In the News
News articles and events on WLFW and Target Species sites.
Analysis: Why protecting very large swaths of land matters for wildlife conservation
Although bison are the U.S. national mammal, they exist in small and fragmented populations across the West. The federal government is working to restore healthy wild bison populations, relying heavily on sovereign tribal lands to house them.
Gopher tortoises in Southern states deserve federal protections, groups say
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Gopher tortoises imperiled by loss of habitat largely caused by human development should be placed on the endangered species list in four southern states, environmental groups said Wednesday as they prepared to sue the federal government over the issue.
Are Hellbenders Found Downstream of the Ohio Train Derailment Really a Sign That the Water is Safe?
Ohio authorities have called the recent capture and release of two hellbenders downstream from the site of a train derailment and toxic chemical spill a 'positive discovery,' because hellbenders are an indicator of a healthy aquatic ecosystem, but the reality is more complicated.
USDA Invests More than $48.6 Million to Manage Risks, Combat Climate Change
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest more than $48.6 million this year through the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership for projects that mitigate wildfire risk, improve water quality, restore forest ecosystems, and ultimately contribute to USDA’s efforts to combat climate change. This year, the USDA Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will invest in projects, including 14 new projects, bringing together agricultural producers, forest landowners, and National Forest System lands to improve forest health using available Farm Bill conservation programs and other authorities.
Oak Regeneration
Competing species in the white oak range are shading out young white oaks thus preventing regeneration, resulting in a non-sustainable demographic dominated by older trees. Dr. Jeff Larkin is a professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at IUP, as well as the Forest Bird Habitat Coordinator for the American Bird Conservancy. He says: it's just as important for landowners and forest managers to 'look down' as it is to 'look up' when it comes to oak forest management and stewardship. These photos, taken by Dr. Larkin, demonstrate white oak regeneration within the forest understory.
New analysis highlights conservation challenges and opportunities on Western public lands
Recently published science applies remote-sensing tools to BLM-managed rangelands and provides an unprecedented record of how the vegetation across this enormous area has changed over the past 30 years.
AFS Newsletter February 2023
AFS Newsletter: Latin America Congress Abstract Deadline Extended, Award Nominations Open, Rockfish Citizen Science.
NY NRCS Area Biologist Reflects on Nearly Two Decades of Conservation Success
Elizabeth Marks, NRCS Area Biologist, discusses the Bog Turtle Working Lands for Wildlife partnership in New York
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program Announces Funding for Projects to Support Hellbender Conservation
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has has announced grant awards for the 2022 cycle of its Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program and several of the awards will benefit Eastern hellbenders.
2022 Was a Busy Year for the Working Lands for Wildlife Hellbender Program
2022 was a busy year for the Working Lands for Wildlife hellbender program.
A Collaborative Approach to Restore Bog Turtle Populations
Like the bog turtle itself, bog turtle populations in North Carolina are very small. A collaborative effort between multiple conservation organizations hopes to change that by giving them a little help.
New Jersey Bog Turtle Conservation Initiative: Working with Landowners and Communities
The Endangered and Nongame Species Program created and is implementing a comprehensive management initiative to provide long term conservation of the important bog turtle populations in New Jersey.
Light Weight Tracking Technology Could Help Reveal Mysteries of Golden-winged Warbler Decline
Audubon and partners across the South and Midwest are using radio tags to track a rare songbird.
10,000th Hellbender Released to the Wild
The Saint Louis Zoo, Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are celebrating a historic milestone in hellbender conservation in Missouri. As of August 2022, the total Saint Louis Zoo-raised endangered Ozark and eastern hellbenders released into the wild since 2008 now numbers over 10,000 individuals.
Conservation Corridor October 2022
Conservation Corridor October Newsletter
From Flames to Forests: Past, Present, and Future Fires for Sustaining Our Forests and Wildlife
This webinar will feature some of the leading researchers and practitioners in fire science to help us understand how to manage our forests with fire under challenging circumstances.
NRCS in Florida Announces Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Signup
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has announced they are accepting applications from agricultural producers and forest landowners for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). While NRCS does accept ACEP applications year-round, producers and landowners should apply by December 31, 2021 to be considered for funding in the current cycle.
Sometimes, the simplest things can help wildlife
Sad to say, but that wide-open home on the range that Bing Crosby sings about in Brewster Higley’s “Home on the Range” has been steadily diminishing with every passing decade as the Western landscape has been sliced and diced by roads and barbed-wire fences.
Webinar: Native Warm-Season Grass Forages and Grazing Management for Bobwhites
Join us for a two-day webinar discussing native warm-season grass forages in the eastern U.S. and integrating grazing management for Northern Bobwhites.
Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii)
Learn about The Nature Conservancy's work to save North America's smallest turtle.
