May 15 arrives as a focal day for endangered species awareness, with Congress having designated a day in May to spotlight threatened plants and animals, as reported by the National Wildlife Federation.
The National Wildlife Federation is using the observance to highlight the hellbender, a fully aquatic amphibian that feeds on crayfish, snails, small fish, tadpoles, insects and worms, and can live for several decades, according to the NWF blog.
The hellbender breathes largely through its wrinkled skin despite having gills, and it loses its frilly external gills as it reaches adulthood, a feature that earns it the nickname lasagna lizard, the Federation reports.
Under US law, federal protections for endangered and threatened species are enforced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and, for certain marine species, the National Marine Fisheries Service, as noted by NWF.
The Federation also points to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as a global assessment tool and reports that there are over 1,300 endangered or threatened species in the United States, reflecting a wide range of plants and animals.
The Endangered Species Act has been credited with notable recoveries, and NWF cites a reintroduction effort that released a small number of gray wolves into the Northern Rockies and later estimated many times that initial number in the recovery region, illustrating the law's use in coordinated recovery work.
Local Events And Shelter Activity Linked To The May Observance
Community animal events are aligning with the national spotlight, and the Churchill Animal Protection Society is promoting an upcoming Bark in the Park at the Churchill County Fairgrounds in Fallon, with early registration open through May 15, as reported by the organization.
The society lists registration fees for its 5K and Fun Run that rise after the early deadline, specifies check in and start times for both runs, and notes that children under 13 run free and dogs have no entry fee, according to the CAPS announcement.
The event will include a patriotic dog costume contest honoring America 250, live music by Leeteville Junction, vendor booths, bounce houses, and an adoption meet and greet, and CAPS reports volunteers gave more than 400 hours and facilitated 95 adoptions in the prior year.
CAPS also introduced a Pawsitive Impact Scholarship for Churchill County students who volunteer in animal welfare, and potential sponsors are asked to contact the group by telephone, per the announcement.
Across the region, adoption outlets are promoting animals ready for homes. Berkeley Humane lists Fantasia as its pet of the week, East Bay SPCA promotes Frank and notes walk in adoptions at its Oakland and Dublin campuses, and Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter lists Penny with a phone contact for meetings, according to their postings.
Community Concern for Cats highlights Serena as a social, playful cat and asks interested adopters to use an email contact, while Milo Point Richmond features Emperor and provides a local address and contact page for meetings, per the organizations.
The month of May is noted in the record as the fifth month of the year and is associated in western astrology with the sign Taurus, which spans a seasonal period that includes much of May, the sources explain, while Chinese zodiac materials list the twelve animal signs and outline traits associated with each animal.
