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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Monarch butterfly could soon have 'threatened' label under ESA

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Friday, November 29, 2024   

In the coming days, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will decide whether to list the monarch butterfly as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.

The expected move is drawing reaction from wildlife experts in Kansas and elsewhere. Those who study the iconic insect said it has cultural and ecological value. The monarch is currently on its fall migration from Canada to Mexico, moving through states like Kansas.

Its population has shrunk by more than 90%.

Rebeca Quiñonez-Piñón, monarch recovery strategist and climate resilient habitat director for the National Wildlife Federation, said if it is listed, federal rules would be implemented to help monarch colonies.

"The benefit is that the Service can work on tailored rules for the species itself, which can be very specific," Quiñonez-Piñón emphasized. "To target the major needs of the monarch butterfly, to ensure that we can recover and increase the population size."

Leaders with the Monarch Watch program at the University of Kansas said a lot would depend on how the rules are drafted to see what kind of effect they could have and a public comment period would be part of the process. Like other states, the loss of milkweed plant, a key food source for the species, has had an effect on the monarch's presence in Kansas.

Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat strategy for the National Wildlife Federation, said beyond their sheer beauty and complex migration abilities, the iconic monarchs could presage the future for other critical pollinators, so keeping them off the endangered list is critical.

"They're kind of the 'canary in the coal mine,' if you will, that have really flagged the significant effort of habitat loss, climate change and overall ecological ramifications," Phillips explained.

Kristen Baum, director of Monarch Watch at the University of Kansas, said aside from the regulatory landscape, there has been a strong patchwork of education and citizen-led initiatives tied to conservation. Whether you're in Kansas or another state, she stressed the monarch serves a social connector, beyond the scientific effects.

"So many people have monarch stories, they remember when they interacted with monarchs as a child," Baum observed. "(They are) wanting to keep those interactions going for future generations."

Disclosure: The National Wildlife Federation contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Endangered Species and Wildlife, Energy Policy, and Water. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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