Predators affect all aspects of their environment

I just found this article, although its a few months old now, on the Beeb:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140128-how-wolves-saved-a-famous-park

I knew that the reintroduction and protection of wolves in Yellowstone had a beneficial impact on the elk and buffalo populations, but this is the first time I learned that this cascaded into a healthier environment overall.   Because the predatory pressure on the elk was previously removed, their numbers expanded to the point where the land couldn't sustain them without detrimental impact.  By reintroducing wolves into the equation, the elk both lost numbers and had to modify their behavior; this allowed the overgrazed trees to bounce back to a health level.

Everything has an impact.

Don't pee in the pool!

Absent any recent knowledge about chemistry, and also a pre-21st century mindset that the world was large, and that actions in 1 place don't impact others, they dumped chemical weapons into the ocean.

http://www.treehugger.com/clean-water/65000-tonnes-nazi-chemical-weapons-were-dumped-baltic-sea-70-years-ago.html

Sadly this seems to still be common, albeit regulated practice: http://www.gc.noaa.gov/gcil_mp_ocean_dumping.html

Japan stops whaling in the Antarctic, picks it up in the Pacific

You win some, you lose some.   After international pressure to stop whaling in the Antarctic, Japan has started up in the Pacific.   http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27079462

I have to ask - why?  People in Japan don't eat whale meat.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/9330828/Seventy-five-per-cent-of-Japanese-whale-meat-unsold.html

You don't really learn much that we don't already know by killing them.   "He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom."  --J.R.R. Tolkien

Factory farming leaves a pretty big trace

Factory farming is a huge breeding ground for bacteria and disease, and the rapid turnover of the animals once they reach slaughter size speeds the generational process.   Couple this with non-local feed sources (China) where you have little control over the conditions where the food is produced, and it's frankly surprising that this doesn't happen more often.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/04/16/bacon-pork-prices-rise-as-diarrhea-virus-wipes-out-michigan-pigs/

Intensive farming practices like this exceed the capacity of the environment to absorb the changes, leading to issues with runoff and pollution.   A measured approach to reduction of meat consumption is the only way out of this bind.

Vernal Pools

Vernal pools are a critical protein source in the food chain.  A healthy pool is the home for frogs and salamanders; their young grow and migrate outwards from the pool where they are consumed by larger animals.  The pools also provide a source of fresh water for insects, mammals and birds.   This picture was taken on my farm, we take many steps to ensure that this pool remains healthy - keep the dog out of the water, avoid mowing or disturbing anywhere near it, remove the odd bit of blow-in garbage (looking at you, mylar balloons) etc. 

 

Sacred albino moose killed by hunters

A rare albino moose, considered a sacred "spirit animal" by Nova Scotia's indigenous Mi’kmaq people, was killed last week by visiting hunters unaware of its spiritual significance.

You don't need to be aware of what other people think about the animal, you just need to realize that it's rare and an interesting thing, and that others might want to see it as well.  Everyone's seen a moose, but only a few got to see this one.  A key tenet of Leave No Trace (besides Respect Wildlife) is "Be considerate of other visitors".  These guys ruined it for everyone else.

http://www.treehugger.com/endangered-species/sacred-white-moose-killed-hunters.html

Firefighters in western Hampden County came to the rescue of four hikers who became lost in the woods on Thursday evening.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/54865661/ns/local_news-springfield_ma/t/hikers-rescued-after-search-chester/

"Fristik said that firefighters had to go through some very steep and difficult terrain in their efforts to find the other two hikers."

Know your route, take proper gear.   People risk life and limb to save you.