A federal judge has dismissed a PEER-led lawsuit and upheld a decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to remove the Louisiana black bear from endangered species status.
PEER and a coalition of groups including the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, the Louisiana Crawfish Producers Association, and the Sierra Club had challenged the FWS’s decision on the grounds that the bear is still in danger of extinction from illegal hunting, vehicle strikes, and habitat loss.
In a highly technical decision, District Judge Brian Jackson ruled that the FWS was justified in 2016 in revoking the bear’s threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. PEER and its partners are reviewing the decision to see if there are grounds for appeal.
The Judge’s decision comes shortly after Louisiana issued a notice of intent to allow bear hunting in the state, a decision that is not supported by science and will further impede the bear’s long-term chance of survival.
This is another wake-up call that not enough people are taking the extinction crisis seriously. Whether it’s bears, wolves, whales, manatees, pollinators, or other animals, PEER will never cease its work to protect threatened and endangered species.
Thank you for supporting this important work.
Why is EPA Considering Lethal Pesticides for Florida Citrus?
Few pesticides have raised more red flags across the world in recent years than an insecticide called aldicarb. This neurotoxic poison is a notorious polluter of groundwater and has been shown to have an extremely high risk of causing developmental harm in children and infants. So why, asks PEER’s Science Policy Director, is EPA seriously considering a reckless proposal to expand the use of this dangerous pesticide in Florida? Read More »
Addressing Radon Risks in Public Housing: PEER is Making Progress
