SPECIES AT RISK LIST GETS BIGGER: Eleven more species were just added by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) to the species at risk list says ENS 12/6. The list, which now includes "364 wild species in various categories," was updated with the addition of an amphibian, four butterflies, several plants, the Atlantic wolffish, and a mollusk, the Olympia oyster. With reassessments an additional 5 species are now in the each of the endangered and threatened categories. COSEWIC is "an independent organization" of scientists, provincial and federal government officials and representatives from conservation organizations.

NO SCHINDLER'S LIST FOR CANADA: One of Canada's top scientists was sharply critical of the Canadian government for not following through with promises made in 1993 to enact a federal law protecting endangered species says the Ottawa Citizen 12/6. According to David Schindler an expert on the affect of pollutants on aquatic ecosystems, "the Endangered Species List has grown 40% longer since Canada signed an international promise to protect these species" and since the 1970s there has been an "erosion of environmental protection" and "a conspiracy of silence as cabinet ministers ignore the problems."

HOT SPOTS BEGET MORE ENDANGERMENT: A new study has found that many of the areas in the U.S. that are "hot spots" for officially listed species "also have many unprotected species that could be designated endangered in the near future" says Environmental Defense 11/30. The study, in the new issue of Biological Conservation, focuses on butterflies and birds and finds that areas such as CA, NM, TX, Fl, and AZ with the greatest number of protected species also contain large numbers of other species "with small ranges" that are thus highly vulnerable because of the intense development pressures also found in these states. The study recommends efforts to identify and preserve the habitats of these unprotected and vulnerable species.

ELECTRO-SHOCK WOLVES RELEASED: The last 3 remaining members of the Sheep Mountain pack were scheduled to be released after "successfully" completing a 6 month "captive training program" where electronic collars were used to condition them to avoid preying on livestock says AP 12/5. Six other pack members were shot prior to the experiment and the pack's alpha female died from a "combination of stress, overheating, and tranquilizers used during the capture and transfer."

CORPS FORGOES SNAKE DREDGING: Due to concerns over loss of spawning habitat for salmon by the NMFS, the Army Corps of Engineers has "canceled plans to dredge" parts of the lower Snake River to improve barge navigation says AP 12/4.