Endangered Species & Wildlife / Public News Service

New Mexico's newly created permanent conservation fund is modeled after a trust established by the Wyoming Legislature in 2005. (RustyDodson/Adobe Stock)

Friday, March 31, 2023

New Mexico Creates First-Ever $100M Conservation Fund

New Mexico is using some of its surplus budget funds, primarily from oil and gas revenues, to establish the state's first-ever source of recurring …

Idaho's unique habitats are under threat because native plant species aren't adapted for the frequent, intense wildfires becoming common in the state. (BLM)

Thursday, March 30, 2023

As Fires Damage ID Plants, Report Finds Native Seed Supply Insufficient

A new report finds the country's supply of native seeds is falling behind the needs of current and future restoration projects. Researchers with …

The Castner Range contains cultural sites that document the history of Native tribes, while also providing habitat for wildlife such as the golden eagle, mountain lions and the western burrowing owl. (Dale/AdobeStock)

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Texas' Poppy-Covered Castner Range Now State's Third National Monument

A celebration will be held in El Paso Friday after five decades of activism paid off, when President Joe Biden designated Texas' Castner Range a …

The current rate of species going extinct is estimated to be 100 to 1,000 times higher than natural background extinction rates, and is accelerating because of human activity including unsustainable use of land, water and energy use, and climate change. (Lucaar/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Congress Could Sidestep Endangered Species Act to Delist Grizzlies, Wolves

Congress is considering three bills that would sidestep the Endangered Species Act to de-list the Northern Continental Divide and Yellowstone grizzly …

Forest fragmentation and the creation of new forest

UNH Researchers Study Impact of Fragmented Forests from Above

Researchers with the University of New Hampshire are taking to the skies to study the state's increasingly fragmented forests. Urban and …

At least 59 Mexican gray wolf packs were documented in 2022; 40 in New Mexico and 19 in Arizona. A wolf pack is defined as two or more wolves that maintain an established home range. (Adobe Stock)

Mexican Gray Wolf Population Rebounds in AZ

The Mexican Gray Wolf population in Arizona is on the rise. For the first time since reintroduction into the wild, the population of wolves across …

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Mexican gray wolf is the rarest subspecies of gray wolf in North America. (Adobe Stock)

Mexican Gray Wolf Numbers Rebound in New Mexico

The Mexican Gray Wolf population in New Mexico is on the rise. For the first time since reintroduction into the wild, the population of wolves …

Wildfire experts plan to use unmanned drones to help improve early detection, battle fires more effectively, and to reseed and restore scarred forests. (Windsong/Adobe Stock)

Report Charts a Course for Mitigating Wildfire Risk

As wildfire seasons in Colorado and across the American West become longer, less predictable and increasingly destructive, a new report aims to …

In 2020 alone, U.S. Bureau of Land Management field offices purchased nearly 1.5 million pounds of seed to use in areas affected by wildfires. (Julia/Adobe Stock)

Report: National Native Seed Supply Not Up to Climate Challenges

Researchers with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine spent two years studying the nation's supply of native seeds, and …

Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present at or near the surface of the soil, all year or for varying periods of time, including during the growing season, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

ND Shares in Wetland Restoration Funds for 'Prairie Pothole' Region

Funding priorities under the federal Inflation Reduction Act continue to roll out, and they include a new effort for North Dakota and surrounding …

'Prairie Pothole' Region, Including SD, Gets Wetland Funding Boost

Through the federal Inflation Reduction Act, South Dakota and surrounding states will receive funds to restore wetland areas. The Interior …

MN Included in Wetland Restoration Funding

Funding priorities under the federal Inflation Reduction Act continue to roll out, including a new effort for Minnesota and some surrounding states …

The Gila National Forest and Wilderness boasts more than 100 bird species including seasonal, year-round and migratory birds. (JuanCarlosGonz�lez/AdobeStock)

NM Supporters of Gila River Protections Make 3rd Pitch in Nation's Capital

A decadelong effort to secure protections for New Mexico's last remaining free-flowing rivers and tributary systems has been introduced in Congress fo…

The Prairie Potholes region is considered some of the most important waterfowl habitat in North America. (DeVane/Adobe Stock)

Federal Funds to Conserve, Restore America's 'Duck Factory'

The Interior Department is investing funds in protecting what some call America's 'duck factory.' The Prairie Potholes are marshes and wetlands that…

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Department of Transportation studies have shown a 90% reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions when there is a crossing structure or fence in an area. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Approves $20 Million for Wildlife Crossings

Some $20 million of Utah's whopping $29 billion state budget will be spent on building wildlife crossings and fences across the state in an effort to …

Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time, including during the growing season, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Interior Invests $120 Million in Midwest 'Prairie Potholes'

As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Interior Department has announced it is investing $120 million to restore and rebuild key segments of …

According to the Western Wildlife Conservancy, during the 2015-2016 Utah hunting season, 372 cougars were killed, a number that has increased every year. (Adobe Stock)

UT Legislature Passes Bill to Allow Year-Round Cougar Hunting

Wildlife conservationists are calling for Utah Gov. Spencer Cox to veto House Bill 469, which would allow year-round cougar hunting in the state…

The pygmy rabbit was first proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act in 1991 and then re-petitioned in 2003. (Adobe Stock)

Pygmy Rabbit Numbers Dwindling in NV; Petition Seeks to Reverse the Trend

Nevada's pygmy rabbit population has been dwindling for decades and conservation groups are sounding the alarm. Groups are requesting protection for …

In September 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found pygmy rabbits were not warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act because the agency said there was not enough data to show the threat level had risen leading to possible extinction. (Adobe Stock)

Petition Seeks Protection for Pygmy Rabbits Across West

Conservation groups in Utah and across the western United States are requesting protection for the pygmy rabbit under the Endangered Species Act…

The most iconic species that resides in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge may be the American alligator. An estimated 15,000 alligators live in the refuge area. (Wildspaces/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Georgia DEP to Nix Mine Permit Near Okefenokee

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division wants the public to weigh in on whether a titanium mine will be allowed to operate near the Okefenokee N…

Kelp beds in Puget Sound are important habitat for marine life. (knelson20/Adobe Stock)

WA DNR Seeks Input on Kelp, Eelgrass Conservation

Kelp and eelgrass are in trouble, and Washington state wants help from the public identifying where these marine plant species should be saved…

The pygmy rabbit has lost large chunks of its sagebrush habitat in recent decades. (randimal/Adobe Stock)

Western Groups File Petition to Protect Continent's Smallest Rabbit

Advocates are petitioning the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to save the smallest rabbit species in North America, the pygmy rabbit. Its habitat…

Over the past 50 years, the population of pygmy rabbits in Wyoming has declined by 69% (Serikbaib AdobeStock)

Groups Call on U.S. Fish and Wildlife to Prevent Pigmy Rabbit Extinction

On Monday, conservation groups submitted a petition calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the pygmy rabbit under the Endangered …

The pygmy rabbit occupies an estimated 10% of its historic range. (serikbaib/Adobe Stock)

Groups Call for Endangered Species Protections for Pygmy Rabbit

Advocates have filed a petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to save the smallest rabbit species in North America, the pygmy rabbit…

The Bonneville Dam is located about 40 miles east of Portland, Ore. (Dominic/Adobe Stock)

NW Energy Experts in DC Talking Grid Update, Saving Fish

Northwest energy experts and conservation leaders are in Washington, D.C. to urge policymakers to invest in modernizing the region's power grid…

Just 47% of Wyoming residents prefer leaders place more emphasis on protecting water, air, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities over maximizing the amount of land available for drilling and mining. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Conservation Efforts, Environmental Priorities Remain High in Wyoming

Voters in Wyoming and across the West strongly support protecting water supplies, public lands and migration corridors for wildlife, according to the …

In 2022, a stretch of the Rio Grande flowing through Albuquerque ran dry for the first time in 40 years. (LeoYorkPhotos/AdobeStock)

NM Lawmakers Urged to Allocate More Money to Purchase Water

New Mexico lawmakers are considering a bill this session to fully fund the Strategic Water Reserve, a management tool deemed critical as the state …

Congress negotiates new Farm Bills every five years. (Jesse/Adobe Stock)

Biodiversity, Climate Change Critical Topics for 2023 Farm Bill, Group Says

As hearings on the 2023 Farm Bill begin, a push is on to ensure biodiversity is part of the conversation. A Senate hearing on the bill's …

A diversity of lands exist in Montana, from forests to sagebrush. (Mark/Adobe Stock)

Preserving Wildlife, Climate Critical Topics for 2023 Farm Bill

As hearings on the 2023 Farm Bill begin, a push is on to ensure biodiversity is part of the conversation. A Senate hearing on the bill's conservation …

The California Spotted Owl would be the last of three subspecies to receive protection under the Endangered Species Act. (Rick Kuyper/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)<br />

CA Spotted Owl Protections Open for Public Comment

The Biden administration is now taking public comments on a proposal to grant the California Spotted Owl protection under the Endangered Species Act…

Irresponsible target shooting, littering and off-highway vehicles are among the human factors causing damage to heritage assets. (Adobe Stock)

New Map Outlines Reasons for Protecting Great Bend of Gila

Conservation groups have added an interactive story map to their toolkit as they continue to push for permanent protections for the Great Bend of the …

Visitors to New Mexico's Gila Wilderness have reported that stray or feral cattle, grazing there since the 1970s, have become aggressive, with no fear of people and also protective of their young and food sources. (Robin Silver/Center for Biological Diversity)

Aerial Shooting of Feral Cattle Closes NM's Gila Wilderness Area

A helicopter will be used starting tomorrow to fly over a portion of the Gila Wilderness in southwestern New Mexico, searching for feral cattle to …

Lithium Nevada says the Thacker Pass project would create 1,000 jobs during the construction phase of the open-pit lithium mine in northern Nevada. (Adobe Stock)

Conservation Groups Seek Emergency Halt on NV Lithium Mine

Conservation groups in Nevada have filed an emergency motion in federal court to stop the development of the Thacker Pass Lithium Mine north of Winnem…

An elevated segment of road in the Sierra National Forest provides an underpass for toads to cross from one part of the habitat to the other unharmed. (Stephanie Barnes/U.S. Forest Service)

Experts: Wildlife Crossings Can Help Adapt to Changing Climate

Wildlife crossings save lives, both human and animal, by allowing migrating species to avoid oncoming traffic and move over or under roads and …

The Colorado River, which once flowed to the sea in Mexico, has been chronically overused, and combined with climate change, the river system now is in crisis as reservoirs dry up. (John/AdobeStock)

Poll: Westerners Remain Strongly Supportive of Conservation Issues

Climate change, pollution, effects from oil and gas drilling and a strong concern for protecting drinking water are just some of the issues New …

A new conservation easement overlooking the Animas River protects natural habitat for wildlife ranging from swift fox, bear and mountain lion to elk and deer. (Linda Lidov)

Conservation as a Tool for Strengthening Business

A few miles south of Durango on a parcel of Florida Mesa land overlooking the Animas River, a landowner is using an increasingly popular land …

Wildlife crossings help reduce habitat fragmentation and increase landscape connectivity. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Call for More "Climate-Informed" Wildlife Crossings

Advocates in North Carolina and nationally are calling on decision makers to expand the use of climate-informed wildlife crossings. Given the vast …

Properly designed crossings reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by up to 90%, according to experts. (MierCat Photography/Adobe Stock)

Experts: Plan for Effect of Climate Change on Wildlife Crossings

Wildlife crossings could be a path to a future where the climate has significantly changed the planet. Wildlife and climate experts are urging …

The wildlife crossings over I-90 are considered crucial for creatures in the Cascades. (Washington State DOT/Flickr)

Resilient Wildlife Crossings Crucial as Climate Changes, Experts Say

Wildlife crossings could be a path to a future where the climate has significantly changed the planet. Wildlife and climate experts are urging …

New England is getting hotter faster than the rest of the country, according to the latest data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and it could affect food webs available to the cold water-thriving Arctic char. (Adobe Stock)

UNH Researchers Track Arctic Charr’s Climate-Change Resilience

Researchers are studying the feeding habits of Arctic charr to help predict how various fish populations could adapt to a warming climate. Arctic …

University of Maine graduate Emily Miller holds a female Arctic charr from the Floods Pond field site in Otis, Maine, where she and other scientists will measure, genetically sample and tag the long-lived species with a microchip ID. (Bradley Erdman)

Maine’s Arctic Charr Provide Insight into Climate Resilience

Researchers are studying the feeding habits of Arctic charr to help predict how other fish species could adapt to a warming climate. Arctic charr …

Grizzly bears are considered to be an umbrella species, and conservationists argue protecting them allows for the protection of hundreds of other species by maintaining large tracts of wild spaces. (Adobe Stock)

Conservationists Warn of Downsides to Delisting Grizzly

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering removing Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystem grizzly bears from the …

Whale-watching vehicles in Puget Sound are required to stay 1,000 yards away from Southern Resident orcas. (ronnybas/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Supports Orcas' Need for More Space from Boaters

Whales are disturbed by vessel noise, but a measure in Olympia would provide a greater buffer for the endangered orcas in Puget Sound. The …

The Nevada Conservation League says wildlife infrastructure projects could reduce vehicle collisions by 90%, while facilitating wildlife migration. (Adobe Stock)

Nevada Conservation League Outlines 2023 Policy Priorities

The Nevada Conservation League will be busy during this legislative session. The group said it plans to advance renewable energy and oppose ideas …

The USCAP funded a riparian revegetation project along the East Fork of the Salmon River at White Clouds Preserve. (Idaho Conservation League)

Mining Co., ID Conservation Group Partner to Fund Salmon Restoration

A cobalt mining company and conservation group are teaming up in Idaho for the third year in a row to fund projects that restore fish habitat near the…

In Colorado, outdoor recreation is considered to be a legally beneficial use of Colorado water. (Adobe Stock)

Revised Colorado Water Plan Prioritizes Conservation

A coalition of conservation groups is giving Colorado's revised state water plan a thumbs-up for its increased focus on protecting Colorado's rivers…

The North Fork of the Smith River in Oregon was not included in 1990 protections for the river, which runs through California. (Zachary Collier/Northwest Rafting Co.)

Bill in Congress Would Protect Smith River Watershed in OR

A new bill in Congress would add greater protections to a river and its watersheds in southern Oregon. Oregon Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron …

Currently, New Mexico is one of the few Western states without a dedicated land and water conservation funding. (Don/AdobeStock)

NM Legislature Considers Dedicated Funding for Land, Water Conservation

As New Mexico recovers from its worst wildfire in history, lawmakers are considering a proposal to create the "Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund" to …

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