Take Action: Protect the Western Arctic Reserve

Protect the Western Arctic Reserve

Tell the Bush administration to support federal protections for the yellow-billed loon.

Yellow-billed Loon Comments, Endangered Species Branch

Dear Fish and Wildlife Service,

(Edit Letter Below)

I strongly urge you to protect the yellow-billed loon under the Endangered Species Act. The rapid pace of oil leasing in and around the yellow-billed loon's nesting habitat on Alaska's North Slope is unwise and simply unacceptable. Anticipated oil and gas development is expected to significantly shrink and degrade the loon's habitat.

Some of the most densely populated yellow-billed loon habitat has already been leased for oil and gas drilling in special areas such as Dease Inlet and the Coleville, Meade and Ikpikpuk Rivers watersheds. These imperiled birds also populate the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, which may unfortunately be open to oil leasing very soon.

Yellow-billed loons are extremely sensitive to environmental disturbances, particularly toxic contamination. These birds are scarce and have a lower annual productivity rate than most waterfowl. In addition, they do not recover easily from population declines, and are slow to re-colonize habitat. It is paramount that we protect the species' habitat to insure its long-term survival and health.

There is no excuse for the Fish and Wildlife Service to delay adding the yellow-billed loon to the endangered species list. This bird has waited too long for the full legal protections it needs to survive. For these reasons, I urge you to promptly complete the status review and issue proposed and final rules listing the yellow-billed loon as endangered and designating its critical habitat.

Sincerely,

[Your name]
[Your address]

Sincerely,

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