The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF), and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources today announced plans to begin rescuing red-cockaded woodpeckers from southern pine beetle infested habitat on the DBNF as early as next week. Currently, 15 woodpeckers are roosting in the shortleaf pine habitat in six family groups. The woodpeckers will be captured and relocated to the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina and the Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas.
"The decision to relocate the woodpeckers was a very difficult one for us to make," stated Sam D. Hamilton, Southeast Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "We commend our partners from the Daniel Boone National Forest, the State of Kentucky, and the local community for expending so much energy on trying to save the birds
