NSSF—The Firearm Industry Trade Association’s Post

Congress had sharp criticism for a proposed rule that would prioritize a climate change agenda over a proven hunting conservation strategy that has benefitted wildlife conservation and sportsmen and women. It’s not the first time, either. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) proposed Biological Integrity, Diversity and Environmental Health (BIDEH) rule update would implement a rule to “combat” climate change at the expense of wildlife conservation through hunting and angling. The proposal would put National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) decisions based solidly in Washington, D.C., and not in the hands of local biologists who are best positioned to make policy decisions for sustainable conservation. https://lnkd.in/gncWuQYT #BIDEH #USFWS #climatechange #wildlifeconservation

Today, the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) – comprised of the nation’s top 52 sporting-conservation organizations that represent America’s hunter-conservationists, professional wildlife and natural resource managers, outdoor recreation users, conservation educators, and wildlife scientists – released Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume VII (W-21). This comprehensive publication focuses on solutions to conserve wildlife and their habitats across the nation, bolstering public access, and protecting our outdoor traditions. Every four years since AWCP was first convened in 2000, the partners have put forth their collective priorities in Wildlife for the 21st Century, which serves as the roadmap for AWCP’s vision for wildlife and sportsmen and sportswomen. “Our partners that make up AWCP should be proud of their ability to coalesce around a shared set of policy priorities which, should they be adopted, would produce real and meaningful benefits for hunters, habitat, and wildlife across the United States. It is a comprehensive suite of recommendations that can serve as a blueprint for conservation and hunting policy in the future,” said John Devney, AWCP Vice-Chair and Chief Policy Officer for Delta Waterfowl. Find a copy of Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume 7 here: https://hubs.li/Q02Ptx4L0 #wildlife21#wildlife21stcentury#americanwildlifeconservationpartners#awcpwildlife21

Via David Shiffman - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Critical Habitat for Two West Indian Manatee Subspecies - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing critical habitat revisions and additions for the two subspecies of the West Indian manatee. The Service proposes a total revised designation of 1,904,191 acres for the Florida manatee and a new 78,121-acre designation for the Antillean manatee in Puerto Rico. All areas proposed for critical habitat for both subspecies are occupied; no unoccupied areas are proposed. https://lnkd.in/e8SDwysc

NEW BLOG POST: "Turtles in TurmOil" written by OWCN wildlife rehabilitator Samantha Christie California has only two native freshwater turtle species and one native tortoise species - and all three are in decline, making them a priority for protection during oil spill responses. Learn more about California's Testudines and the steps we are taking to write protocols for their care should they ever be impacted by an oil spill:

Ultimatum, Litigation and 7+ Years; How many lives lost in the process? “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Endangered Species Act Protections for Giraffes” Published November 20, 2024 WASHINGTON - In response to declining giraffe populations caused by poaching, habitat loss and climate change , the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing federal protections for several giraffe species. After reviewing the best available scientific and commercial information, the Service proposes listing all three subspecies of northern giraffe from west, central and east Africa as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The Service also proposes listing two giraffe species from east Africa as threatened with tailored protections through a 4(d) rule. “Federal protections for giraffes will help protect a vulnerable species, foster biodiversity, support ecosystem health, combat wildlife trafficking, and promote sustainable economic practices,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams. “This action supports giraffe conservation while ensuring the United States does not contribute further to their decline.” Complete Story: https://lnkd.in/gmtFTvFb Historical Perspective: Humane Society of the United States October 14, 2020 “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, do your job and protect giraffes, or we’ll see you in court.” “It’s been more than three years since we filed a petition asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to protect giraffes under the Endangered Species Act from trophy hunting and other imminent threats to their survival. During this time, the agency has responded once last year—following a lawsuit we filed—to agree with us that giraffes may qualify for such protection. But instead of taking further action, as the law requires it to do, it has gone back to sitting on its hands. Today, we are warning the USFWS that unless it acts swiftly to protect our planet’s tallest land mammal, we will see it in court.” https://lnkd.in/gWpyCrXn #endangeredspecies #hsus #usfws #giraffe #wildlifetrafficking #TheConservationGameMovie https://lnkd.in/gmtFTvFb

We're at the forefront of wildlife research and conservation, setting a benchmark for innovative practices in safeguarding Africa's iconic species. With a commitment to balancing human-wildlife coexistence, Mugie in partnership with Lion Landscapes and the Kenya Wildlife Service KWS, employs advanced technologies and collaborative efforts to monitor and protect its diverse wildlife population. Among these efforts, lion monitoring stands out as a key initiative, addressing the challenges posed by predator-livestock conflicts and ensuring the long-term survival of these majestic animals within the conservancy. Lions pose a major conservation challenge due to the conflicts that arise from the killing of livestock. In order to reduce and prevent the predation of livestock, seven females in three different prides and one male were fitted with a collar in partnership with Lion Landscapes, KWS, and WRTI. The collars allow the Conservation Team to follow the pride movements and prevent incidents from happening by making the herders/community aware of the presence of lions in their specific areas. The collars also allow the Conservation Team to better understand the movements of the prides inside the Conservancy and the overlapping of the territories. All the monitoring, tracking, and analysis is done through EarthRanger. This image, extracted from EarthRanger, shows the tracked movements of Esmi, Walimu, Sarabi, Dada, Bast, Vida, and Mfalme over the month. The map details the distinct paths and territories covered by the lions, with unique colors and patterns marking each lion’s movement within Mugie Conservancy. Walimu, Bast, and Sarabi were seen spending a lot of time in specific areas, and upon investigation, it was found that the lionesses all had their own litters. #MugieConservancy #MugiePartnership #LionTracking #LionMonitoring #LionConservation #MugieConservancy

Yesterday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced changes to how the Endangered Species Act is implemented. One of the changes known as the "blanket rule" rolls back a key distinction in how threatened and endangered species are regulated. Unfortunately, restoring the blanket rule is a setback for species recovery. Why? Because species-specific guidance informed by science results in more effective recovery plans than a one-size-fits-all approach. With two-thirds of endangered species dependent on private lands, the most effective way to help wildlife recover is to improve the incentives for private landowners to protect and restore habitat. The Fish and Wildlife Service's decision makes states and landowners indifferent to whether species are improving or declining. https://lnkd.in/guVi9_VW

You guessed it, it's hazel dormice! 🐭 The wildlife team here at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has wrapped up the final dormouse survey of 2024. Led by Wildlife Conservation Officer Ian Court, a dedicated team of licensed handlers and volunteers monitor the local population of hazel dormice in a woodland in Wensleydale. The dormice are monitored over a six month period between May and October, when the dormice are most active - foraging, preparing for their long winter hibernation. Ian Court, Wildlife Conservation Officer at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: “Dormice make a nest by weaving grass together in a really tight ball, with a chamber in the middle. One of the other obvious signs that it is a dormouse nest is they like to use hazel leaves. Over winter dormice hibernate, not in the boxes but in the ground. In the spring they come out and use the boxes, as well as the coppice stools and bramble patches, for nesting and resting. They don’t need the nest boxes necessarily, but the boxes are there so we can keep the monitoring consistent. Seeing a nest in a box means that we know that dormice are still here, even if we don’t find any dormice. We are doing everything we can to manage the woodland to provide the habitat these mammals need, for example by traditional coppicing of the hazel trees to maximise nut production." A big thank you to the team involved in this important work! DISCLAIMER: Hazel dormice are an endangered species and are fully protected by law. It is an offence to disturb them (unless you are a licenced professional.) #yorkshiredales #conservation #dormice

An update from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge: "The Southeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a proposal that would expand the boundary of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, adding approximately 22,000 acres adjacent to the existing refuge. The Service is seeking public input on the proposal. If adopted, the proposed minor boundary expansion would enable the Service to work with willing landowners to explore voluntary conservation actions, including potential acquisition, that would further protect the refuge’s globally significant freshwater wetland system and wildlife habitat. The proposed expansion includes lands currently held by Twin Pines Minerals, LLC as well as a one-mile fuel reduction zone adjacent to the refuge." A public comment period is now open until November 18 with a public meeting in Folkston on October 29. Be on the lookout for upcoming information from the Georgia Conservancy. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gC_Ab5qh

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has announced their intention to list the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as a threatened species with a special Section 4(d) Rule. This means that the butterfly will have protection under the Endangered Species Act, but certain incidental take of the species will be exempt from prohibition (effectively allowed) under certain conditions or circumstances. USFWS is accepting comments on the proposed listing for 90 days, and the listing is likely to become final sometime in 2025. Monarch butterflies commonly use a wide variety of habitats, but rely strongly on select wintering areas in Southern California and Mexico. California wintering areas are proposed as critical habitat for this species. They also rely on early successional habitats (old fields) with milkweed plants for breeding. They use multiple species of milkweed, but common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) seems to be frequently used in the eastern U.S. Edgewood has been performing habitat assessments for Monarch butterflies for years, and has developed land management recommendations to support the recovery of this species. Does your land use project potentially impact Monarchs? Give us a call!