Rewildings

03/09/2026

A Michigan wildlife center lost 3 of 4 bald eagles to lead poisoning in 4 weeks and is urging hunters to switch to copper ammunition. READ MORE ⬇️

03/09/2026

Leave it better than you’ve found it

Take a walk outside and look closely.
Tucked into the fork of a tree…
balanced on a porch light…
hidden deep in a hedge…
is a tiny home built with devotion.

A mother weaving, carrying, choosing each piece carefully. A father standing guard. A nest or den that holds everything that matters.

For thousands of years, wildlife built with what the earth offered them.
Soft grasses bending in the wind.
Soft twigs and bark.
Moss damp with morning dew.
Feathers shed and found.
Leaves layered for warmth.
Spider silk binding it all together like invisible thread.
It was enough.
It was safe.

But now, when birds and small animals go searching for those same materials, they find something else scattered across the ground.

Fishing line that never breaks and never breaks down.
Cigarette butts soaked in poison.
Plastic bags that crinkle like leaves.
Yarn and string bright as wildflowers.
Twist ties.
Balloons.
Dryer lint that looks soft but suffocates.
Syringes and needles glinting where grass used to grow.

To them, it doesn’t look like danger. It looks like survival.

They don’t know that fishing line tightens around a baby’s leg until it swells and blackens.

They don’t know that plastic traps heat and slowly cooks the nestlings inside.

They don’t know that cigarette filters leach toxins into fragile, newly hatched bodies.

They don’t know that dryer lint turns into a soggy, moldy mat after the first rain.

They only know they need to build. They need to protect their young. They need to try.

Food alone is not enough. A feeder full of seed does not save a chick strangled by string. A pile of corn or seed does not protect a squirrel kit wrapped in plastic. We cannot claim to love wildlife while the very homes they build are made of our waste.

And it’s not just the trash we throw away. It’s the leaves we rake. The native grasses we replace with turf. The shrubs we tear out because they look “messy.” The fallen sticks we haul off because we want our yards clean and manicured.

When we strip the land bare for the sake of tidy perfection, we remove the natural building blocks wildlife has relied on for generations. We take away bark, seed heads, stems, and leaf litter... and in their place, we leave plastic and trash.

We are changing the landscape so drastically that garbage is easier to find than grass.

Imagine building a nursery for your newborn from razor wire and trash because that’s all that’s left.

That is what we are asking them to do.

But we can choose differently...
Leave the leaves.
Let a corner grow wild.
Plant native trees and shrubs.
Keep fishing line, string, and netting secured.
Pick up litter... even the pieces you didn’t drop.
Dispose of cigarette butts properly.
Resist the urge to make every inch of earth look manicured and controlled.

A little wildness is not neglect. It is mercy.

Nature already designed safe nurseries.
Twigs bend.
Grass breathes.
Moss cushions.
Leaves insulate.
These materials return to the soil when their job is done.
They do not strangle.
They do not poison.
They do not trap.

If we truly care about birds and wildlife, love has to look like action.

Because a full belly cannot save a baby whose cradle is killing it.

And they deserve more than surviving in the wreckage we leave behind.

03/08/2026

03/08/2026

This bill is disastrous on so many levels! From environmental rollbacks and pesticide immunity, to animal treatment and gag orders. This bill is corrupted as core and serves no one other than those that are lining their pockets. Please reach out to your representative and tell them to vote no on this bill!

Don’t let the Farm Bill pass Congress with the pesticide immunity poison pills included! Send an email to your Rep and tell them to REMOVE PESTICIDE IMMUNITY: tinyurl.com/StopBayerMonsanto

On Wednesday, the Farm Bill advanced out of the House Agriculture Committee. Seven Democrats joined all Republicans to approve a Farm Bill that includes poison pills—Sections 10205, 10206, and 10207—that would give Bayer-Monsanto and the pesticide industry immunity from pesticide-harm lawsuits. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), haven taken $602,355 in campaign contributions from Big Ag through the 2023-24 session alone, was the one that put the poison pills into the bill. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), who is an organic farmer, introduced Amendment #51 that would have stripped the poisons pills out of the Farm Bill. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough votes to pass Rep. Pingree’s amendment.

The Farm Bill is now expected to go to the full House of Representatives for a vote sometime before Easter. Please take action today to stop this attack on all Americans’ constitutional right to trial when we are harmed by pesticides. Tell everyone you know. Pesticide immunity MUST BE REMOVED from the Farm Bill before it is voted on by the House. tinyurl.com/StopBayerMonsanto

03/07/2026

In case you’re feeling the urge to rush Mother Nature, remember there’s so many other ways to get the greens you need! Come on in and check out the different ways you can sprout year-round, no matter your space…making sure that you have low cost, clean, fresh food.

03/07/2026

Come join us in Lansing on March 11 to witness the Michigan Supreme Court take on two cases challenging Enbridge's Line 5 buildout in the Great Lakes!

RSVP: https://www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/mi_supreme_court_gathering

03/07/2026

One thing we find very disturbing is the trapping of wildlife. These poor animals suffer so much. Many trappers tell us the traps don’t hurt them. We can assure you that every animal that comes to us with a trap on is injured and often lose their extremity. As you can see this raccoon this morning is clearly injured by the trap. We must be their voice and stop this cruel and inhumane practice. Please contact your legislators for change!

03/07/2026

He is Dead. The Dam Hasn't Felt it Yet.
"The pond looks peaceful under its shroud of white. But beneath the ice, our pantry is running low, and the water level is the only wall between my family and the biting air".

A common myth suggests that removing a "nuisance" beaver in winter simply drains a pond. The scientific reality is that the lodge houses a tight-knit family group—often an alpha pair, yearlings, and kits—that depends entirely on the dam's ability to maintain water depth. If the water level drops, the underwater entrance is exposed, inviting predators and allowing the lodge's internal temperature to plummet.

According to USGS and National Park Service data, these ponds do more than house beavers; they increase regional biodiversity by up to 25% by creating habitat for amphibians and waterfowl. Right now, on March 6th, the "overwintering larder"—a sunken pile of willow and aspen—is almost empty. Any breach in the dam now doesn't just "move" the beaver; it strands the family in a frozen, dewatered wasteland where they cannot reach new food.

Why care? One trigger pull can empty miles of wetland. This March, protect the dam to protect the amphibians and birds waiting for spring. Respect the engineer; the whole pond depends on him staying on the clock.

Scientific References & Evidence
USGS: Hydrological impacts of beaver dams on North American freshwater ecosystems.

National Park Service (NPS): Beaver ecology and their role as keystone species in wetland biodiversity.

Smithsonian Institution: Studies on the thermal regulation and survival of Castor canadensis during winter ice-over.

03/06/2026

Look at this cute girl!!

03/06/2026

Here’s a smart reuse idea for tea drinkers ☕🌱 See 12 plants that can handle used tea bags in the garden, and learn a quick way to apply them so they break down better and do not turn into a soggy mess 😄

03/05/2026

SpaceX

My name is ____________________ and I am writing from ___________________________. I am concerned about SpaceX’s proposal [SAT-LOA-20260108-00016] and the implications of deploying satellite constellations at this unprecedented scale.
I urge the Federal Communications Commission to reject this proposal deploying constellations at the scale proposed would dramatically expand human activity in low Earth orbit, with global environmental, scientific, and cultural consequences. The increase of satellites in Earth's orbit, poses significant ecological risks, including severe atmospheric pollution, a potential runaway debris crisis, and disruption of the night sky. Burning defunct satellites release tons of aluminum oxide, damaging the ozone layer and altering atmospheric chemistry.
Key concerns include:
• Orbital congestion: Increasing the number of active satellites by roughly 70 times, raising the risk of collisions and cascade failures.

• Atmospheric impacts: Increased pollution from frequent launches and satellite re-entries, with long-term effects that remain poorly understood.

• Loss of the night sky: Light scattered from satellite surfaces would contribute to rising skyglow and erode humanity’s view of the stars.

• Ecosystem disruption: Further interference with natural cycles of light and darkness that wildlife and ecosystems depend on.
• Atmospheric Pollution & Ozone Depletion: As thousands of satellites burn up upon re-entry annually, they deposit aluminum oxides and other metals into the stratosphere. These particles can trigger chemical reactions that destroy the ozone layer and potentially impact climate change.
• Kessler Syndrome (Space Junk Catastrophe): The high density of satellites increases collision risks, which can generate a cascade of debris, potentially making certain orbits unusable for future generations.
• Rocket Launch Emissions: The surge in rocket launches releases significant amounts of black carbon (soot) and other pollutants directly into the upper atmosphere, affecting the ozone layer and climate.
• Light Pollution & Astronomical Impact: Megaconstellations are changing the night sky, creating bright streaks that hinder ground-based astronomy and permanently altering the natural night sky for cultural and ecological reasons.
• Runaway Collision Risk: If satellite numbers continue to grow unchecked, collision cascades could occur, known as "runaway instability," which would make it impossible to operate satellites in certain orbital altitudes.
These issues are not just orbital problems but environmental hazards that affect the Earth's atmosphere and its ability to protect life from harmful UV radiation.
•
These impacts are documented in scientific literature and are not speculative. Once deployment begins at this scale, the consequences would be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge the FCC to require a comprehensive environmental review of large-scale satellite deployments, consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act, and to pause approval or expansion toward million-satellite architectures until such review is completed and publicly evaluated.
Innovation must advance alongside environmental responsibility. Until these risks are fully assessed through a transparent, science-based process, this proposal should not move forward.

Sincerely,
Name
Contact Info

03/05/2026

Reflect Orbital:

My name is _______________________ and I am writing from ________________________________. If approved, they would alter the night sky as we know it, with impacts that would be increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to reverse.
The proposal from Reflect Orbital, which plans to deploy satellites fitted with in-space mirrors to beam reflected sunlight back to Earth at night. Marketed as “sunlight on demand,” the company says the system could extend daylight for solar farms or be sold to cities to illuminate streets at brightness levels exceeding three times that of the full moon is a health and ecological disaster.
Such illumination would introduce an entirely new source of artificial light at night, with far-reaching consequences, including disruption to wildlife and ecosystems that depend on natural cycles of light and dark, as well as serious public safety concerns.
Artificial light, even the moon/or sun’s light during off times has a significant impact on human health:

Artificial light causes significant health concerns by disrupting the body's circadian rhythm and melatonin production, leading to sleep disorders, metabolic issues (diabetes, obesity), cardiovascular disease, and increased risk of certain cancers. Chronic, intense exposure can also cause retinal damage and accelerate aging. (NIH)

• Circadian Rhythm & Sleep Disruption: Exposure to artificial light at night inhibits melatonin, the hormone regulating sleep. This causes poor sleep quality, insomnia, and delayed sleep phase syndrome.
• Cardiovascular Risks: Increased nighttime light exposure is associated with higher blood vessel inflammation and a greater risk of heart disease.
• Metabolic Disorders: Nighttime light exposure increases insulin resistance, raising the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
• Cancer Risk: Light at night is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
• Eye Health: Intense, short-wavelength blue light (common in LEDs) can damage the retina and cause age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
• Mental Health: Exposure to bright,, artificial, or outdoor light at night is linked to depression, mood disorders, and, in adolescents, potential mental health impacts.
Forced daylight could easily be likened to torture. Forced exposure to light is a recognized form of torture. This can involve either forced solar gazing (FSG) or the use of intense artificial light in detention settings, often as a component of psychological or "no-touch" torture methods. (NIH)

Methods and Techniques
Forced exposure to light is often used in combination with other abusive techniques to break a prisoner's mind and body. (UC Berkeley Law)
• Forced Solar Gazing (FSG): Victims are forced to stare directly at the midday sun for extended periods, such as half an hour or more, often repeatedly over successive days. Refusal to comply is met with beatings or other physical abuse. This can cause solar retinopathy, which may lead to permanent retinal changes and impaired vision.
• Constant Artificial Light: Detainees may be held in cells with bright lights on 24 hours a day to disorient them and deprive them of a sense of time. This is frequently used with sleep deprivation, noise bombardment, and temperature manipulation to maximize distress. (NIH)
Physical and Psychological Effects
Forced exposure to light is considered highly destructive to a person's health and psyche. (UC Berkeley Law)
• Physical Effects: The primary physical effect of FSG is solar retinopathy, which damages the retina. Other effects may be linked to the combined use of other torturous methods, such as physical injury from beatings for non-compliance.
• Psychological Effects: Survivors of light exposure torture suffer serious psychological conditions, with all individuals in one case study being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Other symptoms include depression, anxiety, fear of blindness, and dissociative behaviors, which can make clinical assessment difficult and risk re-traumatization during standard medical examinations using bright lights. The deliberate assault on the mind can be more destructive than purely physical assaults. (NIH)
Legal and Ethical Status
Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watchdocument cases involving forced light exposure as torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. While some techniques were once miscategorized as "torture lite" or "enhanced interrogation techniques" by some authorities, expert consensus and numerous studies confirm their severe and long-lasting impacts, classing them unequivocally as torture. The United Nations Convention Against Torture absolutely prohibits such acts. (HowStuffWorks)

Artificial light at night (ALAN), even the moon/or sun’s light during off times, severely disrupts ecosystems by:

• confusing wildlife, altering nocturnal habitats, and suppressing melatonin production, which regulates sleep and biological rhythms in animals and plants. It triggers cascading effects: causing fatal bird collisions, disrupting migratory paths, fatal disorientation for sea turtles, and massive insect population declines. (DarkSky International)

Key Ecosystem Impacts:
• Nocturnal Animals & Predators: Light creates "night-into-day" conditions, disrupting foraging, mating, and predator-prey dynamics. It lowers melatonin in animals, leading to fatigue, stress, and reduced immune responses.
• Insect Disruption: Roughly 50% of insect species are nocturnal, and lights disrupt their navigation and breeding. White LEDs are particularly harmful, attracting 48% more insects than older lamps, which leads to high mortality rates and biodiversity loss.
• Marine Life and Hatchlings: Coastal lighting confuses sea turtles, drawing hatchlings away from the ocean, killing millions of them annually.
• Plant Phenology: Artificial light prevents plants from adjusting to seasonal changes, impacting flowering, leaf coloring, and pollination.
• Soil Microbial Communities: Research shows ALAN destabilizes soil bacteria, favoring light-tolerant species and altering vital nutrient cycling (like denitrification). (DarkSky International)
Widespread Consequences:
• Biodiversity Loss: The disruption of nocturnal pollinators and insects has a cascading effect on food webs and overall ecosystem health.
• Impact on Human Health: Studies show that ALAN affects human health similarly to wildlife, contributing to sleep disruption, obesity, and, in some studies, increased risk of cancer.
• Economic Impact: The degradation of ecosystem services due to light pollution is estimated at over $3.4 trillion annually. (National Parks Service).
Reflect Orbital cannot be allowed to move forward.

Sincerely,
Name
Contact Info