U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Endangered Species Act at 35 - Reflections on the Recovery of Imperiled Species
December 24, 2008
December 28 marks the 35th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. Recently, Director H. Dale Hall shared his thoughts regarding wildlife conservation science and evolving strategies to stem the decline of species and the habitat upon which they depend.


Director H. Dale Hall shared his thoughts regarding wildlife conservation science and evolving strategies. Credit: USFWS
Learn More

National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Establish National Wildlife Refuge in Pennsylvania
December 23, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved the establishment of Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Pennsylvania.

woodland site of new National Wildlife Refuge

Site of Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Credit: George Gress / The Nature Conservancy

News Release
Visit the National Wildlife Refuge Web site

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Addition of Penguin Species to Endangered Species List
December 17, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list one penguin species as endangered and five penguin species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Service also found that three species of penguins do not warrant listing throughout their range and is proposing listing one species as threatened in a significant portion of its range.


African penguins. Credit: Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
News Release

Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
Service Director Announces Grants to Protect Coastal Wetlands Across the Nation
December 17, 2008
H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announced today that twenty-five conservation projects benefiting fish and wildlife on more than 13,543 acres of coastal habitat in twelve States will be funded with $20.1 million from 2009 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program.
News Release

Migratory Birds: Conservation and Management
Service Releases Proposed Rule to Remove Two Species from Depredation Order
December 17, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released a Proposed Rule to remove two species, the rusty blackbird and the Mexican (Tamaulipas) crow from the list of species that may be controlled under the depredation order for blackbirds, cowbirds, grackles, crows, and magpies. The proposed rule would now require a separate depredation permit to conduct control actions to take either of these species.
News Release

Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
Inaugural Science Awards Bestowed by Director
December 16, 2008
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall recently recognized the outstanding contributions of Service employees to science-based management of the Nation’s fish and wildlife resources. Hall announced the Service’s first ever science awards during a broadcast to employees.


From left to right, Director Hall, Senior Science Advisor Ralph Morgenweck, and award winners Rachel Mair, Sue Kvas, and Diane Granfors.
News Release

Migratory Birds: Conservation and Management
Service Finalizes Environmental Assessment on Allowing Falconers to Remove and Possess Migratory Peregrine Falcons from the Wild
December 16, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released the Final Environmental Assessment and Management Plan (FEA) allowing the limited removal and possession of migrant first-year “Northern” (predominantly Arctic subspecies) peregrine falcons from the wild for use in the sport of falconry.


Peregrine Falcon. Credit: Craig Koppie / USFWS
News Release

Connecting People With Nature: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
Top 10 Reasons Why Federal Duck Stamps and Junior Duck Stamps are Perfect Holiday Gifts
December 15, 2008

The Federal Duck Stamp Program. Credit: USFWS

Learn More

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
New Rule Unifies Domestic and International Conservation Laws to Manage Polar Bear
December 11, 2008
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a Special Rule under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) providing for the conservation of the polar bear.

Polar bear. Credit: Dave Olsen / USFWS

News Release

Polar Bear Information

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
New Conservation Effort Benefits Rare Species in Southeastern New Mexico
December 11, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management have launched an innovative conservation program that encourages landowners, energy companies and ranchers to join the agencies in protecting and restoring habitat for the lesser prairie chicken and sand dune lizard in southeast New Mexico.
News Release

Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances signed documents

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Service Releases Annual List of Candidates for Endangered Species Act
December 10, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released its Candidate Notice of Review, a yearly appraisal of the current status of plants and animals that are candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Two species have been removed from candidate status, one species has been added, and 11 have a change in priority from the last review in December 2007.
News Release

List of Candidates

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Service Increases Inspection Fees, Sets New Requirements for Wildlife Trade
December 9, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is increasing inspection fees for import and export of wildlife, and wildlife products, in order to recover more of the costs of inspecting shipments from those who use these services.
News Release

Final Rule

Questions & Answers

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Caviar Dealer Convicted of Smuggling U.S. Paddlefish Roe
December 8, 2008
A Florida businessman and his company have been found guilty of Federal charges related to the illegal export of American paddlefish caviar. The defendant, who was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for conspiracy, false labeling, and wildlife violations, faces up to 11 years in prison and $1.8 million in criminal fines.
News Release

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Service Investigation Breaks Up Ivory Smuggling Ring
December 5, 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.
News Release

View Photos

Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
Secretary Kempthorne Presents First Annual Secretarial Historic Preservation Awards
December 5, 2008
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today presented the first annual Secretary of the Interior Historic Preservation Awards to four government and tribal employees at the department’s Washington headquarters.
News Release

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.
News Release

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.
News Release

View images of Arctic degradation

Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
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."
News Release

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.
News Release

View Policy

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.
News Release

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.
News Release