Tom's Turn: Notes from our Senior Editor

Bears and Eagles

January 19, 2007

You probably heard this already, but I thought it worth taking note of one wonderful bit of news and another that's anything but wonderful.

In December the Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it would propose to remove the bald eagle from the Endangered Species List soon, making it official that the nation's bird no longer needs legal protection (with the possible exception of the Arizona population of bald eagles). This has been proposed before, prematurely, but this time it seems to be legit, and a great cause for celebration. It is, among other things, proof positive that the Endangered Species Act can and will work if it is vigorously enforced.

The flip side of this coin is the polar bear, which the government has said probably needs to go under the protective umbrella of the federal law. This was not altogether voluntary -- the Center for Biological Diversity had submitted a petition arguing for protection for the great white bear. In the past, when confronted with such petitions, this administration has usually refused to act and been dragged into court, where it generally loses. This time, the writing on the wall was so clear that the petition was accepted and approved.

Especially interesting in this case is that the administration admitted that the bear's plight is largely caused by global warming. The sea ice the creatures rest on between spurts of chasing seals and other prey has mostly disappeared -- melted -- and they can't cope. Individuals have been seen hundreds of miles from land in open water. Many drown.

It will be fascinating to see what happens next. This administration has steadfastly refused to do anything concrete about stemming the emissions of greenhouse gases, but any recovery plan for the polar bear will have to address that dicey matter. Save energy! Save a bear! Has a bit of a ring to it.

I have been rehabbing from hip-replacement surgery and have been mostly out of all loops, so the mailbag is a little underpopulated. Please fill it: tomturner@earthjustice.org.

Tom Turner, Senior Editor
yourturn@earthjustice.org