Fireworks and moon. Photo by Flickr user I’ll Never Grow Up used under a Creative Commons License.

Planning on firing off some illegal fireworks this coming 4th of July holiday weekend?

Please read the following information first. OK?

Thanks for caring. /Gary
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Screech owl nest box (Craig Jensen/ Walnut Creek, CA)

Gary:
During the 5 years I have had my owl boxes up, they have continuously been occupied by screech owls except for a 3 month span in one of the boxes when a tree squirrel took residence. The squirrel was eventually chased out by an owl.

These creatures are a constant source of delight and have helped to reduce my gopher population. Enjoy!
Craig Jensen, Walnut Creek, CA

Craig:
The 6-inch tall screech owls are one of my favorite birds of prey … tiny but very spunky! /Gary

Mom Beaver (Cheryl Reynolds/Worth A Dam)

I received a sad bit of news over the weekend. The Mama beaver in Martinez (CA) died on Saturday. /Gary

This is from Heidi Perryman, Ph. D, president of Worth A Dam, the organization dedicated to maintaining the Martinez Beavers in Alhambra Creek:
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Condor photo by Flickr user IvyMike used under a Creative Commons License.

Just got “Endangered Earth Online,”  my weekly e-newsletter of the Center for Biological Diversity. And as usual, it contains an article (see below) I need to share with you concerning lead poisoning and California condors.

It’s really sad that lead poisoning is even a problem at all. It’s so easy to fix, you know … just STOP USING LEAD BULLETS! /Gary
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Cat killing bird. Photo by Flickr user Andrew Currie used under a Creative Commons License.

Just received the following information (below) from The Wildlife Society (TWS) and the American Bird Conservancy (ABC). Please read it carefully and think about it. The lives of our cats, young birds, rabbits, squirrels, and other wild creatures are important.

We need to do all we can to make sure they are safe. Thanks for caring. /Gary
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Oiled bird. AP Photo by Charlie Riedel.

Gary:
I thought you might be interested in this story (below) that the Gulf drilling moratorium has been ordered lifted by a federal judge.
Miyoko, The Center for Biological Diversity

Miyoko:
Judge Feldman’s ruling is flirting with disaster and should be appealed by the federal government. Many thanks to the Center for Biological Diversity for jumping into this. The judge has obviously not thought this out. There should be no more deepwater drilling for oil until they figure out how to deal with any future spills. To do so is stupid. They can’t even deal with the present mess. /Gary
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Black bear. Photo by Flickr user tuchodi used under a Creative Commons License.

California Animal Legislation as of June 17, 2010, compiled by Paw Pac, California’s Political Action Committee for Animals.

** For copies of bills to read them in more detail: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov. You can subscribe for updates.
** All legislators’ and Governor’s address: State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento 95814. Directory: 916-322-9900.
** To find the names of your Assembly Member and Senator: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html
** E-mail addresses follow a formula. Examples: assemblymember.huffman@assembly.ca.gov, or, senator.pavley@sen.ca.gov. Letters, including hand written, by regular mail are always preferable to e-mail.
** Paw PAC 2008 California Voting Chart, endorsements for the 2010 November General Election: http://www.pawpac.org
** Compiled by: Virginia Handley
** Paw Pac: P.O. Box 475012, San Francisco, CA 94147; 415-626-0244

If you like or dislike any of the following new proposed legislation, write your legislators and the governor and tell them how you feel about it … BEFORE they become laws. /Gary
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Deer at my bird feeder (Lyrinda Snyderman/Berkeley, CA)

Gary:
I finally figured out why the bird seed vanishes so fast out of my feeder!
Lyrinda Snyderman, Berkeley

Lyrinda:
Ah, yes, the Antler-Crested Deer-Bird. They tend to eat a lot of seed. /Gary

Two new baby beavers with mama in Martinez, CA (Worth A Dam/Martinez, CA)

My friend, Heidi Perryman, president of Worth A Dam, the organization dedicated to maintaining the Martinez Beavers in Alhambra Creek in Martinez, California, sent me this photo this morning. It proves there really are TWO new baby Martinez beavers this spring!

GO BEAVERS!

You can see a cute video of these youngsters with their mama at http://www.martinezbeavers.org. Enjoy. /Gary

Alligator lizard love. Photo by Janet Elam, Rodeo, CA

Awww … isn’t this romantic? How sweet. /Gary