News Releases & Photos

News releases issued from the Pacific Southest Regional Office (Region 8) are now being delivered via an automated fax/email system. If you would like to receive our news releases, please send us an email with your name, email address or fax number. For news releases from our field offices in California and Nevada, notify the public affairs contacts listed below.

11/20/09 - California Man Arrested on Charges of Smuggling Lizards From Australia Into the U.S.

11/20/09 - Court Reinstates 1993 Proposed Listing of the Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard

11/16/09 - Service Seeks Public Input On Comprehensive Conservation Plan For Wildlife Management Areas at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex

11/13/09 - Draft EIS Available for Public Comment on Fruit Growers Supply Company Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan

11/12/09 - Lower Numbers of Fall Chinook Salmon Returning to Battle Creek in 2009

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News Photos & Images

Regional Newsletter

We Are Region 8 (Web 1.3MB) is a new quarterly newsletter that highlights the activities and people of the Service's Pacific Southwest Region. To download, you'll need Adobe Acrobat version 8 or later.

The Fish & Wildlife Journal

Looking for "soft news," story ideas or information about Fish and Wildlife Service activities and accomplishments in the field? Try the Fish & Wildlife Journal website. The Fish & Wildlife Journal includes an online searchable database that contains hundreds of employee-written summaries of field activities and other accomplishments.

Pacific Southwest Region External Affairs Staff

The primary focus of the Region 8 staff is on strategic public communications issues at the Regional level.  We also provide communications and outreach expertise to project leaders in the field, and support outreach and communications efforts of public affairs staff organic to Fish and Wildlife Offices in California and Nevada.

Alexandra Pitts, Assistant Regional Director
Phone (916) 414-6619
Scott Flaherty, Public Affairs Officer
Phone (916) 978-6156
Erica Szlosek, Public Affairs Officer
Phone (916) 978-6159
Alene Thomas, Executive Assistant
Phone (916) 414-6498
External Affairs Fax: (916) 414-6486

Public Affairs Contacts at Region 8 Field Offices

Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office
760-431-9440 ext. 205
Jane Hendron Division Chief
Stephanie Weagley, Outreach and Information

Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office
775-861-6300
Jeannie Stafford, Public Affairs

Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office
916-414-6566
Al Donner, Asst. Field Supv. External Affairs
916-414-6571
Steve Martarano, Sr. Information and Education Specialist

Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office
805-644-1766 ext. 332
Lois Grunwald, Public Affairs

Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office
530-842-5763
Matt Baun, Public Affairs

Hopper Mountain NWR Complex
805-644-5185
Michael Woodbridge, Information & Education Sp.

Desert National Wildlife Refuge
702-515-5480
Daniel Balduini, Public Affairs

San Francisco Bay NWR Complex
510-774-4080 (cell)
Doug Cordell, Public Affairs

National Fire Outreach
530-934-2801
Miriam Morrill, Sacramento NWR Complex

 

Region 8 in the News

Precious Step Toward Condor Recovery

In a sandstone cliff band at the edge of Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in southern California, California condor #107 guards his week-old chick from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists who arrived to survey the nesting site. The nest of condor #107 and his mate, #161, is one of five in Southern California this year (2009). Condor #107 (a.k.a. Ushkal), a 15-year-old adult, was born at the Los Angeles Zoo and released into the wild near Bitter Creek NWR. Condor #161, a 12-year-old female, was born at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and released near Big Sur in Central California. The California condor was listed as an endangered species in 1967. By 1982 only 23 existed in the world. As a result of intensive public and private conservation efforts and captive breeding programs, more than 80 condors fly free in central and southern California, 70 in Arizona and 15 in Baja, Mexico. The goal of the California Condor Recovery Plan is to establish two geographically separate populations, one in California and the other in Arizona, each with 150 birds and at least 15 breeding pairs.

Witness the Winter Migration

National Wildlife Refuges in California and Nevada provide migratory birds with places to rest, nest and feed. The Sacramento Valley National Wildlife Refuge near Willows, California, is one of several refuges in the region that provide opportunities for the public to "connect with nature" and witness the awe-inspiring migration close-up. Located 90 miles north of Sacramento, the Sacramento refuge complex provides winter resting and feeding areas for nearly half of all migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway. Three million ducks and a million geese migrate here. The refuge hosts interpretive tours and birding events January through April.

"Leave No Child Inside"

A growing number of children's advocates and political leaders are worried that our culture's disconnection from nature is harming kids. This concern has caused the Fish and Wildlife Service and other government agencies to engage in a  movement to "leave no child inside." KQED public television's QUEST program explores why we need nature, and efforts to encourage children to play outdoors. This segment orignally aired Monday, May 12, 2008. More on this topic is available on the QUEST website.

Learn about the Fish and Wildlife Service's "Let's Go Outside" initiative to Connect Children With Nature. Find a National Wildlife Refuge near you.

"Condors vs Lead Bullets"

External Affairs & NCTC contributed to this 10 minute video produced by KQED's "QUEST" series that examines the affects of lead on condor health. This program aired on KQED Feb. 20, 2007. FWS Condor Recovery partner, Ventana Wildlife Society, is featured in the video. The video aired prior to changes in California law in 2008 restricting lead ammunition in condor range.

Visit Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, home to the Service's California condor recovery program.

Tis the Season for Migrating Birds

Each fall, millions of birds travel south compelled by changes in food availability, habitat and weather. Healthy waterfowl habitats are critical for this passage to remain uninhibited. What are the conditions of these habitats and how can humans assist this natural flow? KALW-FM radio host Rose Aguilar discusses the fall migration with Brad Bortner, chief of the migratory bird division at the Pacific Region in Portland, Ore.and Beth Huning, San Francisco Bay Joint Venture. (Originally broadcast Oct. 6, 2008)

Listen to the Podcast (55:35)
Learn more about the Service's Migratory Bird Program
San Francisco Bay Joint Venture

Special Agent Nets World's #1 Butterfly Smuggler

Special Agent Ed Newcomer of the Torrrance, Calif., Law Enforcement Office recounts a 3-year investigation of the world's most wanted butterfly smuggler for National Public Radio's Weekend Edition that aired May 27, 2007.

Listen to Ed's NPR interview
Read the news release
Learn more about federal wildlife law enforcement

Investigation Nets Leopard Shark Smugglers

Special Agent Lisa Nichols of the San Diego Law Enforcement Office is featured in this NPR story about the investigation and prosecution of a Bay area church that smuggled thousands of protected leopard sharks from San Francisco Bay. This story aired nationally on February 13, 2007.

Listen to Lisa on the NPR story
Read the news release
Learn more about federal wildlife law enforcement