Endangered Species Act Protection for the American Pika Is Not Warranted

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed an in-depth scientific status review of the American pika to determine if the species should be protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

We analyzed potential factors that may affect the habitat or range of the pika including climate change, livestock grazing, invasive plant species and fire suppression and determined climate change to be the primary threat to the species.

To help us understand and forecast the potential impacts of climate change on pika populations in the western United States, we worked with NOAA to develop local-scale models to help predict the variables in surface temperatures that could affect pika populations.

Using this information, we conducted a risk assessment to determine if increased surface temperatures would affect the pika and found that although the American pika could potentially be impacted by climate change, we believe the species as a whole will be able to survive despite higher temperatures in a majority of its range. We believe the pika will have enough high elevation habitat to ensure its long-term survival.

Based on this information, we do not believe the American pika is in danger of extinction in the foreseeable future.

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Pete Ramirez, Wyoming Ecological Services and Mike Rabenberg, Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge receive 2009 DOI Environmental Achievement Award

Pete and Mike received the 2009 DOI Environmental Achievement Award and the 2009 Service Environmental Achievement Award for their participation on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Oil and Gas Team. This is a consortium of federal agencies brought together to address the increased need by Service personnel for guidance and oversight in managing oil and gas activities on National Wildlife System lands. The team's primary goal is to provide Service personnel with the technical, administrative, and legal information needed to effectively manage oil and gas activities throughout the NWRS lands,for the benefit of trust resources. The efforts of the Oil and Gas team has resulted in increased oversight and management of oil and gas activities on refuge lands; improved compliance by oil and gas operators, has initiated localized clean-up of impacted refuges and has improved habitat on NWRS lands.

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Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge Employee, Ron Thuma, receives the 2009 DOI Environmental Achievement Award

Ron is the backbone of the refuge, ensuring that it operates efficiently and safely, and is ever mindful of ways that can make its operations greener. Ron also manages the Youth Conservation Corps program and impresses upon those young people the importance and benefits of being energy wise, practicing green purchasing, waste pollution and prevention, and how to most effectively recycle and the benefits of doing so. His recycling efforts won the Refuge, the “Master Recycler Award” from the City of Emporia.

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Fish and Wildlife Service Reopens Public Comment Period for the Proposed Rule To Provide Endangered Species Act Protections for the Shovelnose Sturgeon

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service will reopen on January 14, 2010, the public comment period for the proposal to treat the shovelnose sturgeon as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (Act) due to its similarity of appearance to the endangered pallid sturgeon.  The Service is also reopening the comment period regarding the proposed special rule that will prohibit the harvest of any shovelnose sturgeon or shovelnose–pallid sturgeon hybrids, and their roe associated with or related to a commercial fishing activity.

Read More | Learn More About Pallid and Shovelnose Sturgeon

THE KINGPIN

Go behind the scenes of illegal wildlife trade and meet the world’s most notorious trafficker – Anson Wong. Also meet one of the Service’s special operations agents who was instrumental in the takedown of this wildlife criminal.

Visit the National Geographic Web Site for Their Story on Illegal Wildlife Trade

Listen to an interview of Brian Christy, author of the "The Kingpin" and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agent, George Morrison. (Once the web page opens, click on either the Real Audio or Windows Media link to the right of the 11:00 Wildlife Trade heading.)

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ANNOUNCES $2.27 MILLION OF STIMULUS FUNDING FOR NEW STRUCTURES AT SEEDSKADEE

Green River, Wyoming—Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has awarded $2.27 million for the construction of three residential buildings and a bunkhouse on Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. The project is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

McMillen LLC, of Boise, Idaho, will use the ARRA funds to construct the buildings to replace existing rodent-infested structures. The new facilities will be substantially safer and up to 80 percent more energy-efficient. They will have solar heating with radiant floor heating systems. The existing propane-heating system for the two usable houses can cost up to $500 per month to heat.

“The stimulus funds are helping to improve the environment, enhance our facilities, and create job opportunities with projects like this one,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said. “With this investment, we will help the habitat and benefit the region for years to come.”

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Recovery Act Web Site

Fish and Wildlife Service to Conduct Status Review of the Sprague’s pipit

Following a review of a petition to list the Sprague’s pipit as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is initiating a status review of the species to determine if listing is warranted.

The petition finding does not mean that the Service has decided it is appropriate to give the Sprague’s pipit federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Rather, this finding is the first step in a long process that triggers a more thorough review of all the biological information available.

To ensure this review is comprehensive, the Service is soliciting information from state and federal natural resource agencies and all interested parties regarding the Sprague’s pipit and its habitat. Comments will be received until February 1, 2010.

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Endangered Species Act Protection for the Black-tailed Prairie Dog Is Not Warranted

The Fish and Wildlife Service has completed a status review of the black-tailed prairie dog and has determined it does not warrant protection as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.

The Service assessed potential impacts to the black-tailed prairie dog including conversion of prairie grasslands to croplands, large-scale poisoning, and sylvatic plague and has determined that these impacts do not threatened the long-term persistence of the species.

Black-tailed prairie dogs occupy approximately 2.4 million acres across its range. The estimated population of black-tailed prairie dogs in the U.S. is approximately 24 million.

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U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service To Review Status Of Gunnison Sage-Grouse

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is initiating a status review of the Gunnison sage-grouse to determine whether the species warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Service intends to complete this 12-month review by the lawsuit settlement agreement date of June 30, 2010.

The Service is seeking the latest scientific and commercial information on the status of the Gunnison sage-grouse from the public, government agencies, tribes, industry and the scientific and conservation communities. After gathering and analyzing this information, the Service will determine whether to propose adding the Gunnison sage-grouse to the federal list of threatened and endangered species. Comments will be received until December 23, 2009.

The Service is seeking information concerning: (1) the taxonomy, biology, ecology, genetics, and status of the Gunnison sage-grouse; (2) specific information on the conservation status of the Gunnison sage-grouse including information regarding distribution, abundance, and population trends; (3) specific information on threats to the Gunnison sage-grouse; (4) specific information regarding conservation actions designed to improve Gunnison sage-grouse habitat or reduce threats to the Gunnison sage-grouse and its habitat.

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Historic Leadville NFH offers more than fish

From boom to bust is an accurate description of Colorado’s “Silver City” – Leadville. Looking at the town today it’s hard to imagine that it was once a bustling city of more than 40,000 people. Now less than 4,000 residents call it home.

The majestic upper Arkansas Valley in which Leadville sits was damaged years ago when settlers, miners and prospectors overused its natural resources leaving scorched earth in their wake. The town’s history of plundering the environment is not universal though. Since 1889 the Leadville National Fish Hatchery has been a counterweight to the treatment by the early residents and transients who sought their fortunes from the area’s rich mountains. However, raising fish from fertilized eggs is just a part of what the hatchery does.

“Our whole mission here is a little different than the normal fish hatchery,” explains Ed Stege, Hatchery Manager. “We’re not just raising fish. With our large land base and trail system many visitors come just to enjoy nature.”

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Fort Carson soldiers work, heal in wildlife

Paul Ellis was always infatuated with biology. After earning a Bachelor of Science with a double major in biology and criminal justice from Drury University, Mo., he put his biological love affair on hold to enlist in the Army – a decision that would later lead him back to his passion, albeit via a circuitous route.

Fast forward to the present, Ellis is now a staff sergeant on active duty stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. However, thanks to an unlikely stint managing wildlife, he is all but certain that upon completion of a 20-year career in the Army, he will return to his first love: the biological sciences.

Ellis came to the decision that life after the Army would involve biology while working in the Fort Carson Wildlife Management Office (FCWMO). The vertical construction engineer came to wildlife management by way of Carson’s Warriors in Transition Unit (WTU) after sustaining injuries during his third combat tour of Iraq.

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Efforts Made to Reduce Oil, Bird Encounters

A broad-based cooperative effort among state and federal agencies and corporate entities is helping to reduce the number of deaths of migratory birds and other wildlife resulting from being attracted to oil field waste pits. Many operators have taken preventive measures to reduce the loss, currently estimated at least a half-million annually.

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