The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a variety of local and regional organizations, has completed its 2024 spotted lanternfly monitoring efforts. Throughout the summer and fall, teams across Michigan worked collaboratively to monitor and track the spread of this invasive pest, resulting in new detections in Macomb and Lenawee counties, as well as new findings in previously affected areas.

“We are grateful to our partners for their ongoing work helping us monitor the spread of spotted lanternfly in Michigan,” said Steve Carlson, MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division Director. “This collaboration allows us to collect critical data on new infestations which helps better understand how this pest is spreading across the state.” Read more

January 7, 2025

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation collaborated with a private landowner and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to acquire and convey 2,496 acres of wildlife and riparian habitat to expand the Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in southeast Idaho.

USFWS documented almost 250 species of birds on the high elevation bullrush marsh, of which about 100 species are known to nest there. It is also home to one of the largest breeding concentrations of sandhill cranes in North America.

“This speaks volumes to what RMEF is all about. Our mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage,” said RMEF Chief Conservation Officer Blake Henning. “The refuge with this newly added waterfront parcel helps so many species of ‘other wildlife,’ like birds, small mammals and fish, but it also serves as summer range and critical birthing grounds for elk and mule deer.” Read more

GW: What good are recovery goals?

Yesterday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) denied two petitions from Montana and Wyoming to delist grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide Ecosystems. This denial comes a day after the USFWS denied Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation’s petitions to delist wolves in the Western Great Lakes.

Like the gray wolf, the grizzly bear is no stranger to Endangered Species Act (ESA) litigation. Grizzlies in the lower-48 states were first protected under the ESA in 1975. They were subsequently divided into several Distinct Population Segments. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem bears, which exist in portions of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, were given a recovery population goal of 500. The current estimated population is around 1,000. These bears were delisted under the George W. Bush administration in 2007. That delisting was overturned by the courts. They were delisted again in 2017, under a rulemaking that spanned the Obama and Trump administrations. That was again overturned by the courts in 2020.

The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem bears exist in northern Montana. Their recovery goal is a population of at least 800 bears. Their population is currently estimated to be over 1,100. Read more

The site was established with the intention of keeping elk away from the communities of Ketchum and Sun Valley.

Idaho Fish and Game, Magic Valley Region has announced that they will begin feeding elk at the Bullwhacker feed site starting the week of January 5, 2025, as snow has started to accumulate, and temperatures are dipping.

Historically, the site feeds over 125 elk each year. Read more

Avian influenza (AI) is suspected to have caused the deaths of about 200 snow geese found Monday in the greater Allentown area.

Dead birds were recovered from two sites, one in Lower Nazareth Township in Northampton County and another in Upper Macungie Township in Lehigh County. Preliminary in-state testing indicated the presence of highly pathogenic AI (HPAI). While results are yet to be confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at their National Veterinary Services Laboratories, HPAI is presumed to be the cause of these mortality events. The situation is ongoing as sick wild birds were also observed at both locations. Read more

EXPLORE Act Passes Senate, Landmark Legislation to Enhance Public Lands Access for Sportsmen and Women

The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) celebrates the United States Senate’s passage of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, sending the most comprehensive public lands package since 2019 to the President’s desk. This bipartisan legislation marks a pivotal moment for outdoor recreation and public lands access, advancing several critical priorities of the sporting community.

“The passage of the EXPLORE Act underscores the power of collaboration in advancing access to America’s public lands,” said Gray N. Thornton, President and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “From streamlining permitting for small film crews to enhancing recreational shooting opportunities, this bill delivers practical solutions to the challenges faced by federal land managers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It reflects a shared commitment to conserving and promoting our outdoor heritage.”

Key provisions of the EXPLORE Act include: Read more