New threats to ESA (Endangered Species Act) Our Help is Needed-

[Bogertophis]

I just received this (below) from Melissa Amarello with Advocates for Snake Preservation (ASP): I hope you'll all take a few minutes to send comments (even if you copy hers)...it really does matter when we pull together.

This isn't the email I wanted to write this week. I wanted to send y'all an actual snake story. The season is here and we're starting to see some old friends. Unfortunately, snakes and other wild animals are currently under threat and they need our help — stories will have to wait. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is the most important protection we have for wildlife and the places they depend upon. We don't have an ecosystem protection act or a habitat protection act. Fortunately, the definition of “harm” in the ESA includes the habitat of listed species — because if you don't have a place to live, you're not really protected, are you? That very protection is currently under threat. The administration has proposed changing the definition of harm in the ESA to exclude the places wildlife depend on. In practice that would mean: Ponds and wetlands where San Francisco Garter snakes forage for frogs? Drain and turn ‘em into parking lots. Riparian canyons that the few remaining New Mexican Ridge-nosed Rattlesnakes call home in the US? Dynamite and turn ‘em into mines. It is not enough to prohibit killing listed species — they need a place to live.

Please comment by May 19, 2025 to oppose the redefinition of “harm” under the ESA. The most effective way is to submit comments online: review the proposal and click the “Comment” button at the top of the page to submit yours. No time to write comments? Use the Center for Biological Diversity’s form to submit pre-written comments opposing the redefinition of “harm.”

Here are the comments I submitted; feel free to copy and paste as much as you’d like: I oppose the redefinition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act. For more than 40 years, the harm definition has protected threatened species by prohibiting acts that result in significant habitat modification or degradation that would result in actual death or injury to a species. This prohibition has been absolutely critical to saving species from extinction. If you don't have a place to live, you're not really protected, are you? Excluding habitat from the definition of harm will free developers, loggers, miners, and others to destroy protected species' habitat — driving them to extinction in the process. The Endangered Species Act is one of the most successful conservation programs on earth, preventing the extinction of more than 99% of species listed. The current definition of harm has been critical to this success — requiring reasonable measures to avoid habitat destruction in exchange for incidental take permits. Rescinding the definition will upend decades of conservation progress. According to a recent study, 87% of Americans want to stop species extinction. Wildlife conservation is popular, with bipartisan support. Extinction is not. I strongly urge you NOT to finalize rescission of this definition and uphold our commitment to saving endangered species and the natural world. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Take care and thank you, for all you do for snakes, every day! Melissa Amarello (she/her) Executive Director, ASP PS. Please comment by May 19, 2025 to oppose the redefinition of “harm” under the ESA. Use my comments above if you need help writing yours. Advocates for Snake Preservation is changing how people view and treat snakes. We're located on the occupied lands of the Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apache, and would like to pay respects to the Apache and all native elders, past and present. Our mailing address is: PO Box 2752, Silver City, New Mexico 88062

[Bogertophis]

I know we're all busy, but I think this needs a bump.

[Bogertophis]

THIS > > > "Please comment by May 19, 2025 to oppose the redefinition of “harm” under the ESA." < < <

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, Y'ALL. PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO OPPOSE THEM CHANGING THE DEFINITION OF "HARM". PROTECTING WILD SPECIES IS PROTECTING OURSELVES TOO- WE'RE NOT IMMUNE FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL HARM THAT WILL RESULT IF WE DO NOTHING, & ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. (THANK YOU!)