Weekly News Roundup: NWF’s Photo Contest Deadline Extended and more

Every year, the National Wildlife Federation holds a photo contest for wildlife enthusiasts. In its 44^th year, the National Wildlife Photo Contest offers winners the opportunity to have their photo featured in an upcoming issue of National Wildlife magazine! Originally, our submission deadline was July 14, but we are happy to announce you have a few more days to submit your photo! Participants are now able to submit images until Sunday, July 20!

In other news, did you know this week is Coral Reef Awareness Week? These biologically diverse marine ecosystems have been struggling for decades. Take a moment and read about our efforts to restore these ecosystems!

Make sure to submit your photo by July 20 for your chance to be the National Wildlife Photo Contest winner!

What’s happening at the National Wildlife Federation this week?

Get Adventurous this Fall with NWF’s Hike & Seek

July 16 – National Wildlife Federation (NWF), America’s largest conservation organization, is proud to announce the fifth annual Hike & Seek™  taking place in cities around the country this fall.  Hike & Seek is a cross between a scavenger hunt and nature walk with live wildlife encounters, nature activities and fun interactive stations along the trail.

Congress Should Not Play Politics With America’s Waters

July 16 – Adam Kolton, Executive Director of the National Wildlife Federation’s National Advocacy Center, today called on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee not to interfere with the public’s ability to comment on a rulemaking process to clarify which streams and wetlands should be protected by the Clean Water Act:

“Clean water and healthy rivers are fundamental to the American way of life. Poll after poll shows that overwhelming majorities of Americans want the government to ensure fishable, swimmable and drinkable waters. In most voters’ eyes, clean water is right up there with motherhood and apple pie.”

Great Lakes Coalition: House Bill a Mixed Bag for Restoration Efforts

July 11 – A U.S. House appropriations subcommittee yesterday released a funding bill that maintains Great Lakes restoration funding, but cuts investments to halt sewage contamination and rolls back essential Clean Water Act protections.

“The bill is a step in the right direction for the Great Lakes, but more work is needed,” said Todd Ambs, campaign director for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “While funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is most welcome, we are disappointed in cuts to core programs that will severely inhibit the ability of cities to invest in infrastructure desperately needed to curtail sewer overflows throughout the region. Further, rolling back essential Clean Water Act protections undermines restoration efforts and undercuts a rulemaking process currently underway.”

National Wildlife Federation Announces Six Winners of the Ranger Rick “Your Best Shots” Photo Contest

July 11 – Ranger Rick magazine and the National Wildlife Federation are proud to announce that six winners have been selected out of thousands of entries for Ranger Rick magazine’s “Your Best Shots” Photo Contest. This award is given to photographers under 13 who best advance the mission of the magazine with spectacular eye-popping nature photographs.

Each of the photos were selected by NWF judges for posting in a slide show on the Ranger Rick Photo Contest home page during a select month in either 2013 or 2014. A final round of NWF judges selected the photos for publication in the August 2014 issue of Ranger Rick magazine.

NWF in the News:

Renewable Energy World: US Must Act now on Offshore Wind to Advance Industry, Revitalize Communities

“It’s a critical moment for our state leaders to seize this opportunity and create a clean energy future powered by an American workgroup that protects our wildlife community from the dangers of climate change,” said Catherine Bowes, senior manager for climate and energy at the National Wildlife Federation.

The Denver Post: Deer declining across Colorado and West

“Mule deer are an indicator species. If mule deer herds are in poor health, it probably means the land itself is in poor condition and that a lot of other species are at risk,” National Wildlife Federation public lands policy director Kate Zimmerman said.

The Tampa Tribune: Nature lover needs votes for online photo contest

A certified wildife habitat is a garden space that improves habitat for birds, butterflies, frogs, and other wildlife by providing essential elements needed by all wildlife-natural food sources, clean water, cover, and places to raise young, the national wildlife federation said.

New Hampshire Public Radio: Eastern Canadian Premiers And New England Governors Meet Amid Energy Protests

Jim Murphy with the National Wildlife Federation told the crowd  to ask their governor’s to keep Canadian oil out of the New England fuel mix. “It is estimated that by 2020 as much as 18 percent of our fuel mix could come from tar sands derived fuels,” exclaimed Murphy, pulling from a study done by the NRDC, ” Tar-sands derived fuels is much more carbon intensive than conventional fuels.”

OutdoorHub: Conservationists Urge Action as Mule Deer Dwindle in Colorado

“There are a lot of things we can do,” Kate Zimmerman, public lands policy director for the National Wildlife Federation, told The Denver Post. “We can get better in the types of activities we allow in deer habitat—like oil and gas development. We can get better in the ways we do oil and gas development in order to reduce the impact on deer habitat.”