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Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee Celebrates 25 Years

grizzly bear walking
Grizzly bear at Yellowstone National Park. Credit: Terry Tollefsbol / USFWS

June 23 2008
The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee celebrated a quarter century of grizzly bear recovery on June 21, 2008, with a public ceremony at the Blackfoot—Clearwater Wildlife Management Area in Montana. The event was open to the public, and included displays and demonstrations of bear-related educational and safety programs and a ceremony with key partners involved in grizzly bear recovery.

Celebrate Pollinator Week, June 22-28, with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service!

Bee on a flower. Mike Higgins, USFWS.
Bee on a flower. Credit: Mike Higgins, USFWS.

June 23, 2008
In celebration of Pollinator Week the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is releasing a series of podcasts about pollinators throughout the week. Each day learn more about pollinators, such as native bees and endangered butterflies, and what you can do to help them. Visit the Pollinators Web site to get started.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Small Wetlands Program: A Half Century of Conserving Prairie Habitat

Through the Small Wetlands Program, the Service has purchased more than 36,000 separate fee and permanent easement tracts that make up the 3 million acres of lands administered as Waterfowl Production Areas, as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Credit: USFWS
Through the Small Wetlands Program, the Service has purchased more than 36,000 separate fee and permanent easement tracts that make up the 3 million acres of lands administered as Waterfowl Production Areas, as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Credit: USFWS

June 23, 2008
Fifty years ago an amendment to the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934 (also known as the Duck Stamp Act) authorized the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire wetlands and surrounding areas for the benefit of migratory waterfowl. A half century later, the Service’s Small Wetlands Program, created to stem the rapid loss of important prairie habitat, has developed into one of the most successful conservation efforts in the United States.

Initial Assessments of Waterfowl Breeding Habitat Conditions Available at www.Flyways.us

A female red-necked phalarope. Credit: USFWS
A female red-necked phalarope. Credit: USFWS

June 23, 2008
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) are making available the initial assessments of waterfowl breeding habitat conditions in new video segments posted on the agencies’ joint website www.Flyways.us. These assessments offer a first glimpse of habitat conditions and the status of waterfowl populations entering the breeding period starting in May, 2008.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Sign Annual Funding Agreement for National Bison Range Complex

Signing of the Confedrated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Annual Funding Agreement for National Bison Range Complex. Credit:Tami Heilemann / DOI
Signing of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Annual Funding Agreement for National Bison Range Complex. Credit:Tami Heilemann / DOI

June 19, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation today signed an Annual Funding Agreement for the National Bison Range Complex, located in Moiese, Montana within the boundaries of the Flathead Indian Reservation. The agreement was negotiated over the past six months by professional natural resource management staff from both parties with support from Service, Department of the Interior, and Tribal leadership, and outlines the activities the Tribes will perform at the Bison Range during fiscal years 2009 through 2011.

Crews Work to Contain Wildfire on North Carolina Refuge

Evans Road Fire on right approaches Evans Road and adjacent plowed area- (plowed area is known in the fire community as "potato patching". Credit: USFWS
Evans Road Fire on right approaches Evans Road and adjacent plowed area, known in the fire community as "potato patching". Credit: USFWS

June 17, 2008
A wildfire in Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in rural eastern North Carolina has burned more than 40,000 acres as of June 17. Containment is now estimated at 70 percent.

More than 450 firefighters from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State of North Carolina and other local and county agencies are working to contain the fire. Burned areas are being flooded with water in an attempt to put out the ground fire and reduce smoke.

Visit the Inciweb Web site for additional information on the fire, including photos and maps.

Meanwhile, a wildfire near Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge on the border of Virginia and North Carolina that has burned nearly 2,500 acres is 20 percent contained as of June 17. The fire started Monday, June 9, when logging equipment caught fire.

About 322 firefighters from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia State Department of Forestry, The Nature Conservancy, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the North Carolina Department of Forest Resources, Chesapeake Fire Rescue, and Suffolk Fire Rescue are working to contain the fire.

Secretary Kempthorne Announces Massive Addition to Wildlife Refuge

June 12, 2008
As part of a suite of wetlands acquisition and conservation grant approvals, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission today approved $4 million to purchase more than 18,000 acres of prime prairie wetland and associated grassland habitat for the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Minnesota – one of the largest purchases ever using dollars generated from Federal Duck Stamp sales and import duties on firearms and ammunition.

Service Proposes to Expand Hunting and Fishing Opportunities on National Wildlife Refuges

Duck hunting. Credit. Dr. Eugene Hester
Duck hunting. Credit. Dr. Eugene Hester

June 11, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today opened a 30-day public comment period on a proposal to add one national wildlife refuge to the list of areas open for hunting during the 2008-09 season and increase hunting opportunities at six other refuges.

The Service today also published a final rule that opens Cape May National Wildlife Refuge (New Jersey) to fishing, makes minor administrative changes, and modifies existing regulations.

Holy Redeemer School Hosts the 2008 D.C. Junior Duck Stamp Awards Ceremony

Patrick Hallaert winner of the 2008 Junior Duck Stamp Contest and his teacher Wan Tai Lu. CreditL Tesia Zientek / USFWS
Patrick Hallaert winner of the 2008 DC Junior Duck Stamp Contest and his teacher Wan Tai Lu. Credit: Tesia Zientek / USFWS

June 10, 2008
Six-year old Patrick Hallaert’s rendition of a Canada Goose was selected from among 166 entries as the Washington, DC 2008 best of show winner.  Patrick also received honorable mention at the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest and was recognized as the youngest individual to receive the honor. “I want to take care of nature and animals like my mother and father take care of me.  This is my way of thanking them for the joy and fun they bring me,” Patrick said.

First Place Winners by Age Group: 

GRADES K-3:    Gabrielle Ryu
GRADES 4-6:      Keyon Bridges
GRADES 7-9:      Alicia Pinkett
GRADES 10-12:  Elizabeth Greathouse

New Magazine Highlights Fisheries Conservation Work

Eddies cover.
Eddies cover.

June 10, 2008
It’s been 137 years in the making.  Conserving America’s fisheries since 1871, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has launched Eddies: Reflections on Fisheries Conservation – a new quarterly magazine focused on the Service’s Fisheries Program.

Eddies highlights the aquatic conservation work of the Service’s Fisheries Program and its partners. Eddies is written for audiences not necessarily trained in science, but with a keen interest in science, natural history, fishing, nature, and aquatic conservation.

June 22 - 28 is National Pollinator Week

Footage of pollinator species. Credit: USFWS

June 9, 2008
Over 75% of flowering plants are pollinated by animals, and many of our fruits and vegetables require animal pollinators or are enhanced by pollinators. Pollinator Week was established in 2007 to recognize the contributions of these important animals. In celebration of Pollinator Week, we'd like to encourage groups to get outdoors and discover our native pollinators.

Service to Honor Endangered Species Act Bald Eagle Agreements

bald eagle in flight
Bald eagle in flight. Credit: USFWS

May 20, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today issued revised regulations under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act that will enable the Service to continue honoring authorizations for "take" of bald eagles previously granted under the Endangered Species Act. The regulations are part of an ongoing effort to ensure that the bald eagle is effectively conserved and managed under the Eagle Act now that the eagle is no longer protected as a threatened species.

Secretary Kempthorne Announces Endangered Species Act Protection for Polar Bear

polar bear photo credit (c) jessie harris
Polar Bear. © Jessie Harris

May 14 , 2008
Secretary Kempthorne announced today that the polar bear will be protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as a threatened species due to the threat of decreasing sea ice habitat caused by climate change.

Our home page archived features page is temporarily offline due to maintenance upgrading. If you wish to inquire on previous stories, contact malcomb_barsella@fws.gov.
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USFWS Director Dall Hall Director's Corner USFWS Director Dale Hall

Principles and Priorities

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Federal Duck Stamp
2008-2009 Federal Duck Stamp
2008 -2009 Junior Duck Stamp goes on sale with new Federal Duck Stamp at First Day of Sale event at Bass Pro Shop in Hanover, MD.
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FHC's Bennie Williams Recipient of American Recreation Coalition's "Legends Award"
"FHC's Bennie Williams Recipient of American Recreation Coalition's "Legends" Award"
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Bats with white-nose syndrome. Credit: USFWS
White-nose syndrome
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Cover of Fish and Wildlife News (With Active Web Links.) Credit: Robert Buchanan, Polar Bears International
Cover of Fish and Wildlife News
Winter 2008 Edition.
(With Active Web Links). Credit: USFWS

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Cover of Endangered Species 2008 Spring Bulletin.
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Health Professionals’ Roundup Meeting breakVideo of the Week Radcliffe School Students Conserve the Nature of the Chesapeake
Radcliffe School Students Conserve the Nature of the Chesapeake
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marsh threatened by sea level rise
Conserving the nature of America in a changing climate — Visit our new climate change page
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Sunset at Maple Ridge Wind Farm credit:  National Renewable Energy Laboratory Visit our Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee website for resources and information on Committee meetings break

Take A Tour of America's National Wildlife Refuges This Holiday SeasonAmerica's Wildest Places DVD collage - Volumes 1-3 Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the “America’s Wildest Places” DVD collection can be ordered for $6 apiece, or in sets of three for $18 (Cost covers replication and handling).
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Last updated: June 25, 2008
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