The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced today its plans to conduct a 5-year status review of the Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens). This periodic 5-year review is conducted to ensure that listing classifications under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) are accurate.
Any interested party is invited to provide information and comments pertaining to this species. Specifically, this review seeks information on: (1) species biology, including population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics; (2) habitat conditions, including amount, distribution, and suitability; (3) conservation measures that have been implemented; (4) threat status and trends; and (5) other new information, data, or corrections, including taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of erroneous information contained in the ESA list, and improved analytical methods.
Written comments and information may be sent: via email to floridascrubjay@fws.gov, sent via regular mail to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Florida Scrub-Jay 5-Year Review, 6620 Southpoint Dr. South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, Florida, 32216, or faxed to (904) 232-2404.
Written comments and information related to this 5-year review must be received by April 5, 2006
The Federal Register notice announcing this status review of the Florida scrub-jay, as well as a list of Frequently Asked Questions, is available online at http://www.fws.gov/northflorida.
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 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 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 and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
