Also, proposed wakesports ban topic of Montpelier meeting today

by Alex Nuti-de Biasi, Journal-Opinion

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to designate the monarch butterfly as a threatened species.

The “threatened” designation is less critical than an “endangered” listing. Nevertheless, it highlights steep population declines of the iconic insect.

“Today, the eastern migratory population is estimated to have declined by approximately 80% [since the mid-1990s],” states the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in a news release. “The western migratory population has declined by more than 95% since the 1980s, putting the western populations at greater than 99% chance of extinction by 2080.”

Officials estimate the probability of extinction for eastern monarchs ranges from 56-74%.

The loss of milkweed is the biggest threat to the monarch that can be addressed through conservation, according to the listing.

Both New Hampshire and Vermont have agreed to participate in the Mid-America Monarch Conservation Strategy, which has a goal of adding 1.3 billion stems of milkweed on the landscape by 2038.

Where have all the vets gone?
“In 2022, more than 500 counties in the US were facing severe shortages of food animal veterinarians, some with no vet service at all,” reports Modern Farmer.

One culprit: Salaries for rural, large, and food animal vets have not kept pace with the cost of veterinary school.

Meanwhile, the lack of vets in certain areas can perpetuate a cycle of limited access to veterinary care for animal owners.

“A shortage of vets in rural areas also means a lack of mentorship for graduating vets. In essence, no one guides young vets through the practicalities of rural veterinary life.”

Meeting today on wakesports ban in Lake Fairlee
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation will host a public meeting today to gather public input on petitions proposing to ban wakesports in Lake Fairlee and several other lakes.

Members of the public may join the meeting virtually or in person.

The meeting is at 4:30 pm in Montpelier in the Dewey Conference Room at National Life. DEC will receive verbal comments on petitions to ban wakesports on Waterbury Reservoir, Lake Fairlee, Caspian Lake, and Joe’s Pond.

The public may also submit written comments to ANR.WSMDLakes@Vermont.gov until 4:30 pm on Dec. 23. Include the word “wakesports” in the email subject line and the lake name.