Young woman helps remove barbed wire from the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana. Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Steve Hillebrand.

This is good news for kids looking for jobs in this challenging economic environment. Ths U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering summer environmental jobs for kids.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the country’s 553 National Wildlife Refuges, hopes to hire more than 2,000 young people this year, as it did in 2010. Apply now for a job this summer on a National Wildlife Refuge or other public land by visiting the links on the press release, “Summer Jobs in America’s Great Outdoors“.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Web page, “Youth Working on National Wildlife Refuges“, approximately 20 percent of employees in the National Wildlife Refuge System are expected to retire within five years and nearly 45 percent within 10 years. NOW is the time to get involved.

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Mountain lion photo courtesy stock.xchng.

Sadly, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded that the eastern cougar is extinct and recommends it be removed from the endangered species list. View the press release: “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concludes eastern cougar extinct“.

“We recognize that many people have seen cougars in the wild within the historical range of the eastern cougar,” said the Service’s Northeast Region Chief of Endangered Species Martin Miller. “However, we believe those cougars are not the eastern cougar subspecies. We found no information to support the existence of the eastern cougar.”

Mountain lion habitat had been shrinking many years in the past due to development of forests and lack of adequate deer populations. Learn more about the eastern cougar.

Additional Information
Eastern Cougar Extinct: Mountain Lion Declared Gone From East U.S. (The Huffington Post)
Eastern Cougar Is Declared Extinct, With an Asterisk (The New York Times)

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Whooping crane image courtesy of stock.xchng.

I am lost for words as I read about three endangered whooping cranes shot dead. The bodies of the whooping cranes were found and reported by hunters near Albany, Georgia, on December 30, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said, according to the article, “Feds offer reward after endangered whooping cranes shot“. 

 They were part of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership, an initiative aimed at reintroducing whooping cranes into the eastern United States, according to the article. I just can’t believe anyone would even think of harming these beautiful, innocent animals.

Reward Offered
A $12,500 reward is being offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Humane Society of the United States, International Crane Foundation, Georgia Conservancy and possibly other groups. If you have information about the shooting of these three endangered whooping cranes please contact the Georgia Department of Natural Resources or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1-800-344-WILD).

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Snowy Owl photo by Carl R. Sams II.

What does an owl eat? I’ve always assumed they eat mice and rats, but I never would have thought that rat poison would play a factor in their demise.

The article “Supertoxic rat poisons threaten owls, other wildlife” opened my eyes to the threats that owls and other wildlife face from poisons designed to kill rats and mice. It seems there is a new generation of rat and mouse poison that is more potent than what has been on the market.

According to the article, studies in Canada, the United States and Europe show the new generation of rat poisons is killing a variety of wild animals, including mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, deer, raccoons and bald eagles. After a years-long process, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will begin enforcing new rules in June to better control the rat poisons, although the restrictions don’t go as far as desired by some wildlife advocates, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“We’re finding this stuff all over the place,” said John Elliott, an Environment Canada scientist who co-authored the owl study published last year. “There’s a lot more rodenticide in the food chain than we would have ever thought.”

The Chemicasl to Blame: Anticoagulants
According to the article, the chemicals in question are anticoagulants: They prevent an animal’s blood from clotting or coagulating. The first of these, synthesized in the 1940s, is known as warfarin — the same chemical sold to humans as Coumadin, a prescription blood thinner.

The new rat poisons came along in the 1970s. With the old ones, rats had to feed on the pesticide for several days. With the new versions, only a single dose is needed. Brand names include Havoc, Talon, Contrac, Maki, Ratimus and d-CON Mouse Pruf II.

Read entire article.

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The wolverine is a magnificent and solitary animal. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will look at wolverine habitat to determine critical habitat, and  
the wolverine will be added to a candidate list of endangered and threatened species, according to the article, “Wolverines to be added to candidates for endangered and threatened species list“.

“Currently, however, listing the contiguous U.S. (population) of the North American wolverine is precluded by higher priority actions,” the ruling posted on the agency’s website reads.

Learn More
“Feds: Wolverines need protection, but have to wait”

Tell Us Your Story
Have you seen a wolverine in the wild? If so, please comment and tell us your story!

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Scientists from The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee are competing for $250,000 for their work in saving bats by building a better bat cave, according to the story, “A Radical Idea to Save America’s Bats“.

They are working to build an artificial bat cave in which bats will hibernate naturally while researchers test new treatments on them for white-nose syndrome, an ailment that’s decimating bat populations. Watch the short video below from The Nature Conservancy to learn more.

Video Link
Video link: Save America’s Bats

“White-nose syndrome is a devastating disease that is hitting bats fast and hard,” said Cory Holliday, cave and karst program director for The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee. “Our idea has been endorsed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, our state wildlife agency and bat experts as having real potential to make a difference in this epidemic.”

Nationwide, more than a million bats have died, and the mortality rate over a single year in some caves exceeds 90 percent, according to the article.

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Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Credit: George C. Cress/TNC, and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region.

The new Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge is America’s 553rd National Wildlife Refuge. It’s exciting as it will be more than 20,000 acres and located near New York City and Philadelphia.

You can learn more about it on The Nature Conservancy website. I’ve included the press release below from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Stroudsburg, PA – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced the establishment of Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge as America’s 553rd national wildlife refuge. The refuge will conserve nationally significant wildlife areas, including habitat for threatened and endangered species and a major corridor for migratory birds and bats. Located only 75 miles from New York City and 100 miles from Philadelphia, the refuge represents a new opportunity to connect more than 3 million citizens with the outdoors.
 
The refuge was officially established on October 18, 2010, when the Service acquired 185 acres of land within the refuge boundary from Mary and Dominick Sorrenti of Sorrenti’s Cherry Valley Vineyards. The Sorrenti’s hosted today’s dedication, which included U.S. Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11th), and representatives from The Nature Conservancy, Friends of Cherry Valley and other members of the citizen-led Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge Partnership.
 
“Cherry Valley is a model for the President’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative,” said Acting Director Rowan Gould. “It is an example of how private citizens and local communities can safeguard the places they care about. The Service is pleased to be part of the citizen-led partnership that helped create this refuge, and we look forward to working with our new neighbors to protect additional lands as part of the refuge.”
 
The Service has been working with the partnership and local citizens to identify property to purchase for the refuge since it was approved in December 2008. The approved boundary for the refuge encompasses more than 20,000 acres in Monroe and Northampton counties. The first 185-acre parcel of land was purchased from the Sorrenti’s with congressionally-appropriated Land and Water Conservation Fund monies.

Local citizens, with assistance from The Nature Conservancy, created a partnership to protect Cherry Valley in 2001. At the urging of the partnership, Congressmen Kanjorski and Charles W. Dent (PA-15th) co-sponsored the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge Study Act, which passed in 2006. This study led to the decision to approve the refuge.
 
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, and many others have long been key pieces of this initiative and have been instrumental in establishing the refuge,” said Congressman Kanjorski. “Because of this refuge, people living in Monroe County for generations to come will have the opportunity to experience an untouched environment that will continue to remain preserved for years to come.”
 
“Cherry Valley is an important part of The Nature Conservancy’s work to protect Pennsylvania’s special places, for people and for nature,” said Pennsylvania Chapter Executive Director Bill Kunze. “This refuge will help protect working farms and a portion of the Appalachian Trail, as well as habitat for rare species.”
 
Members of the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge Partnership include The Nature Conservancy, Friends of Cherry Valley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, National Park Service, Monroe County Planning Commission, Monroe County Conservation District, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, Appalachian Northampton Community College,  East Stroudsburg University, Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Pocono Avian Research Center.
 
To learn more about the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge, visit http://www.fws.gov/cherryvalley/. For more information about America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, go to http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/index.cfm.
 
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

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Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. Photo credit: Dystops photostream on flickr.

The Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama is currently 2,997 acres. I’m a big advocate for land preservation and am very happy to hear that this refuge could expand to eventually more than 200,000 acres - that’s 312 square miles!

A proposal (once on page, scroll down) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would allow the federal government to buy land from willing sellers along the river corridor. National Wildlife Refuges are important for preserving wildlife and conserving land.

Learn More
“Big plan for Cahaba River: U.S. refuge could grow to more than 200,000 acres“.
General location map.

History
Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 2002. It’s home to five federally listed species including Cahaba shiner, goldline darter, round rocksnail, and cylindrical lioplax snail.

The Cahaba River is 200 miles long and is Alabama’s largest river. The largest known stand of the imperiled shoals lily (Cahaba lily) can be found at the Refuge. There’s even an annual Cahaba Lily Festival.

Quick Facts
Quick Facts: Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (PDF)

Friends Group
Friends of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge

Photo credit Dystops photostream on flickr.

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The loggerhead sea turtle is featured in the two page spread in the back of our book "A Pirate's Quest".

Scientists will be rescuing sea turtle nests and eggs in the Gulf of Mexico to protect them from the BP oil spill. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is calling the plan the “Sea Turtle Late-Term Nest Collection and Hatchling Release Plan”.

Eggs, mostly of endangered loggerhead sea turtles, will be taken to Florida and once the turtles are ready, they will be released. Learn more in the article “Turtle egg rescue plan announced” from the BBC.

See the loggerhead sea turtle in our award-winning book, A Pirate’s Quest.

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For threatened wildlife in Gulf, it may be too little too late. BP will be liable for billions of dollars of damage to compensate for wildlife killed from the oil spill, according to the article, “Oil spill: How much is a pelican worth?”.

“What concerns us most is the animals we can’t see,” Rowan Gould, acting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said during a press conference earlier this week. “They are foraging the same waters that are inundated with oil right now.”

"The Riddle in a Bottle" DVD is the winner of Best Children's Film in Patagonia's Wild and Scenic Film Festival, the largest environmental film festival in the United States.

Our award winning movie, The Riddle in a Bottle, teaches kids…and adults, how life on earth is connected by moving water.

All children, especially future oil executives for BP and other companies, should watch this movie.

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