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The federal government is altering the definition of the word “harm” under the Endangered Species Act. 

Environmental groups are suing to stop the change

Harm previously referred to anything that injures or kills a protected organism, including habitat modification or degradation. Under the new language, habitat is no longer a consideration. 

“By removing that as a barrier, you’re opening the door for increased development” that could harm species, St. Cloud science teacher Devon Bowker, known online as Devon the Nature guy, told MPR News host Clay Masters.

In Minnesota, “species like the rusty patched bumblebee — they are very fragmented in terms of their habitat. They have very small pockets of good, valuable habitat for them,” he said.

“Removing these kinds of restrictions, allowing people to just mow through a pollinator patch or to develop a prairie — which, we don’t have much prairie remaining — really is like a stake through the heart of the core protections that could keep these species around.”

Listen to the full conversation by clicking the player above.

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The federal government’s decision to alter the definition of the word “harm” under the Endangered Species Act is a “stake through the heart” of the law, St. Cloud science teacher Devon Bowker — a.k.a. Devon the Nature guy — told MPR News.

MPR News host Clay Masters spoke with biologist and St. Cloud science teacher Devon Bowker, who you might know as Devon the Nature guy online, about what this change means for Minnesota’s endangered species.

Change could cripple Endangered Species Act, Minnesota science teacher says

A rusty patched bumble bee on wild bergamot

Change could cripple Endangered Species Act, Minnesota science teacher says

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