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Global News
2 days ago
- General
- Global News
Manitoba wildfires taking a toll on province's wildlife, experts say
The wildfires across Manitoba are having both an immediate and long-term impact on wildlife, experts say. At Wildlife Haven in Ile des Chenes, Man., they're seeing an influx of species of birds they wouldn't normally see this time of year, including the common nighthawk, an already endangered species. 'Typically we don't see them at all this time of year,' Wildlife Haven's rehab manager Carter Phillips told Global News. 'So the fact that we have two in care, two that just came in, and four more potentially on the way is raising some alarm bells.' View image in full screen Common nighthawks are already an endangered species. Randall Paull / Global News View image in full screen This nighthawk was believed to have sustained head trauma. Randall Paull / Global News Phillips says it's likely due to the nighthawks, along with other species of birds and wildlife, being pushed out of their natural habitat due to the ongoing wildfires. Story continues below advertisement 'They're seeking refuge elsewhere,' he said. 'And as they're coming more towards the city and more towards urbanization, the more likelihood there is for them to come in contact with more window collision, car collisions, and typically more human-caused issues.' View image in full screen Carter Phillips is the rehabilitation manager at Wildlife Haven. Randall Paull / Global News Some animals, he says, have also shown injuries from the wildfire. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We had a purple martin come in the other day, unfortunately all the feathers were fully singed,' Phillips said. 'So that's kind of the tell-tale sign that yes, the wildfires are impacting this patient.' Zoe Nakata, the executive director of Wildlife Haven, says the impact is even more critical this time of year. 'Especially this time of year, when a lot of animals are nesting, they're taking care of their babies,' Nakata said. 'So what we're seeing here at our veterinary hospital are a lot animals that have been displaced, and sadly a lot of those animals are either threatened or endangered or their population is in decline.' Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen Zoe Nakata is the executive director at Wildlife Haven. She says the facility is seeing an increase in calls about wildlife due to the ongoing wildfires in the province. Randall Paull / Global News Nakata says the wildfires have also caused a 50-per cent increase in calls to the facility, which has about 225 animals in care currently. She says we're only in the early stages of seeing the impacts on wildlife. 'It's really sad to think about the long term impacts with all this destruction,' Nakat said. 'I can't help but think about nestlings – So all these babies that were in their dens, in their nests, where the parents were not able to get them out. I'm wondering what are we going to see in terms of population levels in the coming years.' View image in full screen A resident peregine falcon at Wildlife Haven. Randall Paull / Global News View image in full screen Majestic, the resident bald eagle at Wildlife Haven. Randall Paull / Global News Black Bear Rescue Manitoba has also witnessed the devastation wildfires can have on wildlife this spring. Story continues below advertisement 'The trouble is there will be thousands of animals who will be perishing in this fires,' Black Bear Rescue Manitoba owner Judy Steans said. Last month, the rescue took in a young black bear cub injured in the Lac du Bonnet, Man., wildfire. Someone who was helping fight the fires spotted the cub in distress. 'She came in with all four paws badly burned. She had burns on her nose and her lip and the top of her back — the fur was singed off,' Stearns said. 'The big problem, though, was her lungs and her respiratory system was affected by the smoke.' View image in full screen A black bear cub injured in the Lac du Bonnet, Man. wildfires arrives fast asleep at Black Bear Rescue Manitoba. Credit / Black Bear Rescue Manitoba Unfortunately, the cub — which the rescue named Sayen — succumbed to her injuries. Stearns says even the wildlife that survive will be greatly impacted by fires. Story continues below advertisement 'It destroys their habitat, destroys their food sources, (and) their den areas,' she said. 'For example, bears have the same dens they use repeatedly, so those will be gone. 'It also destroys berries, insects, roots, vegetation — it will be all gone. And then it displaces animals, and bears will be pushed into other bear territory, and then that creates competition for food in that new area.'
Reuters
14-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Business groups oppose tighter financial disclosures in court amicus briefs
Feb 14 (Reuters) - Business groups urged a U.S. judicial panel on Friday to reject a proposal to require more funding disclosures in friend-of-the-court briefs that outside groups file to try to influence judges. The U.S. Judicial Conference's advisory committee on appellate rules held a public hearing on the proposal, opens new tab, which would require anyone submitting amicus briefs to disclose more information about their financial ties to the main parties in an appeal. Federal court rules require friend-of-the-court, or amicus, filers to disclose whether a company or individual involved in the case helped to fund their brief. But those disclosures are not required if a funding source or donation is general in nature, and not specifically earmarked for a brief. U.S. Supreme Court lawyer Carter Phillips, representing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's litigation arm, questioned the necessity of the proposed rule and suggested it would conflict with the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. 'Any rule you adopt that creates a barrier to filing a brief seems to me to chill free expression,' Phillips said at the hearing. Two speakers from the conservative Heritage Foundation said the proposal was unnecessary and politically motivated. The panel also heard from Alex Aronson, executive director of the transparency group Court Accountability, who supported the proposed changes. Aronson warned that current rules allowed outside groups to appear independent while actually being 'alter egos' of a party in litigation. The judiciary has spent years discussing the issue of disclosure for funding for amicus briefs, which give interested groups and individuals who are not directly involved in a case the opportunity to include their views. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representative Hank Johnson, both Democrats, have been leading advocates for greater court transparency, and have urged the U.S. judiciary to back tighter controls for amicus briefs. A panel in June advanced the proposal to amend the disclosure rules. Any rule change would need approval of the Judicial Conference and the U.S. Supreme Court before being submitted to Congress.
