Endangered Species & Wildlife / Public News Service

There are more than a dozen species of otters around the world. (David Ledig/Bureau of Land Management)

Friday, May 27, 2022

A Big Week for Otters in California

This week, in honor of World Otter Day, conservation groups are looking to raise awareness about efforts to restore sea otters along more areas of …

The annual value of terrestrial ecosystem services globally, including watersheds that filter and clean drinking water, is estimated to be roughly equivalent to the annual global Gross Domestic Product. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

State Lawmakers Press Biden to Create National Biodiversity Strategy

More than 350 state lawmakers from across the U.S. are urging President Joe Biden to create a national strategy to protect, restore and secure the …

The Rio Grande Basin provides critical habitat to sandhill cranes, migratory and wintering waterfowl and many other species. (nm.audubon.org)

Champions for Biodiversity Want Biden Administration to Do More

Land-use changes, pollution, and climate change all contribute to declining biodiversity. Now a broad group of U.S. lawmakers wants the Biden …

The Biden administration approved more drilling permits in 2021 than President Donald Trump did in the first year of his presidency, <a href=

Groups File Protests to Stop Oil and Gas Leases on Public Lands

Fifteen conservation groups from Wyoming and across the nation have filed administrative protests challenging the Biden administration's plans to resu…

More than 1,100 species of plants live in Olympic National Park. (paulacobleigh/Adobe Stock)

With Nature in Crisis, State Lawmakers Call for National Biodiversity Plan

State lawmakers from around the country are calling on the Biden administration to develop a plan to protect the country's dwindling diversity of anim…

The totem pole made about a dozen stops in Idaho, Oregon and Washington over the past three weeks. (House of Tears Carvers)

Totem Pole Takes Journey for Salmon, Struggling Puget Sound Orca

A totem pole from Washington state promoting a free-flowing Snake River has nearly completed its 2,500-mile journey around the Northwest. The Spirit …

Arctic terns have one of the longest annual migration patterns of any species on the planet, traveling from the Arctic to the Antarctic circles and back, nearly 19,000 miles. (rabbitti/Adobe Stock)

Experts, Birders: Turn Off Home Lights at Night During Migration Season

Saturday is World Migratory Bird Day, and bird experts said it is a great time to be on the lookout for types of birds you may not see every day in …

A recent poll found that 73% of voters in Colorado and New Mexico supported wildlife crossing solutions, including building overpasses on highways. (Adobe Stock)

Safe Wildlife-Crossing Bill Clears Colorado Legislature

The Colorado General Assembly has passed legislation to fund wildlife road-crossing projects across the state. Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Gunnison…

Although some hellbender populations remain healthy, it is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN and is close to qualifying for Vulnerable status. The Ozark Hellbender, a subspecies, was listed as endangered federally in 2011, according to the Nature Conservatory. (Paula Worden/Resource Institute)

NC Habitat Increased for Endangered North American Salamander

Protecting North Carolina's rivers and streams is good for residents, wildlife and even salamanders. Recent work along Hog Lot Creek and Bates …

The Cardinal-Hickory Creek power line is a nearly $500 million project, stretching more than 100 miles. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Refuge Concerns at Heart of Power-Line Controversy

Work continues on a proposed power-line system that would cross into Iowa from Wisconsin, even as court battles play out about the project. …

Jackson Hole Bear Solutions is developing a plan alongside the three waste-hauling businesses in Teton County to make bear-resistant trash cans accessible to as many residents as possible. (Adobe Stock)

Price No Obstacle for New Bear-Resistant Trash Cans

Bears have a hard time resisting the temptation of food available in human trash, and a new program aims to reduce a leading cause of human/bear …

A mountain lion dubbed P-65 and her kittens have been traced crossing the 101 Freeway in Southern California, near the site of a new wildlife crossing that broke ground last week. (National Park Service)

Court Upholds Trail-Blazing Ordinance to Protect Wildlife Corridors

Animals such as the mountain lion, gray fox and California red-legged frog may now have a better shot at thriving in Southern California after a …

More than half of the border-wall construction since 2016 has been along Arizona's southern border with Mexico. (Scott Griesel/Adobe Stock)

Film to Document Environmental Damage Along AZ Border Wall

Conservationists say the 400 miles of walls recently built along the U.S.-Mexico border are causing significant ecological damage and blocking the mi…

Dr. Sherwin Carlquist began his studies as a botanist in the 1950s by studying how plants end up on particular islands, and how they adapt to their new surroundings. (Adobe Stock)

TX Researchers Help Preserve Work of World-Class Botanist

The Botanical Research Institute of Texas has been awarded over $500,000 to help preserve the work of a famous American botanist. In a career as an …

Pollinators are among the species in Colorado that contribute to a biodiverse ecosystem. (Bill/Adobe Stock)

CO Lawmakers Raise Awareness About Biodiversity Crisis, Possible Solutions

Advocates for endangered species and wildlife are raising awareness about the biodiversity crisis the nation is facing, and approaches for addressing …

Some rural communities in Idaho rely on tourists visiting to fish for salmon. (Parilov/Adobe Stock)

As Columbia River Fishing Shuts Down, NW Considers How to Save Salmon

Salmon-season restrictions on the Columbia River are prompting regionwide discussions on what can be done to save the fish in the Northwest. Bob …

The are economic benefits for rural communities that host fishing include tourists buying bait, fuel, meals and lodging on their excursions. (Denise Walker/Adobe Stock)

Fishing Guide: WA Dams Contribute to Salmon Season Shutdown

The salmon-fishing season on the lower section of the Columbia River was shut down a week ago, prompting folks to call for more action to save the …

Small Oregon towns such as Westport, Clatskanine and Astoria support strong fishing economies. (Denise Walker/Adobe Stock)

Rural Communities Feel Brunt of Columbia Salmon Closure

The salmon-fishing season on the lower section of the Columbia River was shut down a week ago, prompting folks to call for more action to save the …

A new Colorado private-land conservation plan aims to align and integrate with other statewide plans that have climate action components that support water, wildlife, recreation and agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Private Landowners Key to Climate Resiliency

More frequent and exponentially larger wildfires and prolonged drought already are impacting Colorado's agricultural lands and regional economies…

North Dakota's state bird, the western meadowlark, has seen population declines. But supporters of a bill moving through Congress say it would be the biggest wildlife protection legislation since the Endangered Species Act. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Community: ND Species Could See Big Benefits from Federal Bill

North Dakota is a haven for wildlife, but climate change and development threaten certain species and their habitat. Supporters of a bill in Congress …

A bobcat uses a culvert to travel underneath a highway. (National Park Service)

Bill to Build More CA Wildlife Crossings Gets Hearing Tomorrow

Between 2016 and 2020, more than 44,000 Californians reported hitting a wild animal with a vehicle. So tomorrow, state lawmakers will consider a …

Seals bring their pups to Coquille Point in Oregon and nurse them on the shore. (David/Adobe Stock)

New Protections Designated for 'Fragile' OR Shoreline Sites

Oregon has added new protections to unique areas along the southern coast teeming with life. The state Land Conservation and Development Commission …

Across the country, the wild turkey has lost more than 18.8 million acres of habitat within its range, according to a new National Wildlife Federation analysis. That's more than any other bird species besides the mourning dove. (Adobe Stock)

Report: TX Habitat Loss Impacts Wildlife, Hunting, Fishing

Habitat loss is threatening the wildlife, lands and waters that hunters and anglers rely on, and a new report from the National Wildlife Federation …

According to the report, habitat loss in recent years varies by game species. Mule deer have lost more than 7.3 million acres of habitat, while wild turkeys have seen their range plummet by nearly 19 million acres. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Habitat Loss Causing Significant Impact on Game Species

New York's game species are literally losing ground, as human development and climate change is restricting their native habitats. A new report from …

The Oregon Department of Transportation completed a wildlife crossing in 2012 along U.S. Route 97. (Simon Wray/Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife)

Bipartisan Call for Wildlife Crossings in OR from Infrastructure Funding

Oregon state lawmakers have crossed the political divide, coming together to ask for funding of wildlife crossings from Congress's infrastructure law…

Some 67% of New Mexicans think oil and gas development on national public lands should be stopped or strictly limited rather than expanded, according to the 2022 Conservation in the West poll. (BLM/Flickr)

Public Lands Face New Threats from Climate Change, Drilling

The use of public lands is back in the spotlight as the war in Ukraine enters its second month and gas prices remain high. The American Petroleum …

Communities and agriculture are encroaching on the habitat of western painted turtles in Oregon. (Danita Delimont/Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan Conservation Bill Would Stem Species-Decline 'Crisis'

A bipartisan effort in Congress to curb the loss of plant and animal species could get a Senate committee vote as soon as this week. The Recovering …

In 2021, three endangered grizzly bears were killed through the USDA's Wildlife Services program. Of more than 400,000 wild animals killed, at least 2,700 were killed unintentionally. (Adobe Stock)

USDA’s Wildlife Services Killed More Than 400,000 Native Wildlife in 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report on its wildlife killing program, which aims to reduce the loss of livestock to carnivores…

Safe wildlife passages, either under or over roads, are estimated to have reduced collisions by more than 80%, according to Pew Charitable Trusts. (BridgetDonaldson/Virgina.gov)

NM Summit Works to Solve Safe Passage for People, Wildlife

Shrinking wildlife habitat puts big-game animals at greater risk of colliding with cars and trucks, and has led to the Wildlife Corridors Action Plan …

Kelp abundance has dropped by 80% from its peak in Puget Sound. (Gina Lusardi/Adobe Stock)

WA Kelp Decline Bad News Culturally, Environmentally for Northwest

Kelp forests in Puget Sound play an integral role environmentally and culturally, but they're in steep decline. There are more than 20 species of …

The sage grouse is considered a sentinel species, whose health status reflects the state of the entire Western desert ecosystem known as the "Sagebrush Sea." (Jennifer Hall/U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Budget Bill Blocks Endangered Species Protection for Sage Grouse

Conservation groups are slamming a spending deal in Congress that's expected to pass this week - because it would forbid Endangered Species Act protec…

Each year, nearly 14,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions are reported on Colorado roads and highways. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Lawmakers Aim for Federal Wildlife Crossing Funds

Proponents of a bill aiming to reduce collisions between wildlife and motorists say it will make Colorado a leader in the West for being good stewards…

A wildlife camera at a culvert underneath U.S. Highway 395 collects data on deer migration. (Pathways for Wildlife)

New Camera Study Tracks Wildlife Migration to Reduce Collisions Along I-395

A new study aims to reduce wildlife collisions in one of the biggest hotspots for them - Highway 395 from Reno, Nevada, through Tahoe up to …

The Sentinel Landscape proposed in the Florida panhandle is one of the largest in the country and the second in Florida. (Sentinellandscapes.org)

Conservation, Military Join Forces to Preserve FL Panhandle

A new project in the Florida panhandle is ensuring military readiness while conserving one of the most biodiverse regions in the country. Federal …

Lake Mead, which holds most of the water supply for five Western states, is at a record low level after two decades of drought. (topenugato/Adobe Stock)

Voters in AZ, West Worried About Water, Climate Change

Voters in Arizona and across the West are increasingly concerned about the effects of climate change on the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains…

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes were involved in creating a wildlife crossing over U.S. Highway 93 in Montana. (Montana Department of Transportation)

Tribes Could Get Boost to Protect Wildlife Migration Routes

Migration routes for wildlife across the country are in peril, but tribes could get more support from Congress to protect these corridors. The …

In states like South Dakota, Native American tribes have been trying to restore populations of endangered species like the black-footed ferret. (Adobe Stock)

Giving Tribes More Support to Maintain Wildlife Habitat

Native American tribes manage millions of acres of wildlife habitat but face inequities in securing conservation funds. A bill in Congress would …

Gray wolves were removed from the federal endangered species list last January, following an order from former President Donald Trump issued in October 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Propose New Methods for Managing WI Wildlife

A federal judge has restored endangered species protections to gray wolves across much of the Lower 48, including Wisconsin. While conservation …

Multiple studies have cited exposure to radiofrequency radiation from cell towers as a factor in the collapse of bee colonies in recent years. (Acrylic Artist/Morguefile)

Research Suggests Cell-Tower Radiation Harms Wildlife

A growing body of scientific studies showed electromagnetic fields from the extremely low frequencies common to power lines and radio-frequency radiat…

Wolves have not been protected by the federal Endangered Species Act since 2011, when Congress carved out an exemption for the wolf populations of Montana and Idaho. (Adobe Stock)

Yellowstone Wolf Kills in MT, WY Pose Economic Risks

New Montana hunting regulations could have a direct effect on Wyoming businesses relying on visitors to Yellowstone National Park. At least 21 of …

A short-finned pilot whale is entangled in a drift gillnet. (NOAA, courtesy of Oceana)

Marine Protections in America COMPETES Act Praised

Marine-conservation groups are celebrating after the U.S. House passed the America COMPETES Act on Friday. The bill primarily boosts semiconductor …

A 2021 Idaho law allows for killing up to 90% of the state's wolf population. (Dennis Donohue/Adobe Stock)

In Wake of Yellowstone Wolf Hunt, Snaring Raises New Issues

The Yellowstone wolf population has been devastated by recent hunts in the region, and advocates for the species say another concern is trapping…

Eighteen wolves killed in Montana this winter were in management districts adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. (David/Adobe Stock)

After Yellowstone Wolf Kills, Trapping Also a Concern for Species

The Yellowstone wolf population has been devastated by recent hunts in the region, and advocates for the species say another concern is trapping…

The Lava Butte crossing in Central Oregon was used by 29 species in its first year. (Oregon Dept. of Transportation)

OR Wildlife Crossings Bill Aims to Reduce Potentially Deadly Collisions

A measure in the Oregon Legislature aims to reduce vehicle collisions with wildlife. House Bill 4130 would allocate $5 million for wildlife …

Montana adopted a data-based approach to water-quality monitoring for nutrients in 2015. (Kirk Fisher/Adobe Stock)

Groups Voice Concerns about MT Rollback of Data-Based Water Standards

Rule-making is under way for a new law that opponents say is a step backward for monitoring water quality in Montana. In the 2021 session, lawmakers …

The primary cause of rapidly increasing extinction rates is due to habitat loss caused by human activity, with drought from climate change an increasingly potent accelerant. (PAOLO/Adobe Stock)

Scientists: Sixth Global Mass Extinction Event Happening Now

New research suggests Earth's Sixth Mass Extinction event, on par with the one that ended the age of dinosaurs, is already under way. Noah Greenwald…

Brook floater mussels are one of New Hampshire's known endangered invertebrate species. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Report: Document Mussels, Other Invertebrate Species Before They Go Extinct

New research suggests Earth's Sixth Mass Extinction event, on par with the one which ended the age of dinosaurs, is already under way. Noah …

Scientists say the primary cause of rapidly increasing extinction rates is due to habitat loss caused by human activity, with climate change an increasingly potent accelerant. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 6th Mass Extinction Event Likely Already Under Way

New research suggests Earth's Sixth Mass Extinction event, on par with the one that ended the age of dinosaurs, already is under way. Noah Greenwald…

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