In the News
News articles and events on WLFW and Target Species sites.
NRCS helps build resiliency to climate change
As experts predict growing climate changes in the United States, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service offers a variety of practices, programs and studies that help landowners build resiliency to its effects.
Wetlands clean water, provide homes for wildlife across the nation
Wetlands play a crucial role in the world’s ecosystem by protecting and improving water quality, filtering surface water, storing floodwater and creating or enhancing wildlife habitat.
Friends of the Migratory Bird/Duck Stamp Will Support Wildlife Conservation Through Federal Duck Stamp Program
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Friends of the Migratory Bird/Duck Stamp, formalizing a commitment by both organizations to cooperatively support and promote the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly called the Federal Duck Stamp.
National Strategy Will Help Safeguard Fish, Wildlife and Plants in a Changing Climate
In partnership with State and Tribal agencies, the Obama Administration today released the first nationwide strategy to help public and private decision makers address the impacts that climate change is having on natural resources and the people and economies that depend on them. Developed in response to a request by Congress, the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy is the product of extensive national dialogue that spanned nearly two years and was shaped by comments from more than 55,000 Americans.
Service Estimates Economic Impact of Critical Habitat Designation for Fluted Kidneyshell and Slabside Pearlymussel
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability of a draft economic analysis considering the impact of a proposal to designate critical habitat for two freshwater mussels proposed for listing as endangered.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Invites Public to Provide Input to Environmental Assessment to Review Use of Genetically Modified Crops
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public input as it evaluates the future use of genetically modified crops on national wildlife refuges that use farming in the Southeast Region. These refuges use farming as a wildlife management tool to help meet refuge specific conservation objectives for waterfowl and other species.
Fish and Wildlife Service Releases Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance to provide a pathway for the responsible development of wind energy that fosters protection for bald and golden eagles.
White-nose Syndrome Decimates North Carolina’s Bats
Biologists with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have determined that white-nose syndrome (WNS) continues to decimate bat populations in western North Carolina, with some infected locations showing up to a 95 percent decline in hibernating bats over the past one to two years. The disease, which has been confirmed in seven counties in western North Carolina, does not affect people.
Stream Restoration Challenge Kicks Off with Spring Plantings
This spring, more than 2,000 students from across Maryland got an early start on their Earth Day contributions, planting trees to improve water quality through Governor Martin O’Malley’s Stream Restoration Challenge. The program ─ which is still accepting proposals ─ provides grants for students and groups to carry out projects to improve Chesapeake Bay water quality through service learning and environmental education activities.
Discovering Species - Just a Click Away
Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation or BISON is the only system of its kind; a unique, web-based Federal resource for finding species in the U. S. and territories. Its size is unprecedented, offering more than 100 million mapped records of nearly every living species nationwide and growing. And the vast majority of the records are specific locations, not just county or state records.
Federally Endangered Bat Found in North Georgia: First Indiana Bat in Almost 50 Years
In May of last year, a federally endangered Indiana bat woke from hibernation in her Tennessee cave and traveled to a north Georgia forest. This rite of spring may have gone unnoticed except for the fact that the tiny bat carried a transmitter the size of a toothpick.
FY13 RFP - Q&A CALL REMINDER
The Appalachian LCC will host its first of two Question and Answer sessions for the FY13 RFPs currently open on Monday, March 25th at 2PM EDT.
Disease Deadly To Bats Confirmed In Georgia
The disease that has killed millions of bats in the eastern U.S. has been confirmed for the first time in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that bats with white-nose syndrome were found recently at two caves in Dade County.
Undercover Wildlife Operation Cracks Down on Poaching in North Carolina, Georgia
State and federal wildlife officials announced today an undercover operation involving more than 80 wildlife violators and as many as 900 wildlife violations detected.
Eagle Release Draws Attention to State’s Endangered Species Protection Law
The Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife today released a rehabilitated bald eagle at a Morris County golf course to draw attention to the 40th anniversary of the state’s endangered species protection law. The annual state income tax check-off provides critical support to efforts such as this.
AMJV Partners Release Cerulean Warbler Best Management Practice Guide
Cerulean Warbler management guidelines for enhancing breeding habitat in Appalachian forests have been released.
OSM Announces More Than $300 Million Available to Clean Up Abandoned Coal Mines
The U. S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) today announced the availability of more than $305 million in Abandoned Mine Land (AML) grants to states and tribes—90 percent of the more than $339.4 million available for distribution—to eliminate environmental hazards caused by past coal mining. OSM administers the grants in accordance with the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), which requires OSM to make AML funding available to eligible states and tribes.
Gov. Deal Honors Three Companies as 2012 Forestry for Wildlife Partners
Gov. Nathan Deal recognized three corporate forest landowners today for their stewardship in land management and practices benefiting the state’s wildlife.
DEC Adopts Chronic Wasting Disease Regulations in Response to Pennsylvania Discovery
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has adopted changes to its Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) regulations that prohibit people from importing into New York state certain parts of white-tailed deer or elk taken in the state of Pennsylvania, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. This revision finalizes the emergency rule implemented last October.
Generational changes will have a big impact on natural resource jobs
A “perfect storm” describes a rare combination of circumstances coming together to aggravate a situation drastically. Steve McMullin, associate professor of fisheries and wildlife in Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment, predicts a perfect storm ahead for natural resource agencies, which will lose over 40 percent of their personnel in the next decade as baby boomers retire.