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Ken Salazar, a fifth generation Coloradan, was confirmed as the 50th Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior on January 20, 2009, in a unanimous vote by the U.S. Senate. Prior to his confirmation, Salazar served as Colorado's 35th United States Senator, winning election in November 2004 and serving on the Finance Committee, which oversees the nation's tax, trade, social security, and health care systems.

National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
Ultralight-Led Whooping Cranes Reach Florida
January 22, 2009
Seven of 14 ultra-light led migrating whooping cranes arrived at Florida’s St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on Saturday, January 17 after traveling more than 1,200 miles from their summer grounds at Necedah NWR in Wisconsin. Half of the flock is expected to remain at St. Marks NWR for the winter. The rest of the birds will continue south to Chassahowitzka NWR, 65 miles north of St. Petersburg.

Seven of 14 whooping cranes in flight led by ultra-light arrives at Florida’s St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Credit: Joe Duff/Operation Migration

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Video Journey of St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge. (Courtesy of Drew Smith)

National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Assigned Jurisdiction over New National Marine Monuments
January 21, 2009
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been given responsibility for overall management of three new marine national monuments in the Pacific Ocean. The action expands the National Wildlife Refuge System by 54 million acres, or 58 percent, to 147 million acres.


Thousands of marine species, such as this leather anemone at Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge, will benefit from the new marine monument designations. Credit: James Maragos, USFWS
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Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Service Releases Interim Update on Status of Greater Sage Grouse
January 16, 2009
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is making available an interim update reflecting the Service’s ongoing synthesis of the biological information currently available regarding the status of the Greater sage-grouse. The final decision on whether the Greater sage-grouse should be protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) originally due in May 2009, has been delayed pending new information about the species and its habitat. Publication of this new information is currently expected during the summer of 2009.

Greater Sage Grouse. Credit: Gary Kramer / USFWS

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National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
Nestucca Bay NWR Gains Ground Under Plan to Purchase Western Lands
January 14, 2009
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is among four Federal land-management agencies in the process of acquiring 12 pieces of property in seven Western states with $4.7 million from a special land conservation fund. The Service will use its portion of the funds to acquire lands for Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.

Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Credit: USFWS

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Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Service Removes Gray Wolf Populations from Endangered Species List
January 14, 2009
Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett announced today the removal of the western Great Lakes population and portions of the northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolves from protection under the Endangered Species Act. The success of gray wolf recovery efforts in these areas has contributed to expanding populations of wolves that no longer require the protection of the Act.

Gray wolf. Credit: Gary Kramer / USFWS

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Great Lakes-Big Rivers Regional Office

Mountain-Prairie Regional Office

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Federal Wildlife Investigation Leads to Felony Conviction of Two Women
January 13, 2009
On January 13, 2009, Pa Lor and Tia Yang, both of Minnesota, were sentenced for conspiracy to import wildlife into the United States. The case against the two women began on October 23, 2005, when Lor was found attempting to smuggle more than 1,300 pieces of wildlife into the country through the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.

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National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
New Leadership Announced for Refuges, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs
January 8, 2009
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced two new appointments to its senior leadership team. Hannibal Bolton and Greg Siekaniec have been named as the new Assistant Directors for Wildlife and Sport Fish restoration and the National Wildlife Refuge System, respectively.

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Migratory Birds: Conservation and Management
Remaining 75th Anniversary Artist-Signed Panes of One To Go On Sale
January 8, 2009
The Federal Duck Stamp Program announced that beginning February 9, 2009, it will offer for sale the remaining 5,000 of the original offering of 10,000, 2008-2009 Artist-Signed Panes of One featuring the 75th Federal Duck Stamp, a pair of northern pintails by Minnesota artist Joseph Hautman.

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National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Nominated for Inscription on World Heritage List
January 8, 2009
On January 6, President Bush announced the nomination of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument for inscription on the World Heritage List. The Monument is being nominated for its cultural and natural resource values, and would be America’s first marine site and the world’s first cultural seascape.

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National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources
Thousands of Species to Benefit From New Marine National Monument Designations
January 7, 2009
Broadening protections already provided by seven Pacific Island national wildlife refuges, three marine national monuments created by President Bush on January 6 join Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in conserving some of the most pristine areas of the Pacific Ocean.

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Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Partial Finding Announced on Major ESA Petition
January 7, 2009
The Fish and Wildlife Service has announced a negative 90-day finding on a petition that would add hundreds of species to the Federal Lists of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife and Plants.

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Questions and Answers

Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Three Bird Species from Latin America and the Caribbean Proposed for Protection
January 7, 2009
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently proposed to protect three species of birds from Latin America and the Caribbean under the Endangered Species Act.

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