Endangered Species & Wildlife / Public News Service

Wildlife crossing structures in Montana now have a dedicated funding stream after the governor signed a bill funneling marijuana tax revenue to conservation projects. (Steve Gadomski/Adobe Stock)

Friday, May 23, 2025

MT conservation groups applaud new marijuana tax revenue law

Tax revenue from marijuana sales in Montana will now support a wider variety of conservation projects, since Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed House …

Among species protected under the Endangered Species Act, 99% have been saved from extinction, including the bald eagle. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado celebrates Endangered Species Day

Today is Endangered Species Day and people in Colorado and across the nation are celebrating successful efforts to save bald eagles, brown pelicans…

Eastern hellbenders reproduce from late August to October, with females laying 150-450 eggs that males guard and oxygenate until they hatch, in 45 to 75 days. (Ondreicka/Adobe Stock)

Protecting PA's eastern hellbender on Endangered Species Day

It is Endangered Species Day, a reminder some plants and wildlife need protection, like Pennsylvania's eastern hellbender. It is the state's …

The peninsular bighorn sheep is federally listed as an endangered species. (Chrismr/Adobe Stock)

On Endangered Species Day, expert warns of 'destructive' federal policies

Today, on the 20th anniversary of Endangered Species Day, conservation advocates warn polices of President Donald Trump's administration are …

Research indicates between 2003 and 2018, almost 90% of right whale deaths were due to vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglement. (Adobe Stock)

North Atlantic right whale highlighted on Endangered Species Day

Friday is Endangered Species Day and experts are reminding Rhode Islanders of the plight of the North Atlantic right whale. Right whales' habitat is …

Marian University's David Benson spotting birds at the Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab. Enrique Saenz/Mirror Indy

As rare birds pass through IN, more Hoosiers look up

By Enrique Saenz for Mirror Indy. Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Mirror Indy-Free Press Indiana-Public …

A recent Supreme Court ruling narrowed the scope of which U.S. bodies of water are protected under the Clean Water Act. A wetlands protection advocacy group said a proposed EPA rule would narrow the definition even further, leaving millions of acres of wetlands across the country unprotected. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA rule could put remaining IL wetlands at risk

Protected wetlands across Illinois could be at risk as the Trump administration considers changes to the Clean Water Act. The Environmental …

Feds fast-track Wyoming energy projects through environmental permitting

The Trump administration has announced what it terms "emergency permitting" for energy projects, streamlining a sometimes yearslong process down to 28…

Indiana has four military installations: Camp Atterbury-Muscatatuck near Edinburgh, Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base, USCG Station Michigan City, and Grissom Air Reserve Base near Peru. (Adobe Stock)

IN military sites work with nonprofit to preserve land

The U.S. military and a nonprofit environmental group are seeing success in a partnership that strengthens military readiness and conserves Indiana's …

Western Watersheds Project Executive Director Erik Molvar says a permitting change announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior this week will mean

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Feds unveil 'emergency permitting' for energy projects in MT, U.S.

This week, the Trump administration announced what it terms "emergency permitting" for energy projects, streamlining a sometimes yearslong process …

The osprey is found year-round in Florida, both as a nesting species and as a spring and fall migrant passing between more northern areas and Central and South America. (Pixabay)

Annual wildlife survey documents Florida's changing biodiversity

Teams of researchers and volunteers will fan out at dawn Friday with their smartphones and binoculars on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus for …

Commercial fishing has become a $229 billion industry, with between 1.1 trillion and 2.2 trillion fish caught every year. (Wakr10/Adobe Stock)

Overfishing harms the environment: Is there a way out?

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

The Texas horned lizard currently is listed as a threatened species in Texas. It can be found from the south-central United States to northern Mexico, throughout much of Texas, Kansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. (David McGowen/Adobe Stock)

From horny toad to Guadalupe bass, Texans work to save wildlife

Wildlife conservationists are working with landowners and concerned Texans to recover at-risk species. Currently, more than 1,100 animals from …

Wolves are not expert hunters, only succeeding about 10% of the time, but their presence keeps deer and other animals from destroying too much plant life. (Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife)

Wildlife advocates decry WA wolf population decline

Wildlife advocates are alarmed by a new report from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife showing the state's wolf population fell nearly 10%…

Chronic Wasting Disease is a fatal neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming elk occupancy agreements aim to rein in cattle conflicts

Wyoming's practice of feeding elk over winters is a century old but the spread of disease has increased concerns. Now, the Greater Yellowstone …

Organizations such as Minnesota's Urban Bird Collective are trying to foster a more welcoming bird-watching community, which includes encouraging more women to become birders. (Adobe Stock)

'Birders' take note: MN skies dotted with more feathered friends

Minnesota bird enthusiasts should keep their binoculars handy. April is a good month to spot various species migrating back to the region. Experts …

Some two million gray wolves roamed North America in the early 1800s but today, fewer than 7,000 remain on just 10% of their historic range in the Lower 48 States. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado's Boebert targets renewed effort to remove federal wolf protections

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., has introduced a bill to remove gray wolves from the list of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered …

Iowa has about 400,000 acres of wetlands, down from an estimated 4 to 6 million acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Federal judge to decide fate of IA 'Swampbuster' wetlands program

A federal judge in Cedar Rapids hears arguments today in a case that could make or break the future of wetland protection programs in the state…

Kayaker and artist Gabe Newton will show his artwork depicting the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales at

Coalition plans legislative push to support Columbia Basin Restoration

A coalition of conservationists and tribal nations is pushing for support of the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative by state officials in Olympia…

Gregor Willms assists the Cedarburg High School team in the soil pit at Envirothon 2024. (Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association)

Competition prepares students for environmental science careers

A local event that brings students face-to-face with outdoor habitats is serving to ignite a lifelong passion in some that go on to pursue "green jobs…

A new land agreement in South Dakota expands the presence of Newton Hills State Park. Conservation voices said the surrounding wilderness is home to the only oak species native to the state, the bur oak, which is resilient to extreme hot and cold temperatures. (Photo courtesy of Conservation Fund)

Future murky for public lands, but SD has a success story

For decades to come, South Dakotans can make use of an expanded wilderness in the southeastern part of the state, as a new land deal will keep …

In 2021, more than 500 black bears perished on Pennsylvania roadways and 60 of the state's more than 1,400 elk were killed by vehicles. (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation)

Report: Reconnecting habitats protecting Pennsylvania’s native species

A new report highlighted efforts to restore Pennsylvania's wildlife habitats and called for stronger conservation to protect native species. With …

The National Park Service makes up less than 1/15 of 1% of the federal budget but delivers a $15 boost to the nation's economy for every dollar invested. (luis sandoval/Adobe Stock)

National park layoffs affect AR economy

The seven national parks in Arkansas have not been spared from job cuts by the federal government. Nationwide, 1,700 park employees have been let go …

Wolves help maintain healthy ecosystems by regulating prey populations which, in turn, influences plant growth and supports other wildlife. (cherwoman730 /Adobe Stock)

Wildlife lobby day for OR conservation groups

Today, Oregon conservation groups are headed to the state Capitol for "Wildlife Lobby Day." The organizations, all part of the Oregon Wildlife …

Oregon's lumber output of more than 6 billion board feet in 2021 accounted for about 17% of total U.S. production. (Kirk/Adobe Stock)

Executive order calls for ramping up logging in OR

The Trump administration's recent executive order, "Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production," called on federal land managers to ramp up …

There are more than 500,000 buffalo in North America today, but nearly all of those are livestock, in commercial herds and owned by private landowners. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado lawmakers consider protecting wild buffalo from poaching

Colorado lawmakers could add buffalo, also known as bison, to a long list of wildlife that have been restored to their natural habitat across the …

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Department of Transportation mapped out wildlife collision

Wildlife crossings would make OR highways safer, save money

New legislation would help build more wildlife crossings across Oregon highways to make roads safer for people and animals. Research shows that …

The Northern Spotted Owl has been the subject of many lawsuits impacting forest management in Oregon and Washington for decades. (gevans/Adobe Stock)

Jobs cuts at Dept. of Fish and Wildlife could harm sensitive OR species

The Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, has ordered the federal government to fire 400 Department of Fish and Wildlife …

North Carolina's congressional score in the League of Conservation Voters' scorecard went down between 2023 and 2024. (Gerry/Adobe Stock)

Low marks for NC Congress members in 2024 conservation scorecard

North Carolina lawmakers in Congress received mixed marks in the new League of Conservation Voters scorecard. The scorecard ranks members of …

After public outcry over the firing of thousands at the National Park Service and the Forest Service, the Trump administration has moved to re-hire some dozens of employees and additional seasonal workers. (BLM)

Poll: MAGA voters oppose cuts to parks, forest, wildlife agencies

People in Colorado and seven other Mountain West states may want to see changes in the federal government writ large but they oppose cuts to agencies …

After years of collaboration among conservationists, scientists and policymakers, the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act was signed into law on June 29, 2021, with unanimous bipartisan support from the Florida Legislature. (Adobe Stock)

Protecting Florida’s Ocala-to-Osceola wildlife corridor

A 1,086-acre property in Putnam County has been secured as part of the ongoing effort to protect the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor, a critical …

Fewer than 1% of cattle are lost to wolves, compared to 11.3% killed by dogs and 9.3% that succumb to weather. (Willy Mobilo/Adobe Stock)

Livestock industry flexes muscle over Democrat-controlled CO Legislature

A bill to exempt any Colorado livestock producer's personal information from the Colorado Open Records Act when they collect public dollars for livest…

Pollsters found 85% of Utahns prefer decisions about public lands, water and wildlife be made by career professionals such as rangers, scientists and firefighters rather than newly appointed officials who come from other industries. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Utahns value their public lands, want continued protections

As President Donald Trump starts dismantling agencies managing and protecting public lands, a new poll indicates it is unpopular in states across the …

More than half of respondents to a new poll in Idaho said habitat loss is a problem for fish and wildlife. (OLya_L/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Conservation important among voters in ID, West

Conservation of public lands remains a top priority for westerners, according to a new poll. The "Conservation in the West" poll from Colorado …

The most identified bird in the United States in 2024 was the Northern Cardinal. (Adobe Stock)

Birders ready for count across Maryland

This weekend, birders across the world, including in Maryland, will participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Thousands of birding enthusiasts …

The largest flock identified in the Great Backyard Bird Count was a group of four million bramblings in Germany. (Adobe Stock)

Bird count begins today, across VA and worldwide

This weekend, Virginians will participate with other birders around the world in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Thousands of birding enthusiasts …

Virginia motorists collide with many animals, including bald eagles, according to Meg Gammage-Tucker, president of the Wildlife Center of Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates push for program to decrease wildlife collisions in VA

Virginia is the ninth-likeliest state for a driver to hit wildlife but environmental advocates are working to change it. One in 76 people in …

Southern sea otters only inhabit about 13% of their former range and remain absent from the Oregon coast. (Dhayes/Adobe Stock)

Grant helps tribes, nonprofits plan to expand range of sea otters

The push to reintroduce southern sea otters to greater sections of the California and Oregon coast is getting a big boost from a $1.56 million grant f…

Farmed seafood products make up half of the world's seafood supply, but U.S. production lags, leading to a $16.9 billion seafood deficit in the United States in 2020, according to NOAA. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Industrial aquaculture poised to grow under second Trump administration

The Trump administration aims to increase domestic seafood production through industrial aquaculture but opponents said it puts Maine's coastal commun…

The Mexican long-nosed bat could only be differentiated from the lesser long-nosed bat by capturing the species in hand and measuring the bat's third finger, according to Bat Conservation International. (J. Scott Altenbach/Bat Conservation International)

Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona

An endangered bat species has been detected in southeastern Arizona. Researchers say the discovery of the Mexican long-nosed bat in the Grand Canyon …

Osprey, bluefish, red drum and cobia rely on menhaden populations for food. (Adobe Stock)

MD menhaden conservation may benefit from VA bill

Atlantic menhaden weigh less than a pound and measure little more than a foot long but the small fish has big consequences for the Chesapeake Bay ecos…

Menhaden are a critical part of the diet of ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay region. A study showed when menhaden stocks are low, osprey chicks have a diminished chance of surviving to adulthood. (Adobe Stock)

Conservationists: Study of Atlantic menhaden critical to preserving species

A small forage fish near the bottom of the food chain has a significant effect on the survival of several iconic predators along the Atlantic Seaboard…

A University of Connecticut study found a growing concentration of certain neonicotinoid pesticides along the state's coast, suggesting potential accumulation and transport of the insecticides. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Harmful pesticides found in CT rivers, groundwater

A new report showed a growing problem of harmful pesticides in Connecticut waterways. The University of Connecticut study analyzed 20 years of data…

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Student Leadership Council members gather around an Eastern hellbender at the Pittsburgh Zoo in 2018. The students spearheaded the effort to designate the hellbender as Pennsylvania's official state amphibian. (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

Eastern hellbender, PA's state amphibian, faces endangered-species protection

The Eastern hellbender, North America's largest salamander and Pennsylvania's state amphibian, is one step closer to receiving federal protection…

Omega Protein, a Canadian company, removes an estimated 100 million Atlantic menhaden from the Chesapeake Bay each year. (Adobe Stock)

VA advocates push for study on Chesapeake menhaden

A critical fish species in the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic menhaden, could be declining rapidly. Or its numbers could be growing. There is no data …

Chronic Wasting Disease was first detected in Wyoming in 1985. According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, as of 2023, the disease had been identified in 92% of the state's mule deer herds and 49% of its elk herds. (Adobe Stock)

After Wyoming's new feedground management plan, CWD elk death 'hits home'

A dead elk found east of Pinedale tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease earlier this month, marking the first such death inside a Wyoming …

The hottest year on record was 2024, as average global temperatures continue to rise due to the use of fossil fuels. (Adobe Stock)

Worker's coalition aims to address climate emergency, economic inequality

As President Donald Trump abandons a promise the U.S. made in Paris nearly a decade ago, organized workers across Colorado are joining forces to …

A study found water loss from evaporation at four eastern Washington dam reservoirs will grow by 3.4% over the next three decades. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

Study finds 'hidden cost' of WA lower Snake River dams

Dams on the lower Snake River in Washington state are losing water to evaporation at a rapid rate, according to a new study. The reservoirs created …

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