By Brynn Walling, USFWS

Slow and steady wins the race!

This week we announced some great news for the Magazine Mountain shagreen snail. In 1989 the snail was listed as a threatened species due to habitat loss and development affects to the land.

Now, 24 years later, the snail is the first ever invertebrate to recover and be removed from the Endangered Species Act!

(What a success story! Photo: USFWS)

These snails have a dusky brown colored shell and can only be found in Logan County, Arkansas mainly on the Magazine Mountain. This is a major success story for Arkansas. 

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One of the latest trending themes in the Fish in Wildlife Service is for employees to answer the question “How will you leave your legacy?”

The many answers can be found by searching the #LeaveYourLegacy across our various social media sites.

Every 3 years the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes an employee, or group of employees, for collaborating with partners to promote ecosystem sustainability while meeting the requirements for our nation’s ever changing transportation needs. This recognition is called the Environmental Stewardship Excellence Award. In order to be considered for the award, an individual or group has to be nominated, and then a panel of judges assesses the nominations and selects a winner.

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As you know, the Endangered Species Act is turning 40 this year.

As our gift to you, this week we present a glorious photo essay, highlighting some of the states and species we've featured on Open Spaces so far.

Virginia

Protecting Our Waters: The mussels of Virginia's Clinch and Powell Rivers


(Photo: Gary Peeples/USFWS)

Maryland

Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel: Journey to Recovery


(Photo: USFWS)

Illinois

Illinois's Unique Places and Species


(Photo: P. Burton/USFWS)

Louisiana

Whoopers Return to Louisiana After 60 Years


(Photo: Sara Zimorski, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries)

Colorado

A Rocky Mountain Success Story

(Photo: Colorado Division of Wildlife)

Each week, throughout this ruby anniversary year of the Endangered Species Act, we’ll highlight stories of conservation success in every state across the country. Stay tuned!

By Brynn Walling, USFWS

Texas blind salamanders are rare but fascinating creatures.

This cave dwelling amphibian is a pinkish translucent color and grows to be around 5 inches long. They are fairly slender and fair-legged and about half of their body length comes from their tails alone.

Who needs eyes when you've got a tail that long? (Photo: USFWS)

Impress your friends with these five fun facts:

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By Brynn Walling, USFWS

We are now four months into our year-long commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, and this week we’re highlighting the state with the highest number of endangered and threatened animals — California.

You may already know about some of the rare animals of the Golden State, like the California condor or the desert tortoise, but there are hundreds of unique species that call this state home — many of them occur nowhere else in the world!

The vernal pool fairy shrimp. (Photo: Dwight Harvey/USFWS)

An example is vernal pool fairy shrimp. Like its name suggests, this tiny crustacean lives in vernal pools, some as small as a puddle, and others the size of a small lake. The term ‘fairy’ comes from its ability to gracefully swim on its back. Actually, you will only find this species swimming on their back!

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By Brynn Walling USFWS

Who, what, when, where, why, and how?

We have all the answers for you regarding the Barrier Beach Restoration Project on Long Beach West in Stratford, Connecticut. 

Long Beach faced stormy times, but has since been restored. (Photo: USFWS)

Long Beach was once a bustling summer community, with dozens of summer cottages. In 1996, a fire burnt down the bridge connecting the beach to the mainland. Thereafter the cottages remained vacant.

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By Brynn Walling, USFWS

What can you see more of in Wisconsin than any other state?

Snow? Green Bay Packers? Cheese curds?

What about ... butterflies?

Of the seven states where Karner blue butterflies are found, Wisconsin boasts the most.

The Karner Blue is highly coveted by some collectors. (Photo: Paul Labus/USFWS)

The Karner Blue butterfly was listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act in 1992 due to habitat loss and collection.

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By Ken Warren, USFWS

You wouldn’t know it when you first meet her, but Emily Bauer enjoys slogging around in the bogs of south Florida.

She doesn’t do it just for fun, although she enjoys the work. She does it because she’s seeking apple snails.

Yep. You read that correctly.

Emily Bauer enjoys slogging around in the bogs of south Florida. (Photo: USFWS)

Bauer is fully committed to the ultimate goal of finding out if levels of copper in apple snails are potentially harmful to the endangered Everglade snail kite, a bird that relies on the snails as their primary food source.

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By Brynn Walling, USFWS

Want to win an ‘upstream battle?’ Follow the Oregon Chub!

The Oregon Chub is part of the minnow family and is unique to the Willamette River Valley of western Oregon. The small minnow, only growing to be approximately 3.5 inches long, has a beautiful olivey-silver color. They like weedy, swampy river bottoms and only live to be about 5 years old.

Big things are happening for this little fish, seen here with a VIE tag. (Photo: USFWS)

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By Brynn Walling, USFWS

In Maine, the Penobscot Indian Nation has close ties to its land--sharing a name with a well-known river in the region. Not only is the Penobscot River the backbone of the Tribe, it’s also home to the federally endangered Atlantic salmon.

Working in the Penobscot River. (Photo: USFWS)

The longest river in the state, the Penobscot once flowed 100 miles through the North Woods to the sea. Over 200 years and 100 dams later, much has changed.

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