Endangered Species & Wildlife / Public News Service

Wyoming to Receive $25 Million for Orphan Wells Under Infrastructure Bill

President Joe Biden's bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is expected to bring more than 300 jobs to Wyoming to clean up and plug so-cal…

A recent designation of Southwest Colorado streams marks the largest community proposal for Outstanding Waters protections to be adopted in Colorado's history. (Adobe Stock)

Southwestern Colorado Waters Win New Protections

As climate change brings longer and more severe drought to the American Southwest, a community-led coalition is celebrating new protections for more …

Pollinator protectors are working to reclaim unused urban spaces, hellstrips, small yards, balconies and alleyways for native flowering plants. (Adobe Stock)

Grassroots Program Puts Hands-in-Ground for Colorado Pollinators

Some 18 recent graduates of an urban pollinator habitat-restoration program in Boulder got grants from the Endangered Species Coalition to put more na…

The Nez Perce Tribe finds spring chinook salmon on the Snake River are unlikely to recover without substantial intervention. (Hanjo/Adobe Stock)

WA Leaders: Breaching Snake River Dams Necessary, Not Yet Possible

An announcement from Washington state leaders on the future of the lower Snake River dams contained both good and bad news for groups defending native…

A new audio tour covers the Jackson area's main roads that area wildlife must cross, as well as Highways 191, 390, 22, Antelope Flats, and the routes to popular trailheads such as Old Pass Road, Cache Creek and Game Creek. (Adobe Stock)

Audio Tour Aims to Reduce Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions

More than 300 elk, deer, moose and other large animals are hit and killed on Teton County Roads each year. Wildlife Highways in Teton County is a …

Conglomerate Mesa is designated as California Desert National Conservation Land and protected by the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan. (Friends of the Inyo)

Campaign Expands to Protect Conglomerate Mesa

Conservation groups are working to raise awareness of the fight to protect a pristine California desert landscape from development, near Death Valley …

Planting native flowering plants in your yard instead of grass can help restore critical habitat for struggling pollinator species. (Adobe Stock)

Wanted: Next-Generation Beekeepers for Nebraska Farms

With the age of Nebraska's farmers and beekeepers on the rise, bee enthusiasts are encouraging more young people to check out the Great Plains Master …

The Quino Checkerspot Butterfly is one of dozens of species listed under the Endangered Species Act that lives in the area to be protected as a wildlife refuge in Western Riverside County. (Andrew Fisher/USFWS Volunteer Biologist/Flickr)

Local Officials Promote Proposed Wildlife Refuge in Riverside County

Local leaders are pressing Congress to create a new wildlife refuge in Riverside County. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Sen. Alex Padilla…

Kelp-restoration efforts to remove purple urchins are under way or are planned for locations near Fort Bragg, Monterey and Big Sur, as well as in Oregon. (Kevin Joe)

Kelp Restoration Makes Progress in Northern California

Small sections of the kelp forests off the Mendocino coast are starting to recover with improved environmental conditions, thanks to a conservation …

NOAA seeks to make it easier for groups and agencies to work towards restoring habitats. (Adobe Stock)

NOAA Brings Focus to Middle Peninsula

Virginia has some of the fastest-eroding coastline in the U.S, so an effort at one federal agency is bringing new focus to the region. Inside the …

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' update to the elk-management plan is expected to conclude in 2023. (Kyle T. Perry/Adobe Stock)

Elk Management Symposium to Address Conflicts in MT

Hunters, landowners and wildlife managers are gathering in Montana to discuss the need for novel approaches to elk management. The 2022 Elk …

The Recovering America's Wildlife Act passed the House of Representatives in June and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. (mramsdell1967/Adobestock)

Conservation Union Places Western Monarch Butterflies on Threatened List

The iconic orange and black migratory monarch butterfly has just made the Red List of Threatened Species, designated by the International Union of …

The Recovering America's Wildlife Act passed the House of Representatives in June and is awaiting a vote in the Senate.(Jasongeorge/Adobestock)

Advocates Call for Action: Monarch Butterflies on “Red List”

The iconic orange and black migratory monarch butterfly has just made the Red List of Threatened Species, designated by the International Union of …

The migratory monarch butterfly is known for its annual journey of up to 3,000 miles across the Americas. (Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy)

Habitat Loss, Climate Change Threaten Iconic Monarch Butterfly

An insect species which can evoke childhood memories is in trouble, and has just been added to the Red List of Threatened Species compiled by the …

Chronic wasting disease has been detected among cervids; deer, elk and moose. So far, there is no cure or treatment. (Drake Fleege/Adobe Stock)

MO Conservation Dept. Updates Plan to Combat Fatal Disease in Deer

The Missouri Department of Conservation wants public input on changes to its plan to manage Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), among white-tailed deer…

A former coal-production site along the Yampa River now is an important wetland and riparian habitat corridor. (Adobe Stock)

Coffers Refilled for Additional Private Land Conservation

Keep it Colorado has received $3 million in grants from Great Outdoors Colorado. According to Melissa Daruna, the group's executive director…

Conservation experts say the monarch butterfly's western population is at greatest risk of extinction, having declined by an estimated 99.9%. (Adobe Stock)

Monarch Butterfly Moves Into Endangered Status

An insect commonly seen flying through gardens is now closer to extinction. The migratory monarch butterfly has landed on an endangered species list…

Conservationists propose 12 initial wolf-reintroduction areas, based on large suitable habitat blocks, connectivity, and the presence of elk, deer and other prey. Proposed locations include Rocky Mountain National Park and the Maroon Bells-Snowmass and Hermosa Creek wilderness areas. (Adobe Stock)

CO Conservationists Offer Alternative Plan for Wolf Reintroduction

A coalition of 14 conservation groups has unveiled an alternative proposal to help guide wolf reintroduction and recovery ahead of a Colorado Parks an…

Florida Forage Fish Research program fellow Kira Allen, from the University of Central Florida, explains her ecosystem model that explores the effects of climate change on Apalachicola Bay food webs. (Justin Grubich)

FL Research Tracks Impact of Drought, Sea-Level Rise on Forage Fish

Preliminary research shows less fresh water and higher sea levels could be changing the forage fish in Florida's famed Apalachicola Bay and the fisher…

The United States has approximately 3.8 million acres of salt marshes, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts. (Adobe Stock)

Multi-State Salt Marsh Conservation Planning Under Way

A plan to conserve more than one million acres of salt marsh stretching from North Carolina to northeast Florida is beginning to take shape. …

The decades-long project to restore the historic Kissimmee River was completed in 2021. (Screenshot of aerial tour via South Florida Water Management District)

A Call to Prevent Future Mistakes with "Wild and Scenic" Rivers

It took about $1 billion to restore Florida's historic Kissimmee River to its natural state and U.S. Rep. Darren Soto - D- Kissimmee - wants to keep …

Agave only blossom at night, making them the perfect food for pollinator species such as the nocturnal Mexican long-nosed Bat. (news.arizona.edu)

Long-Nosed Bats and Agaves: The Tequila Connection

The Mexican long-nosed bat population is in trouble, which has prompted a fundraising effort to restore agave plants along their Southwest migrating …

According to the Wisconsin DNR, nearly 130,000 hunters applied for black-bear hunting licenses in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

WI Wildlife Advocate: Bear Hounding, Baiting Unethical

Over the next several weeks, Wisconsin's bear hunters will be training their hounds on free-roaming black bears in preparation for this fall's bear-…

In New Mexico, herds of pronghorn typically are found roaming the high plains throughout the eastern part of the state. (Steppinstars/Pixabay)

USGS Seeks More Funding for Big-Game Migration Mapping

A four-year project to map big-game routes throughout the West will end without additional funds from Congress - at least for now. Since 2018…

The Yaquina River is located on the central Oregon coast, meeting the Pacific Ocean near Newport. (Bobby Hayden)

Update to Old Estuary Plans Starts in OR with Yaquina River

Oregon's estuaries - the wetlands where the ocean meets rivers and streams - are rich habitat for wildlife, and they even store carbon from the …

Wildlife mapping efforts of species such as pronghorn reply on GPS radio collaring. (Stephen/Adobe Stock)

Western Migration Mapping Efforts Seek Congressional Funding

Mapping migration routes is important for conserving species such as pronghorn, so supporters hope Congress will fund mapping efforts. The United …

A California newt attempts to cross the road. (Jose Benedicto de Jesus/Center for Biological Diversity)

State Lawmakers to Consider Wildlife Crossings Bill Today

A bill to prioritize wildlife crossings gets a hearing in the state Senate Transportation Committee today. The Safe Roads and Wildlife Protection …

The Ice Harbor dam in southeastern Washington is among those that could be breached to help Northwest salmon. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

Public Comment Encouraged on Snake River Dams Removal Plan

A report from leaders in Washington state lays out how the services of four dams on the lower Snake River could be replaced in order to save ailing sa…

Salmon on the Snake River continue to struggle, despite actions like spilling more water at the river's dams. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

WA Leaders Ask for Comment on Dam Removal Proposal

A report from leaders in Washington state lays out how the services of four dams on the lower Snake River could be replaced in order to save ailing sa…

In 2006, experts began to note significant yearly declines in honey bee colonies. (Adobe Stock)

Pollinator Week: Protecting Vital Links in Ohio's Ecosystem

From the Frosted Elfin Butterfly to the Rusty Batch Bumble Bee, vital links of Ohio's ecosystem are in trouble. This is Pollinator Week, bringing …

If passed by Congress, Recovering America's Wildlife Act funding would be used to restore ecosystems like the Flathead River. (Outside by Nature/Adobe Stock)

Bill Passed in House Would Send $27 Million to MT for Wildlife Recovery

A measure in Congress which would fund local efforts to protect animal and plant species before they become endangered has passed the U.S. House and …

The North American river otter, also known as the northern otter, is among the 104 vulnerable wildlife species in South Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Plan Would Give SD Money for Preserving At-Risk Wildlife

This week, the U.S. House approved what's been called the most significant investment in wildlife conservation in a generation, and supporters say if …

The monarch butterfly is among the more than 110 vulnerable wildlife species in North Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

Funds for ND Part of Federal Wildlife Plan in Congress

The biggest investment in wildlife conservation in decades cleared the U.S. House this week, and supporters said if the Senate follows suit, North …

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department manages 22 elk feeding grounds in the northwest part of the state. (Wyoming Game & Fish Department)

Conservation Groups Call for Phase Out of Elk Feedgrounds

Conservation groups hope artificial elk feeding grounds near Yellowstone National Park are on their last legs. Six groups have sent recommendations …

Biologists at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Game and Fish and other partners have spent 10 years collaring mule deer, pronghorn, elk and other animals that cross roadways in western Wyoming. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. 26 Wildlife Crossings Advance in WY with Heavy Summer Traffic

Americans are hitting the road for summer vacation, and many will be headed to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks via U.S. Highway 26…

Southern Resident orca, which live along the West Coast, have been listed as endangered since 2005. (Valmedia/Adobe Stock)

Young People Gather to Save NW Salmon, Call for Dam Removal

Young people are leading the charge this weekend in the call to remove four dams conservation groups believe will aid the survival of salmon in the No…

Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disease that kills elk, deer and moose and spreads rapidly when large numbers of animals congregate. It has been recently documented in Grand Teton National Park and immediately adjacent to several state-run feedgrounds. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Phaseout of Elk Feedgrounds to Prevent Chronic Wasting Disease

As the Wyoming Game and Fish Department enters the third phase of its elk feedground management plan, conservation groups are calling on the state to …

Federal and state public lands surround the Big Snowy Mountains in central Montana. (U.S. Forest Service)

Big Snowy Mountains Could Open Up with MT Land Purchase

Montana is considering a purchase of land in the central part of the state that could open up access to more than 100,000 acres of public land…

Caltrans workers inspect a culvert designed to allow wildlife to pass safely underneath the highway. (Caltrans)

CA Groups Angle for Billions in Federal Funds to Build Wildlife Crossings

Billions in federal funding to build or improve wildlife crossings are up for grabs, and California nonprofits, government agencies, and tribes are …

Conservation groups filed a lawsuit in 2020 challenging the decision not to list the wolverine as an endangered species. (slowmotiongli/Adobe Stock)

Potential Endangered Status for Wolverine Passes Back to Feds

Federal protections are back on the table for the wolverine after a recent court ruling. The elusive predator also has found status as "endangered" …

Colorado is part of the gray wolf's native range, but wolves had been eradicated from the state by the 1940s, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Celebrate Upcoming CO Gray Wolf Reintroduction

After nearly a century, gray wolves are coming back to the state of Colorado. In 2020, voters approved Proposition 114, calling on Colorado Parks …

A 2020 survey found that nearly nine in ten Coloradans are concerned about more frequent and severe wildfires, drought and reduced snowpack. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Land Trusts Looking for Climate-Change Agents

As summer rolls in across Colorado, the threats of wildfire, diminishing snowpack and prolonged drought weigh heavy on the minds of many residents …

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

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)

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 …

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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 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 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 …

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