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Items that appeared on the Endangered Species Program home page during 2004:

Wintering Whooping Crane Population Reaches Record High in Texas
(December 1, 2004)
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Just Ahead of the Ultralight-led Cranes, Wild Whooping Cranes Completes Fall Migration to Southeastern U.S.
(November 22, 2004)
The first of eastern North America's new migratory flock of wild whooping cranes has arrived at its winter home in Florida, as the younger, ultralight-led cranes continued making progress on their first southward migration. The birds are part of an effort by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) to establish a self-sustaining wild, migrating flock of whooping cranes in eastern North America.

The five whooping cranes from the Class of 2003 that spent the summer in Michigan are also on their way south for their first unassisted fall migration. Four of them made history once again when they detoured through South Carolina, spending some time on Cape Romain NWR, along the Atlantic coast, before heading north into North Carolina. This is the first time whooping cranes have been in South Carolina in more than a century.
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Northern Spotted Owl still Threatened despite progress in addressing habitat needs
(November 18, 2004)
After completing a formal 5-year status review of the northern spotted owl, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded that the species continues to warrant the protection of the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species.
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Whooping cranes are halfway through their winter migration
(November 12, 2004)
The annual whooping crane migration from Canada to Texas has reached its mid point with cranes resting in Oklahoma before reaching their wintering grounds along the Texas coast.
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Dr. John Morgart is new Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Coordinator
(November 12, 2004)
Dr. John R. Morgart, a wildlife biologist at the Service's Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, has been selected as the coordinator of the high-profile Mexican gray wolf recovery program.
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Draft Conservation Plan for the Sacramento Mountains Checkerspot Butterfly Is Available for Review and Comment

(October 7, 2004)
In response to growing interest by the local community to conserve the butterfly, the Service began coordination in 2004 with local and Federal partners to assess current threats to this proposed species and develop a draft Conservation Plan. Comments are due on or before November 8, 2004. A public meeting will be held on October 13, 2004.

Read the Federal Register notice.

Read the draft Conservation Plan.

Wild Things 2004
"Recovering Endangered Species...Bringing Them Back!"

(October 7, 2004)
Each year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners sponsor a Wild Things Electronic Field Trip. Wild Things is a LIVE and INTERACTIVE distance learning adventure that helps students and teachers explore and learn about our National Wildlife Refuges and the fascinating critters that inhabit them.

The Wild Things series feature satellite broadcasts and web-based content that connect students with conservation professionals in our National Wildlife Refuges. This year's successful satellite learning adventure took place on October 7th.

You can also download the Educator's Guide in PDF format.

Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Awards Announced

(September 23, 2004)
The Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded $70 million in grants to 28 states and one territory to support conservation planning and acquisition of vital habitat for threatened and endangered fish, wildlife and plant species. The grants will benefit species ranging from the Delmarva fox squirrel in the East to peninsular bighorn sheep in the West.

Read the news release.

Private Stewardship Grants Program-- Awards Announced For Conservation of Imperiled Species on Private Lands

(August 26, 2004)
The Service announced today that it is awarding more than $7 million to support efforts on private lands to protect imperiled species through its Private Stewardship Grants Program.

Read the news release.

Read the list of FY 2004 awards.

Gray Wolf Back from the Brink
Eastern Population Proposed for Removal from Endangered Species List

(July 16, 2004)
Three decades after gray wolves were nearly extinct in the lower 48 states, wolves in the eastern U.S. have recovered to the point where they can be proposed for removal from the Federal list of endangered and threatened species.

Read the full story.

Read the gray wolf regulatory profile.

Working Together
Partnerships for Endangered Species Recovery

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, the Endangered Species Program is pleased to announce the release of a new poster, Working Together: Partnerships for Endangered Species Recovery. This poster celebrates the many successes achieved by working in partnership with others to conserve our Nation’s threatened and endangered fish, wildlife, and plants.

Learn more about this poster.

Updated Guidance for Approving Incidental Take Permits

(July 01, 2004)
In light of a June 10 ruling from the District Court for the District of Columbia, Director Steve Williams has issued additional guidance (pdf file) to Fish and Wildlife Service employees nationwide about approving incidental take permits associated with Habitat Conservation Plans.

The June 10th order directed us to refrain from approving incidental take permits or related documents that contain the "No Surprises" assurances until such time as the Service has completed rulemaking procedures for revoking incidental take permits. The court directed the Service to complete this rulemaking no later than December 10, 2004. The Service issued a proposed regulation to establish revocation standards for incidental take permits on May 25, 2004, and is accepting public comments on that proposal until July 26, 2004 . Consistent with the District Court’s recent order that allows the issuance of incidental take permits without "No Surprises" assurances, the June 28th guidance provides instructions to the Service’s field and regional offices on how to issue such permits.

Service Publishes Updated List of Candidates

(May 04, 2004)
If the Service has enough information to propose listing a species as threatened or endangered, but is precluded from taking action by higher listing priorities, that species becomes a candidate species. Twenty-six new species were added to the Candidate list since it was last published in 2002.

Read the news release.

Read the new "Candidate Notice of Review."

Conservation Programs Made Easier for Landowners

(April 28, 2004)
Private landowners will find it easier to understand and participate in two Fish and Wildlife Service voluntary conservation agreements that benefit imperiled species, thanks to changes in regulations that take effect June 02.

Read the news release.

Read the Federal Register notice.

Service Announces Conservation Banking Guidance

(May 08, 2003)
Conservation banking can reduce piecemeal approaches to conservation by establishing larger reserves and enhancing habitat connectivity, while saving time and money for landowners. This guidance details how, when, and where the Service will use this collaborative, incentive-based approach to species conservation.

Read the guidance. (pdf)

Read the Federal Register Notice of Availability. (pdf)

Federal Register notices:

Safe Harbor and CCAA proposals

Proposed ESA permitting revisions

Comment Period Reopened for Proposed Revisions to Conservation Agreements

(February 23, 2004)
Comments will be accepted until March 9, 2004, on a proposal to revise existing permitting regulations for the enhancement of species survival. The proposal was originally published in the Federal Register on September 10, 2003, as “Revisions to the Regulations Applicable to Permits Issued Under the Endangered Species Act.”

The revision is designed, in part, to remove a potential disincentive for landowners to manage their property for the benefit of listed and candidate species by allowing for more control over species outside of the area covered by the agreement.

Read the news release.

Read the Federal Register notice reopening the comment period, including instructions for submitting comments

Read the original Federal Register notice and proposed regulation, "Revisions to the Regulations Applicable to Permits Issued Under the Endangered Species Act" (from September 10, 2003)

Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Seeks Grant Proposals

(February 11, 2004)
The Service announced today it is seeking proposals for grants issued under the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund. Approximately $80 million will be available in Fiscal Year 2004. These grants are offered directly to states and territories, which may in turn distribute them to private landowners and conservation groups.

Read the news release.

Visit our Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund home page for more information.

Guidance for Issuing Section 10 Permits with No Surprises Assurances

(January 30, 2004)
On January 28, the Director issued additional guidance to Service employees nationwide about issuing incidental take permits with no surprises assurances, in light of a recent Federal Court decision that struck down our "permit revocation rule" for permits issued under section 10 of the Endangered Species Act and required us to reconsider it and our "No Surprises" rule as well.

The Court did not strike down the No Surprises rule. The Service will continue issuing, renewing, amending, and transferring permits, and these permits will include No Surprises assurances. However, as there are still pending motions in this case, severability language must still be included. For more, please see the Director's January 28th memo and his November 4, 2003 memo describing the severability language.

Private Stewardship Grants Program Seeks Proposals for Funding

(January 06, 2004)
The Service announced today that it is seeking proposals for private lands conservation funding through its Private Stewardship Grants Program. Approximately $7.1 million will be available in Fiscal Year 2004 to support efforts on private lands to protect imperiled species.

Read the news release for more,

Visit our Private Stewardship Grants Program home page for complete application information.

See items that appeared on the Endangered Species Program home page during 2003.

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