U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Hold Public Hearing on Estimates of Economic Impact of Critical Habitat for the Yellowcheek DarterUSFWS accepts comments about economic estimates related to designating critical habitat for the Yellow Cheek DarterMay 23, 2012 
An endangered Yello Cheek Darter. Photo Credit: J. R. Shute, Conservation Fisheries International. Download
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a public hearing to share information and accept comments about estimates of economic impacts related to a proposal to designate critical habitat for the endangered yellowcheek darter.
The Service is re-opening the comment period for 30 days through June 25, 2012, in order to allow comments on the proposed designation and the draft economic analysis. At the time of listing, the Service determined that critical habitat should be identified. The yellowcheek darter was listed as endangered on August 9, 2011.
Service Estimates Economic Impact of Critical Habitat Designation for Five Southeastern FishesFish and Wildlife to release economic impact report for habitat protection for five southern fishes.May 23, 2012 
The Laurel Dace is one of the five fish targeted with habitat protection. Photo Credit: Conservation Fisheries International. Download
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is releasing the estimated economic impacts of the proposed critical habitat designation of five southeastern fishes in Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alabama.
The Service also is re-opening the public comment period for the October 12, 2011 proposal to designate approximately 228 river miles and 22 acres of critical habitat for the Cumberland darter, rush darter, yellowcheek darter, chucky madtom, and laurel dace under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Service is re-opening the comment period for 30 days through June 25, 2012, in order to allow comments on the proposed designation and the draft economic analysis. All five of these fishes were listed as endangered on August 9, 2011.
Fish and Wildlife Issues Biological Opinion on Corps' Operations at Lake Seminole's Woodruff Dam in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River BasinUSFWS reviews interim plan for Woodruff Dam operations.May 22, 2012 
The locks at Woodruff Dam. (Photo Credit: National Fish Passage Program- 2007). Download The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ interim plan for operating Jim Woodruff Dam (Lake Seminole) on the Apalachicola River will not threaten the continued existence of federally protected freshwater mussels and the Gulf sturgeon fish in Florida. The Biological Opinion released to the Corps today includes an Incidental Take Statement, which provides the Corps an exemption from take under the Endangered Species Act for harming protected species. In return, the Corps has committed to several actions to minimize the loss of mussels. Those include monitoring to evaluate the impact of dam operations.
Critical Wildlife Corridor ProtectedConservation partners protect land near Caloosahatchee River critical to wildlife movement and population growth of highly endangered Florida pantherMay 22, 2012 
A female florida panther and her kittens walk along a trail less than three miles from the Caloosahachee River near the recently protected American Prime property in Glades County, Florida. This is the first documented evidence of a female Florida panther north of OK Slough State Forest since panther research began in 1973. This picture was taken at night with a trail camera (photo credit: Cliff Coleman). Download KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A large and continuous piece of land critical for wildlife passage and the natural recovery of the Florida panther was purchased and protected by a collaborative public and private partnership in an outstanding effort to accomplish species conservation The conservation easements established on the 1,278-acre American Prime property along the Caloosahatchee River in Glades County is a key natural landscape through which Florida panthers can disperse from habitats farther south. This acquisition required a sequence of events involving multiple agencies and was accomplished just in time to prevent the land from going to foreclosure auction.
U.S. Agencies Join Forces with First Lady and Dr. Biden to Honor and Support Military FamiliesDepartment of the Interior-led effort will provide a Military Pass for Free Access to National Parks and Other Public LandMay 17, 2012 
A Marine is reunited with his family in North Carolina. Photo: Cpl. James Clark, U.S. Marine Corps. Download. YORKTOWN, Va. – As part of the Joining Forces initiative to support our nation’s service members and their families, several U.S. government agencies announced an annual pass to active duty service members and their dependents, granting free access to more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and other public lands around the nation in the coming years. “First Lady Michelle Obama and I started the Joining Forces initiative last year as a way to honor, recognize and support our veterans and military families,” said Dr. Jill Biden. “This effort is a wonderful way to give something back, giving our military men and women and their families a chance to reconnect with their loved ones, experience the beauty of this country, and simply have a little fun.”
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Initiates Status Review of the Eastern Diamondback RattlesnakeMay 9, 2012 
An Eastern Diamondback in the striking position. Photo: Tom MacKenzie, USFWS. Download. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today announced a 90-day finding on a petition to list the eastern diamondback rattlesnake as threatened and designate critical habitat for the species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). New Project Leader for Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee and Choctaw National Wildlife RefugesApril 27, 2012 
Steve Reagan. Photo: Tom MacKenzie, USFWS. Download. Dr. Steve Reagan is the new project leader for both the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge near Starkville, Mississippi, and the Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge in Gilbertown, Alabama. He began his new duties on April 23. "I am excited and humbled by the opportunity to manage two great refuges," Reagan said. "Having the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge renamed for Sam, my former Southeast Regional Director and later our agency's director, makes my new position even more special."
Ohio Youth Wins the Federal Junior Duck Stamp CompetitionApril 20, 2012 
A northern pintail by Christine Clayton of Ohio will be displayed on the 2012 Federal Junior Duck Stamp. Download. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today a northern pintail was selected to appear on the 2012-2013 Federal Junior Duck Stamp. The design for the new stamp, painted by Christine Clayton, was chosen by a panel of judges at the national Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest, held at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, Md.
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May 25, 2012
