Current work in wildlife, rivers, public lands, and climate
Press Releases
The conservation group filed three Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests last fall to compel the Service to release information over the controversial plover listing withdrawal and then sued in July over a long overdue response to the requests.
There is growing recognition among scientists that one important way to address the mounting extinction crisis is to protect particular plants and wildlife whose conservation benefits associated species.
While the Service did release several thousand documents to the group three days after the July suit was filed, it is still withholding key information.
On October 14, 2004 the FWS sent a letter to Dr. Nicole Rosmarino of WildEarth Guardians indicating it is likely that the FWS will not initiate a "substantial information" review on the Gunnison's Prairie Dog petition in FY 2005 without a court order.
Notice of intent to sue
A WildEarth Guardians report, "Lesser Prairie-Chicken: The Sky Really is Falling," documents continued declines and threats against the critically imperiled bird throughout its five-state range in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
In June 1998, the lesser prairie-chicken warranted Endangered Species Act protection, according to the Service, but was considered precluded by higher priority species. Six years later, it remains an unprotected candidate species.
The USDA Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) conservation and management on the Nebraska National Forest and associated units (NNF)
The dance of the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse is one of the most awesome animal spectacles in the west, and is sacred to various native groups who mimicked the dance in their rituals.
Due to threats including livestock grazing and conversion of native habitat to croplands, this bird, which once ranged across 11 Western states, has vanished from over 90% of its historic range, and is imperiled over at least 92% of its range.