Eight individuals were arrested yesterday in Puerto Rico in connection with the illegal take of endangered hawksbill and green sea turtles and black market sale of their meat. Work by the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory in support of the Service-led undercover investigation linked illegal sea turtle meat sales to the killing of at least 22 sea turtles. Photo Caption: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands comprise the most significant nesting area in the United States for the hawksbill sea turtle. Credit: Colin Johnson / Wikimedia Commons

Follow along with us as we journey down the coast from Virginia to Florida national wildlife refuges, talk to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees, anglers, Friends, state partners and more as we showcase the renewed vision for the National Wildlife Refuge System, Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation! Photo Caption: Youth Conservation Corps member fishing at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Credit: USFWS

Max Scherzer, the Detroit Tigers right-hander will be the starting pitcher for the American League in tonight's All-Star Game in New York. This year Max has also been helping the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service promote the Save Vanishing Species Stamp and international wildlife conservation for the Wildlife Without Borders program. He's the first pitcher to begin a season 13-0 since Roger Clemens in 1986. Go Tigers! Photo Caption: Max Scherzer at the Tiger Bank at Comerica Park, Detroit. Credit: Krishna K. Roy / USFWS

As part the Service's commemoration of the Endangered Species Act's 40th Anniversary, each week a different state and their unique story features our continued success in recovering threatened and endangered species. This week we learn about a conservation partnership to safeguard the mardon skipper, a small, non-descript butterfly found in Washington grasslands. The efforts of various state and federal agencies have helped prevent the need to list the species as endangered or threatened under the ESA. Photo Caption: Mardon skipper butterfly.. Credit: Tom Kogut / USFWS

The Service has extended for six months a final decision on a proposed rule to list the Gunnison sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act and a proposed rule to designate areas in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah as critical habitat for the bird. The agency is taking this action to consider additional scientific information recently received. Publication of the announcement reopens the comment period on the proposed rules for 45 days. Photo Caption: Gunnison sage-grouse. Credit: © Mike Danzenberger.

In the July/August issue of Refuge Update, we focus on some of the mighty rivers that are vital to the National Wildlife Refuge System. Rivers provide important vital habitat and migration corridors for fish and wildlife as well as recreational opportunities, often close to home, for the nation's 40 million anglers and 24 million paddlers. Photo Caption: At nearly 2,000 miles, the Yukon is America's third–longest river. Credit: Tom Collopy and Mary Frische.

North American duck populations are strong, according to the Service's 2013 Report on Trends in Duck Breeding Populations. The preliminary estimate of total duck populations from the traditional survey area is 45.6 million birds. This estimate represents a 6 percent decrease from last year's estimate of 48.6 million birds but is still 33 percent above the long-term average. Photo Caption: Estimated mallard abundance is 36 percent above the long-term average. Credit: Gene Nieminen / USFWS

Through the Sentinel Landscapes partnership, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of the Interior and Department of Defense announced a plan to work together near military installations. The program would help farmers and ranchers make improvements to the land that benefit their operation, enhance wildlife habitat, and enable military training missions to continue. Photo Caption: The Taylor's checkerspot butterfly is just one endangered species that will benefit from the Sentinel Landscapes partnership. Credit: Aaron Barna / USFWS

Investigators in the United States and Southeast Asia broke up scores of internet-brokered wildlife transactions last summer during Operation Wild Web—a coordinated, Service-led crackdown on web-based wildlife trafficking. Participants included federal and state U.S. officers, and enforcement agencies in Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia, whose activities were regionally coordinated by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN). Photo Caption: This jaguar skin was sold to undercover Service agents in violation of the Endangered Species Act. Credit: USFWS

The Service today announced nearly $32 million in grants to 20 states to help advance their collaborative efforts to conserve America’s rarest species. The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund grants will provide vital support to efforts by partnering state wildlife agencies and conservation organizations to improve the health of the land and water that supports these species and scores of communities across the nation. Photo Caption: The threatened bull trout is just one of many species to benefit from this year’s Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund grants. Credit: National Geographic Society

As part of the Service's commemoration of the Endangered Species Act's 40th Anniversary, each week we feature a different state and its unique story to highlight our continued success in recovering threatened and endangered species. This week we learn about the efforts to restore the Steller's eider, a rare sea duck, in Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Since 2005, the Service has partnered with the Alaska SeaLife Center to breed Steller's eiders in captivity. Their facility now houses 10 breeding pairs and sets the stage for reintroducing eiders into their historic range. Photo Caption: A male and female Steller’s eider at the Alaska SeaLife Center, where captive breeding efforts are helping recover populations of this threatened species. Credit: USFWS

The Service today announced a six-month extension for making a final determination on whether to list the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act. The agency is taking this action in order to solicit additional scientific information and public comment. Publication of the announcement reopens the comment period on the proposed rule for 30 days. Photo Caption: Lesser prairie-chicken. Credit: USFWS

Summer means a chance to unwind and hit the road with the kids or your sweetie. Why not plan a summer trip around a national wildlife refuge! Of course, any season is the right season to get outdoors and enjoy a wildlife refuge. But if you want a wide choice of free or low-cost outdoor events – catering to most every taste – now is a great time. See iconic wildlife. Fish, hike, paddle…or just enjoy nature. Learn how the Refuge System is protecting your natural heritage. Photo Caption: Located on the high plains of west Texas, Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge was established as a wintering area for migratory waterfowl and sandhill cranes. Credit: Wyman Meinzer / USFWS

The Service and its partners are providing $12 million during the next three years to support 75 fish habitat conservation projects in 27 states. The projects range from restoring submerged aquatic vegetation and oyster beds in Florida and New York to restoring degraded stream and estuary habitat for native fish in Hawaii. Photo Caption: Healthy habitat and healthy fish mean more fishing opportunities. Credit: Sam Lohr / USFWS

The Service has received top honors in the Profiles in Diversity Journal’s 10th Annual International Innovations in Diversity Awards competition for its innovative conservation work with communities in Africa and Latin America. The awards recognize organizations and institutions that develop  creative solutions in the area of workforce diversity and inclusion. The winning organizations are highlighted in the July/August 2013 issue of the Diversity Journal. Photo Caption: Profiles in Diversity Journal’s 10th Annual International Innovations in Diversity Awards competition awarded first place honors to the Fish and Wildlife Service for its conservation work with communities in Africa and Latin America. Credit: 2013 Top Ten Innovations in Diversity Award Logo

A new comprehensive report shows private lands play a key role in supporting populations of virtually all terrestrial and coastal birds of the United States. Of these birds, 251 are listed as federally endangered, threatened or of conservation concern. The 2013 State of the Birds Report on Private Lands indicates these lands have critical conservation value and that landowners can measure their natural resources yield not only in bushels, bales and cords but also in bluebirds, hawks and canvasbacks. Photo Caption: State of the Birds Report Cover. Credit: Partners / USFWS

During a visit to Tanzania, President Obama issued an Executive Order to enhance coordination of U.S. Government efforts to curtail wildlife trafficking and assist foreign governments in building their own capacity to combat this threat. As part of this strategy, a Service official will be assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam to support the Government of Tanzania's efforts to develop an overarching wildlife security strategy. The President cites threats posed by wildlife trafficking, including billions of dollars in illicit revenues that fuel instability of governments and in many cases directly threaten the national security of the United States. Trafficking of live animals also contributes to the spread of emerging infectious diseases. These threats to security and health illustrate how this issue falls into the national interest of the United States. Photo Caption: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama and their host His Excellency President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and Mama Salma Kikwete on arrival at the State House in Tanzania.Credit: U.S. Embassy Tanzania / Issa Michuzi

As part of the Service's commemoration of the Endangered Species Act's 40th Anniversary, each week we feature a different state and its unique story to highlight our continued success in recovering threatened and endangered species. This week, learn about local community efforts to conserve red knots visiting the Delaware Bay along their migration. Photo Caption:Migrating red knots stop over in Delaware Bay each spring to refuel for their final push to their arctic breeding grounds.Credit: USFWS

Drop by the Director's Corner and meet Service Director Dan Ashe