Texas officials face major setback over plans for a border wall: 'It's absolutely devastating'

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

They might need to change the saying from “Don’t mess with Texas” to “Don’t mess with monarchs.” Monarch butterfly lovers scored a significant victory against Texas officials when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently declared prostrate milkweed an endangered species.

Monarch butterflies depend on milkweed plants during their epic migration through North America. A vital stretch of prostrate milkweed along the Texas-Mexico border was in danger of being completely wiped out. Prostrate milkweed is rare and only grows in that region — making it an important rest stop for monarchs migrating north.

Monarchs lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed because monarch caterpillars can eat only milkweed. The beautiful orange and black butterflies get their orange color from the plant, and — even more importantly — they store the toxins they consume from milkweed, which makes the butterflies toxic to predators.

If you’re wondering why some Texas officials would fight back against protecting butterfly habitats, that stretch of land is where many people are trying to build a border wall.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-officials-face-major-setback-over-plans-for-a-border-wall-it-s-absolutely-devastating/ar-AA1aDhGP

[RussBLib]

1. good news

a rare victory against greed and fear

Maybe this IS some life at the USFWS.

[underpants]

2. Good!

[TreasonousBastard]

3. I've been wondering why there isn't a huge wall between France...

and Germany. Last time I was there I had no idea I crossed a border until the signs were in French. That's the way it should be.

France and whatever passed for Germany had been at war since the Roman Empire collapsed but I can't even get to Canada without a hassle. Much less Mexico. Do we need another world war for things to make sense?

[Alexander Of Assyria]

6. European Union, all with same currency, eliminated hard borders. Canada, still hard!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. This makes me smile

[Aristus]

5. And those milkweed toxins contribute to the well-being of a second butterfly species.

Monarch butterflies are toxic to predators. Viceroy butterflies are not. But the Viceroy butterfly evolved to look like the Monarch species. As a result, predators usually avoid the Viceroys, as well.