December 29, 2004

December 22, 2004

Climate-change blog

Real Climate is a group blog by scientists who want to share new information on climate-change research and combat ideologically motivated disinformation.

December 21, 2004

Thank the Romans for your stately elms

All the elm trees in Britain are descended from one tree brought by the Romans two thousand years ago, researchers say.
The ultimate lard-butt hunt

It's about as far from "fair chase" as you can get: shoot wildlife (non-native species) from your PC. I am not surprised that this idea arose in Texas, where shooting at animals lured by automatic grain dispensers is considered the standard way of doing things.

Columnist Kathleen Parker picked up on this story too, but uses it as an anthropocentric springboard to denounce violent video games.

December 17, 2004

Evangelical Christianity and the environment

This article raises the question whether pro-life evangelicals can overcome "a deep-rooted prejudice that associates environmentalism with paganism, pantheism and the Counterculture and New Left revolts of the 1960s-all Godzilla-sized bogeymen in the evangelical worldview. (It's worth noting here that the distrust is mutual.)"

While the director of the Evangelical Environmental Network thinks that pro-life views and environmental protection are compatible, there is also the group that associates environmental catastrophe with the awaited arrival of the Messiah. Some of them even try to quantify catastrophes, wars, and disasters in a "Rapture speedometer."

The journalist Bill Moyers, who writes frequently on issues of American culture and religion, was gloomier about the anti-environmental form of Christianity in his acceptance speech in a recent awards ceremony.

December 13, 2004

Species differentiation by interstate highway

The Denver Post covers plans to reintroduce Mexican grey wolves in southern Colorado. (Link may expire.)

The Mexican gray wolf is the smallest American wolf. Females typically weigh 50-65 pounds. Males generally weigh in at 70-75 pounds.

In the desert southwest, Mexican gray wolves prey on antelope, deer, javelina and peccary, but they'll take elk when they can get it.

At this time in Colorado, any wolves south of an arbitrary federal boundary, Interstate 70, are part of the Southwest wolf recovery program and are fully protected as an endangered species. Wolves north of I-70 are considered merely threatened.


December 07, 2004

Best Ornamental Plants for Colorado

The Denver Post offers its suggestions as to the best grasses and ornamental plants for Colorado's Front Range area. (Warning: the link may expire in early 2005.)
Coyotes inside the Beltway

It's hard to avoid lobbyist jokes when you're writing about the growing coyote population in Washington, DC.

Michelle Nijhuis, one of High Country News' syndicated writers, notes, "As someone who feels under-represented in Washington, D.C., I find this news encouraging. Also encouraging are reports that coyotes are growing fatter as they move east, since Westerners need a few more heavyweights on Capitol Hill. It's time to leap over the species barrier and recruit these tough characters for national office.

December 01, 2004

What's in Your Go Kit?

Here is an interesting list of things you should have in your jump kit/go kit--in other words, the bag you might keep packed in your backcountry vehicle or in your home in case of emergency. But as the authors point out, the main "go kit" is between your ears. (Thanks to Making Light.)