Trump to Allow Killing of Red Wolves; As Few as 30 Remain

North Carolina's wild red wolves are among the world's most endangered species — yet Trump's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed drastic changes allowing their killing. It's the opposite of what most people want: More than 98 percent of comments submitted by North Carolinians support the wolves' protection and recovery.

The state's population could be just eight years from extinction, but the wildlife agency wants to eliminate protection for all red wolves wandering off federal property.

"The Trump administration is declaring open season on America's last red wolves," said the Center for Biological Diversity's Perrin de Jong, based in Asheville, N.C. "The Service turned its back on red wolf recovery when it stopped supporting introductions of captive-bred wolves to the wild. Now it wants to drive the last nail into their coffin."

Read more in our press release and consider donating to our work to save red wolves.

Lawsuit Seeks Habitat Protection for Endangered Mussels

We sued the Trump administration this week for its failure to protect critical habitat for four endangered freshwater mussels living in 18 states, including New York, West Virginia, Arkansas and Pennsylvania.

Our lawsuit against the Fish and Wildlife Service notes that the biggest threats to the rayed bean, sheepnose, snuffbox and spectaclecase mussels are habitat loss and fragmentation caused by dams, development and bad water quality.

"Freshwater mussels need healthy rivers and streams to survive, but the Fish and Wildlife Service has failed to protect these waterways," said Rachael Curran, a Center attorney. "Safeguarding the places where mussels live also ensures clean water for the rest of us."

Read more in our press release.

UNESCO Lets Down Vaquitas Struggling for Survival

Vaquitas are the world's rarest porpoises, with fewer than 30 remaining. That's why, in 2015, the Center and allies petitioned the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to designate their habitat in the Gulf of California as "in danger." The designation would lead to increased protection for vaquitas.

Last week, though, UNESCO postponed its decision on our request — despite the vaquitas' likely extinction within the next three years.

"Delaying the in-danger designation could be a death sentence for these desperately imperiled porpoises," said Center biologist Alex Olivera.

Learn more from our press release.

Take a moment to bask in the beauty of this hummingbird family.

Wild & Weird: Adorable Seal Pup Learning to "Walk"

Check out this video of an adorable fur seal pup wobbling about on its flippers, learning to push itself along the rocky shore of one of the Pribilof Islands in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. You can watch it on Facebook or YouTube.