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Youth in Alaska's Great Outdoors
February 12, 2013
The Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shares how they ENGAGED, EDUCATED, and EMPLOYED youth in 2012 as part of the Department of Interior's Youth in the Great Outdoors Initiative. If you are interested in 2013 opportunities in Alaska visit the links below.
Woodland Caribou, painted by Sky Waters from Minnesota, was selected as the grand prize winner of the 2012 Contest. Photo Credit Endangered Species Coalition. |
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Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest
- Deadline: March 15
February 12, 2013
Parents, teachers, and scout leaders tell your kids to start the drawing engines and participate in the annual Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest! Entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2013. The Youth Art Contest provides students from kindergarten to high school with an opportunity to learn about threatened and endangered species and express their knowledge and support through artwork. Organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the International Child Art Foundation, the art contest is an integral part of the eighth annual national Endangered Species Day on May 17, 2013.
Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Credit: USFWS |
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Analysis Does Not Support
Proposed Land Exchange and Road Corridor Through
Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
February 5, 2013
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluating a proposed land exchange that would establish a road corridor through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Alaska. After careful evaluation of the impact of the construction and operation of the proposed road on the refuge and its wildlife resources, the agency has identified its preferred alternative as one that does not support allowing the land exchange to go forward.
Knik River Islands Conservation Easement. Photo Courtesy of Great Land Trust. |
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Protecting Habitat for Salmon Lands National Recognition -
Coastal America to recognize private-public partnership achieving voluntary salmon habitat conservation in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley
February 1, 2013
Anchorage -- Coordinated action to conserve coastal habitat in Southcentral Alaska has captured national attention. On Thursday February 7, 2013 at the Alaska Forum on the Environment conference held at the Dena’ina Convention Center, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior for Alaska, Pat Pourchot, will present the Matanuska-Susitna Valley Coastal Conservation Partnership with a 2012 Coastal America Partnership Award on behalf of the Obama Administration and Coastal America.
Coastal America selected the Alaska partnership to receive this national award for its outstanding efforts to voluntarily conserve more than 6,000 acres of coastal habitat important to Pacific salmon and other wildlife. The Alaska-based effort is one of only four collaborative teams throughout the Nation to receive this prestigious award in 2012. Press Release
Wood bison cow and calf at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Courtesy Doug Lindstrand |
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Service Seeks Comments On Proposed Wood Bison Introduction Project
January 17, 2013
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today that it will propose to release wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) in Alaska, in support of an Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) plan, in an effort to establish a wild population of this native wildlife species to the State. Potential introduction sites include Minto Flats, the lower Innoko/Yukon River area, and Yukon Flats.America’s wildlife legacy.
Top row (L to R):
David Irons, Jim Johnson, Kathy Kuletz
Bottom row (L to R):
Rick Lanctot, Steve Lewis, Steve Matsuoka |
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Science Excellence and America's Wildlife Legacy
January 9, 2013
The Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service proudly features a nominee for one of two national awards for Science Excellence and Science Leadership. Award recipients will be announced in early winter 2013. For more information about the awards visit http://www.fws.gov/science/awards.html
The Non-game Migratory Bird Management Team are a group of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologists working with partners on bird conservation, including songbirds, shorebirds, and raptors. Among many activities, they administer survey and monitoring programs, compile data, and apply data to management. They have expanded their network globally to address birds throughout entire ranges. Visit http://alaska.fws.gov/mbsp/mbm/index.htm to learn more about their efforts.
The Non-game Migratory Bird Management Team's efforts help ensure that non-game migratory birds will be conserved for the future and will continue to be part of America’s wildlife legacy.
Photo Credit: Terry DeBruyn/USFWS |
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USFWS Announces Proposed Incidental Take Regulations for Polar Bears and Pacific Walrus
January 8, 2013
In Alaska, the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) protects polar bears, Pacific walrus, and northern sea otters by prohibiting "take" of these animals. The MMPA provides for specific exceptions to the prohibition on non-lethal take, including a provision that allows U.S. citizens to take, through hazing and other non-lethal deterrents, small numbers of marine mammals incidental to specified activities.
Read more...
Photo of Rick Lanctot. Photo Credit: USFWS |
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Science Excellence and America's Wildlife Legacy
January 2, 2013
The Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service proudly features a nominee for one of two national awards for Science Excellence and Science Leadership. Award recipients will be announced in early winter 2013. For more information about the awards visit http://www.fws.gov/science/awards.html
As the Service's Shorebird Coordinator in Alaska, Dr. Richard Lanctot has worked at the national and international level to promote shorebird conservation. He launched the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group in 2006 which has promoted sharing of methods for studying and conserving shorebirds and connected biologists studying the same species throughout their annual cycle. He has worked to promote consistent methods for collecting shorebird data in the Arctic, allowing information to be compared at the circumpolar level and areas of international importance to be identified.
Richard Lanctot's efforts help ensure that migratory shorebirds will be conserved for the future and will continue to be part of America’s wildlife legacy.
Click image to enlarge
Top Row: (L to R) Don Dragoo, Brie Drummond, Steve Ebbert, Arthur Kettle
Second Row: Heather Renner, Nora Rojek, Marc Romano, Leslie Slater
Bottom Row: Lisa Spitler, Greg Thompson, John Warzybok, Jeff Williams |
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Science Excellence and America's Wildlife Legacy
December 19, 2012
The Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service proudly features a nominee for one of two national awards for Science Excellence and Science Leadership. Award recipients will be announced in early winter 2013. For more information about the awards visit http://www.fws.gov/science/awards.html
The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge's Biological Science Team has demonstrated scientific leadership in the areas of seabird research, marine science and conservation, and invasive species eradication. Within the last five years, the team has restored over 100,000 acres of refuge land by eradicating invasive species. Numerous research efforts have documented biodiversity, climate change, impacts to island ecosystems from volcanism, the accumulation of contaminants in seabirds, and much more. Data generated by this research is shared in publications, at conferences, sent to international databases, provided to regional multi-disciplinary research programs, and offered to collaborators. For more information about Alaska Maritime Refuge visit http://alaskamaritime.fws.gov/
The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Science Team's efforts help ensure that refuge resources will be conserved for the future and will continue to be part of America’s wildlife legacy.
Dr. David Irons Photo Credit: USFWS
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Science Excellence and America's Wildlife Legacy
December 12, 2012
The Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service proudly features a nominee for one of two national awards for Science Excellence and Science Leadership. Award recipients will be announced in early winter 2013. For more information about the awards visit http://www.fws.gov/science/awards.html
Dr. David Irons is the Seabird Coordinator for Alaska's office of Migratory Bird Management. He has long recognized the interconnectedness of our world's marine ecosystems and has demonstrated great vision and determination in forging working relationships with seabird scientists in Alaska, other Arctic nations, and the world. He has worked to encourage information exchange among seabird scientists and leads a multi-national effort to develop the Global Seabird Data Portal to archive the world's seabird colony data, a critical step towards science-based management and conservation of our world's marine birds.
David's efforts will help ensure that seabirds will be conserved for the future and will continue to be part of America’s wildlife legacy.
Post-flood: the Mat-Su Borough and USFWS upgraded a 5 foot round culvert on Colter Creek with this fish-friendly 14 foot arch following 2006 floods. Fish-friendly culverts have water depths, velocities, and channel characteristics that mimic the natural stream.
Photo Credit: K.Mueller / USFWS
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Alaska Fish-Friendly Culverts Hold Tight Through 100 year flood
December 7, 2012
Southcentral Alaska – This past September, residents and visitors experienced heavy rains, strong winds, and widespread flooding. Many roads with undersized culverts or near rivers were overtopped by flood waters, resulting in road closures, erosion of road material, culvert damage, and at least five culverts/bridges becoming overwhelmed and flushed downstream.
In contrast, the 81 road culverts that had been fitted with larger, channel-spanning structures over the past decade survived the flood with flying colors.
Read more...
Michelle Kissling releasing a Kittlitz's murrelet.
Photo Credit: USFWS
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Science Excellence and America’s Wildlife Legacy
December 5, 2012
The Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service proudly features a nominee for one of two national awards for Science Excellence and Science Leadership. Award recipients will be announced in early winter 2013. For more information about the awards visit http://www.fws.gov/science/awards.html
Michelle Kissling is a Wildlife Biologist with the Juneau Fish & Wildlife Field Office. Ms. Kissling successfully leveraged the Service's funds and operational capabilities to expand partnerships to establish interagency monitoring and research of the Kittlitz's murrelet, a poorly understood seabird endemic to coastal Alaska and the Russian Far East. She helped coordinate more than 50 people, representing various partners, in murrelet field work; conducting at sea surveys, banding over 900 birds, and placing transmitters on 215 birds. She is recognized for her outstanding leadership and scientific contributions toward conservation of Kittlitz's murrelet and her exceptional commitment forging scientific conservation partnerships.
Michelle’s efforts will help ensure that the Kittlitz’s murrelet will be conserved for the future and will continue to be part of America’s wildlife legacy.
Sue Rodman (left) and Cecil Rich (middle) (the ADFG and USFWS statewide National Fish Habitat Partnership Coordinators in Alaska) jointly presented Corinne Smith (right) with the 2012 Scientific Achievement Award from the National Fish Habitat Partnership.
Photo Credit: /USFWS
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Alaska’s Network of Fish Habitat Partnerships: Working for Healthy, Sustainable Fisheries
November 16, 2012
Each year, after the shovels have been put away and waders stowed, a broad cross-section of individuals
and organizations interested in salmon and involved in on-the-ground efforts to ensure that important
habitats are identified, safeguarded, and restored in the Mat-Su region gather for the Mat-Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium. This 2-day event, organized by the Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership, provides a forum for the sharing of information and lessons learned, celebrating of
successes, and planning for the future of salmon and their habitat in this region.
News Release
Bristle-thighed curlew.
Photo Credit: Kristine Sowl/USFWS
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Yukon Delta recognized for importance to
East Asian-Australasian Flyway
November 1, 2012
Millions of waterbirds breed each summer in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, then leave this vast wetland cradle to migrate along flyways spanning the Americas. But about half a million migrate along a lesser-known route: the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
The East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership (Partnership) was launched in 2006 as a framework for voluntary, international cooperation aimed at protecting migratory waterbirds and their habitat in eastern Asia and the south Pacific Ocean.
Read more...
New Nature Explore Classroom Video Goes Live
November 1, 2012
A new video on the Nature Explore classroom, built at the Children's Tree House Child Development Center
on the campus of the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC), is live. The classroom serves as a gateway
for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to connect children with nature. Watch the video today!
The Aleutian Canada (cackling) goose was recovered thanks to dedicated work by the USFWS, landowners, and other partners.
Photo Credit: Dave Menke/USFWS
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Seeks Proposals from States for Annual Endangered Species Grants
October 25, 2012
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking proposals from states and U.S. territories interested in obtaining federal financial assistance to acquire land or conduct planning efforts for endangered species conservation.
The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF) is authorized under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and provides grants to states and territories to support participation in a wide array of voluntary conservation projects for species on the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, as well as for candidate species. For fiscal year (FY) 2013, the President’s budget request for the annual Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund includes $60 million in grant funding for conservation activities benefitting federally protected species.
The Alaska Environmental Literacy Plan partnership receives the award on October 18, 2012.
Photo Credit DOI
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Alaska Environmental Literacy Plan Working Group Honored with InteriorDepartment’s 2012 “Partners in Conservation” Award
October 23, 2012
Deputy Secretary of the Interior David J. Hayes today presented the Department’s 2012 “Partners in Conservation” Awards to 17 organizations that have achieved exemplary conservation results through public-private cooperation and community engagement. Honorees include four partnerships nominated by the Fish and Wildlife Service and several others in which the Service plays a key supporting role. The Alaska Environmental Literary Plan Working Group was among the organizations recognized.
October 10th - Wildlife Wednesday flyer
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Visit Your National Wildlife Refuges: October 14-20, 2012
October 5, 2012
Treat yourself with a visit to a national wildlife refuge during National Wildlife Refuge Week, from October 14-20. Celebrate America’s wildlife heritage, and see what refuges are doing to conserve it.
“National wildlife refuges play a crucial role in conserving America’s wildlife legacy,” says U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “Refuges also play important roles in human communities. By providing healthy habitats for wildlife, refuges improve the air we breathe and the water we drink, improve soil quality and give protection against flooding in flood-prone areas. Jobs and businesses in local communities rely on refuges – and the visitors they attract. Refuges offer glorious and protected places to hunt, fish, hike and share the outdoors with a new generation.”
USFWS Video Celebrates National Hunting and Fishing Day
September 18, 2012
In recognition of National Hunting and Fishing Day (celebrated on September 22 this year) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Alaska Region has published a video documenting the journey of trout from a hatchery in Anchorage to area lakes, where they became available to eager anglers.
In this video, you can digitally join that trip, as more than 14,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout are moved from hatchery tanks to two local lakes! The fish were among the first to be delivered from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s new William Jack Hernandez sport fish hatchery. The hatchery helps maintain the vitality of Alaska’s sport fisheries by increasing recreational fishing opportunities while reducing fishing pressure on natural stocks. News Release
Basic Hunter Education includes a variety of hunting and outdoor skills, including this exercize in boarding and exiting a small boat safely with a firearm. Credit: ADF&G
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National Hunting and Fishing Day
Hunter Recruitment in Alaska
September 5 , 2012
Hunting is a lifestyle and an important activity for millions of Americans, bringing them outdoors and in touch with nature. More than 13 million people across the country enjoy hunting, and through hunting they contribute to wildlife conservation and management. National Hunting and Fishing Day on September 22, 2012, celebrates the programs that ensure that hunting continues for future generations. Learn more...
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