The Endangered Species Challenge

The Endangered Species Challenge

Blogville Animals Unite to Make a Difference

The Blogville Endangered Species Challenge is sponsored by the Blogville Department of Arts and Entertainment. The purpose is to draw attention to the plight of endangered species. Each participant has chosen an endangered animal to be photographed with and to write about.

This is an ongoing challenge. If you are an animal who would like to participate, just contact Louis Dog Armstrong through the contact form on the sidebar. It's easy and we appreciate all entries.

So far, there are twenty-seven entries in the challenge.

Challenge Entries

1. Angel Sammy's Entry

Tarsier

Angel Sammy with his friend, the Tarsier

Hi! Angel Sammy here and I want to introduce you to a new friend of mine.  Tiny the Tarsier.  Tarsiers are an endangered species which makes me sad –they are cute little creatures and since they live in the rain forest they are in danger of losing their habitat.

Tarsiers are the only entirely carnivorous primates, preying on insects, lizards, and snakes. Clinging upright to trees, they press the tail against the trunk for support. Their grip is also aided by the tips of their digits, which are expanded into disklike adhesive pads. Tarsiers move through the forest by launching themselves from trunk to trunk propelled by their greatly elongated hind limbs.

Adults live in monogamous pairs and keep in contact vocally during the night, defending territory against other pairs using extremely high-pitched calls. On the island of Celebes (Sulawesi) these calls are duets—different but complementary calls made by the male and female. Single young are born in a fairly well-developed state, furred and with eyes open, after a gestation of perhaps six months.

 Angel Sammy has transitioned from this world.  We are happy that he continues to write from the Rainbow Bridge, on One Spoiled Cat.

2.  Princess Leah's Entry

Mr and Mrs Queen Alexandra's Birdwing

Ornithoptera Alexandrae

Ornithoptera Alexandrae - Largest and Rarest of all Butterflies Princess Leah with two  Ornithoptera Alexandrae Butterflies The rarest of all the birdwing butterflies is confined to a small 100 km area within the Popendetta Valley, deep within the rainforest of Papau New Guinea. The reason for the species very limited range is thought to be linked to the nearby volcanic mountain range which during some past eruption event laid down rich phosphates enabling a particular species of Aristoclia vine to flourish there. The veracious larvae appear to thrive on these vines exclusively. Under continual threat from encroaching palm oil plantations and unscrupulous collectors/dealers this remains the only member of the birdwing family NOT legally farmed under CITES2 exemptions. Alexandrae is one of the few butterfly species worldwide that are FULLY protected under CITES1 controls and is thus totally illegal to trade in. Large penalties (including a jail sentence) await those foolish enough to become involved in the illegal black market export trade. Alexandrae is reported to trade illegally at up to $15,000 per pair. Princess Leah blogs at Princess Leah's Blog, 3. Ruby the Airedale's Entry Panda Ruby wants to save all endangered species, including the pandas.

With only around 2060 pandas living in the wild, the giant panda is considered vulnerable for extinction by the IUCN. Due to the fact that pandas reproduce so infrequently, it is very difficult for their population to recover from such a low point.

One the main reasons that panda populations have declined is habitat destruction. As the human population in China continues to grow, pandas’ habitat gets taken over by development, pushing them into smaller and less livable areas. Habitat destruction also leads to food shortages. Pandas feed on several varieties of bamboo that bloom at different times of the year. If one type of bamboo is destroyed by development, it can leave the pandas with nothing to eat during the time it normally blooms, increasing the risk of starvation.

In addition to writing her blog, Ruby provides yente services for animals. You will find Ruby at www.rubytheairedalepup.com

4.  Millie and Walter's Entry

T

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

This crow-sized falcon is admired for its incredible speeds which are seldom exceeded by any other bird. Plunging from tremendous heights, the peregrine falcon can reach up to 180 mph in pursuit of prey. It feeds primarily on birds, which it takes on the wing.

This peregrine Falcon rests safely on Walter's back.

New York State and Rochester played an important role in the reintroduction of Peregrine Falcons to eastern North America after the species was nearly wiped out in the 1970s from the use of DDT.

In 1994 Dennis Money, founder of the Rochester Peregrine Falcon Project, asked Kodak for permission to place a nest box on top of the Kodak Office Tower. Kodak eagerly agreed, and in 1995 the nest box was installed in a location described as a perfect 

nesting place that simulated their natural cliff habitat. It remained on the tower until 2008, when it was removed to allow the building's crumbling stone exterior to be repaired and restored. A female Peregrine Falcon, Mariah, with two mates, first Cabot-Sirocco and then Kaver, raised 43 young during that time. A few of these young have gone on to raise families of their own in other cities, including Toronto, Ontario, 

5.  Christmas' Entry

Red Wolf

Christmas in his safari hat with an endangered red wolf.

There are less than 500 Red Wolves in the world today, both in captivity and in the wild. They are found in the southeastern United States. Red wolves are primarily nocturnal and communicate by scent marking, vocalizations, facial expressions and body postures. They're shy, only forming small packs with their mates and their offspring. Red Wolves make their dens in hollow trees and stream banks.

Christmas is a true show dog. He writes about his life on Paw Province.

6.  Hailey and Zaphod's Entry

Written by Hailey, for Hailey and Zaphod

Blue or Grand Cayman Iguana

Hailey with an endangered blue iguana

This is the Blue or Grand Cayman Iguana.

Around 2004 humans realized it was its own species of iguana and not a subset of the Cuban Iguana, that was about to die out. In spite of being one of the longest living species of lizards living up to 69 years old, in the early 2000s it was estimated there were about 15 left in the wild. The decline was because of habitat distraction and other human activity.  People were sure they were going to die out, as they reached the critically endangered list. Then some really awesome people stepped in and created a great breeding program. The Lady and Man visited it 3 years ago (that is when they saw this dude). If you are ever in Grand Cayman be sure to visit the Queen Elizabeth II Botanical garden. The program has been successful and they have release 700 iguanas back to the wild, meaning the Blue Iguana is now just endangered.

Hailey and her brother Zaphod blog at The Hailey and Zaphod Chronicles

7.  Bailey, Hazel and Mabel's Entry

Mountain Caribou

Bailey, Hazel and Mabel in solidarity with the Mountain Caribou

Did you know that Caribou have large, concave hoofs that spread widely to support the animal in snow and soft tundra?  Their feet also function as paddles when they swim.

Caribou are the only member of the deer family (Cervidae) in which both sexes grow antlers. Antlers of adult bulls are large and massive; those of adult cows are much shorter and are usually more slender and irregular. 

 Newborn calves weigh an average of 13 pounds (6 kg) and grow very quickly. They may double their weight in 10-15 days. Weights of adult bulls average 350-400 pounds (159-182 kg). Mature females average 175-225 pounds (80-120 kg). 

 Mountain Caribou reside in limited numbers in interior British Columbia, western Alberta, northern Idaho and northeast Washington.  The South Selkirk Mountains herd of woodland caribou, the world's southernmost remaining caribou, occupy a trans boundary range from southeast British Columbia into northeast Washington and northwest Idaho.

At the end of 2015 it was believed that less than 14 Mountain Caribou remained in the critically endangered South Selkirk Mountains Caribou herd.

Bailey, Hazel, and Mabel share a blog at The Idaho Pugranch.

8.  Molly and Mackie's Entry

Chimpanzee

Join Molly and Mackie in their fight for endangered  chimpanzees.

Like us, chimps are highly social animals, care for their offspring for years and can live to be over 50. In fact, chimpanzees are our closest cousins; we share about 98 percent of our genes.

In their habitat in the forests of central Africa, chimpanzees spend most of their days in the tree tops. When they do come down to earth, chimps usually travel on all fours, though they can walk on their legs like humans for as far as a mile. They use sticks to fish termites out of mounds and bunches of leaves to sop up drinking water.

Lately, people enter forests where chimpanzees live. The Chimpanzees have been getting sick from people's diseases. In addition, people are hunting the chimpanzees. Their numbers are becoming fewer and fewer.

Molly and Mackie are two beautiful Airedales who blog at Molly and Mackie.

9.  Charlie Downunder's Entry

Hairy-Nosed Wombat

Charlie Downunder calls attention to the Hairy-Nosed Wombat.

  Crikey ..... I'm joining in on Louis endangered species challenge and I'm going to tell you a little bit about Australia's northern hairy-nosed wombat. It comes from Queensland, a State of Australia.  I come from Queensland too. I was born in Townsville Qld but I live in Noosa Heads Qld now.  The hairy-nosed wombat is one of the rarest land mammals in the world and is CRITICALLY endangered.  There's hardly any of them left for many reasons but can you guess what is the main cause of them disappearing? Well apart from disease, floods, droughts bushfires and habitat loss I'm afraid to say WILD DOGS are the main predators of these funny, clumsy looking, adorable animals. How bad is that???  I sure wouldn't want to try and take one down. They've got real hard bums and they poo square poos.  Now if you wanna know more about those two facts just ask me and I'll do anther post later.    They might be slow and pretty little (about the size of fat blue heeler) but they sure look tough.  They are growing in numbers again now (very slowly) because there have been a number of conservation projects put in operation over recent years with fenced areas for them. It would be good to see lots more of them, aye??  They are cute little blokes. What do you think??

Charlie blogs about his life in Australia at Charlie Downunder in Oz.

10. Bouncing Bertie's Entry

Scottish Wildcat

Bouncing Bertie brings attention to the plight of the Scottish Wildcat.

I want to call attention to the Scottish wildcat, one of the world's rarest species. It is thought that less than a hundred of these native

Scottish beasts are still roaming the Highlands. They are threatened by disease, habitat loss and hybridization with domestic cats.

Do I get extra brownie points for being nice to a C-A-T?

Bertie is a talented wire-haired fox terrier who can be found at Bouncing Bertie's Blog.

11.  Lightning and Misty's Entry

Siberian Tiger

Lightning and Misty with two majestic Siberian tigers.

Almost all wild Siberian tigers live the Southeast corner of Russia in the Sikhote-Alin mountain range east of the Amur River. Their former range included northeastern China and the Korean Peninsula, and as far west as Mongolia. They are the largest of the tiger species and can grow up to 13 feet in length and weigh up to 700 lbs.

The Siberian –or Amur- tiger is considered a critically endangered species with the primary threats to its’ survival in the wild being poaching and habitat loss from intensive logging and development.

For more information about the Siberian Tiger, please visit The Chronicle of Woos.

Lightning and Misty care about endangered animals. Check them out at their blog, The Chronicle of Woos.  

12.  Sweet William the Scot's Entry

Rusty Patched Bumblebee

Sweet William the Scot stands up for rusty patched bumblebees.

This was just put out the beginning of 2017.

Rusty patched bumblebee becomes first bee species declared endangered!

The first bee species in the continental U.S. to be declared endangered after suffering a dramatic population decline over the past 20 years.

“Pollinators are small but mighty parts of the natural mechanism that sustains us and our world.”  Rusty patched bumblebee buzzed across the East Coast and much of the Midwest in high numbers as recently as the 1990s. Today, only scattered populations remain in 13 states – Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin – and the Canadian province of Ontario. Ohio is my state.

My forever family and I have hives and we love honey so we chose the bee for our endangered species.

Sweet William The Scot is a devoted Blogville resident. He has his own blog aptly called Sweet William the Scot. 

13.  Frankie and Ernie's Entry

Pygmy Elephants

Frankie and Ernie with pygmy elephants on a recent trip to Borneo.

The pygmy elephants of Borneo have always been a mystery to science. As a gift to the Sultan of Sulu, many speculated that the animals were shipped from Sumatra or Java and set free on Borneo Island during the elephant

trade from the 16th to 18th centuries. It was not until DNA testing took place that scientists realized that these animals were a separate wild population.  

Much of the Borneo elephants' natural habitat has been destroyed to

make way for palm oil plantations and there are now thought to be less than 1,000 Borneo elephant individuals

left in Sabah.  Today, the Borneo elephant is considered to be an animal that is in immediate danger of becoming extinct due to the fact that Borneo elephant populations have been declining at a critical rate. Borneo elephants are thought to be suffering primarily due to habitat loss in the form of deforestation and hunting for their ivory tusks by human poachers.

When they aren't traveling in Borneo, Frankie and Ernie work together on their blog, Frankly and Ernestly Speaking.

14. Dory's Entry

Southern Sea Otter

Dory wants us to know about the Southern Sea Otter.

Southern Sea Otters used to live way down in Southern California all the way up the California coast and even over into Russia and Japan. Then humans started using their furs to keep them warm and they almost became extinct!

Thankfully humans smartened up a little and the Southern Sea Otter population is growing again! We only have river otters by us, but Mama loves watching the Southern Sea Otters when she visits the coast a little farther south on the California Coastline.

Dory lives with three other dogs: Jakey, Bilbo and Arty. You will find her busy blogging at Dory's Back Yard.

15.  Arty, Jakey and Bilbo's Entry

Western Snowy Plover

Arty, Jakey and Bilbo are very concerned about the Western Snowy Plover.

Western Snowy Plovers are found along the beaches from our area in Humboldt County, California, up to Washington State. They nest right above the high tide area. It is believed that reduced reproduction rate due to weather, a mix of human and dog foot traffic and inclement have kept them on the endangered species list.

Arty, Jakey and Bilbo are Dory's brothers. They blog with Dory at Dory's Back Yard.

16.  The Crabby Girls, Shelldon and Beachnut's Entry

Loggerhead Turtles

Shelldon and Beachnut are concerned about the Loggerhead Turtle.

We crabby girls, Shelldon & Beachnut want to feature Loggerhead Turtles.   They are very special shelled friends.

Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Untended fishing gear is responsible for many loggerhead deaths. Turtles may also suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls. 

Turtle excluder devices have been implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing an escape route for the turtles. Loss of suitable nesting beaches and the introduction of exotic predators have also taken a toll on loggerhead populations. Efforts to restore their numbers will require international cooperation, since the turtles roam vast areas of ocean and critical nesting beaches are scattered across several countries.

Shelldon and Beachnut are clever girlie crabs who live with Sarge. They share Sarge's blog, Sarge Speaks Out.

17.  Sarge's Entry

Galapagos Penguin

The Galapagos penguin is Sarge's chosen endangered species.

The Galapagos penguin is endangered, with an estimated population size of around 1,500 individuals in 2004, according to a survey by the Charles Darwin Research Station. The population underwent an alarming decline of over 70% in the 1980s, but is slowly recovering. It is therefore the rarest penguin species.  Population levels are influenced by the effects of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, which reduces the availability of shoaling fish, leading to low reproduction or starvation. However, anthropogenic factors (e.g. oil pollution, fishing by-catch and competition) may be adding to the ongoing demise of this species. 

On Isabela Island, introduced cats, dogs, and rats attack penguins and destroy their nests. When in the water, they are preyed upon by sharks, fur seals, and sea lions.

When Sarge is not driving his police car around Blogville, he can usually be found at his blog, Sarge Speaks Out.

18. Wyatt and Tegan's Entry

Northern Spotted Owl

Wyatt and Tegan are activsts for endangered Northern Spotted Owls.

The northern spotted owl primarily inhabits old growth forests from Canada to southern Oregon.  Each nesting pair needs a large amount of land for hunting and nesting and is intolerant of habitat disturbance. The northern spotted owl was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in 1990, citing loss of old-growth habitat as the primary threat. The controversy pitted individual loggers and small sawmill owners against environmentalists. The debate has cooled somewhat over the years, as the owl's population continues to decline by 7.3 percent per year. 

In 2004 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reaffirmed that the owl remained threatened, but indicated that the recognized causes of endangerment had changed, mostly as a result of invasion by the more aggressive barred owls into the range and habitat of the spotted owl.

Wyatt and his little sister Tegan are brilliant dogs who blog at Gardening with Wyatt.

19.  Angel Lexi's Entry

Unicorn

AnLexi lets us know that no animals are endangered or extinct in Heaven.

I, Angel Lexi, have you all beat! *smirk* (No, I don't have to be humble just because I am in heaven.) I have here not an endangered species, but a real live extinct unicorn. They are all here in heaven with me. And you thought they were just a myth! Oops, here comes the Big Guy. Gotta' go!

Angel Lexi blogs from the Rainbow Bridge. You will find him at Lexi the Schnauzer.

20.  Madi's Entry

Cheetah

Madi has chosen her cousin the cheetah.

On December 30, 2016 our news paper had an article titled,

Cheetahs racing toward extinction

Did you know that a century ago 100,000 cheetahs lived in the arid grasslands of Africa. Sadly, the population of these majestic and powerful felines  is hovering around 7,100 in the wild.

Of this total 4,000 are living across six countries in southern Africa.

1,000 remain in the Serengeti plus clusters as big as 200 and as small as 10 scattered across in pockets of protected habitat. This species has been all but wiped out in Asia.  Just 50 still live in Iran.

The National Academy of Sciences and researchers are working very hard to get the cheetah conservation status raised to endangered.  Mom and I sure do hope somehow these

gorgeous felines can be protected for future generations.

Madi is a pretty kitty who writes about her life on Madi and Mom Down Home in NC.

21.  Pocket's Entry

Polar Bear

Pocket actively supports all endangered animals but has chosen for this project the polar bear.

This is my friend Snowy Bear.  He is a Polar Bear from the North Pole.  One day he was playing ball with his friends.  The ball got past Snowy, and he ran after it to the furthest part of the ice cover.  When he got there, the ice cover broke away, and he floated away from his friends.  He floated all the way to our house where we took him in and gave him a good home.  He is worried about his other friends he was playing with.  With the ice floe breaking apart Polar Bears are losing their homes.  I am glad we were able to save Snowy, and we hope all the polar bears can be saved.

22.  Murphy and Stanley's Entry

Orangutan

Add captionMurphy and Stanley have befriended an orangutan.

This is a picture of us with the critically endangered orangutan.  He lives at the zoo in Salt Lake City.  We named him Beans. 

Here is some information about the endangered orangutan taken from the WWF website at https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/orangutan

The name orangutan means "man of the forest" in the Malay language. In the lowland forests in which they reside, orangutans live solitary existences. Adult male orangutans can weigh up to 200 pounds.  

There are two species of orangutan, Bornean and Sumatran.  Sumatran orangutans are reported to have closer social bonds than their Bornean cousins. Bornean orangutans are more likely to descend from the trees to move around on the ground. Both species have experienced sharp population declines. A century ago there were probably more than 230,000 orangutans in total, but the Bornean orangutan is now estimated to number about 45,000-69,000 (Endangered) and the Sumatran about 7,500 (Critically Endangered). 

Murphy and Stanley write about their adventures at Murphy and Stanley.

23.  Louis Dog Armstrong's Entry

Ethiopian Wolf

Louis Dog Armstrong with his Ethiopian Wolf cousins.

There are only three species of wolves in all of Africa and the Ethiopian wolf is one of them. This wolf is in trouble because it is the most endangered canine animal in the world.

These wolves live in the high mountains of Ethiopia. They lead complex social lives that fascinate the scientists who try to protect them.  All dogs have evolved from wolves, so I chose the Ethiopian wolf because he is my cousin. I want to protect them, along with all of the other endangered animals in the world.

You can visit Louis Dog Armstrong at his blog, Louisdog's Life. 

24.  Riley's Entry

Giraffe

Riley traveled to Africa to help the giraffes.

Giraffes have passed the African elephant on the endangered species list. Two hundred years ago there were well over a million giraffes in Africa. Now there are slightly more than 100,000. For those of us doing the math at home, that is a reduction of 90%. 

Two reasons are cited for this. #1. Their only natural predator is man and in these war-torn countries of Africa, giraffes are hunted for food. Their tail is also a prized dowery in some tribes. And #2. There are five species of giraffes. Although they could "intermarry," they don't. 

Imagine this conversation as two meet. 

Female: You want to what, you ugly beast? 

Male: Well, we are the only two around these parts, and,oh never mind, I'll find one of my own kind. (But he can't, 'cause there's none around.) 

A rescue group has been capturing giraffes and moving them to relative safety and closer to their own particular species. This involves transporting them in an "ark" across the little stream you may know as the Nile River. You can check out the BBC account- with lots of pictures- here.

This is Riley, signing out from the Sahel region of West Africa.

Riley is Angel Lexi's brother. You can contact Riley at Lexi the Schnauzer.

25.  Kinley Westie's Entry

Amur Leopard

This endangered lynx is depending on Sam to help him!

Kinley Westie defends the leopard.

I chose da Amur Leopard as my species.  Ok, dis are just a leopard stuffy of my momma's and not a real leopard (I know y'all is shocked), but it are da best I could do.  I mean, I asked momma to paint some spots on Travis and make him pose wif me, but she wuzn't gonna do dat.

Ok, dis are da real deal.  What a pretty big kitty.  Dese eggstremely rare leopards live in da far east of Russia (privet koshka!).  And dey are critically endangered - dere are only about 60 left in the wild today.

Dese beeyootifull animals are so endangered because of habitat loss and prey scarcity.  But mostly they is endangered becuz of nasty humans illegally poachin dem for dere gorgeous furs.

Dese big kitties are teetering on da brink of eggstinkshun. 

Ya know I luvs da kitties I live wif, and dese big kitties remind of me of dem.  And da big kitties has always been my momma's favorite wild animals, along wif dolphins.  Which is why she felt sick when she saw someone she knows (not a friend) posing with a dead leopard dey shot on Facebook.  And dat pickshure of da President's sons posin wif a leopard dey killed.  :(  Makes my momma (and me) real sad.  Anyone who has to kill one of these pretty kitties to feel strong or like a real man are not a real man in my momma's book!

I'm hopin dese pretty kitties can make a comeback.

KinleyWestie is a talented blogger at Kinley Westie.

26.  Sam's Entry

Lynx

Lynx are a large bob-tailed cat about 3 feet long weighing anywhere from 20-30 pounds and possessing a black-tipped tail one-eighth its total length, and only about half the length of its huge hind foot. Their coats are grayish with obscure spots but their single most recognizable characteristic is the fabulous ear tufts may be nearly as long as the actual ears. Often referred to as a 'silent predator,' the lynx is a patient hunter, waiting for the right moment and are helped by enormous hind feet which allow them to move easily across the snowpack to pounce on their preferred meal of choice: snowshoe hares.

Although you're more likely to see Sasquatch than a lynx in Colorado, there was an ambitious reintroduction plan carried out in the late 1990's in the remote San Juan mountains. More than 20 years later it has been deemed successful with between 150-250 of these magnificent cats being monitored by radio-satellite collars. Lynx are still considered critically imperiled and with the recent population explosion in our state, it does remain to be seen if lynx and humans can co-exist again. 

Sam has a blog about a pet therapy team, called Tales Around the Ranch.. His motto is Live, love, bark!

27. Hazuzu's Entry

Pygmy Mouse Lemur

Hazuzu with a rare pygmy mouse lemur from Madagascar.

Hazuzu the Cat here... The endangered animal that I am writing about is the Pygmy Mouse Lemur.

I decided to defend this little guy, even though he is sort of a kind of mousie. But he is a mousie that no kitties should ever touch.  Even though I am known in my 'hood as an excellent mouser, I would never hurt a pygmy mouse lemur.

Actually, he seems like mart mousie and part monkey. Whatever he is, he is a sweet little creature that should  be protected. 

I had to go to a forest in West Madagascar to find this species because he doesn't live anywhere else.

Here are the facts:

1. They are the smallest primates in the world. Each one is about the size of a teacup.  Its head and body are less than 2 1/2 inches long.

2. They are extremely rare. There are eight species of them, some of which were only discovered in the past few years.  

3.  They live in the trees and rarely leave their homes, sleeping all day and foraging for food at night.  Pygmy mouse lemurs are  omnivores.

4. Pygmy Mouse Lemurs live in female-dominated groups of about fifteen. The females hibernate during the dry season, during which time the males become more active.

5. These animals store fat in their hind legs and tails.

6. Pygmy Mouse Lemurs are endangered because of the illegal exotic pet trade but they are most threatened by the continual loss of the forests in which they live.

Thank you for reading about my endangered pygmy mouse lemur. I hope they can survive!

28. Molly's Entry

Plains Bison

Molly is shown here with a group of majestic plains bison.

The Plains Bison are now listed as an extinction risk (near threatened lvl.).  They now have a population of 20,504, where there once was 10's of millions roaming across the plains of our western landscape.

Their decline is blamed mostly on habitat loss, as well as early 20 century experiments to interbreed cattle with bison in an attempt to create heartier livestock.

The largest herd today can be found in Yellowstone National Park.  Large grazers such as the Plains Bison had millions of acres of grassland to feed upon keeping the grasslands and the Bison herds healthy and diverse.  With the changing landscape, human population,  land use, and community development the area Bison have to roam has been redefined.  Attempts are being made to restore the Plains Bison to their once familiar prairie landscape by creating agreements with National Parks, native tribal communities, and ranching partners in the Northern Great Plains Program. World Wildlife Fund.

Molly  and my Mom

You can visit Molly at her blog The Fast and the Furriest.

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