New Ocelot Kitten at Laguna Atascosa Refuge

An ocelot kitten has been born at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Texas and for the first time, the mother and baby have been photographed together.

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2008-2009 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations – Modifications

On January 13, 2009, we published a proposed regulation for refuge-specific hunting and fishing. This rule contains only modifications to existing language in 50 CFR part 32. This will be out for a 30-day public comment period ending on February 12, 2009. You may view the proposed rule at the following link: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-287.pdf

Palmyra Atoll Refuge Is Ramsar Site

Credit: USFWS

Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge has been designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance – the first in the United States to include coral reefs.

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Rare Butterfly Spotted at Florida Refuge

Credit: Stephanie Sanchez

A rare Eumaeus atala butterfly has been spotted in the newly-renovated Butterfly Garden at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. In the United States, the small atala butterfly is found only in tropical southeastern Florida.

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Record Number of Whoopers to Texas

Credit: Diane Dewhurst

A record 270 endangered whooping cranes will spend the winter at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and environs in Texas, up from 266 last year.

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Hear Cranes Vocalize

Making Energy Efficiency Pay Off

Two national wildlife refuges – San Andres Refuge in New Mexico and Ottawa Refuge in Ohio – have received national awards for innovations in energy efficiency.

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New Refuge System Chief

Credit: USFWS

Greg Siekaniec, a 24-year veteran of the National Wildlife Refuge System, has been named the new Assistant Director for the Refuge System by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall. Just before taking the helm of the Refuge System, Siekaniec spent eight years as the refuge manager of Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, one of the Refuge System’s most remote and far flung units.

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Establish National Wildlife Refuge in Pennsylvania

Winter scene at Cherry   Valley National Wildlife   Refuge

Credit: USFWS

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on December 23 approved the establishment of Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Pennsylvania.

The Service has established a boundary for the refuge, encompassing 20,466 acres in Monroe and Northampton counties, within which it may begin acquiring nationally significant habitat for wildlife as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

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Successful Condors

California Condor

Credit: USFWS

Seven wild California condor chicks left their nests in California in 2008 – marking a successful breeding season for the California condor recovery program at Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

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Protecting Georgia Land

Red-Cockaded   Woodpecker

Credit: Michael   McCloy

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia will benefit from a complex partnership that will protect 870 acres of land burned during the 2007 wildfires, enabling the refuge to expand habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.

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Aleutian Refuge Islands Part of New World War II Monument

Plane Crash

Credit: Steve   Hillebrand/USFWS

The Aleutian Islands of Attu, Kiska and Atka – all within Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge – are part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument created by President Bush on December 5. The Monument also includes sites in Hawaii and California.

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Grab Some Binoculars

sEver squint to see whether a duck is a pintail or a mallard? Ever notice a bird way up in the sky and wish you could focus on how it hovers or soars with little or no effort? Now, you can.

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Hunting at the Click of a Computer Mouse

Credit: USFWS

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. Find one online at: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/hunting/.

Independent Evaluation Rates Refuge System

After extensive study from October 2006 through September 2007, an independent firm has determined that because the Refuge System experienced an 11 percent decline in real purchasing power between FY 2003 and the FY 2008 requested budget, the System has been unable to meet some of its strategic goals.

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