U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The Fifth Circuit is examining the timing of interventions in a case involving federal protections for the Lesser Prairie Chicken. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed protections for the species, leading environmental groups to challenge the decision in court, which denied their intervention attempts as untimely. The groups argue the process lacked transparency and threatens the bird's survival, with fewer than 5,000 remaining in New Mexico and Texas.

Thousands of 'irreplaceable' fish, including federally threatened greenback cutthroats, were evacuated from the Leadville National Fish Hatchery due to the Willow Fire and are now returning home. The hatchery, which supports Colorado's fishing industry, relocated nearly 150,000 fish to safety as mandatory evacuations were enforced.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has ended federal endangered species protections for a Texas lizard following a lawsuit filed by state Attorney General Ken Paxton. This action was taken in response to legal challenges from Paxton's office.

Two conservation groups sued the Trump administration over cattle grazing in southeast Arizona, claiming it violates the Endangered Species Act by damaging habitats of endangered species. The Bureau of Land Management relies on a 2024 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opinion to authorize grazing in the Gila District, which the plaintiffs argue harms species like the southwestern willow flycatcher and northern Mexican garter snake.

A nonprofit group of U.S. Forest Service employees sued the agency, claiming it violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to analyze toxic heavy metals in aerial fire retardants. The court case challenges whether the Forest Service adequately assessed ecological impacts, with a 2024 study highlighting metals like vanadium and arsenic in the retardants.

A federal judge halted a Montana logging project over concerns the U.S. Forest Service failed to use best available science to assess its impact on grizzly bear habitat. The preliminary injunction, issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto, pauses the Greenhorn Vegetation Project until a lawsuit by the Alliance of the Wild Rockies and other environmental groups is resolved, citing a flawed 10-acre habitat standard.

Conservationists express concern that changes to the Endangered Species Act by the Trump administration could undermine recovery efforts for the red-cockaded woodpecker. The bird's population declined due to habitat loss, but the Act helped increase its numbers. A new policy no longer considers habitat destruction as direct harm, raising fears among experts about future protections.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for its ecological significance and conservation efforts. The designation followed a 40-year campaign and is expected to boost tourism, with projections of doubling visitor numbers by 2035. Local leaders and international diplomats celebrated the achievement, highlighting the swamp's role in global conservation and cultural heritage.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer deployed a Taser at a gas station on the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation, causing a fire that injured Chuck Coyl with burns and nerve damage. Cellphone video showed the confrontation, where the officer claimed Coyl was uncooperative 'for having committed a crime,' and a use-of-force expert criticized the escalation as unwarranted. The Department of the Interior confirmed the Taser deployment but declined further comment pending review.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer deployed a Taser at an Arizona gas station, causing a fire that resulted in a man's first- and second-degree burns and nerve damage. The incident, captured on video, involved a confrontation between the officer and Chuck Coyl, who claimed he was not charged and criticized the use of force. A law enforcement expert questioned the officer's de-escalation and safety protocols near flammable environments.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer deployed a Taser at a gas station on the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation, sparking a fire that caused burns and nerve damage to Chuck Coyl. Coyl claims no charges have been filed against him, and a use-of-force expert criticized the escalation as unwarranted. The Department of the Interior confirmed the Taser deployment and stated a review is underway.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife crews rescued 103 Uncompahgre cutthroat trout from Nate Creek near Ouray, Colorado, during the Gold Mountain Fire. The fish were transported to Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery for safety amid concerns the fire could destroy their habitat. The trout, a genetically unique species, were saved through a joint operation involving 10 CPW staff and a fire escort.

Researchers and conservationists are working to save the endangered eastern hellbender salamander in Appalachia as populations decline due to climate change and human activity. A lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity claims federal officials missed a 2025 deadline to propose endangered species protection. Conservation efforts include breeding programs and habitat restoration led by organizations like the Nashville Zoo and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.

A Customs and Border Protection K9 named Maisy detected nearly 100 pounds of prohibited items, including meat, plants, and a Bengal monitor lizard, in a suitcase from Thailand. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seized the monitor lizard, while CBP highlighted the importance of agricultural inspections to prevent invasive species and diseases.

A bald eagle named Jackie was rescued by Los Angeles wildlife officials after a fight with other eagles in Big Bear, California. The injured eagle was taken to a rehabilitation facility, where it was found to be sick and underweight but without physical injuries. Friends of Big Bear Valley and local authorities confirmed the rescued eagle is likely Jackie, the matriarch of the area's bald eagle family.

A $10 million, 10-year conservation effort involving 35 coastal organizations across 16 states has led to a 45% increase in American oystercatcher populations along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The initiative focused on protecting nesting sites, educating the public, and addressing threats like predators and human disturbance, reversing a century-old decline caused by hunting and egg collecting.

American oystercatchers are recovering along U.S. coasts due to a decade-long conservation effort involving 35 organizations in 16 states. Their population increased by 45% from 2008 to 2023, driven by measures like protecting nesting sites and public education.

The Trump administration redefined the term 'harm' in the Endangered Species Act, removing habitat destruction as a prohibited action. This change could allow habitat modification for species like northern spotted owls and green sea turtles, undermining protections critical to their survival.

The Center for Biological Diversity accuses the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of failing to meet Endangered Species Act deadlines to protect five freshwater species, including the Alvord chub and Great Basin ramshorn. The group cites threats like cattle grazing, climate change, and habitat degradation, and seeks a court order to compel the agency to issue required findings.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff evacuated thousands of greenback cutthroat trout and Hayden Creek cutthroat trout from the Leadville National Fish Hatchery due to the Willow Fire. The fish were relocated to other hatcheries, with some released for fishing opportunities, as the fire burned over 6,000 acres near Leadville and is now 40% contained.

Environmental organizations sued the Trump administration over the removal of the word 'harm' from Endangered Species Act regulations, arguing it undermines protections for imperiled wildlife. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service will eliminate a 50-year-old definition of 'harm' effective September 14, citing conflicts with personal property rights and federal authority. The lawsuit claims the change could threaten species like Florida manatees, grizzly bears, and salmon.

NASA has transferred ownership of a Maryland woodland to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The article describes this as a rare 2026 story of good news for the planet.

The proposed DC Blox data center near the Nashville Zoo could threaten the federally endangered Nashville crayfish, whose limited habitat is close to the construction site. Environmental groups warn that development risks, such as erosion, sediment control failures, or water-cooling systems, could harm the crayfish and other vulnerable species like the alligator snapping turtle and eastern hellbender.

The city of Waverly removed a low-head dam from Trace Creek to reduce flood risk and benefit protected wildlife. The project, supported by local leaders and funded by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant, is part of ongoing efforts to improve flood resilience after the 2021 disaster.

Two orphaned grizzly bear cubs have been relocated to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado after their mother was euthanized in Montana due to conflicts with humans. The zoo is working to care for the cubs, emphasizing the importance of keeping wildlife wild and avoiding interactions that could endanger people.

Kelby Ouchley, a Louisiana biologist, highlights the interconnected relationships in bayou ecosystems, emphasizing how human activities like overfishing disrupt species like gar and freshwater mussels. He underscores the ecological and practical value of swamps, including flood control and biodiversity, through his books and work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Kelby Ouchley, a Louisiana biologist, highlights the interconnected relationships in swamp ecosystems, emphasizing how human activities like overfishing can disrupt balance. He explains the role of species such as gar and freshwater mussels in maintaining water quality and the broader ecological benefits of preserving bayous.

Kelby Ouchley, a Louisiana biologist, highlights the interconnected balance of plants, animals, and water in bayous and swamps, emphasizing human impacts and the importance of conservation. He explains how overfishing species like gar can disrupt ecosystems by threatening freshwater mussels, which filter water. Ouchley's books explore biodiversity and sustainable practices in Louisiana's swamp environments.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed opening over 95 percent of the National Wildlife Refuge System to hunters and anglers, creating over 1,450 new opportunities and boosting rural economies.

Western conservation groups partially won their case against the U.S. Forest Service over the impact of road and vehicle access on grizzly bears and bull trout in the Bitterroot National Forest. A Montana federal judge ruled that the agencies failed to adequately assess the environmental effects of Amendment 40, which removed road-density restrictions, and did not properly consult on bull trout habitat.

Chris Andrews, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspector in Alaska, intercepted 1,600 pounds of shark fins destined for Hong Kong, uncovering a major trafficking case linked to stinky boxes labeled 'car parts.' He also seized items like reptile leather goods and taxidermied lizards at Anchorage airport, enforcing international treaties and national laws to protect wildlife.

Chris Andrews is a wildlife inspector for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska, tasked with intercepting trafficked wildlife. The article highlights the unusual challenges of this role, as suggested by the title's reference to a problematic box.

Chris Andrews, a wildlife inspector for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, intercepted 1,600 pounds of shark fins in Anchorage, Alaska, which were smuggled in boxes labeled as car parts. His team also seized items like designer bags made from crocodile/python leather, taxidermied lizards, and live animals smuggled in speakers and snow boots, highlighting the challenges of enforcing wildlife protection laws.

The Asian Swamp Eel, native to eastern and southeastern Asia, has established a population in South Florida and is classified as an ecological risk by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). A 2023 study in Taylor Slough showed significant declines in local crayfish and fish populations where swamp eels are present, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) urges reporting sightings via the IveGot1 app or website.

The Center for Biological Diversity is suing the Trump administration to protect the tine springsnail, found only in Quitobaquito Springs, from border wall construction. The lawsuit claims the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to adequately protect the endangered species, which is threatened by the Tucson 2 Project border wall plan.

The Ivanpah Solar Power Plant, an Obama-era solar plant, is allowed to continue operating despite killing thousands of birds annually. The plant, built with taxpayer support, remains in compliance under existing regulations. Regulators were aware of the risks before approving the project.

The Ivanpah Solar Power Plant, an Obama-era solar plant, is allowed to continue operating despite killing thousands of birds annually with its reflected solar beams. The plant remains in compliance under existing regulations and no fines or enforcement actions have been taken. The facility was built with taxpayer support and approved as part of a broader push to expand renewable energy.

Topa Topa, a California condor and the first of his species to reside in a zoo, is celebrating his 60th birthday at the L.A. Zoo. He has played a key role in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s California Condor Recovery Program, aiding efforts to repopulate the critically endangered species.