American burying beetle. Photo by Mark Dumont, CC BY-NC 2.0.

Conservation Partnerships Contribute to Proposed Downlisting of American Burying Beetle

The American burying beetle, one of nature’s most unique creatures, appears to be more plentiful, thanks in part to the efforts of a wide array of partners across its range. Following the beetle’s listing in 1989 as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and stakeholders implemented conservation and recovery efforts, and now the Service is proposing to downlist it from endangered to threatened.

Press Release

Bison at the National Bison Range during the 2016 Bison roundup. Credit: Dave Fitzpatrick/USFWS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Continues Celebrated Conservation Legacy at National Bison Range in Montana With Proposed New Management Plan

Members of the Public are Invited to Participate in a 45-day Public Comment Period and Three Public Meetings to Inform Refuge Management Over the Next 15 years

DENVER — Since 1908, when the National Bison Range in western Montana was established by conservation visionary President Theodore Roosevelt, this cherished 18,800-acre national wildlife refuge has continued to play a vital role in the conservation and recovery of American bison. Several hundred bison now thrive on these accessible public lands, which also support Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and over 200 bird species.

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Rainwater Wetland Management District: Neighbors helping neighbors

Last week a large winter storm known as a "bomb cyclone" brought snow, wind and rain to the central plains. One hard hit area was the State of Nebraska where run off and rising stream and rivers are flooding many parts of the Cornhusker State. Despite the challenges these flood waters have created for communities and citizens, employees of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District (WMD) have found a way to help their neighbors.

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A map of the proposed R-line route. Credit: USFWS.

Final Environmental Impact Statement for the R-Project Transmission Line in Nebraska

DENVER — Today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is releasing the final environmental impact statement for the Nebraska Public Power District’s (NPPD) application for a permit for take of the endangered American burying beetle. The statement analyzes potential effects to the beetle and other factors to the human environment that would result from issuance of a take permit associated with the proposed R-Project transmission line.

Press Release

Frisco clover. Photo by USFWS.

Three Southern Utah Plant Species Do Not Need Endangered Species Act Protection

DENVER — Using the best available science, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a 12-month finding, determining that the Frisco buckwheat, Ostler’s peppergrass, and Frisco clover are not warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Prior to making this determination, the Service completed an in-depth species status assessment for these three southern Utah plant species. This assessment provided the scientific analysis needed for the Service to make this decision.

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Fremont County rockcress. Photo by Bonnie Heidel.

Unique Wyoming Plant Flourishes under Habitat Protections

DENVER — Due to the Bureau of Land Management’s conservation actions, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the Fremont County rockcress, a high elevation perennial herb found only in the southern foothills of the Wind River Range in Wyoming, is not warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act. First collected in 1981, there is only one known population of this unique plant found on 160 acres of federal land.

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Deseret milk-vetch. Photo by Bekee Hotze, USFWS.

A Unique Utah Plant Flourishes Under a Successful Conservation Agreement

DENVER — After assessing the best scientific information about threats to an endemic Utah plant, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today is removing the Deseret milkvetch from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Species. The Service found threats to the plant either have not occurred to the extent anticipated, are being adequately managed through a conservation agreement, or the species is more tolerant of these stressors than originally known.

Press Release

Razorback sucker, photo by USFWS.

Scientific Review Suggests Reclassification of the Razorback Sucker from Endangered to Threatened

DENVER — The razorback sucker, a native fish found in the Colorado River basin is making a comeback thanks to the work of conservation partnerships between the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), states, federal agencies, Tribes, industry and environmental groups. The Service recently completed a species status assessment (SSA) and a 5-year status review, utilizing the best available science, that concluded the current risk of extinction is low, such that the species is no longer in danger of extinction throughout all of its range. The SSA explained that large populations of adults have been re-established in the Colorado, Green, and San Juan Rivers. Populations are also present in Lake Powell, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave and Lake Havasu. As a result, in the future the Service proposes to reclassify the fish from endangered to threatened.

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The landscape photo is of the New 13 acre easement, photo by Simi Batra/USFWS.

Western Rivers Conservancy Land Donation Establishes San Luis Valley Conservation Area in Colorado

CONEJOS COUNTY, COLORADO — Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service accepted a 12.82-acre conservation easement donation in Colorado’s San Luis Valley from Western Rivers Conservancy. With the donation, the San Luis Valley Conservation Area becomes the 567th unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, an unparalleled network of public lands and waters dedicated to the conservation of native wildlife and their habitats.

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Ducks beautify the sky at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Utah. Credit: Mike Guyant

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Proposed Hunting Expansion for Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Utah

DENVER – Today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), as part of the 2018-2019 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations process, proposes to expand hunting on over 13,000 additional acres at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (Refuge) in Utah. These additional areas would be open to waterfowl and pheasant hunting and would align with State regulations for these species. Details on the proposed alternatives for these additional hunting areas are available on the Refuge’s website. The Service aims to make a decision regarding these hunting areas in time for the 2018-2019 hunting season.

• Press Release
• Environmental Assessment
• FAQs
• Refuge Hunting and Fishing News Webpage

Colorado butterfly plant. Credit: Allison Michael.

Colorado Butterfly Plant Populations Bounce Back

DENVER – Thanks in large part to successful partnerships with landowners that have helped recover the species, today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced plans to remove the Colorado butterfly plant from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants and to remove designated critical habitat. The species is a member of the evening primrose family and is found primarily in southeastern Wyoming, northcentral Colorado, and western Nebraska.

Press Release

Two grizzly bears. Credit: USFWS.

Information Sought on Grizzly Bear Shooting North of Libby

Kalispell, MT — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks are seeking information on the shooting death of a sub-adult male grizzly bear found dead on Forest Road 4859 in the Kootenai Forest, north of Libby in Northwest Montana. Read the full press release below.

Press Release

Arctic grayling. Credit: Courtesy of Mark Conlin.

Public Comment Sought on Draft Environmental Assessment, Voluntary Conservation Opportunities to Protect Arctic Grayling in the Centennial Valley

DENVER - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on a draft Environmental Assessment and Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) to help conserve Arctic grayling in the Centennial Valley, Montana. The Centennial Valley CCAA is designed to improve living conditions for this freshwater fish through habitat restoration and other voluntary conservation projects. These actions are expected to increase the distribution of the species, which will help support ongoing conservation efforts.

Press Release
Download the Draft Centennial Valley Arctic Grayling Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances
Download the Draft Environmental Assessment
Download the Federal Register Notice of Availability/Request for Comment

A female grizzly bear in northwestern Montana. Courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Fish and Wildlife Service Publishes the Final Chapter in its Guide to Recover the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem of Grizzly Bears

DENVER - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today the availability of the final Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan Supplement: Habitat-Based Recovery Criteria for the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (Recovery Plan Supplement). The final Recovery Plan Supplement provides objective, habitat-based criteria for the recovery of Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem grizzly bears, and builds upon the existing roadmap to grizzly bear recovery for the Service and our conservation partners.

Press Release
Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan Supplement: Habitat-Based Recovery Criteria for the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem
Recovery Zone Map

Service Provides Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Amended Habitat Conservation Plan

DENVER - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today released the final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s (DNRC) application to amend an incidental take permit to add 81,416 acres to their Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Adding these lands to the HCP would increase the level of anticipated take of grizzly bear, Canada lynx, bull trout, and westslope cutthroat trout from forest management activities and would require an amended permit from the Service.

Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment of Eagle Incidental Take Permit in Broomfield County, Colorado

DENVER - Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is announcing the availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for a disturbance permit application for a pair of bald eagles in Broomfield County, Colorado. Garrett Construction Company LLC (Garrett) applied for an eagle incidental take permit for disturbance that may occur while constructing an apartment complex from early May 2018 through late 2019. Based on our finding, the Service is issuing an eagle incidental take permit to Garrett.

Wind turbines. Scott Covington/USFWS

Public Comment Sought on Draft Environmental Assessment Evaluating Impacts of Potential Issuance of a Bald Eagle Take Permit for Courtenay Wind Farm

DENVER - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking public comment on a draft Environmental Assessment for the Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy (Applicant), for the Courtenay Wind Farm (Project). The draft Environmental Assessment evaluates the impact of issuing an eagle take permit for the existing 100-turbine wind facility located approximately 15 miles north of Jamestown, North Dakota.