CONSERVATIONISTS WANT MORATORIUM ON ID WOLF KILLING: Eleven Northern Rockies conservation groups are calling for a FWS "moratorium" on killing wolves in central Idaho says the Idaho Falls Post Register 5/17. In the aftermath of the recent destruction of 3 reintroduced wolf packs, the groups are asking "for a cease fire" before "we lose all the wolves in the Sawtooth NRA and nearby Challis Forest." The groups are alarmed over the loss of 5 of 13 wolf packs in the last year due to "experimental population" rules allowing the FWS to kill wolves for livestock depredation. According to the Clearwater Biodiversity Project in Moscow, ID, "we need a serious mid-course correction; we can't keep blowing wolves away" to appease ranchers.

HOME BUILDERS MOVE TO BLOCK OWL PROTECTION: The Southern Arizona Home Builders Association is taking the FWS to court to stop them from finalizing the designation of over 730,000 acres in Southern Arizona as critical habitat for the pygmy owl says the AZ Daily Star, Capitol Media Services 5/16. For once, the FWS finds itself on the same side as conservation groups, such as the Center for Biological Diversity, who are helping to refute the builder's bogus claims that the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl is not endangered. The builders are particularly irked at limits on the amount of owl habitat they can destroy in the fast growing and lucrative housing market near Tucson.

CORAL COMES BACK SOMEWHAT: After a disastrous 1998 which saw the "warmest ocean temperatures on record" and reports that "15% of the world's reefs had died off," a new survey from Reef Check finds that "a third of those reefs recovered" say AP 5/15. Coral reefs, which are colonies of animals and algae, are also benefitting from an increase in protected marine parks worldwide and congressional appropriations, $10 million last year and $26 million this year, for mapping and monitoring problems.

EPA CALLS SALTON SEA RESTORATION PLAN "INADEQUATE": The EPA has issued "a harshly worded report" criticizing the Salton Sea restoration plan's draft environmental impact statement says AP 5/17. The report says that the restoration plan must do more than "reduce salinity" and needs to study "the affects on the lower Colorado River basin and delta."

CONFERENCE OUTLINES ALTERNATIVE GRIZZLY RECOVERY PLAN: A report released at a recent conference of "independent bear biologists" calls for continued ESA protection and expansion of the Yellowstone grizzly's recovery area as the primary strategy for long-term restoration says ENN 5/17. The conservation strategy was presented as an alternative to a recently released FWS plan that outlines management actions and goals which "must be met before the bear can be de-listed."