieved from: http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/polarbear/pdf/critical_habitat_factsheet_11_2010.pdf