Act Now: Protect snakes from industrial mining
From Melissa Amarello with Advocates for Snake Preservation (ASP):
Howdy,
I know many of you are like me, and nothing feels better than taking action for snakes and other wildlife. So I’m passing along an opportunity from our friends and neighbors at the Gila Resources Information Project.
Tell the Forest Service to protect snakes from mining in the Gila National Forest.
Mining and mineral exploration companies, including the exploration arm of global mining giant Rio Tinto, are staking hundreds (maybe thousands) of claims in the Gila National Forest. Other corporations are also rapidly laying claim to subsurface minerals in other areas — likely no coincidence given recent regulatory rollbacks.
Exploration activities could negatively impact the forest’s flora, fauna, Inventoried Roadless Areas, and water supplies. Mining exploration and industrial-scale mining target the particular places snakes need to give birth, care for their kids, and shelter during the winter.
Snakes are often overlooked for special status that would protect their habitat, and it's unlikely a large corporation will be looking out for them either — especially one that has already shown a disregard for regulations by staking mining claims on private land, which is strictly prohibited.
Tell the Forest Service that mining exploration and industrial-scale mining do not belong in the Gila National Forest!
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