Endangered Species & Wildlife / Public News Service

The Brandon Road Lock and Dam Project would use electric barriers, bubble screens and noisemakers, all to help prevent the spread of invasive carp into the Great Lakes. (Rock Island District)

Friday, January 21, 2022

Federal Funds Coming to Keep Invasive Carp Out of Great Lakes

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to use federal funds for a project to help keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. It is proposing using …

Picking up fruit in fall, locking up trash and keeping chicken coops and beehives inaccessible can prevent unwanted encounters with wildlife. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Teton County Poised to Set National Standard for Wildlife Cohabitation

Wildlife advocates see Teton County's upcoming revised Lands Development Regulation on feeding wildlife as an opportunity to set a national standard f…

Fifteen of the 20 wolves killed from Yellowstone National Park were shot after roaming into Montana. (alex/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Wolf Hunting Near Yellowstone Spark Distress for Wildlife-Related Businesses

The hunting of gray wolves from Yellowstone National Park has set off alarm bells for wildlife-related businesses in the region. Thirty businesses …

The Long Run watershed, located in the Greenbrier Southeast Project area, supports native brook trout and drains into waters that are home to the endangered candy darter fish. (Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance)<br /><br /> — The Long Run watershed, located in the Greenbrier Southeast Project area, supports native brook trout and drains into waters that are home to the endangered candy darter fish. (Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance)

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Conservation Groups Scrutinize Monongahela Timber-Harvest Proposal

A U.S. Forest Service timber-harvest proposal in Pocahontas County has conservation groups worried about potential harmful impacts to endangered …

Connecticut's National Estuarine Research Reserve is expected to provide economic benefits too. Long Island Sound is responsible for about $9.4 billion annually in economic impact in the<br />region, according to a study. (Adobe Stock) — Connecticut's National Estuarine Research Reserve is expected to provide economic benefits too. Long Island Sound is responsible for about $9.4 billion annually in economic impact in the
region, according to a study. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

CT's Estuarine Research Reserve to Focus on Preserving Long Island Sound

Connecticut has secured its first National Estuarine Research Reserve along part of the state's Long Island Sound. Conservationists applaud the news …

According to the Izaak Walton League of America, 80% of streams across the United States are not adequately monitored for pollution. (kurgu128/Adobe Stock)

"Citizen Science" Leads Group to Conservation Achievements

One hundred years ago today, the Izaak Walton League of America was founded in Chicago, with a mission of local stewardship of wild places, citizen …

In recent months, 20 gray wolves roamed from Yellowstone National Park and were shot by hunters; the most killed by hunting in a single season since the animals were reintroduced to the region more than 25 years ago, according to park officials.<br />(photo courtesy Don Burkett) — In recent months, 20 gray wolves roamed from Yellowstone National Park and were shot by hunters; the most killed by hunting in a single season since the animals were reintroduced to the region more than 25 years ago, according to park officials.
(photo courtesy Don Burkett)

Pressure Mounts to Protect Mexican Gray Wolves

Last year, advocates for the Mexican gray wolf cheered when a judge ruled the problem of poaching was not adequately addressed in a management plan …

While most animals are safe at Lake Michigan's current salinity levels, small critters - like zooplankton, mussels and amphibians - can experience negative effects at lower concentrations. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Lake Michigan Getting Saltier

The Great Lakes hold about one-fifth of the Earth's fresh water, but a new report indicates they're getting saltier - and says that's reason for …

A new report says increased salinity in Lake Michigan may put some small lake-dwelling critters at risk, such as zooplankton, mussels and amphibians. (Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Saltier Water Puts Lake Michigan Wildlife at Risk

The Great Lakes hold about one-fifth of the Earth's fresh water, but a new report indicates they're getting saltier - and says that's reason for …

Hunting elk has spiritual and cultural significance for Crow Indians, yet for more than a century, the State of Wyoming refused to recognize Crow Tribe treaty hunting rights. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming Defies U.S. Supreme Court Over Crow Tribal Hunting Rights

Wyoming will appeal a recent district court decision affirming Crow tribal hunting rights granted under treaties signed in the 19th century, rights …

The Clark County Clean Water Restoration Fund distributed nearly $4.5 million to 25 projects on the Columbia River. (Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership)

Seven Years On, Columbia River Benefits from Water Pollution Lawsuit

A fund created seven years ago in the wake of Clark County's violation of the Clean Water Act is helping improve salmon habitat and cleaning up stormw…

More than 190 winter bird species can be found in Maine, including chickadees, crows and mallards. (Ann Stryzhekin/Adobe Stock)

Maine Birders Urged to Assist in Mapping Wintering Species

The Maine Bird Atlas is in its fourth year out of five, an effort to document the abundance and distribution of the state's wintering and breeding …

Chronic wasting disease has been found in deer, elk and moose in at least 26 states. (Adobe Stock)

Congress Could Provide Funds to Manage CWD in Arkansas Deer Herds

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk is a growing problem in Arkansas, and conservation groups hope bills making their way through Congress …

Chronic wasting disease has been found in deer, elk and moose in at least 26 states, including North Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

Conservation Groups Hope Congress Comes Through with CWD Relief

The spread of chronic wasting disease in deer and elk is a concern in North Dakota. Conservation groups hope bills making their way through Congress …

Milkweed is a necessary part of the monarch breeding cycle, as caterpillars can only eat from that specific plant. Due to human disruption, the prevalence of milkweed has dropped, impacting the butterfly's breeding process. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Bill Could Stabilize IN Monarch Butterfly Population

The number of Midwestern monarch butterflies has declined rapidly in recent decades, but a new bill pending in Congress could stabilize their …

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating high numbers of manatee deaths along Florida's Atlantic coast. (Florida Fish and Wildlife/Flickr)

A Christmas Eve Memorial for Florida Manatees

A record number of manatees have died this year, more than a thousand, and conservation groups warn hundreds more will die from starvation and …

According to the Xerces Society, the western monarch butterfly population has declined by 99.9% since the 1980s. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Legislation Could Mean Brighter Future for OR Monarch Butterflies

Oregon is a critical breeding ground for western monarch butterflies. Human disruption has destroyed much of the pollinator's native territories…

The grey wolf was removed from the federal endangered species list in January. (Adobe Stock)

Next WI Wolf Hunt Blocked for Remainder of Season

A Wisconsin court has effectively ended any chance of a winter wolf hunt in the state. A coalition of wildlife advocacy groups sued earlier this …

More than 40 million people rely on the Colorado River, which is fed by melting mountain snowpack, for drinking water. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming Could Face Multiple Years of Snowless Winters

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Wyoming and other western states are projected to see multiple years in a row without any snow as soon as 35 years out if efforts …

Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows more than 15,000 coyotes have been eliminated through its Wildlife Services program on public lands managed by the BLM or USFS in the past five years. (Trish Swain/Trailsafe Nevada)

Groups Sue Over NV Wildlife Services Killings

ELKO, Nev. - Conservation groups want the feds to do a full environmental impact report on an agency that authorizes the killing of coyotes and other …

The semipalmated sandpiper may not be one of the most common shorebirds in the Americas if its population continues to decrease, as it has for four decades. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Can Play Key Part in Migratory Bird Conservation

GREENWICH, Conn. -- North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and a new report shows how Connecticut, a major stopover for migratory …

Cases of chronic wasting disease among Wisconsin's deer population increased to a 20-year high of nearly 1,600 animals in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Public Can Weigh In on WI Efforts to Tackle Chronic Wasting Disease

MADISON, Wis. - The Department of Natural Resources wants Wisconsinites to weigh in on its efforts to address chronic wasting disease. The always-…

The proposed Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge is key habitat to the federally endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly. (Eric Porter/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Conservation Groups Build Support for Riverside County Wildlife Refuge

HEMET, Calif. -- Public-lands groups are asking Congress to support the proposed Western Riverside County Wildlife Refuge, a 500,000-acre swath …

Conservationists say the Recovering America's Wildlife Act could support improvements to water quality in the Ozarks, including the Buffalo National River. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Act Could Boost AR Conservation, Advocates Say

ST. JOE, Ark. -- More than a decade of restoration efforts in a section of Northern Arkansas' Ozark National Forest have led to 40 new species of …

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed endangered-species protections for gray wolves in 2020. (Dennis Donohue/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Groups: Tribal Nations Should be Partners in Wolf Management

HELENA, Mont. -- To honor the Biden administration's steps toward greater ties with tribal nations, conservation groups are calling on it to list the …

One way climate change affects the western monarch butterfly is by changing the times that certain flowers bloom, which may not match up with monarchs' migration patterns. (LisaLeo/Morguefile)

Western Monarch Butterflies Rebound from Edge of Extinction

GOLETA, Calif. - The western monarch butterfly appears to be pulling back from the edge of extinction - with more than 100,000 counted so far in the 2…

Black-footed ferrets rely exclusively on prairie dogs for prey and on prairie-dog burrows for shelter. (Adobe Stock)

Suit Filed Over Plan to Poison Thunder Basin Prairie Dogs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Wildlife advocates are taking the U.S. Forest Service to court over a plan to eliminate prairie dogs from the Thunder Basin …

Environmental advocates say drift gillnet fishing gear is a significant threat to the endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle. (NOAA)

Report: Fishing Crews Greatly Under-report Endangered Bycatch

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- California swordfishing crews failed to self-report any of the sea turtles and more than 98% of the marine mammals they …

Experts estimate the Gulf of Mexico lost between 4 billion and 8 billion oysters due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and loss of reproduction in ensuing years. Places like Suwannee Sound in Florida and other Gulf states are tapping settlement money to help populations rebound. (macayran/Pixabay)

Settlement Funds from Oil Spill to Help Restore FL Oyster Reefs

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Storm damage, pollution and other factors - some related to climate change - are reducing the oyster population. But settlement …

Pumpkin seeds germinate best in soil that is between 80 and 85 degrees. (encierro/Adobe Stock)

Naturalist: Recycle Jack-O-Lanterns, Use Pumpkin Seeds as Birdfeed

BOSTON - Now that Halloween has passed, groups recommend recycling leftover jack-o-lanterns, rather than sending them to landfills. Pumpkins are 90% …

The Great Meadows Marsh is an important habitat for horseshoe crabs, blue crabs and fish such as the Atlantic silverside and menhaden. (Audubon Connecticut)

Restoration Project at Great Meadows Marsh Aims to Invest in CT's Coastline

STRATFORD, Conn. -- A restoration project broke ground yesterday that will revive one of Connecticut's largest salt marshes thanks to a $4 million …

Ensuring that stormwater is recycled quickly is key to preventing polluted water from reaching salmon. (PNPImages/Adobe Stock)

"Salmon in the City" Explores Urban-Design Approaches to Clean Water

SEATTLE -- How water flows in cities affects salmon swimming far away. An event this week is exploring how urban centers can better treat their water …

The Lower Granite Lake Dam on the Snake River is among the dams conservation groups want removed to help salmon. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

Columbia, Snake Rivers Litigation Pause Puts Spotlight on NW Salmon

BOISE, Idaho - Action on behalf of Northwest salmon could be in the works after announcements from the Biden administration, leaders in Washington …

More than 70% of documented Mexican gray wolf deaths are human-caused, according to the environmental law firm Earthjustice. (Rebecca Bose/Wolf Conservation Center)

Judge: Plan for Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Must Address Poaching

ALBUQUERUE, N.M. - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has six months to develop new language in its Mexican gray wolf recovery plan, after a judge …

More than 100 Mexican gray wolves have been poached by humans since the lobos were added to the Endangered Species List in the 1980s. Fewer than 200 are left in the U.S. (Majurik/Adobe Stock)

Judge Orders Poaching Protections for Endangered Mexican Gray Wolves

TUCSON, Ariz. - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has six months to develop new language in its Mexican gray wolf recovery plan, after a judge ruled …

The planet lost an area of forest larger than the United Kingdom in 2020, according to research by the University of Maryland. (Adobe Stock)

New Scorecard Helps Consumers Find Responsibly Sourced Wood Furniture

HIGH POINT, N.C. - The National Wildlife Federation and Sustainable Furnishings Council have released the latest list of furniture retailers who rely …

Forests can play a big role in alleviating climate-change threats. Forests, harvested wood products and urban trees offset 11% of greenhouse-gas emissions in the United States each year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Hunters, Anglers Have Stake in Climate-Change Solutions

DENVER -- Few people spend as much time in the wilderness and outdoors as hunters and anglers, and a new report aims to be a springboard to bring …

The National Wildlife Federation warns hunters and anglers in Arizona and elsewhere to act now to save their favorite outdoor habitats from the dangers of climate change. (Christine Glade/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Group Urges Hunters, Anglers to Fight Climate Change

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- A new report found climate change is affecting public lands used by Arizona hunters and anglers, and encouraged them to join the …

The Mashomack Preserve is one of more than 100 nature preserves in New York under the care of The Nature Conservancy. (Carl Heilman/The Nature Conservancy)

Partnership Mixes Traditional & Western Ways to Protect NY Preserves

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - New York environmental groups are teaming up to blend Indigenous knowledge of the land with Western scientific knowledge to …

The proposed reserve includes a section of the Connecticut River, which contributes 75% of the freshwater found in the Long Island Sound. (Adobe Stock)

CT Close to Establishing Its First National Estuarine Research Reserve

OLD LYME, Conn. -- Connecticut soon will join a majority of East Coast states in having a federally recognized estuary, which could help identify …

Wolves had made a major comeback in the West, but wildlife managers say policies in Montana threaten to roll back that progress. (jimcumming88/Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Professionals Decry Direction of MT Management

HELENA, Mont. -- Wildlife managers and biologists in Montana are airing their frustration over how the state is managing its natural resources…

As many as 30 million pronghorn once roamed the plains and grasslands of North America. (magazine.wildlife.state.nm.us)

At-Risk Pronghorn Make Other Species Vulnerable

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Millions of pronghorn used to roam the West freely. But impediments such as roads and fences, as well as a changing climate…

Pronghorn today inhabit a fraction of their historic range, which used to stretch from Canada to Mexico. (BGSmith/Adobe Stock)

Challenges for Pronghorn Highlight Importance of Connected Landscapes

BOISE, Idaho - Millions of pronghorn used to roam the West freely. But impediments like road and fences, as well as a changing climate, threaten the …

The grasslands of the West are critical habitat for migrating pronghorn. (hdsidesign/Adobe Stock)

Impacts from Imperiled Pronghorn Migration Routes Reach Beyond Species

HELENA, Mont. - Millions of pronghorn used to roam the West freely. But impediments like road and fences, as well as a changing climate, threaten the …

Pronghorn numbers have dropped precipitously but still can be found in Colorado. (RachelKolokoffHopper/Adobe Stock)

Barriers to Migrating Plague Pronghorn in West

DENVER - Millions of pronghorn used to roam the West freely. But impediments like road and fences, as well as a changing climate, threaten the …

Pronghorn migrate hundreds of miles across the West's grasslands each year. (ichard Wright,Danita Delimont/Adobe Stock)

Flourishing, Open Grasslands Support Pronghorn, Other Wildlife

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Millions of pronghorn used to roam the West freely. But impediments like road and fences, as well as a changing climate, threaten …

The summer tanager is a migratory species that has been restored to its original habitat along the Lower Colorado River Basin. (Flickr)

States Jointly Restoring Wildlife Habitat Along Lower Colorado River

PHOENIX -- A cooperative effort to restore habitats along the Lower Colorado River Basin is seeing the re-emergence of several threatened and endanger…

Run the Red begins in the former gold mining community of South Pass City and takes runners through the northern Red Desert - a maze of buttes, canyons, badlands, wilderness study areas and miles of open country. (Adobe Stock)

Runners Celebrate Wyoming Public Lands Day in Red Desert

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. -- This weekend, athletes from across the nation gathered in South Pass City to Run the Red, a series of marathons through the Red …

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