Marksville Man Arrested for Killing Black Bear in Avoyelles Parish
Photo Credit: USFWS
A Marksville man was arrested and booked into the Avoyelles Parish Jail on Feb. 25 for his alleged role in the illegal killing of a Louisiana black bear.
Service Identifies Coastal Beach Habitat Important for the Recovery of Northwest Atlantic Population of Loggerhead Sea Turtles
March 22, 2013
Photo Credit: USFWS
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has begun the process of identifying coastal beach habitat important for the recovery of the threatened Northwest Atlantic Ocean population of loggerhead sea turtles, as directed by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The agency has preliminarily identified portions of island and mainland coastal beaches in six states to propose as critical habitat, and is seeking public comment on the proposed rule.
The proposed critical habitat areas include 90 nesting beaches in coastal counties located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. The proposed areas incorporate about 740 beach shoreline miles and account for approximately 84 percent of the documented nesting (numbers of nests) within these six states.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Opens Comment Period on Draft Recovery Plan for Federally Endangered Pallid Sturgeon
March 15, 2013
Photo Credit: USFWS
A draft recovery plan aimed at recovering the federally endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus), a bottom-feeding fish considered to be a relic of the dinosaur era, is available for public review and comment from March 15 to April 15, 2013.
Pallid Sturgeon are an important indicator of the health of several of America's largest rivers, and represent a unique piece of America's natural history, with fossil ancestors dating back over 70 million years. The draft revised plan summarizes and updates the available information on the species life history needs, reevaluates the threats to the species, and identifies recovery efforts.
Service Begins Commemoration of 40th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act
Photo Credit: USFWS
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.
Endangered Species Success Stories
Endangered,Threatened and Candidate Species of LA
Photo Credit: USFWS
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) delivers remarkable successes. Looking back on the ESA's 40-year history, we recognize that it has helped stabilize populations of species at risk, prevent the extinction of many others, and conserve the habitats upon which they depend. All Americans can take pride in the fact that, under the ESA, California condor, grizzly bear, Okaloosa darter, whooping crane, and black-footed ferret have all been brought back from the brink of extinction. We can also celebrate that many other species no longer need the ESA's protection and have been removed from the list of endangered and threatened species, including the bald eagle—the very symbol of our nation's strength.
