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Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Service Investigation Breaks Up Ivory Smuggling Ring
December 3, 2008
Special agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have secured Federal charges against six individuals for smuggling elephant ivory from three African nations. The joint investigation linked the defendants to at least eight shipments of ivory imported through JFK International Airport in New York.

Elephant ivory seized included these items from four shipments (worth some $250,000); smugglers used clay or resin-like substances for concealment. Credit: USFWS

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National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
Take a North American Wildlife Safari at a National Wildlife Refuge Near You
December 3, 2008
Sleigh rides amidst thousands of elk wintering in Wyoming; trolley tours of bison roaming newly restored prairie in Colorado; a drive along lakes and marshes in Florida where alligators are commonly seen. These are just some of the opportunities national wildlife refuges offer visitors who want to see charismatic wild animals in their natural habitats.


Visitors on a sleigh ride at National Elk Refuge. Credit: John and Karen Hollingsworth / USFWS
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Migratory Birds: Conservation and Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Finalizes Light Goose Conservation Rules
December 2, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently finalized rules allowing the use of expanded hunting methods and implementation of a conservation order to increase light goose harvest. The regulations have been in place in the Central and Mississippi Flyways on an interim basis since 1999, when the Arctic Tundra Habitat Emergency Conservation Act was passed.

Snow geese. Credit: Gary Zahm / USFWS

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Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will Solicit Comments to Improve Implementation and Management of the Tribal Wildlife Grants (TWG) Program
December 1, 2008
The Fish and Wildlife Service will be seeking public comments on the Request for Proposals, the proposal scoring criteria and scoring process that will improve the solicitation and selection of proposals, and the implementation and management of the Tribal Wildlife Grants program.
News Release

Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
Service Facilities Noted for Environmental Achievement
November 19, 2008
The Service has received seven Interior Department awards for energy conservation and sustainability projects. During the presentation ceremony held in Washington, DC, Deputy Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett called the awards "the equivalent of the Department's Environmental Emmy awards."


The administrative and visitor facility team at the Nulhegan Division of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Vermont has received an Interior Department Environmental Achievement Award. Credit: Kim Roseberry / Oak Point Associates
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National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
Wilderness Stewardship Policy Seeks To Improve Refuge System Wilderness Management
November 13, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced an updated and revised Wilderness Stewardship Policy that will improve the National Wildlife Refuge System’s stewardship of lands designated as wilderness under the Wilderness Act of 1964. The policy is the Service’s first revision since the original Wilderness Stewardship Policy was issued in 1986.

Cabeza Prieta NWR. Credit: John and Karen Hollingsworth / USFWS

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Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Wildlife Habitat Council
October 28, 2008
Recognizing the importance of the role of the private sector in biodiversity conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes a conservation partnership between the two organizations.


Wildlife Habitat Council logo. (c)
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Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction.
Service Reopens Public Comment Period On 2007 Proposal to Delist Northern Rocky Mountain Population of Gray Wolves Under the Endangered Species Act
October 24, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced it is reopening the public comment period on its proposal to delist the gray wolf in the northern Rocky Mountains.

Gray wolf. Credit: John and Karen Hollingsworth / USFWS

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Renewing a Partnership for Ducks

Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall (right) and Don Young, executive vice president of Ducks Unlimited, Inc., signed a Memorandum of Understanding this week in Washington, D.C. The MOU reaffirms the historic partnership between FWS and DU benefitting their common missions of wetlands and waterfowl conservation.
Photo credit: LaVonda Walton/USFWS
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Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
South Dakotan Wins 2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest
October 18, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the winning artwork for the 2009-2010 Federal Duck Stamp. Joshua Spies, an artist from Watertown, South Dakota, won the contest with his acrylic painting of a long-tailed duck.
News Release

Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
Get Outdoors, It's Yours!
October 15, 2008

"Get Outdoors, It's Yours!" is a national campaign to help get America's youth and their families outside engaging in nature, and participating in outdoor activities.
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Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Supports Hispanic Heritage Month 2008
October 10, 2008
The month of October is ideal for everyone to go outside and connect with the outdoors. This month, we as a nation also observe Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 – October 15, 2008.
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Migratory Birds: Conservation and Management
Final Falconry Regulations Published
October 8, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a major revision to the regulations governing falconry in the United States and its territories. The changes, published in today’s Federal Register, simplify the agency’s regulations and reflect current practices in the traditional use of raptors for sport hunting.
News Release

National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
Hunting at the Click of a Computer Mouse
October 8, 2008
Finding terrific hunting opportunities at national wildlife refuges has just gotten easier with Your Guide to Hunting at National Wildlife Refuges, the first comprehensive compilation of all hunting programs within the National Wildlife Refuge System. More than 300 hunting programs are available on national wildlife refuges.
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Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
New Report Documents Great Ape Conservation Fund Efforts
October 7, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a new report, The Great Ape Conservation Fund Summary Report 2001-2007, outlining ape conservation efforts supported by the Fund.
Bulletin

Summary Report

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
New Regulations Reduce Amount of Caviar International Travelers Can Import
October 6, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently implemented changes to the regulations governing international trade in sturgeon and paddlefish caviar. The new regulations reduce from 250 to 125 grams the quantity of caviar that international travelers may carry into or out of the country as a personal effect (i.e., without a permit).
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Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Kempthorne Announces Proposal to Protect 48 Hawaii Species
September 30, 2008
Applying a newly developed, ecosystem-based approach to species conservation, the Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced a proposal to add 48 species found only on the island of Kauai to the federal endangered species list and designate critical habitat.
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Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week in Your State, October 12-18, 2008
September 26, 2008
Whether it’s taking a walk among the fall colors, spotting a rare bird species, or learning about the cultural resources that are part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s conservation mission, National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 12-18, 2008, celebrates the diversity and resources of America’s 548 national wildlife refuges. And it’s a great opportunity to find a family event in your community.
News Release

National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
On the Border
September 26, 2008
Along the international border of Mexico and the United States thousands of individuals attempt to cross into the United States illegally. The Service is responsible for managing natural resources along 158 miles of this border in Arizona, Texas and California. The illegal off road traffic and resulting border enforcement actions have left their mark on sensitive natural resources that the Service has worked for decades to restore and protect.
On the Border

Landscape Conservation, Threatened and Endangered Species
Sanctuary for the Houston Toad
September 26, 2008
Through the Service's Safe Harbor Program, Texas rancher and minister, Bob Long, is helping to conserve the endangered amphibian.
Sanctuary for the Houston Toad

Year of the Frog