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Salazar, Lahood, Hickenlooper Announce $1.7 Million Grant for Rocky Mountain Greenway
February 18, 2013 - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood joined Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper today to announce more than $1.7 million in new funding for the Rocky Mountain Greenway. The funding, part of the Federal Transit Administration’s Transit in Parks program, will help establish an uninterrupted trail and open space network in the Denver metropolitan area.
Image: Rocky Flats in Spring. Copyright: Steve Torbit.
Colorado Outfitter Sentenced to Prison for Six Lacey Act Violations
February 14, 2013 - Big game hunting outfitter Dennis Eugene Rodebaugh, 72, of Meeker, Colo., was sentenced in Denver February 13 to 41 months in prison to be followed by three years supervised release for six felony counts of violating the Lacey Act. District Judge Christine M. Arguello also sentenced Rodebaugh, to pay a $7,500 fine to the Lacey Act reward fund and $37,390 in restitution to the state of Colorado for the value of illegally taken elk and deer.
Image:Under the Lacey Act today, it is illegal to import, export, sell, acquire, or purchase fish, wildlife or plants taken, possessed, transported, or sold: in violation of U.S. or Indian law, or in interstate or foreign commerce involving any fish, wildlife, or plants taken possessed or sold in violation of State or foreign law. Credit: Erwin & Peggie Bauer / USFWS
USFWS Agents Secure $85,000 in Restitution for Endangered Whooping Crane Killing
February 14, 2013 - A man who admitted shooting an adult male whooping crane near Miller, South Dakota, last April pleaded guilty to violating the Endangered Species Act and was ordered to pay $85,000 in restitution and spend two years on probation. He must also forfeit the rifle used to kill the crane and will be barred from hunting, fishing or trapping anywhere in the United States for two years.
Image: Whooping cranes are one of the rarest birds in the world. Although Service conservation efforts have kept the species from becoming extinct, the current population totals only 600 individuals Credit: USFWS
Operation Rolling Thunder Rolls Up 11 Convictions for Eagle Take/Trafficking
February 13, 2013 - A two-year undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigation of the unlawful killing and commercialization of eagles and hawks has resulted in the successful Federal prosecution of 11 individuals in South Dakota and Montana. Special agents documented black market trafficking involving the carcasses and parts of at least 80 eagles and 30 hawks. Sentences include prison terms up to two years.
Image: The Bald and Golden Protection Eagle Act prohibits the take and sale of these birds and their parts and feathers. George Gentry / USFWS
Service Announces Annual Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest!
February 12, 2013 - Parents, teachers, and scout leaders tell your kids to start the drawing engines and participate in the annual Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest! Entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2013. The Youth Art Contest provides students from kindergarten to high school with an opportunity to learn about threatened and endangered species and express their knowledge and support through artwork. Organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the International Child Art Foundation, the art contest is an integral part of the eighth annual national Endangered Species Day on May 17, 2013.
Image:Woodland Caribou, painted by Sky Waters from Minnesota, was selected as the grand prize winner of the 2012 Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest. Credit: Endangered Species Coalition.
Sage Grouse Initiative Releases Groundbreaking New Report
February 5, 2013 - Sage Grouse Initiative: Tracking Success, a highly visual 44-page report, for the first time reveals the "six secret ingredients" to a paradigm for bringing back wildlife in trouble, without a need for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The first ingredient has everything to do with the hundreds of Sage Grouse Initiative partners - shared vision. They agree that what's good for rangelands is good for grouse, and that's why an unprecedented alliance of nonprofits, for profits, and conservation groups are teaming up with western ranchers.
Image: Greater Sage-Grouse. Credit: Steve Fairbairn / USFWS
Report | SGI Website | SGI Facebook Page | Species Info
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes to List Wolverine as Threatened Under ESA
February 1, 2013 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today, in response to a court-ordered deadline, that it is seeking information from the scientific community and the public on a proposal to protect the North American wolverine as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The Service is also seeking comment on two proposed special rules designed to facilitate management and recovery of the species should it receive protection.
Image: Wolverine. Copyright, Roy Anderson
Canada Lynx: A Rocky Mountain Success Story
January 29, 2013 - Thirteen years ago, the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) returned to its native range within the state of Colorado. Through a committed state-led initiative, this elusive cat has made a remarkable resurgence within a part of its southern-most range, from which it had been absent for more than 25 years.
Historically, the lynx ranged across the vast northern boreal forests from Alaska to eastern Canada, including the northernmost U.S., and extending in an increasingly patchy distribution along the coniferous forests of the Rocky Mountains as far south as Colorado.
Image: A mother lynx watches warily as her kitens are evaluated by biologiests. Credit: Colorado Division of Wildlife
Matt Hogan Named Deputy Regional Director for Mountain-Prairie Region of USFWS
January 24, 2013 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the selection of Matt Hogan as the new Deputy Regional Director for the Mountain-Prairie Region, which is headquartered in Denver. The Mountain-Prairie Region includes Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.
“Matt has brought substantial executive level leadership and project management to the Mountain-Prairie Region,” said Noreen Walsh, Regional Director of the Mountain-Prairie Region. “Over the past three years, we’ve been fortunate to have Matt as part of the Region's senior leadership team. During that time, Matt has led two programs and helped us advance our landscape approach to cooperative conservation.”
Image: Matt Hogan. Credit: Tom MacKenzie / USFWS
New Publication Marks 75th Anniversary of Conservation Effort
January 17, 2013 - The Fish and Wildlife Service today released a landmark publication celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, the cornerstone of fish and wildlife conservation in North America. Each year this unique program provides more than $700 million to support habitat conservation and outdoor recreation projects across the nation through the sale of outdoor equipment.
Image: Front Cover of the Celebrating the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program Publication.
News Release | 75th Anniversary Publication
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Commemorates 40th Anniversary of Endangered Species Act
January 14, 2013 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will honor the 40th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act with a year-long commemoration of the Act that has been so successful in stabilizing populations of species at risk, preventing the extinction of many others and conserving the habitats upon which they depend. A new dedicated web site spotlights the history and accomplishments of efforts to protect and recover America’s threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
Photo: Bald Eagle at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR. Courtesy of U.S. Army / Rich Keen, DPRA Inc.
News Release | ESA 40th Anniversary Website
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Listing Gunnison Sage-Grouse Under Endangered Species Act
January 10, 2013 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it is taking the next steps in a process to protect the Gunnison sage-grouse as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. After an extensive review conducted in compliance with a court approved settlement agreement, the agency found that current scientific evidence suggests that the Gunnison sage-grouse is in danger of extinction.
Photo: Gunnison Sage-grouse. Copyright Mike Danzenberger
News Release | Rangewide Conservation Plan | Species Info
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Identifies Important Habitat for Recovery of Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
January 4, 2013 - As part of its ongoing efforts to conserve our nation's most imperiled species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has identified riparian lands that are important for the recovery of the southwestern willow flycatcher. This small songbird, which nests in vegetation along rivers and streams or other wetlands, is known to occur only in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah, and has been listed as endangered since 1995 under the Endangered Species Act.
Photo: Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Copyright Eugene Beckes, flickr user "cordivaceous"
News Release | Rule, Maps, and Outreach
America's Great Outdoors: Salazar, USFWS Announce Expanded Conservation at Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State of Colorado and local municipalities today closed on a land exchange that will add approximately 1,200 acres of important wildlife habitat to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, increasing the refuge's size by nearly one-third and connecting it with the region's open space and trail system.
Photo: Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado. Copyright: Steve Torbitt / USFWS
News Release | Rocky Flats NWR Map | Rocky Flats Web Site
New Multi-Agency Partnership Expands Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Efforts
A new agreement between federal and state agencies has set the stage for an innovative effort to recover the black-footed ferret, one of the most endangered mammals in North America. The agreement seeks to engage more private landowners, including tribes, in recovery efforts for this species.
Photo: Black-footed ferret. Credit: Kimberly Tamkun / USFWS
News Release | Recovery Program Website | Species Factsheet
USFWS Announces Availability of Final Recovery Plan for the Mexican Spotted Owl
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing the availability of the final Mexican Spotted Owl Recovery Plan, first revision.
The Mexican spotted owl was listed as threatened on March 16, 1993 under the Endangered Species Act. This species occurs in the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah, and south through the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico.
Photo: Mexican spotted owl, copyright: Aaron Maizlish
News Release | Species Profile
Secretary Salazar and Louis Bacon Finalize Historic Agreement to Protect 170,000 Acres as part of new Sangre de Cristo Conservation Area
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Blanca Ranch Holdings, LLC today entered into a historic agreement to place 90,000 acres of land in Colorado's San Luis Valley into a perpetual conservation easement. Louis Bacon, noted conservation and principal owner of Blanca Ranch, made today's announcement in partnership with Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and the Service.
Photo: A view of the newly-established Sangre de Cristo Conservation Area. Copyright Trinchera Blanca Ranch
News Release | Land Protection Plan | Federal Register Notice
Noreen Walsh Named Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Mountain-Prairie Region
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe today announced the appointment of Noreen Walsh as the new Regional Director for the Service's Mountain-Prairie Region. Walsh, a 22-year veteran of the Service, has served as Deputy Regional Director for the Region since December 2008.
Photo: Noreen Walsh. Credit: USFWS
USFWS Initiates Process to Consider Lesser Prairie-Chicken as Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act
Based on scientific evidence that the lesser prairie-chicken and its habitat are in decline, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it is initiating a process to consider whether the species should be recognized as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Photo: Lesser Prairie-Chicken on a lek in the Red Hills of Kansas. Credit: Greg Kramos / USFWS
News Release | FAQs | Federal Register Notice | Learn More
Professional Hunter Pleads Guilty to Lacey Act Violation in Kansas
A professional hunter from Tennessee has pleaded guilty to a Lacey Act violation in Kansas, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today. William “Spook” Spann, 50, Dickson, Tenn., pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of transporting across state lines wildlife that was taken unlawfully in Kansas
Photo: Antlers seized during the investigation. Credit: USFWS
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Releases Annual List of Candidates for Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced its Candidate Notice of Review, a yearly appraisal of the current status of plants and animals considered candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). There are now 192 species recognized by the Service as candidates for ESA protection, the lowest number in more than 12 years.
Photo: The greater sage-grouse is North America's largest grouse. It is also a candidate for ESA protection. Credit: Steve Fairbairn / USFWS
News Release | Learn More | Improving ESA
A Win For Both People and Birds in Southern Colorado's San Luis Valley
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Rio Grande Water Conservation District are pleased to announce that the Final San Luis Valley Regional Habitat Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment (HCP/EA) are completed and available for viewing. The plan allows for routine activities to continue while also conserving two bird species native to the San Luis Valley.
Photo: A view of the San Luis Valley from Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. Credit: USFWS
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to Conduct Public Meetings for Proposed Conservation Easement Program in Bear River Watershed
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host a series of open houses to provide information and receive public comment on the Service's draft land protection plan and environmental assessment for the Bear River Watershed Conservation Area project.
Photo: Mountains and Marshes in the Bear River Watershed. Copyright: Hal Reeder
News Release | Project Information | Fact Sheet
Reward for Information on Golden Eagle Shooting
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the shooting of a golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) near Tipton, KS. The eagle was found on Monday, October 29, 2012 in a pasture located on the east side of highway 181, approximately 5 miles south of Tipton.
Golden eagles are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The shooting of any eagle is considered a violation of those acts.
Photo: Golden eagle profile. Copyright Michael Privorotsky
News Release | About Golden Eagles
USFWS Provides Notice of Availability for Richardson Flat Tailings Site Restoration Plan & Environmental Assessment
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has prepared a Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment (RP/EA) for the Richardson Flat Tailings Site, Park City, Utah. The RP/EA was prepared as part of a Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration settlement between United Park City Mines, as the Responsible Party, and the Service, on behalf of the Department of the Interior, as the applicable Natural Resource Trustee.
Photo: a landscape shot of the Richardson Flat Tailings Site. Credit: RMC Inc., 2009
News Release | Restoration Plan & Environmental Assessment
Local Biologist Recipient of International Lifetime Achievement Award
Former U.S. Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (NPWRC) scientist, Lewis M. Cowardin, was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Wetland Scientists for his pioneering work with waterfowl ecology, wetland classification, remote sensing, and model-assisted decision making. Dr. Cowardin was presented this award on Aug. 22 at Ducks Unlimited in Bismarck, N.D., during the 25th anniversary of the Four Square Mile Waterfowl Survey.
Photo: Terry Shaffer (right), Research Statistician and former coworker presents Lew Cowardin, former NPWRC scientist, with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Wetland Scientists, Betty Euliss / USGS
News Release: Award | News Release: Data Set | Photos
Service Seeks Proposals from States for Annual Endangered Species Grants
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking proposals from states and U.S. territories interested in obtaining federal financial assistance to acquire land or conduct planning efforts for endangered species conservation under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act. These grants support participation in a wide array of voluntary conservation projects for species on the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, as well as for candidate species. Proposals must be submitted to the appropriate Service regional offices by January 14, 2013.
Photo: Section 6 grant funding has aided conservation of the Western prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara) in years past. Credit: ND Parks and Recreation Department
News Release | Learn More | Fact Sheet
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Officer Receives Exemplary Act Award
In recognition of his decisive and selfless actions that saved the lives of two motor vehicle accident victims, USFWS Refuge Law Enforcement Officer, Tighe Teets, was awarded the Department of Interior's Exemplary Act Award. The award was presented to him on October 17, 2012 by Mountain-Prairie Region Assistant Regional Director, Noreen Walsh.
Photo: Noreen Walsh Presents Tighe Teets with the Exemplary Act Award Credit: USFWS
Story | Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Acknowledges Western CO Water Organizations for Help with Endangered Fish Recovery
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently acknowledged water organizations in western Colorado that voluntarily worked with the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program throughout this extremely dry summer to balance human water demand with the needs of endangered fish in the Colorado and Gunnison rivers.
Photo: USFWS biological technician with an endangered Colorado pikeminnow. Credit: Bob Burdick / USFWS
Reward for Information Leading to the Identification of Bald Eagle Shooter in ND
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the shooting of an immature bald eagle which was shot near the city of Crosby, ND on October 11, 2012. A reward of up to $2,500.00 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible. Witnesses reported the person(s) responsible for the shooting were driving a white Dodge dually pickup truck that had no additional markings. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for assistance from the public to help identify this vehicle and the people who were traveling in the vehicle during the incident.
Photo: An image of the injured eagle. Credit: USFWS
USFWS and Montana FWP Develop Approach for Water Management at Benton Lake NWR
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in collaboration with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks announced the outcomes of the structured-decision making (SDM) process to provide recommendations for a management alternative that addresses key management issues at Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo: Aerial view of Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Credit: USFWS
Justice Department Announces Policy on Tribal Member Use of Eagle Feathers
The Department of Justice announced today a policy addressing the ability of members of federally recognized Indian tribes to possess or use eagle feathers, an issue of great cultural significance to many tribes and their members. Attorney General Eric Holder signed the new policy after extensive department consultation with tribal leaders and tribal groups. The policy covers all federally protected birds, bird feathers, and bird parts.
Photo: Bald eagle at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Credit: U.S. Army / Rich Keen, DPRA inc.
Salazar Approves Landmark Wyoming Wind Project, Reaches President's Goal of Authorizing 10,000 Megawatts of Renewable Energy
Advancing President Obama's all-of-the-above strategy for expanding domestic energy resources, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the Department has reached the President's goal of authorizing 10,000 megawatts of renewable power on public lands with the approval of the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project site as suitable for wind energy development.
Photo: Wind Turbines, courtesy of Studio Tempura
California Artist Robert Steiner Wins 2012 Federal Duck Stamp Contest
Robert Steiner, an artist from San Francisco, Calif., is the winner of the 2012 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest. The announcement was made today by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Deputy Director Rowan Gould at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Steiner's acrylic painting of a common goldeneye will be made into the 2013-2014 Federal Duck Stamp, which will go on sale in late June 2013.
Photo Caption: Image of the 2012 Federal Duck Stamp winner Robert Steiner, an artist from San Francisco, California. Credit: Robert Steiner
News Release | 2012 Duck Stamp Website
Colorado Big Game Outfitter Convicted on Six Felony Charges
A Federal jury in Denver found a long-time big game outfitter guilty of six felony Lacey Act violations in connection with unlawful elk and deer hunts sold to non-resident hunters for between $1,200 and $1,600. The defendant, who faces fines of up to $250,000 and 5-year prison terms on each count, will also forfeit two ATVs and a utility trailer used in committing the crimes.
This investigation, which was conducted by the Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, documented the recurring use of hundreds of pounds of salt to bait elk and deer.
National Fish Passage Program Helps Restore Streams, Benefits People and Local Economies
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and community partners across the nation worked together to remove or bypass 158 dams, culverts and other structures in 2011, opening more than 2,180 miles of streams to native fish populations. These efforts, coordinated through the National Fish Passage Program, have also contributed to improved water quality, provided additional recreational and economic opportunities, and even addressed serious threats to human health and safety.
News Release | 2011 Report | Fish Passage Program
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Resumes Public Visitation
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge has reopened for public visitation ahead of schedule following a brief closure to allow the U.S. Army to drill eight additional monitoring wells around a former remedy project.
The Refuge's entrance gate is now open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, allowing public use activities to resume including catch-and-release fishing and hiking. The Visitor Center is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, September 22nd at 9:00 am.
Creston National Fish Hatchery Receives National Designation for Outdoor Classroom
The Creston National Fish Hatchery, located in Kalispell, MT, earned the national designation of a certified Nature Explore Classroom from the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation. Creston, a unit of the Fisheries Program in the Mountain-Prairie Region, is the first facility to receive the celebrated certification in the state of Montana.
The historic hatchery serves as a national outdoor classroom model for others throughout the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Salazar Establishes 558th National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar today announced the formal establishment of the Sangre de Cristo Conservation Area as the nation's 558th unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, thanks to the donation of a nearly 77,000-acre conservation easement in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains bordering the San Luis Valley by noted conservationist Louis Bacon.
“Following in the footsteps of our greatest conservationists, Louis Bacon’s generosity and passion for the great outdoors is helping us to establish an extraordinary conservation area in one of our nation’s most beautiful places,” Secretary Salazar said.
News Release | Fact Sheet | Map
Visit Your National Wildlife Refuges: October 14-20, 2012
Treat yourself with a visit to a national wildlife refuge during National Wildlife Refuge Week, from October 14-20. Celebrate America's wildlife heritage, and see what wildlife refuges are doing to conserve it.
Visitors to refuges like what they find there, according to a study this year by the U.S. Geological Survey. About 90 percent of the survey’s 10,000 adult participants reported satisfaction with refuge recreation, information and education, public service and conservation. “Nowhere else do I feel such a deep sense of connection with the land, the plants, and the wildlife,” offered one respondent. “Visiting a refuge is truly a spiritual experience.”
News Release | Event Calendar | The Big Sit!
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Invites the Public to "Follow the Ferret"
The National Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Program, a multi-partner project lead by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invites the public to follow the life-cycle of one of North America's most endangered mammals, the black-footed ferret.
Starting this week, the public can follow a number of black-footed ferrets on the Recovery Program's Facebook page as biologists work to prepare them to survive on the American prairie.
News Release | Facebook Page | Recovery Program Web page
Service Declares Wyoming Gray Wolf Recovered and Returns Management Authority to State
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Wyoming population of gray wolves is recovered and no longer warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act. Beginning September 30th, wolves in Wyoming will be managed by the state under an approved management plan, as they are in the states of Idaho and Montana.
"The return of the wolf to the Northern Rocky Mountains is a major success story, and reflects the remarkable work of States, Tribes, and our many partners to bring this iconic species back from the brink of extinction," said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe.
News Release | Learn More | Story | Federal Register Notice
Platte River Caddisfly Not Warranted for Endangered Species Protection
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the Platte River caddisfly, a small, moth-like insect found in backwaters along rivers in Nebraska, is not warranted for protection under the Endangered Species Act. We have completed a comprehensive status review, known as a 12-month finding, and determined that there is sufficient scientific and commercial data to demonstrate that the Platte River caddisfly is secure throughout its range. If information becomes available in the future to indicate that the species is in decline and threatened with extinction, we will conduct an assessment on the status of the caddisfly at that time.
News Release | Learn More | Q & A | ESA Success Story
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Review Status of Rocky Mountain Monkeyflower
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service evaluated a petition requesting the listing of the Rocky Mountain monkeyflower (Mimulus gemmiparus) under the Endangered Species Act. We determined that a more in-depth examination of the status of the species is justified. The agency will conduct a full status review of the species, and once the review is complete, determine whether to propose adding the species to the Federal lists of endangered or threatened wildlife and plants.
FWS Releases Draft Report to Help Guide Sage-Grouse Conservation Objectives
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is making available a draft report that is designed to help guide the efforts of the States and other partners to conserve the greater sage-grouse with a landscape level strategy that will benefit the species while maintaining a robust economy in the West. The report, prepared by state and federal scientists and sage-grouse experts, identifies the conservation status of the sage-grouse, the nature of the threats facing the species, and objectives to ensure its long-term conservation.
News Release | Draft Report | Fact Sheet
Service Awards $5.7 Million to State Fish and Wildlife Agencies to Conserve Imperiled Species
The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service today announced more than $5.7 million in grants to seven state fish and wildlife agencies to conserve and recover imperiled species and their habitats through the State Wildlife Grants Competitive Program. States and their partners will match federal funding with more than $4.6 million in non-federal funds.
Secretary Salazar, Governor Hickenlooper Applaud Rocky Mountain Greenway Efforts
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado today commended the members of the newly-established Rocky Mountain Greenway Steering Committee for their early leadership in moving forward President Obama's America's Great Outdoors initiative in the Front Range and metropolitan Denver region. The vision for the Rocky Mountain Greenway project is to create uninterrupted trails and transportation linkages connecting the Denver metro area's trail systems, the three Denver-area units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the community trails systems in between.
Poacher Sentenced for Illegal Killing of Eagle in Kansas
The poacher of a golden eagle in Trego County, Kansas, was sentenced August 22 after pleading guilty to killing the immature raptor in 2011. Chad Irvin, of Lacrosse, Kan., pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act; was ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 and restitution of $3,000; placed on supervised probation for a period of three years during which time he may not hunt, fish or trap; required to complete 50 hours of community service; and ordered to forfeit the shotgun used to kill the eagle.
Construction Complete on Endangered Fish Grow-out Ponds
The Bureau of Reclamation announced today that construction is complete on grow-out ponds at the Horsethief Canyon Native Fish Facility located just outside of Fruita, Colo. The facilities are part of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Celebrates its 25th Anniversary
For the past 25 years, the Fish and Wildlife Services' Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program has been working with private landowners and organizations to restore, protect and enhance important wildlife habitats on private lands. The Mountain-Prairie Region's Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) program began in 1987 and includes Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska. It was born in the prairie pothole region of the Midwest and is closely linked to the National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) system.
News Release | Project Profiles | Learn More
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Scuba Dive Team Trains for Invasive Mussel Searches
Four members of the Mountain-Prairie Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Dive Team recently completed training in the Columbia River at a U.S Geological Survey course, Procedures for Conducting Underwater Searches for Invasive Mussels.The course was sponsored under the 100th Meridian Initiative which funds activities to prevent the spread of invasive mussels. Members of the Dive Team are highly trained volunteer scuba divers from the Service's Refuges, Fisheries, and Ecological Services programs.
Greg Neudecker Receives the Ira Gabrielson Conservation Leadership Award
Graduates of Cohort X of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Advanced Leadership Development Program selected Greg Neudecker to receive the Ira Gabrielson Conservation Leadership Award for 2012. The award, established in 2002 by the first ALDP graduating class, is to recognize an outstanding Service employee making a significant contribution to conservation and reflects the powerful commitment and leadership qualities of Dr. Gabrielson who served as the first Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Recreation.gov Redesign: Engaging Visitors with the Great Outdoors
With a few weeks of summer weather left, there is still plenty of time to explore the great outdoors. There are few better places to do that than in America’s national parks, wildlife refuges, waterways, and forests. A new and improved Recreation.gov website is the perfect tool to plan your family’s next adventure.
With improved navigation tools and more in-depth content, Recreation.gov showcases 90,000 federal sites and healthy outdoor spaces to consider.
Service Announces $33 Million in Grants to Support Endangered Species
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced nearly $33 million in grants to 21 states to support conservation planning and acquisition of vital habitat for threatened and endangered fish, wildlife and plants. The grants, awarded through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act, will benefit numerous species, ranging from the Peninsular bighorn sheep to Kirtland's warbler.
News Release | Fact Sheet | Learn More
National Elk Refuge Celebrates 100 Years of Conservation Success
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is pleased to announce an exciting line-up of programs scheduled for Friday, August 10 through Sunday, August 12 to celebrate and honor the National Elk Refuge’s 100-year history. The weekend centennial celebration dates were selected to coincide with the historic date of August 10, 1912 when an Act of Congress set aside lands “for the establishment of a winter game (elk) reserve..."
Service Recognizes Voluntary Conservation Efforts in Designation of Critical Habitat for Three Rare Colorado Plants
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that based on feedback and input from the State of Colorado, the oil and gas industry, and the public, it has refined and narrowed the final rule to designate critical habitat for three rare western Colorado plants: the Pagosa skyrocket (Ipomopsis polyantha), Parachute beardtongue (Penstemon debilis), and DeBeque phacelia (Phacelia submutica).
Read More | Learn More | Questions and Answers | Pagosa Skyrocket Fact Sheet
Service Finalizes New Rules Regarding Take Allowances for the Utah Prairie Dog
Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notified the public of our final changes to a special rule for the Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens) governing take for the species. Our amendment to the existing special rule establishes clarifications for direct take of prairie dogs including: where permitted take can occur; the amount of take that can be permitted; and methods of take that can be permitted.
News Release | Final Rule | Letter to the Editor
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge to Temporarily Close for Public Visitation
The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and Visitor Center will be closed to all public activities and visitation beginning Monday, August 20 through Friday, September 21, 2012 to support the expansion of a monitoring project on U.S. Army-owned land located in the central portion of the site.
Draft San Luis Valley HCP and Environmental Assessment to be Released July 2012
The Rio Grande Water Conservation District (District) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) are notifying the public that the Draft San Luis Valley Regional Habitat Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment (Draft HCP/EA) will be released in July 2012 for a 60-day public review period. The availability of documents, public review period, and contact information will be announced in the Federal Register on July 25, 2012.Â
Press Release | Draft HCP/EA | SLV Photos
Comments Sought for Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Critical Habitat
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reopened of the public comment period for its August 2011 proposal to revise critical habitat for the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher. We're also announcing the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed critical habitat, a public hearing, additional areas that we are considering to exclude from the designation and two newly proposed areas (Cienega Creek area of southern Arizona).
USFWS Awards Grants to 30 States for White-Nose Syndrome Work
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today announced grant awards totaling $962,981 to thirty states for white-nose syndrome (WNS) projects. State natural resource agencies will use the funds for surveillance and monitoring of caves and mines where bats hibernate, preparing state response plans and other related projects. The Service is leading a cooperative effort with federal and state agencies, tribes, researchers, universities and other non-government organizations to research and manage the spread of WNS.
Press Release | Whitenosesyndrome.org
Amphitheater Construction Project at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Complete
Thanks to the work of a Mountain-Prairie Region Refuge Maintenance Action Team, a new amphitheater was recently erected adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge's visitor center in Commerce City, Colo.
2012-2013 Federal Duck Stamps Now On Sale, Offer Easy Way to Protect Wetland Habitat
The 2012-2013 Federal Duck Stamp went on sale today across the United States, giving hunters, stamp collectors and anyone who cares about migratory birds and other wildlife an easy way to help conserve their habitat. Ninety-eight percent of proceeds from sales of the stamp are used to acquire and protect vital wetlands supports hundreds of species of migratory birds, wildlife and plants.Â
Press Release | Buy Your Duck Stamps!
USFWS Internship Leads to Impactful Summer for Tribal College Student
Valentina Vavages, a student at Tohono O'odham Community College in Arizona, spent 13 weeks participating in a Tribal Intern Program at Ouray National Wildlife Refuge in Randlett, Utah. The SCA internship with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides students with hands-on experience through a variety of conservation projects. In the process, she developed critical skills and learned about “the importance of the preservation and conservation of wildlife.” Her favorite part: becoming certified to drive and maintain her own ATV!
Photo: American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES): Winds of Change (Spring, 2012)
Article | Winds of Change Magazine
America's Great Outdoors: Salazar, Ashe Announce Historic Conservation Easement in Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe today announced that noted conservationist Louis Bacon intends to donate a conservation easement totaling approximately 90,000 acres in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains bordering the San Luis Valley. This easement will provide the foundation for the proposed new Sangre de Cristo Conservation Area, which the Service is in the process of establishing.
Photo: San Luis Valley at Dusk. Copyright, Joe Zinn (2009)
Press Release | Map | America's Great Outdoors
Operation of Endangered Fish Passages Reduced During Low River Flows
The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (Recovery Program) announced today that because of extremely low flows in the Colorado River this year, operation of fish passages  on the Colorado River may not be possible throughout the summer and early fall. Although biologists believe that suspending operation of the fish passages this summer will have a short-term impact on the endangered fish, there is a real concern for long-term impacts if the drought lasts more than one year.
Photo: A fish passage at the Grand Valley Project Diversion Dam on the Colorado River provides endangered fish with access to critical habitat in western Colorado. Credit: UCREFRP
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Initiate Status Reviews of Southern, Mt. Rainier White-tailed Ptarmigan
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that we have completed our evaluation of a petition to list the southern and Mt. Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. We determined that substantial biological information exists to warrant a more in-depth examination of the status of the southern and Mt. Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan.
Photo: White-tailed Ptarmigan in Summer Plumage Photo:Pete Plague USFWS
Learn More | Press Release | Flickr
Expansion of Denver Trails System Planned
On National Trails Day, USFWS Mountain-Prairie Regional Director, Steve Guertin, spoke with 9 News Denver about President Obama's Great Outdoors (AGO) Initiative and plans to extend Denver's trails system.
"Under the AGO Initiative, we're reconnecting metro Denver with an existing trail system," said Guertin. "We're going to connect the Rocky Mountain Arsenal and Rocky Flats Arsenal so folks can take advantage of 500 miles of trails here in the urban area."
Photo: Deer at Denver's Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
Courtesy: U.S. Army / Rich Keen, DPRA
2012 Federal Duck Stamp Art Competition to be held in Ogden, Utah
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service selected Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, to host the 2012 Federal Duck Stamp Art Competition on September 28 and 29, 2012.
Photo: 2010-2011 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Credit: Robert Bealle of Waldorf, Maryland
Fish and Wildlife Service Releases the Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge
The Fish and Wildlife Service has published the final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge and UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge. This conservation plan will guide the long-term management for what is considered one of the crown jewels of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Photo: Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge
Credit: USFWS
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Takes Initial Steps Forward in Conserving Working Landscapes in the San Luis Valley
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) released a draft Land Protection Plan and Environmental Assessment (LPP/EA) for the new proposed San Luis Valley Conservation Area (SLVCA) May 9, 2012 for a 30-day public comment period. The SLVCA seeks to create a new unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System that will protect approximately one half million acres of habitat for migratory birds and threatened and endangered species, primarily through the acquisition of conservation easements from willing landowners. The LPP/EA details the Service's authority for establishing the SLVCA, the resources the project is intended to protect, and the priority lands to be conserved for those resources.
Photo: Sandhill cranes in the San Luis Valley, Copyright: Joe Zinn
Arapahoe Snowfly to Be Designated as a Candidate for Endangered Species Protection
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that the Arapahoe snowfly, an insect found in two tributaries of the Cache la Poudre River in Colorado, warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act, but that proposing the species for protection is precluded by the need to address other higher priority species. The species will be added to the list of candidate species and its status will be reviewed annually.
Photo: Arapahoe Snowfly Credit: Dr. Boris Kondratieff / CSU
News Release | Questions and Answers | Learn More
Service Extends Comment Period to Revise Eagle Permit Regulations
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has extended the comment period on the proposed rule, published on April 13, 2012, to revise the regulations governing the issuance of permits under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The Service is also inviting ideas from the public on how the permit program can be improved. The comment period will now close on July 12, 2012.
Photo: A banded adult bald eagle perches on a tree. Credit USFWS
Secretary Salazar, Governor Hickenlooper Sign Agreement to Establish Next Great Urban Park
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper today formalized an agreement to implement conservation and recreation projects throughout the Denver and Front Range metropolitan area. Today's action builds on President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative to support locally-driven projects and strengthen economies and communities with greater access to open spaces and outdoor recreation.
Photo: Bison at Denver's Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Courtesy: U.S. Army / Rich Keen, DPRA
News Release | Conceptual Map | Agreement
Lessons Learned from Previous Droughts Shape Endangered Fish Recovery Actions
As 2012 shapes up to be a near record-setting drought throughout Upper Colorado River Basin rivers, the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program will use lessons learned from previous droughts to direct this year's endangered fish recovery actions. Accumulated knowledge of fish spawning patterns, movements, and habitat preferences during periods of low river flows will enable biologists to focus their time and efforts to best assist in the recovery of endangered Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, bonytail and humpback chub.
Photo: USFWS biologist Ben Schleicher holds an endangered bonytail chub on Colorado's Gunnison River. Credit: Tom Chart / UCREFRP
News Release | UCREFRP Website
Utah Prairie Dog Recovery Plan Update
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a final revised Recovery Plan for the threatened Utah prairie dog, and proposed to revise a special rule governing management of the species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The new recovery plan and proposed amendments to the special management rule reflect the latest scientific information and would provide additional flexibility to address local concerns about impacts from Utah prairie dogs to human safety and property, as well as agricultural operations. Public comments or data on the proposed rule will be accepted until May 29, 2012.
Photo: Copyright Laura Romin / Larry Dalton
News Release | Species Information
Reward Offered for Whooping Crane Shooting
A reward has been offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the shooting of a whooping crane located along 354th Avenue, approximately 17 miles southwest of Miller, South Dakota.Law enforcement officers from the Service and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks are investigating the shooting which took place Friday afternoon on April 20, 2012. The migrating adult whooping crane was traveling with two additional whooping cranes before being shot with a high-power rifle as it was standing in a corn field.
Photo Credit: USFWS
News Release | Species Profile
National Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest Winners Chosen
The grand prize winner of the Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest is 11-year old Sky Waters from Minnesota. His painting of a woodland caribou was selected from more than 2,100 submissions. Five winners were also selected based on grade categories. This art contest is a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Coalition, Association of Zoos and Aquariums and Ogden Museum of Southern Art/University of New Orleans, and is an integral part of the seventh annual national Endangered Species Day on May 18, 2012.
Photo: Woodland Caribou, painted by Sky Waters from Minnesota, was selected as the grand prize winner of the 2012 Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest.
Credit: Endangered Species Coalition
News Release | Questions & Answers | Learn More | Flickr
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Initiate Status Review of Eastern Population of Boreal Toad
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it has completed its evaluation of a petition requesting the agency list either the Eastern population or Southern Rocky Mountain population of the boreal toad as a threatened or endangered distinct population segment under the Endangered Species Act. Photo Caption: Boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas)
Photo Credit: Chris Brown / USGS
News Release | Questions & Answers | Learn More | Flickr
Kal Athannassov, a 17 year old student from Vista Ridge High School in Colorado Springs, took top honors by winning the “Best of Show” in Colorado at the 2012 Junior Duck Stamp Contest. Kal’s artwork was selected from hundreds of amazing entries from across Colorado. His acrylic paint rendition of a Black-bellied Whistling Duck, entitled "Serenity,” will represent Colorado and be entered at the National Junior Duck Stamp Competition in Washington, D.C. at the end of April. Photo Caption: 2012 Colorado Junior Duck Stamp Winning Entry by Kal Athannassov
News Release | View Larger Version of Kal's Artwork | More Information About the Jr. Duck Stam Program
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex Available for Public Review
The public is invited to provide comments on the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex located on the western edge of the northern Great Plains and 12 miles north of Great Falls, Montana. The Fish and Wildlife Service will also hold a series of public meetings from April 17-19, 2012 at various locations in Montana. Written comments should be submitted by May 18, 2012.
Photo Caption: Walling Reef at Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Area
U.S. Air Force Academy Receives 2012 Conservation Partner Award From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. received the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) 2012 Military Conservation Partner Award in recognition of the Academy’s significant contribution to natural resource conservation. Between 2006 and 2011, the Academy was consistently ranked within the top five qualifying Military Installations Partner Award nominations by the Service Partner Award Review Committee.
Photo Caption: Stream restoration to promote riparian habitat and Preble's meadow jumping mouse conservation.
Credit: U.S. Airforce Military Academy
