Hi, Nevadans!

This story about Gila monsters’ habitat being threatened by climate change reminded me of the time I saw a desert tortoise on a hike last summer (pictured below). Sometimes it’s easy to forget that what seems like a bare desert is actually full of life.

Have you crossed paths with wildlife on a hike lately? Or perhaps you go out with the purpose of finding wildlife—birds, in particular?

Have a great Wednesday!

Jannelle Calderón

Newsletter Editor, The Nevadan

Gila monsters in trouble as climate change threatens food, water, and shelter

Close-up shot of a gila monster under the cactus. (Kris Wiktor/Shutterstock)

By Tina Deines, Inside Climate News

Gila monsters generally live in burrows or rock crevices that are vital in helping these lizards maintain safe body temperatures. The subterranean bunkers, which are relatively humid compared to the desert air outside, can also help the lizards limit water loss, and cooler below-ground temperatures allow Gila monsters to reduce their metabolic rates to conserve energy.

The underground dwellings also help them to stay safe from predators such as hawks and coyotes.

Several factors can cause these shelters to disappear or degrade. Drought, for instance, can lead to a loss of plants that provide support for soils, which can drive erosion, causing the shelters to fall apart or fill in. Fire can similarly impact plants and soil structure. And human activity, such as building development, can also reduce the availability of shelters. Meanwhile, climate change, in conjunction with erosion, could cause these hideouts to become too hot or cold for the animals.

Read all about it!

Jacky Rosen joins Catherine Cortez Masto in Senate vote to end federal shutdown

Democratic Nevada senators Jacky Rosen (left) and Catherine Cortez Masto (right) in Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2023. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)

By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

In case you missed it, Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen joined five other Democrats and one independent on Monday to move forward legislation to fund most federal agencies through Jan. 30.

In addition, the Senate bill would also provide back pay to federal workers who have been furloughed, reverse layoffs and prevent any new firings until Jan. 30.

Rosen had been a no-vote on ending the shutdown as she held out for extending health care subsidies that are set to expire at year’s end.

Read more here

Speeding ticket in Nevada? Expect one of the nation’s biggest rate jumps: “According to new data from LendingTree, Nevada drivers experience the third-largest insurance rate increase in the nation after receiving a speeding ticket, making even a minor violation an expensive mistake on Silver State roads. The study found that the average premium in Nevada jumps from $2,789.85 to $3,663.39 after a single speeding ticket for going 11 to 15 miles per hour over the limit—a 31.3% spike. That increase translates to an additional $873.54 per year, or about $73 per month, placing Nevada among the top five states for the highest dollar increases in the country.” (News 3 KSNV)
Suicide rates among older adults using firearms are increasing: “Older adults in rural areas of the Mountain West are at the highest risk for suicide using a firearm. This trend is particularly concerning among males over the age of 70 according to a study conducted by The Trace, a newsroom that investigates gun violence. Reasons range from terminal illnesses to financial worries. The availability of firearms is also a factor. But Mendelson said the common thread for older men is the stigma associated with reaching out for help with mental health.” (KNPR)

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