Credit: USFWS
Wood stork and chick on nest.
September September 21, 2010
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced it will review the endangered status of the wood stork under the Endangered Species Act. The decision to initiate a status review is the result of a 90-day finding in response to a petition seeking to reclassify this American wading bird to threatened. The Service has determined that reclassification may be warranted.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Makes Initial Finding on Petitions to Remove Endangered Species Act Protection for Gray Wolves in the Western Great Lakes
Credit: Scott Flaherty / USFWS
Gray wolf
September 14, 2010
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that four petitions to remove Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for gray wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin contain substantial information indicating that delisting may be warranted. The Service will begin an in-depth review of the species status in order to determine whether to propose gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region for delisting.
Credit: Gary Kramer / USFWS
Northern Spotted Owl.
September 10, 2010
A draft revision to the 2008 Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan is available for a 60-day public review period, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today. The proposed refinements will help the agency better address the Pacific Northwest forest dweller’s current threats and recovery needs. The northern spotted owl was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1990 and continues to decline.
Promoting International Wildlife Conservation
Three Species of Birds from Latin America and the Caribbean Listed for Endangered Species Act Protection
Credit: Creative Commons (Wikipedia)
Andean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus andinus)
August 17, 2010
Three species of birds from Latin America and the Caribbean will be protected by the Endangered Species Act under a final rule published in today’s Federal Register by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Tennessee Purple Coneflower Proposed for Delisting
Credit: Gary Kramer / USFWS
Tennessee purple coneflower.
August 12, 2010
After a decades-long cooperative conservation effort under the Endangered Species Act, today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed removing the Tennessee purple coneflower from the list of threatened and endangered species.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Statement of Assistant Secretary Strickland Regarding Court Ruling on the Northern Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf
Credit: Gary Kramer / USFWS
Gray Wolf.
August 5, 2010
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland today issued the following statement regarding a decision in U.S. District Court on the Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf population:
“For more than 15 years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state wildlife agencies, tribes, conservation organizations, ranchers and other landowners have worked hard to recover gray wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Our collective efforts have brought this population to the point where it no longer requires Endangered Species Act protection..."
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Service to Review Status of Mexican Wolf
Credit: Jim Clark / USFWS
Mexican wolf.
August 3, 2010
The Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is currently listed as endangered within a broader species-level listing of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in the lower 48 states and Mexico. After careful consideration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today the Mexican wolf may warrant reclassification as an endangered subspecies.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Terrific News for a Tiny Fish
Credit: Aimee Roberson/USFWS
July 29, 2010
The future looks a little brighter for the Rio Grande silvery minnow, one of America’s most critically endangered species. Service biologists recently confirmed that minnows stocked in the Big Bend reach of the Rio Grande in Texas are successfully spawning.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Service Adds Two Ecuadorian Birds to Endangered Species List
Credit: © Steve Blain / The Internet Bird Collection
Black-breasted puffleg at the Yanacocha Reserve in Ecuador.
July 27, 2010
Two species of birds from Ecuador are now protected by the Endangered Species Act following the publication of two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service final listing determinations in today’s Federal Register. The black-breasted puffleg, a hummingbird native to Ecuador’s Volcán Pichincha, and the medium tree finch of the Ecuadorian island of Floreana in the Galapagos Islands, have been listed as endangered.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
FWS to Examine Status of Honduran Hummingbird for Possible Addition to Endangered Species List
Credit: Creative Commons (Wikipedia)
Honduran Emerald (Amazilia luciae).
June 23, 2010
The Service announced today that a petition to list the Honduran emerald hummingbird under the Endangered Species Act contains substantial information indicating that listing may be warranted.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Seven Hawaiian Yellow-faced Bee Species to be considered for Listing as Endangered or Threatened
Credit: Karl Magnacca, University of Hawaii
Hawaii is home to more than 400 endangered and threatened plant species that depend on pollinators such as bees to sustain their native ecosystems.
June 22, 2010
Following a review of petitions from the Xerxes Society, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking scientific data for a 12-month finding that will determine whether listing the insect species may be warranted. The deadline for receipt of information is August 16, 2010.
The seven species are Hylaeus facilis, Hylaeus longiceps, Hylaeus anthracinus, Hylaeus assimulan, Hylaeus hilaris, Hylaeus kuakea, and Hylaeus mana. Information may be sent to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov or by U.S. Mail or hand-delivery to Attn: FWS-R1-ES-2010-0012, Policy and Directives Management, USFWS, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, Virginia 22203.
For each species, the Service is interested in its historical and current status and distribution, biology, ecology, and ongoing conservation measures, including those that apply to habitat.
Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
Get the Buzz on National Pollinator Week!
Credit: Mike Higgins / USFWS
A sweat bee pollinating.
June 22, 2010
Celebrate National Pollinator Week, June 21-27! Take a moment during the week to appreciate the hard-working bees, bats, hummingbirds and butterflies that pollinate our crops and native plants, providing a bountiful harvest for people and wildlife. Explore the Service’s Pollinator Portal where you can find fun, interactive activities for kids, informative podcasts and tips for planting a native garden.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Endangered Species Day at the U.S. Botanic Garden
Credit:USFWS
May 28, 2010
The Service, along with many other federal and non-governmental partners participated in an Endangered Species event hosted by the U.S. Botanic Garden. The event featured an emphasis on plants and habitats--their beauty, and their critical role in providing food, shelter, water, and many other planetary ecosystem services for both fish and wildlife and people.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
2,000,000-year-old shrimp species lives today
Credit:USFWS
May 21, 2010
Two-Million-Year-Old species of tiny shrimp survives in California's vernal pools, protected by Endangered Species Act.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Service Celebrates Endangered Species Day
Credit: Endangered Species Coalition
Endangered Species Day logo.
May 13, 2010
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will observe Endangered Species Day on May 21 to recognize the conservation programs underway nationwide aimed at protecting America’s threatened and endangered species. As part of the celebration, the Service and Endangered Species Coalition are cosponsoring four signature events around the country to focus public support on rare and imperiled species.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Releases Draft Economic Analysis of Polar Bear Critical Habitat
Credit:Michael W. Klein, Sr.
Found only in chaparral ecosystems: the Thorne’s hairstreak butterfly with its larval host plant, Tecate cypress; the Hermes copper butterfly with its larval host plant, the spiny redberry. Wildfire and habitat loss are primary threats. Photos by
May 12, 2010
The Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking scientific information about the Thorne’s hairstreak butterfly and the Hermes copper butterfly—to decide whether they warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act. The Thorne's hairstreak is found exclusively in the Otay Mountain area of San Diego County. The Hermes copper is found in San Diego County and northern Baja California.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Endangered Species Day Art Contest Award Ceremony
Credit: USFWS
May 10, 2010
Children, artwork, and critters all came together at a special awards event on Capitol Hill on May 4, as part of the celebratory events leading up to Endangered Species Day - May 21, 2010. The Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Service hosted the ceremony to honor the young artists who participated in a special art contest featuring endangered species as the subjects. Carter Shroeder, 6 years old, won the grand prize.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Releases Draft Economic Analysis of Polar Bear Critical Habitat
Credit:Susanne Miller / USFWS
Polar bear.
May 7, 2010
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a draft economic analysis of the potential impacts of designating critical habitat for the threatened polar bear. The Service also announces it will reopen the public comment period on the proposed designation of critical habitat for the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Both measures will be subject to a 60-day comment period that will open upon publication in the Federal Register on May 5, 2010.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation
Winners of Kid's National Endangered Species Day Art Contest Announced
Credit:Endangered Species Coalition
Grand Prize Winner: Drawing of polar bear and beluga whale, Carter Schroeder Anchorage, AK.
April 23, 2010
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Coalition, Association of Zoos and Aquariums and Ogden Museum of Southern Art proudly announce the winners of the 2010 national Endangered Species Day art contest. The winners were chosen by a prestigious panel of artists, photographers, actors, scientists and conservationists including Jeff Corwin, host of Animal Planet’s Jeff Corwin Experience; and Jack Hanna, host of Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild.
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Federal Agencies Sign Agreement to Protect Sage-Grouse Habitat
Credit:Bob Nichols / NRCS
Fish and Wildlife Service Acting Director Rowan Gould and Natural Resources Conservation Service Director Dave White shake hands after signing an agreement that commits the two agencies to work together to conserve the greater sage-grouse.
April 13, 2010
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today announced a far-reaching agreement to support the conservation of greater sage-grouse and sagebrush ecosystems in parts of 11 Western states. “Today’s agreement enables us to help this rare species in a comprehensive, integrated way,” said Vilsack. “By working cooperatively toward the same goal, we can build on the progress states have made protecting the sage-grouse and the sagebrush ecosystem it depends on.”
Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction
Endangered Species Section 6 Grant Awards Announced
Photo credit: Steve Maslowski / USFWS
The golden-cheeked warbler is one of many species that will benefit from the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (Section 6) grant program.
April 12, 2010
Interior Secretary Salazar today announced nearly $66 million in grants that will enable 25 states to work with local private landowners, conservation organizations and other partners to protect and conserve the habitat of threatened and endangered species.
Farmers May Be Eligible for Endangered Species Tax Deduction
Photo by Bureau of Land Management
Northern aplomado falcon.
April 6, 2010
Farmers and ranchers implementing conservation actions that contribute to the recovery of threatened and endangered species may now be eligible for a tax deduction. The 2008 Farm Bill established a tax deduction for expenditures paid or incurred for the purpose of achieving site-specific management actions recommended in recovery plans for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).