Who doesn't like to root for the underdog. We might all agree that there's never enough happening to protect endangered species. But, along the journey let's recognize and celebrate the massive efforts taking place to help species thrive.

Here are six species that made a comeback in 2022:

🦏 Black rhinos in Zimbabwe have exceeded 1,000 for the first time in more than three decades.

🐋 At least 396 individual humpbacks were documented in 2022 in the Salish sea, marking an increase from 239 from five years earlier. Global population estimate is about 100,000.

🐅 Tiger populations grew ~40% since the last assessment in 2015. (Current estimates put their population anywhere from 3,726 to 5,578.)

🐄 Bison were reintroduced in England in 2022, with the first wild European bison born in the UK for thousands of years.

🦍The largest number of mountain gorillas, located in areas of Uganda and the DR of Congo, were recorded in 2022.

🐺 Critically endangered Arctic foxes were successfully bred in Finland.

PS - Spread the good news when you tap "Share" below!

Source 📸: Earthly Education

About 1/3 of our food supply is made available to us because pollinators (such as bees) make it happen. Every year, the staggering reports of the continued decline of bee populations appear and we're left to feel as though there is little that the average American can do to help. But, wait! There is an option available to actually GROW bee populations.....right from your home.

Whether you live in a year-round warm climate, or you're currently waiting or wishing for signs of the upcoming spring, you can plan to create and grow a community of mason bees in your yard. Mason bees don't sting, and they're low maintenance. In fact......

🐝 mason bees visit up to 2,000 flower a day, and

🐝 400 mason bees do the work of 40,000 honey bees

Residents in almost all of the 50 states can participate in creating a mason bee community at home. Through this impactful program, the bees go on to farms where they are used to pollinate crops.

For all of the details 👉 https://rentmasonbees.com/

Note: While the majority of ThatHelps opportunities are zero-cost, this opportunity does have a cost associated with it.

Source: Rent Mason Bees
📸: Shutterstock

A proposed gold mining project which would take place on over 70% of public land in Idaho threatens so much - salmon and other iconic fish species, as well as the disturbance of the public land itself. At the end of November, the U.S. Forest Service released a draft environmental impact statement on the proposed Stibnite Gold Project. The project could have a devastating outcome for salmon and other fish in Idaho. In summary, the massive statement outlined the following items which are extremely bad for fish:

⛔️ Increased heavy metal contamination in the Salmon River

⛔️ Higher stream temperatures

⛔️ Loss of general ecosystem function and habitat

The USDA is only allowing public comments until January 10, 2023.....a time when many are off, on vacation, around the holidays. As a start, help advocate for a full 120-day comment period so that concerned citizens have time to learn and share their comments. Here's how you can help:

✍️ Use the following as a guide letter to the USDA (thanks to the wonderful folks at 'Save the South Fork') and send it to the email address provided in it: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5dc1974b21fc847fd1995377/t/62bc7c29f9dea10f0bd7b5f5/1656519721531/120-day+comment+period+letter+outline.pdf

It's a first step in helping to protect our public lands in Idaho, as well as iconic fish species.

📸: Idaho Rivers United
Source: Salmon Source to Sea; Idaho Rivers United; Save the South Fork