El Paso man Sentenced in Exotic Leather Smuggling Attempt
August 2010
El Paso, Texas - The United States Attorney’s Office and the Fish and Wildlife Service announced that Jose de Jesus Barba, 44, of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced on August 5, 2010, by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone.
Barba, was arrested on March 13, 2010, for attempting to smuggle several exotic leather products across the international border at the Zaragosa Port of Entry in El Paso. He later pled guilty for smuggling goods into the U.S., a felony under United States law. Following his plea, Barba was sentenced to serve six months home confinement, 91 days of jail time already served, three years of supervised probation, and 100 hours of community service, and was fined $250 with a $100 special assessment fee.
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| Approved water station. Photo credit: USFWS |
Service to Continue to Allow Humane Water Stations on Border Refuge
Humanitarian efforts will not hamper strides to secure border or protect wildlife.
August 2010
Sasabe, AZ- Humanitarian organizations will be allowed to continue to provide humane water stations on Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona. After a review of the proposed activity by refuge staff it has been determined that placement of water for use by those in need in the desert will help save lives and is compatible with the purpose of the refuge. In order to minimize environmental impacts, sites throughout the 118,000-acre refuge will be allowed for placement of stationary, 55-gallon water drums adjacent to roadsides and in already disturbed areas. Since 2001, three such sites have been allowed on the refuge.
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| The images above illustrate the complete destruction of the Deep Fork NWR office building. The top image was taken August 5, 2010 and the bottom image was taken August 6, 2010. Photo credit: USFWS. |
Suspicious Fire Destroys Recovery Act Project Reward Offered for Information Leading to Arrest
August 2010
Okmulgee, OK - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, local fire department and other law enforcement agencies, is currently investigating a suspicious fire that destroyed the initial construction work on a new office building at the Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge in Okmulgee, OK. The building, which was about 35 percent complete, began construction in June and was scheduled to be open to the public early next year.
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| Landowner Darryl Berkenfeld at the Ogallala Commons outdoor classroom. Photo credit: Don Wilhelm, Texas State Coordinator for the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. |
Outdoor Classroom Opens Adjacent to Playa Wetland
August 2010
The world is literally your classroom- if you visit the Texas Panhandle this summer. As a result of a partnership between several different organizations as well as private citizens, an outdoor classroom has been established in the Texas Panhandle on behalf of the nonprofit group Ogallala Commons. The classroom is an educational tool set up to help inform the public about the values of playa wetlands and adjacent uplands to both wildlife and humans. The Ogallala Commons Playa Classroom is located just outside of Nazareth, Texas.
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Service to Review Status of Mexican Wolf to
Determine if it is an Endangered Subspecies
August 2010
The Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is currently listed as endangered within a broader species-level listing of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in the lower 48 states and Mexico. After careful consideration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today the Mexican wolf may warrant reclassification as an endangered subspecies.
The current 10(j) population of the Mexican wolf will remain listed as experimental, nonessential, while the Service conducts a status review.
Based on the review of two petitions asking the agency to list the Mexican wolf as an endangered subspecies and designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, it was determined the petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information and that petitioned action warrants further review.
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Federal Register Notice
Frequently Asked Questions
Another Mexican Wolf Found Illegally Shot in Arizona
July 2010
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Law Enforcement Agents recovered the body of another dead Mexican wolf on Thursday July 15, 2010. The wolf, AM 1189, is the second adult male of the Hawks Nest Pack found shot, and the third Mexican wolf found dead within the past month. Killing a Mexican wolf is a violation of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.
The carcass of male wolf 1189 was located northeast of Big Lake, within 2 miles of where the carcass of another wolf from the hawks nest pack, 1044, was found on June 18. The pack traditionally uses the area east of Big Lake on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests as their spring-summer breeding territory.
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| Bill Voelker, Director, SIA and Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, USFWS Southwest Regional Director, shake hands after signing the MOA for a non-eagle feather repository. Photo credit: L. Whittle, USFWS. |
Establishment of the First Non-Eagle Feather Repository
June 2010
Today, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, in cooperation with the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, established a two-year pilot, non-eagle feather repository to provide Native Americans with a permitted source to obtain non-eagle feathers from federally regulated migratory birds for religious and cultural use through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement. This is the first Native American-managed non-eagle feather repository. The Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative (SIA) based in Cyril, Okla., will now be able to receive and distribute regulated migratory bird feathers, deceased birds and parts, from zoos, falconers, rehabilitators and other permitted sources, to federally enrolled tribal members across the country.
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Draft Environmental Assessment Available Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for Four Invertebrate Species
June 2010
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment and draft economic analysis of a revised critical habitat designation for four invertebrate species found in southeast New Mexico and southwest Texas. The deadline to submit comments is August 23, 2010.
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Draft Environmental Assessment
Draft Economic Analysis
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge Remains Open
June 2010
Recently there were reports in the news stating that the Buenos Aries National Wildlife Refuge was closed. This information is not correct. In early 2006, a small section of land (about 3% of the refuge) along the border was closed to visitation. However, no new restrictions are in place and the majority of the refuge remains open. Today, we are seeing a decline in violent activity in the southern most area thanks to ongoing cooperation between the US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Customs and Border Protection. The Refuge will reopen the lands along the border at such time that it is determined to be safe for visitors.
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Comal County Requests Incidental Take Permit for Two Federally Listed Species
June 2010
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced in the Federal Register today the notice of availability of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (dEIS), and an incidental take permit application for the Comal County, Texas, draft Habitat Conservation Plan (dHCP). This announcement begins a 90 day public comment period.
If the permit is approved, the Service would authorize incidental take of the following federally listed species: Golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) and black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla) for a period of 30 years.
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Federal Register Notice
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