March, 2002

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad (Cow) World
Despite actions taken by the federal government to prevent the spread of mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) to the United States, there is no guarantee there will be rapid detection of the disease if it crosses the nation's borders. According to a new report by the General Accounting Office, "Federal actions do not sufficiently ensure that all BSE infected animals or products are kept out or if BSE were found, it would be detected promptly and not spread to other cattle through animal feed or enter the human food supply." Beef infected with mad cow disease is believed by scientists to be linked to Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease, which is responsible for the deaths of over 100 humans.

Beavers a Dam Nuisance
U.S. Forest Service staffers say Montana flat-tail beavers that roam free on Lake Tahoe's south shore aren't spending as much time building dams as they are eating. The problem is they are gnawing away at aspens, cottonwood and willows, causing soil erosion on the riverbank.Some residents would like to eradicate the beaver population, but the Forest Service has only tried to relocate the little varmints.

Hunters Don't Want to Free Willy
Dr. Seiji Ohsynu, director general of the Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research, announced that Japan plans to expand its whaling program to include the killing of 50 endangered sei whales, 100 minke whales, 50 Bryde's whales, and 10 sperm whales. Although the announcement was met with outrage, Japan justifies its whaling policies under a research provision of the regulations of the International Whaling Commission. Japanese fishery officials say they need to kill whales in order to study breeding and feeding habits.

Don't Cry For Me, Argentine Ants
A severe decline in coastal horned lizards in Southern California may be due to the proliferation of Argentine ants, the little pests that invade homes during heavy rainfall. According to two scientific papers published last February, the Argentine variety has become so prolific they have displaced many of the larger native ants traditionally eaten by lizards. Scientists at U.C. San Diego found that the finicky lizards don't seem to like the taste of the foreign ants and lost weight unless they were fed their usual fare.

Something Fishy About Mercury Levels
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has obtained internal documents showing focus group meetings organized by the Food and Drug Administration supported stronger consumer warnings regarding mercury in fish than those actually issued by the agency. The FDA stated in 2001 that pregnant women and women of childbearing age should avoid eating fish with the highest levels of methyl mercury, including shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tile fish. According to the EWG, the FDA has been remiss in not letting the public know the whole truth about mercury poisoning, and says that that tuna should be added to the list. The FDA stands by its current consumer advisory, but says that it will convene a meeting later this spring to review issues surrounding methyl mercury in commercial seafood.