Feed Editor 25 Dec 2010 16:09:30 GMT News, information and events from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mountain-Prairie Region states of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie jim_renne@fws.gov government en jim_renne@fws.gov no Public Meetings Scheduled at Various Locations Public Comments Will Be Accepted Until May 18, 2012 Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is making available the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex and opening a 45-day public review and comment period. The Service will hold a series of public meetings April 17-19, 2012 at various locations in Montana to solicit input on the draft plan for the Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex. 30 Mar 2012 17:17:42 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/03302012_benton_lake_ccp.html 4E1C4D90-4A55-4541-B638-F2146A91B31B 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking public comment on a draft environmental assessment (Draft EA) regarding the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) proposed “Native Fish Restoration and Enhancement Projects in Northern Utah.” Public comments will be accepted for a 30-day period, which ends April 27, 2012 29 Mar 2012 18:35:57 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/03292012_Native_Fish_Restoration_enhancement_project.html E4663968-9325-48D5-A15B-7352648B6AD9 00:00 no On April 9, 2012 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a meeting to hear comments from the public on the draft 15-year Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. The meeting will be held between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. at the refuge office in Stevensville, Montana. 28 Mar 2012 21:32:40 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/03282012_Lee_Metcalf_EA.html C8BBA8A7-B1C0-41B9-91B8-9C31836E2262 00:00 no A draft assessment of the environmental effects of the proposed critical habitat for Pagosa skyrocket (Ipomopsis polyantha), Parachute beardtongue (Penstemon debilis), and DeBeque phacelia (Phacelia submutica), is required under the National Environmental Policy Act. Some minor changes to unit boundaries and a discussion of further exclusions are also being considered. The Service is also reopening the comment period for the proposal to allow interested parties an opportunity to comment on the proposed critical habitat designation as well as the two draft documents and the proposed changes. 26 Mar 2012 21:55:49 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/03262012_Draft_EA_pagosa_skyrocket_parachute_beardtongue_debeque_phacelia.html 2041D92B-35E8-40E9-8ED5-B555DD124DB0 00:00 no The 2011 Interagency Annual Report for the Northern Rocky Mountain Distinct Population Segment (NRM DPS), compiled by cooperating federal, state and tribal agencies, estimates that the NRM population increased to 1,774 wolves and 109 breeding pairs. The NRM area includes all of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, the eastern one-third of Washington and Oregon and a small portion of north central Utah. 7 Mar 2012 20:08:16 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/03072012_2011_Annual_Wolf_Report.html 70F84A30-534E-448A-B986-94856F627647 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET) received a special recognition award for their outstanding contributions to waterfowl and migratory bird conservation from the North Dakota Chapter of the Wildlife Society. The Wildlife Society honored the HAPET office for its leadership, innovation and scientific information and analyses to guide wetland, waterfowl and migratory bird conservation in the Prairie Potholes of North Dakota. 28 Feb 2012 22:12:02 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/HAPET_02282012.html 8B21DF04-B83F-426D-A342-E6DE6CFFFE34 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Kansas Field Office and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), collectively known as “Trustees”, have acquired 711 acres in Cherokee County, Kansas. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) will hold title to the property and be responsible for its operation and maintenance. This marks the first restoration acquisition in Kansas since the implementation of the Cherokee County Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment. 22 Feb 2012 22:55:46 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/Land_acquired_Cherokee_county_kansas.html A329D097-96E4-4566-8B7F-86DBC4D0F8B0 00:00 no In response to requests for increased public participation regarding the proposed Niobrara Confluence and Ponca Bluffs Conservation Areas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Park Service (NPS) have scheduled two additional scoping meetings to gather public input. The two lunch-time meetings will be held Wednesday, February 22 in Wagner, South Dakota and Thursday, February 23 in Yankton, South Dakota. Both meetings start at noon, beginning with a brief presentation followed by questions and answers. 17 Feb 2012 14:52:42 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/02172012-missouri-river-conservation-efforts-meeting.html 619257CD-6CA2-4F0B-B5D3-250043CA8D90 00:00 no At least five whooping cranes are believed to be spending the winter in south-central Kansas. The endangered birds have been spotted on and around Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Cheyenne Bottoms State Wildlife Area. Reports suggest the birds are divided into three separate groups: a family group of three (two adults and one juvenile), a lone juvenile bird, and a single adult that has primarily been observed within a large flock of sandhill cranes. 18 Jan 2012 23:12:34 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/Kansas_whooping_crane.html 66600889-406F-47E8-A38B-A93D6C460824 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking comments through February 24, 2012, on various alternatives regarding management scenarios for Colorado’s San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Refuge Complex) over the next 15 years. The draft alternatives are outlined in a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Refuge Complex, which includes Baca National Wildlife Refuge, Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, and the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, totaling over 106,000 acres 17 Jan 2012 17:59:19 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/San_Luis_Valley_Refuges_Draft_Alternatives.html 50118C64-6285-4F84-AC5B-14A92D9FB6EA 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is actively investigating the deaths of two bald eagles in Kansas. Bald eagles are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The killing of any eagle constitutes a violation of those acts. The USFWS will pay for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the killing of these or any other eagles or protected species. Anyone contributing information to authorities may choose to remain anonymous. 12 Jan 2012 19:51:47 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/0112_bald_eagle_shooting.html 2B33AC72-06DF-42A7-9D05-6EF51BFFEB64 00:00 no The Junior Duck Stamp Program (JDS) is in full flight in 2012, and all Colorado students (K-12) are welcome to participate. This free art and science program is designed to teach wetlands habitat and waterfowl conservation to America’s youth. JDS participants employ scientific and wildlife observation principles to learn about the subject matter, and then communicate that knowledge visually by creating an entry to the JDS art contest. 12 Jan 2012 00:50:28 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/Colorado_Junior_Duck_Stamp.html 6625325C-A952-4DD3-8A50-531F2EC9EB0B 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today issued the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed construction of the Center to Grand Forks 345kV Transmission line on Grassland and Wetland Easements. 10 Jan 2012 23:48:34 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/0110_Draft_Environmental_assessment.html 36ECCE19-9EC5-46B3-B4C2-1FB42C450E74 00:00 no The Fish and Wildlife Service completed a finding on a petition to list the western glacier stonefly under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). After evaluating all of the scientific information described or cited in the petition and information readily available in our files, we concluded that the petitioners provided substantial information indicating that protecting the species under the ESA may be warranted. Therefore, we are initiating a full biological status review to determine if listing the species is warranted. 16 Dec 2011 17:53:56 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-12162011.html 19AE60F1-8D77-4EA7-8F78-8D40EAC189E9 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today that it has completed planning for an expansion of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) as well as the exchange of a 300 foot right of way (98.7 acres) on the refuge’s eastern border. The refuge is located west of Denver along the Front Range between Highway 93 and Indiana Street, bordering Boulder County and Jefferson County open space. 14 Dec 2011 16:26:41 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-12142011.html E7362053-0550-44D8-B12F-2D36AE287FFF 00:00 no The 9th Circuit Court Appeals ruled on November 22, 2011 that the population of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Area, which includes northwestern Wyoming, southern Montana, and northeastern Idaho, should remain federally protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 29 Nov 2011 23:21:09 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-71.html F78ADC2B-561A-4019-AEB6-D73B3B04B4B3 00:00 no Comments will be accepted for 30 days or until COB Friday December 16th, 2011 10 Nov 2011 21:01:08 GMT http://www.fws.gov/redrocks 8141EA21-5B14-4898-833E-892535FF220E 00:00 no Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is now accepting public comments on the compatibility determination for non-motorized use of the perimeter trail: comment period open November 3, 2011 through November 17, 2011 3 Nov 2011 15:48:31 GMT http://www.fws.gov/rockymountainarsenal/Public%20Comment/publiccomment.html E23B7B59-AD85-4BEC-9F9C-62BEB04E356E 00:00 no On completion, this comprehensive conservation plan will set out the management and use of Huron, Madison, and Sand Lake Wetland Management Districts for 15 years. These districts in eastern South Dakota are mostly native prairie (tallgrass, midgrass, and shortgrass) dotted with small wetlands 24 Oct 2011 16:29:44 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/planning/ccp/sd/hur_mad_sdl/hur_mad_sdl.html 27F8371D-3DED-4C19-BD85-F39E60B71EAE 00:00 no Following approval of a revised wolf management plan by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to remove the gray wolf population in Wyoming from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. Due to recovery efforts and the provisions of the revised state plan, the Wyoming wolf population is healthy and stable, current and future threats to wolves have been addressed, and a post-delisting monitoring and management framework has been developed. 4 Oct 2011 20:59:22 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/dc-2011/gray-wolf-delisting-1042011.html B63D1DF9-9345-448C-9490-7C55DC219AEB 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today that it has completed a status review, also known as a 12-month finding, of the northern leatherside chub, and concluded it does not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We made this finding after a thorough review of all the available scientific and commercial information regarding the status of the northern leatherside chub and threats to the species. 11 Oct 2011 21:34:17 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-70.html 97B7D296-7498-4C74-8FDA-9890400C5B32 00:00 no Pursuant to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2001, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to make available a parcel of land up to 300’ wide from the existing Indiana Street right-of-way on the eastern border of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge for the sole purpose of transportation improvements. 30 Sep 2011 21:23:49 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-69.html 7CBD9E53-BB7F-42D5-8A2A-926BD9CF11F5 00:00 no Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, in Randlett, Utah, has increased its public big game hunting opportunities this year by opening the refuge to elk hunting for the first time. To avoid conflicts with other uses, including waterfowl hunting and to minimize disturbance of migratory birds during peak migration periods, elk hunting opportunities are limited to specific seasons. 16 Sep 2011 23:08:21 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-67.html 067D1A98-D835-4723-A708-E73EF5F5F203 00:00 no 23 Sep 2011 17:17:55 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-68.html 5EFF08E5-48D2-4A64-9269-4E2CA97A11B6 00:00 no Due to the construction activities, the office site will be closed to the public. 31 Aug 2011 23:15:55 GMT http://www.fws.gov/maraisdescygnes 17798F9B-2ADC-485E-9209-7610869B0D8D 00:00 no 31 Aug 2011 23:15:24 GMT http://www.fws.gov/medicinelake/Documents/Hunting-info-MDL.pdf 11BB46E3-2558-4ACA-A083-FF12784ACE0B 00:00 no The Service is reminding all hunters and landowners of federal waterfowl hunting regulations concerning crop manipulation (baiting). Farm producers, who utilize their land for hunting or lease the hunting rights on their land, need to make sure they are following federal waterfowl hunting regulations. 27 Aug 2011 00:11:57 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-66.html D34A1452-599F-4095-9612-8B0E60E5CAE4 00:00 no With the approaching onset of the fall migration of birds, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) urges oil operators to inspect their production facilities for hazards to migratory birds. Every year an estimated 500,000 to 1 million birds are killed in oilfield production skim pits, reserve pits, and in oilfield wastewater disposal facilities according to a study published by Pepper Trail, forensic ornithologist with the Service’s Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon. 19 Aug 2011 22:28:10 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-64.html 47D485FF-BF83-441C-A038-BC360EA4A261 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking public comment on a draft environmental assessment (Draft EA) regarding the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) proposed “US-54 and Byron Walker Wildlife Area Land Exchange.” Public comments will be accepted for a 15-day period, which ends August 29, 2011. 15 Aug 2011 21:28:59 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-63.html FB9D9A28-E86D-439D-8225-A662D10A0F14 00:00 no The Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) will again be protected in Wyoming under the Endangered Species Act as of August 6, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today. The Service reinstated protections for the mouse, which is already protected in Colorado, in order to comply with a requested court order. 4 Aug 2011 15:37:06 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-61.html 9FE661C7-9101-4168-B9CA-5998348C632D 00:00 no Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe today announced that the Service has reached an agreement with the State of Wyoming that will result in revisions to the state’s management plan for the gray wolf. The points of agreement, first announced in principle in early July, promote the management of a stable, sustainable population of wolves and pave the way for the Service to return wolf management to Wyoming. 3 Aug 2011 15:38:50 GMT http://us.vocuspr.com/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=fws&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=127970&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True E9463ED5-DF26-424F-BC85-499D6520AF80 00:00 no With his recent retirement, Dr. Steven H. Fritts concluded his distinguished 32-year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). In recognition of his significant contributions to the conservation mission of the Fish and Wildlife Service, most notably as the chief scientist for the gray wolf recovery program in the Western United States, Fritts was presented with the Meritorious Service Award, the Department of the Interior’s second highest honor. 28 Jul 2011 18:00:05 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-60.html 951BC508-9DDE-4872-977A-1DCED8E15510 00:00 no Public Comments Regarding the Proposed Critical Habitat Accepted Until September 26, 2011 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today a final rule to list the Pagosa skyrocket (Ipomopsis polyantha) as endangered and Parachute beardtongue (Penstemon debilis) and DeBeque phacelia (Phacelia submutica) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This rule implements the Federal protections provided by the ESA for these three western Colorado plant species. Concurrently, we are proposing to designate 54,036 acres as critical habitat for these three species. 26 Jul 2011 17:58:36 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-58.html 329256C6-E313-4737-A000-E946C110113F 00:00 no The Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the whitebark pine warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We are unable to add the species to the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants at this time because we must first address other listing actions of a higher priority. We will add the whitebark pine to the list of candidate species eligible for ESA protection and review its status annually. If we propose the whitebark pine for listing in the future, the public will have an opportunity to comment. Threats to the whitebark pine include habitat loss and mortality from white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetle, catastrophic fire and fire suppression, environmental effects resulting from climate change, and the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms. 18 Jul 2011 19:58:35 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-57.html 2FCF7FDE-C30B-4F6D-BB18-62CFD72F6A68 00:00 no Denver, CO - July 15, 2011. During the 2010 fall archery season, a man bow hunting for elk on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Montana made a remarkable discovery: the fossilized bones of a prehistoric sea creature. In the months that followed, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff at CMR consulted with experts who identified the animal as a plesiosaur—a marine reptile that thrived in North America’s Western Interior Seaway some 74 million years ago. 15 Jul 2011 22:33:33 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-prehistoricAquaticReptile.html 5D412E49-E9EF-41BA-99DF-2CC24DCD0EB0 00:00 no July 13, 2011. Lewistown, MT and Ogden, UT are among ten cities Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced today will receive funding as part of the Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds (Urban Bird Treaty) grant program. The Urban Bird Treaty program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), connectsparticipating U.S. citieswith private citizens, Federal, State, and municipal agencies, and non-governmental organizations to conserve migratory birds through education programs, citizen science, conservation and habitat improvement strategies, and bird hazard reduction activities in urban and suburban areas. 13 Jul 2011 21:31:49 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-urbanBirdTreatyGrants.html 7F00ECC2-3788-468B-9E21-A6F89C42E16E 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking public comment on a draft environmental assessment (Draft EA) regarding the State of Kansas’ proposed “Hillsdale Shooting Range.” Public comments will be accepted for a 15-day period, which ends July 27, 2011. The Service has been requested to approve a grant for the construction of a shooting range in Hillsdale State Park located in Miami County. The shooting range is to be constructed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) on land leased from the Corps of Engineers (COE) and is located immediately below the Hillsdale dam to the east of the outlet. The shooting range complex will consist of a six-position 200 yard range, a 20-position 50/100 yard rifle range, a 24-position 25/50 yard handgun range, a combination skeet/trap shotgun field, a gate house, combination meeting room/storage building, and a CXT pit toilet. 12 Jul 2011 21:30:44 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-54.html 3BFCDB58-7995-4BED-AE29-136B060B25C6 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service encourages citizens to report visibly oiled or potentially oiled wildlife by calling in sightings to the Wildlife Hotline: 1-800-259-0596. The free hotline was set up to aid wildlife spill responders in locating potentially affected wildlife. Callers are asked to provide the location and description of wildlife potentially impacted by the Silvertip Pipeline oil spill. Callers should not attempt to capture or touch the wildlife themselves. Rather, responders will attempt to capture reported wildlife. If at all possible, captured wildlife will be rehabilitated and then released back to the wild. 8 Jul 2011 21:29:17 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-montanaoilspill-07082011.html 85D3F8D7-83FE-4D8C-A2C7-39D95B1D196F 00:00 no Public Comments on the Environmental Assessment and Draft Land Protection Plan Will Be Accepted Until July 25, 2011. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today issued the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and accompanying Land Protection Plan (LPP) for the proposed Dakota Grassland Conservation Area. The EA and LPP outline the actions necessary to establish the area, and analyze the potential impacts of a conservation easement program in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota and South Dakota. The outcome of the assessment will be to determine whether the Service should proceed with the establishment of the proposed Dakota Grassland Conservation Area. 20 Jun 2011 23:24:40 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-46.html E68B8B0E-0CAF-4138-B6D5-72445DE7E7A7 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that a petition seeking to protect the Utah population of the Gila monster under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) does not contain substantial scientific information to indicate that the petitioned action may be warranted, because the population does not constitute a distinct population segment (DPS) as defined by the ESA. 20 Jun 2011 22:03:21 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-45.html FA0337F8-3232-4D7F-ABFE-97F4B0EC4ED4 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has concluded that a petition to reclassify the Utah prairie dog from threatened to endangered under the Endangered Species Act (Act) does not contain substantial scientific data to indicate that reclassification might be warranted. Therefore, the species will remain classified as threatened under the Act at this time. The finding will be published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2011. 20 Jun 2011 22:01:40 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-44.html 91186F1F-E56D-4080-B622-B65D785F5EB9 00:00 no On June 28, 2011 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a meeting to hear comments from the public on the draft 15-year Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The meeting will be held between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. at the Great Northern Hotel meeting room in Malta, Montana. 15 Jun 2011 00:22:18 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-bowdoin-6-14-2011.html 2265B43F-D09C-4E41-98B0-C80B3DED5C27 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has completed a status review of five Wyoming plants. We have determined that Fremont County rockcress (Boechera pusilla) warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act (Act); however, listing the plant is precluded by the need to address other high priority species. 8 Jun 2011 23:16:18 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-42.html 76A8A482-A62C-4DB2-9CB6-200499D4F4EF 00:00 no Operators of Dillon, Granby, Green Mountain, Ruedi, Williams Fork, Willow Creek and Wolford Mountain reservoirs will not implement Coordinated Reservoir Operations (CROS) this year because river flows in western Colorado are predicted to be out of the banks due to high snowpack levels. In anticipation of this year’s high runoff, reservoir operators conducted pre-emptive releases instead, making storage space for large amounts of snowmelt. 7 Jun 2011 20:14:59 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-06-crrip.html 0B04E239-838B-467B-B654-3E5EE1E40C11 00:00 no The Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to amend the protective regulations for the Utah prairie dog which is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The existing special rule which we propose to amend was established in 1991. We are proposing to revise the existing limits on take, and we also propose a new incidental take exemption for otherwise legal activities associated with standard agricultural practices. All other provisions of the special rule not relating to these amendments would remain unchanged. Utah prairie dogs are limited to the central and southwestern quarter of Utah in portions of seven counties -- Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Piute, Sevier, and Wayne Counties. Public comments and scientific information regarding the proposed rule will be accepted until August 2, 2011. 1 Jun 2011 22:38:30 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-40.html A3A8518E-8AE9-43B9-884D-4DA501889010 00:00 no The Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking comments regarding the draft Environmental Assessment and accompanying Land Protection Plan for the Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District. The Rainwater Basin is a region of shallow marshes and other wetlands located south of the Platte River in south-central Nebraska. The Environmental Assessment and Land Protection Plan outline the actions necessary to establish the area, and analyze the potential impacts of increasing its acreage. The outcome of the assessment will be to determine whether the Service should proceed with the expansion. The Rainwater Basin is internationally known for its spectacular bird migrations and this proposal would expand protection of critical wetland and grassland habitats for migrating birds. 1 Jun 2011 16:50:02 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-39.htm 8B409C25-1264-454C-B9D7-B39D495676BA 00:00 no 1 Jun 2011 16:48:15 GMT http://www.fws.gov/alamosa/kids-fishing-day-june-2011.html C2FB6E99-A130-437B-BE6A-494D50C4C79C 00:00 no In celebration of National Trails Day, the Arvada Celebrates its Trails program, now in its 10th year, has again partnered with Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Majestic View Nature Center. The focus of this year’s event will be on the natural environment and the many opportunities offered by the Arvada trails system and the National Wildlife Refuge System. 20 May 2011 23:20:41 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-36.htm 11040789-DCB8-4C37-BE79-8D088F1509EA 00:00 no The Winnebago Tribe will receive $108,413 to conduct a study of major wetland resources and identify baseline and ecological information for management of the water resources on the Winnebago Indian Reservation. The reservation is located in northeast Nebraska along the Missouri River. 25 May 2011 23:17:06 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-37.htm A0EF257C-AB26-46B9-866C-C47AAFCC1853 00:00 no The Paiute Tribe will receive $192,927 to implement a wildlife improvement project on 2,468 acres of reservation land in Utah Division of Wildlife’s Panguich Lake Deer Management Unit in Iron County. The project will improve wildlife protection facilities and grazing capacity by upgrading the fencing along three-and-one-half acres of the reservation’s boundary. The improved fencing is intended to reduce wildlife-automobile impact accidents. Through the use of best management practices, the Paiute Tribe will also improve habitat for wildlife, especially deer, elk, turkeys and grouse, as part of the project. 25 May 2011 23:14:21 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-38.htm 574A02B2-E77D-482B-A0F0-68A0E7CA4EF6 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and numerous conservation organizations will observe Endangered Species Day on May 20, 2011, to recognize conservation efforts underway across the nation aimed at helping America’s imperiled species. To date, the Endangered Species Act, which became law in 1973, has helped to prevent the extinction of hundreds of species. Co-administered by the Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the purpose of the Act is to conserve imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. 17 May 2011 17:20:18 GMT http://us.vocuspr.com/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=fws&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=127067&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True E5B5B5F6-5E7D-4966-A91B-69ED5F4A6663 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will host a series of open house meetings to provide information about and receive public comment on the Service’s proposed Bear River Watershed Conservation Area project. The proposed project would establish a new conservation easement program in parts of Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. The program would allow the Service to purchase easements in the Bear River watershed from willing sellers whose lands provide important habitat for fish and wildlife resources. 6 May 2011 14:48:13 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-31.htm D0891922-487E-4CAD-BB50-BFB08904EC99 00:00 no Current climate models project increases in temperature and winter precipitation and decreases in summer precipitation for this region during the next century. Both maximum and minimum temperatures are projected to rise, with minimum temperatures showing the greatest increases. It is also expected that a higher percentage of precipitation will come during major storm events. 12 May 2011 14:45:01 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-33.htm C016A036-32C4-46FD-B59C-731C4D1E9504 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the mountain plover, a native bird of short-grass prairie and shrub-steppe landscapes, does not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. An analysis of the potential threats to the mountain plover does not indicate the species is in danger of extinction or likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future. Mountain plovers breed in the western Great Plains and Rocky Mountain States from the extreme southern Canada to northern Mexico. Within the United States, most breeding occurs in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado; fewer breeding birds occur in Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah. Mountain plovers winter in California, southern Arizona, Texas and Mexico. We estimate the current mountain plover breeding population to be over 20,000 birds. 11 May 2011 17:58:27 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-32.htm 76C69819-EB63-421E-8F2A-EABB659E69EA 00:00 no The Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it is proposing to delist biologically recovered gray wolf populations in the Western Great Lakes, and – in accordance with recently enacted legislation – reinstating the Service’s 2009 decision to delist biologically recovered gray wolf populations in the Northern Rocky Mountains. “Like other iconic species such as the whooping crane, the brown pelican, and the bald eagle, the recovery of the gray wolf is another success story of the Endangered Species Act,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “The gray wolf’s biological recovery reflects years of work by scientists, wildlife managers, and our state, tribal, and stakeholder partners to bring wolf populations back to healthy levels.” 4 May 2011 18:01:51 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/dc11-23.htm E7D095B7-CD41-491F-AFD1-DC66F98282DF 00:00 no Free guided birding tours will again be offered this summer. Tours will be available every Friday and Saturday, at 9am and 1pm, starting May 27th and ending October 1. 2 May 2011 23:29:34 GMT http://www.fws.gov/bearriver/Events/Tours2011.pdf 7BA4A112-9B28-49CA-A03B-0E015800C54D 00:00 no Two Free Tours will be offered every Friday and Saturday from May 27 until October 11, 2011. One at 9 AM and one at 1 PM. The tour will be about 3 hours long. Space is limited so pre registration is recommended. You can register for a tour by calling 435-734-6422. 2 May 2011 21:47:42 GMT http://www.fws.gov/bearriver/Events/Tours2011.pdf 64ECD39D-1262-4418-AA61-1295FA3B0576 00:00 no A joint investigation recently led to the conviction of a South Dakota man for killing Canada geese. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service special agents worked with wildlife enforcement officers of South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks and the Department of Justice on the investigation and resulting conviction. 28 Apr 2011 22:50:15 GMT http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/SF-2011-04-15-Albers.html FCE887EC-3B62-4572-B2A5-1815BEF889B7 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the use of glyphosate-tolerant corn and soybeans for habitat management purposes on National Wildlife Refuge System lands within the Mountain-Prairie Region will have no significant impacts on the quality of the human environment. States within the Mountain-Prairie Region include Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Short-term use of glyphosate-tolerant corn and soybeans directly supports and contributes to long-term habitat restoration goals and objectives for national wildlife refuges in the Mountain-Prairie Region. It is an effective and environmentally-friendly method to convert current and former farm land into native, beneficial habitats for wildlife. We released a draft environmental assessment in February 2011 for public review and comments were solicited. All comments received were considered in the final environmental assessment. Copies of the final environmental assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact are available for viewing or downloading under the Supplemental Reports section on the Service’s Refuge planning website at www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/planning/resources/index. Those without internet access may request copies by calling the USFWS Regional Office at 303-236-8145. 27 Apr 2011 23:08:42 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-29.htm 454469AE-E629-4BAA-BCAA-48C3447EDCBD 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Arapahoe snowfly, an insect found in two tributaries of the Cache la Poudre River in Colorado, may warrant Federal protection as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We will undertake a more thorough review of the Arapahoe snowfly to determine whether to propose adding the species to the Federal list of threatened and endangered wildlife and plants. 26 Apr 2011 17:17:26 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-27.htm BBCE2C82-5762-4BF2-8FA0-CC0E1F120967 00:00 no Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (Recovery Program) researchers are optimistic that Mother Nature will provide flows in several Upper Colorado rivers this spring that will help reduce populations of certain species of nonnative fishes as they work to recover the endangered humpback chub, bonytail, razorback sucker and Colorado pikeminnow. 20 Apr 2011 17:14:55 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/ccr01.htm A37BBF93-52D0-4DBF-A017-65CC9F4992F1 00:00 no The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (Recovery Program) announced several biologically-driven changes to ongoing work that are aimed at continuing progress toward recovering four species of endangered fish found only in the Colorado River basin. 20 Apr 2011 17:12:02 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/ccr-01.htm 9090B185-ADC8-4582-BAA5-8D39D261E5A1 00:00 no The Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the meltwater lednian stonefly, an aquatic insect, warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act, but that proposing the species for protection is precluded by the need to address other high priority species. We added the meltwater lednian stonefly to the list of candidate species and will review its status annually. The meltwater lednian stonefly is found in only a few locations within Glacier National Park, Montana. 4 Apr 2011 17:44:33 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-23.htm 8F235D51-825B-4609-8E0D-F568354AE3B0 00:00 no The Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact for a proposal by Lexam Explorations (U.S.A.), Inc. to drill two exploratory oil and gas wells on the Baca National Wildlife Refuge, located in the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado. A Finding of No Significant Impact is issued when the environmental analysis and interagency review find a project proposal to have no significant impacts on the quality of the environment. This finding is supported by the final environmental assessment which describes the project proposed by Lexam to conduct initial exploration of mineral interests under the Refuge and analyzes alternatives that seek to protect Refuge resources while honoring a mineral owner's legally vested right to access and explore. 1 Apr 2011 18:28:05 GMT http://www.fws.gov/alamosa/bacanwr.html E41A5099-7D3C-47AC-936B-F86715E15033 00:00 no The Fish and Wildlife Service is making available for public review and comment a draft environmental assessment of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks’ request to manage gray wolves in the West Fork Elk Management Unit in western Montana in response to impacts of wolf predation on elk. Comments will be accepted until April 12, 2011. 28 Mar 2011 17:57:38 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/dc11-20.htm 91085D31-9E09-42A6-9EBD-D5F1DD8DF13D 00:00 no Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the launching of an open, online process to solicit ideas for a renewed and bold 10-year vision to guide the growth and management of the National Wildlife Refuge System. A draft vision document, entitled Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation, was developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Wildlife Refuge Association and is now available at http://americaswildlife.org for public comment until Earth Day, April 22, 2011. 24 Feb 2011 15:05:53 GMT http://us.vocuspr.com/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=fws&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=113121&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True B3BBC0AF-A071-4ADC-AF51-5BFDF253EF22 00:00 no The Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded that a petition to list the wild plains bison under the Endangered Species Act does not contain substantial scientific data to indicate that the petitioned action might be warranted. The Service will continue to work with our partners to conserve and protect wild plains bison throughout its remaining range. 25 Feb 2011 15:04:37 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-12.html 5D3B02AB-EC70-4ABB-9DD0-B46BB0D4CFA2 00:00 no The Fish and Wildlife Service has completed biological status reviews for five native Utah plants: the Frisco buckwheat, Ostler pepperplant, Frisco clover, Hamilton milkvetch, Flowers’ beardtongue. We have determined that that the Frisco buckwheat, Ostler pepperplant, and Frisco clover warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act, but that proposing the plants for listing is delayed at this time by the need to address other high priority actions. These plantshave been added to our list of candidate species and we will review their status annually. 1 Mar 2011 15:02:45 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/1111.htm 2EC6D85A-F98A-43D0-8709-77FCAEED6815 00:00 no Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has announced establishment of a new policy to ensure scientific integrity within the Department. He also named Dr. Ralph Morgenweck, the Service's Senior Science Advisor, to serve as the Department's first Scientific Integrity Officer to coordinate implementation of the new policy across all of Interior's bureaus and offices. 16 Feb 2011 14:59:29 GMT http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Salazar-Announces-New-Scientific-Integrity-Policy-and-Designation-of-Departmental-Science-Integrity-Officer.cfm 12E0CF00-2F7B-4BB7-8EAB-13C920883E53 00:00 no In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has completed a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the potential effects of using glyphosate-tolerant corn and soybeans for habitat restoration and management on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands in the States of Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. The Service is seeking public comments on this Draft EA through March 4th, 2011 and will consider all comments and information before adopting a final EA. 2 Feb 2011 23:44:25 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/gm-sandlake.html 4A011E2B-E010-4A94-A635-2302D2085258 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is actively investigating the death of a bald eagle that occurred on January 1, 2011 in Smith County, Kansas. At around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 1st, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office notified Service agents that a landowner had found a dead bald eagle on the road near the intersection of BB and 20 Roads. According to the landowner, the eagle was alive and flying around only a short time before it was found dead. 4 Feb 2011 23:41:20 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-06.html 364D3068-56DC-4A32-BEAD-44C02D767BBF 00:00 no After a 25-year conservation effort involving Federal land management partners the Maguire daisy (Erigeron maguirei) has fully recovered and will be removed from the list of threatened and endangered species. 18 Jan 2011 19:53:53 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/doi-01182011.html 7A880A15-39F6-49C7-8B0D-45010A58F678 00:00 no The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at the Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge, announced today that a draft Integrated Pest Management plan for the Tewaukon Complex lands will be open for public comment until February 13th. The plan is now open for public review and will become final if the Regional Director approves it after considering public comment. 18 Jan 2011 17:43:37 GMT http://www.fws.gov/tewaukon 6638C723-1569-4FEE-925E-D19574D211EA 00:00 no Join us from 11 AM until 2 PM on Saturday, January 29 for a presentation and activities. 14 Jan 2011 22:43:21 GMT http://www.fws.gov/bearriver/events.html 3ACAA7A8-0E6C-4606-AB6D-013DF4EDBC44 00:00 no Join us for our snowshoeing program where we will teach you the basics of snowshoeing and take you for a hike on the Refuge. You must register for this outing as class size is limited. 13 Jan 2011 14:45:38 GMT http://www.fws.gov/jclarksalyer/deslacs B4928FE6-D44C-45F3-A6D5-1BDE9773113C 00:00 no 11 Jan 2011 21:31:19 GMT http://www.fws.gov/bearriver/waterbird_surveys/010611.pdf C2B96F1C-E26D-4489-9EB2-F9D8CBE7BAC9 00:00 no Law enforcement officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Yellowstone-area gray wolf found dead in Colorado in 2009 was illegally poisoned. 11 Jan 2011 21:30:06 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-03.htm 62F2BB36-CFC0-4328-9C83-C9AC11614CCD 00:00 no Find out about Gray Wolf Management in Wyoming for the period December 6, 2010 through January 7, 2011 10 Jan 2011 22:30:07 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/wyomingstatus2011/01072011.html 41AC0252-A047-4999-9B53-236F0EBAEFF4 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has prepared a draft environmental assessment regarding Lexam Explorations (U.S.A) Inc’s proposal to explore their oil and gas mineral interest underlying the Baca National Wildlife Refuge. This document is available for public review and comments will be accepted until February 7, 2011. 8 Jan 2011 04:50:28 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/11-1.pdf 64FB4674-85E1-4D40-89C9-A6655AEA8E3C 00:00 no View the results of the December 29, 2010 general bird survey at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Utah. 5 Jan 2011 14:58:43 GMT http://www.fws.gov/bearriver/general-bird-surveys.html 0C9A9C9C-395F-4834-B02F-587912EF715C 00:00 no View the results of the December 28, 2010 bird migration survey taken at Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge in South Dakota. 5 Jan 2011 14:56:27 GMT http://www.fws.gov/lacreek/migration.html 5CEFDDE9-90FC-48E2-A680-6BD58C9A5EB5 00:00 no The D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives in Spearfish, S.D., houses one of the nation's most extensive collections of fisheries-related historic artifacts. The Archives' voluminous number of items just keeps growing as the history of fisheries management unfolds. 4 Jan 2011 19:21:22 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/fisheries/dcbooth 2BC367A7-F537-4881-BFB0-E53AC0A5E71C 00:00 no The Fish and Wildlife Service is extending the comment period on its proposal to create the Dakota Grassland Conservation Area in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana through the use of voluntary conservation easements. The proposed Dakota Grassland will be part of a landscape-scale, strategic habitat conservation effort to conserve populations of migratory birds by protecting the unique, highly diverse, and endangered ecosystem known as the Prairie Pothole Region. 30 Dec 2010 16:43:28 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/10-90.html D2C5A27A-7FFC-43E2-B1C3-FBCB09DDDD06 00:00 no Public Comments Will Be Accepted Until January 31, 2011 Public Information Meetings Will Be Held In Holdredge and Clay Center, Nebraska The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is proposing to expand protection of the Rainwater Basin to further the protection of vital wetland and grassland habitats for migrating birds. The Service is proposing to increase the land acquisition goal from 24,000 acres to 38,177 acres. The Service would accomplish this goal by acquiring interest in approximately 9,000 acres by fee-title and 5,000 acres by establishing perpetual conservation easements. We would acquire these lands would be acquired from willing sellers only. 27 Dec 2010 20:38:46 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/10-89.html 34AA0D61-2028-4954-83E8-49CE8E937FB4 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for the shooting of an adult bald eagle two miles south and one-half mile west of Ravinia, South Dakota, in Charles Mix County. The eagle was shot and wounded prior to December 18, 2010. 21 Dec 2010 21:10:13 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/10-88.html 952F0A39-953B-4FFA-87F3-81DF81B06D03 00:00 no On January 11, 2011, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will hold a public scoping meeting for development of a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the National Elk Refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 requires the Service to develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose of the CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for achieving individual refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation. 20 Dec 2010 21:11:28 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/10-87.html 80EC5B08-F5B6-471C-B779-54B992D45717 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it has determined that skiff milkvetch (Astragalus microcymbus) and Schmoll’s milkvetch (Astragalus schmolliae) warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act, but that listing the species under the Act is precluded by the need to take other listing actions of a higher priority. 15 Dec 2010 21:13:29 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/10-86.htm 308F2CC6-A1E4-4E69-A5E3-367CABDB52CA 00:00 no The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced that it will designate approximately 411 miles of rivers and streams and 34,935 acres of streamside habitat in seven Colorado counties as critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the threatened Preble’s meadow jumping mouse. The ESA provides a critical safety net for America’s native fish, wildlife and plants. This landmark conservation law has prevented the extinction of hundreds of imperiled species across the nation and promoted the recovery of many others. 14 Dec 2010 21:47:06 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/10-85.html 156963D9-A0BB-406C-B277-32889F3CBE6F 00:00 no Wolverines found in the contiguous United States warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act, but a rulemaking to propose the species for protection is precluded by the need to address other higher priority species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today. The wolverine will be added to the list of candidates for Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection, where its status will be reviewed annually. 13 Dec 2010 21:51:13 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/10-83.html A0D1EF45-09F0-4B7A-9718-95D8AA880FE5 00:00 no ALBUQUERQUE, NM -- Researchers with the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (San Juan Program) captured a 30.3-inch, 9.1-pound endangered Colorado pikeminnow this fall about 16 miles downstream of Shiprock, NM. This was the fourth largest Colorado pikeminnow captured in the San Juan River since 1991. It was estimated to be 10-15 years old. Researchers collected the fish while conducting adult fish monitoring and nonnative fish management activities as part of efforts to recover the Colorado pikeminnow and another endangered fish – the razorback sucker. The fish was tagged and returned to the river. 13 Dec 2010 21:53:45 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/10-84.htm 88A5D5B2-034E-4A28-B215-F96613CE104E 00:00 no When most Montana residents and visitors hear the name Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, often their first thoughts turn to big game hunting. During the fall archery season, a bow hunter searching for an elk on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge found something he was not actually looking for; the fossilized bones of a rare prehistoric sea creature called a plesiosaur. Dave Bradt of Florence, Montana notified the Refuge Headquarters in Lewistown of the discovery right away. The find is scientifically significant and promises to add to our knowledge about the remote past in what is now Montana. 22 Nov 2010 21:55:10 GMT http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/10-81.htm 42DA4B15-89CF-4A9E-A3E7-9401FDA90842 00:00 no