***M E D I A A D V I S O R Y***
Looking for story ideas or features for Earth Day? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can help. The Services Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region has put together a complete series of stories and articles on endangered species in the Midwest to feature during the week of Earth Day (April 20 through 26). Stories, photographs and features provide an up-close look at rare animals, fish, and plants in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The series includes a story for each day during the week of Earth Day, including an overview of the Endangered Species Act as well as features on some of the Regions most fascinating rare animals -- the eastern timber wolf, the Indiana bat, freshwater mussels, the Karner blue butterfly, and species of local interest.
In concert with the series, brand new information on endangered species will be posted daily during Earth Day week on the Services Regional Internet Home Page. ( http://www.fws.gov/r3pao/ ). The website includes files and photographs that can be downloaded to use for Earth Day columns, features, or editorials.
For more information on the Services website or to receive an Earth Day endangered species packet (including stories, features, and photographs) contact Kim Mitchell at 612-725-3276, Ext. 234.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
