Latest news with #U.S.Fish&WildlifeService
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Colorado cactus removed from endangered species list after nearly 50 years
DENVER (KDVR) — A cactus in Colorado is recovering, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service was able to take it off the endangered species list after it was considered a federally threatened species for nearly 50 years. The Colorado hookless cactus is a small, barrel-shaped cactus with pink flowers that bloom in late April and early May. It is usually found around the Gunnison River basins and canyons in western Colorado. While these cacti are usually found in Colorado — they thrive in semi-arid, high-elevation desert environments — there wasn't exactly a surplus in the state. Bobcat suprises deputies after sneaking into Ken Caryl home Since 1979, the service said it was federally listed as a threatened species. That is, until the service announced on Wednesday that it had removed the cactus from the federal list of endangered and threatened plants due to its recovery. The service said threats to the cactus were eliminated or reduced, and the species no longer meets the definition of a threatened or endangered species. Recent scientific data also shows the species is 'more abundant than previously known at the time of listing.' Fact or Myth? Common thunder and lightning phrases you may still believe 'This decision is based on the best available scientific and commercial information and reflects ongoing conservation efforts and improved scientific data on the species,' the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said in a press release. The service said this is thanks to the help of the recovery partners, which include the Bureau of Land Management, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program and the Denver Botanic Gardens. While the species is no longer considered threatened or endangered, the service said it will continue to work with partners to monitor the species' long-term stability. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Six of the ‘world's most endangered' wolves are born at TN zoo. See them snuggle
Six of the 'world's most endangered' wolves were born in Tennessee, bringing renewed hope for their species. An adorable video posted on Facebook shows the red wolf pups snuggling after making their debut at Zoo Knoxville. 'There are only about 20 red wolves known to remain in the wild, and fewer than 300 in managed care,' Terry Cannon, curator of carnivores and Kids Cove at the zoo, said in a May 8 news release. 'Every birth is critical. These pups are part of the future of the species.' The little ones were born to mom Cirilla and dad Buckeye. The two were paired together to try to 'ensure genetic diversity among the small population of red wolves remaining,' according to the wildlife park. Red wolves, which can grow to be about 80 pounds, have been called the most endangered wolf species on Earth. They once lived across parts of the southern and eastern United States but nearly disappeared at one point, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 'After being declared extinct in the wild in the 1980s due to habitat loss and hunting, they were reintroduced in limited numbers in North Carolina,' the zoo wrote. 'Despite decades of conservation efforts, red wolves remain critically endangered, facing ongoing threats and confusion with coyotes in the wild.' As part of the zoo's effort to protect the rare species, it welcomed its litter of pups on Earth Day, April 22. The video shared on social media showed the newborns getting their medical checkups, and some Facebook users said they couldn't get enough of the cuteness. 'The pups were closely monitored during their first week to ensure healthy development and weight gain, but now the animal care team is stepping back to let the parents raise them,' the zoo wrote. 'Cirilla, who had one previous litter before coming to Zoo Knoxville, has shown strong maternal instincts.' As of May 8, zoo visitors aren't yet able to see the babies in person. 'They're currently living in the wolf dens under the care of both mom and dad,' JJ Jones, media manager for the zoo, told McClatchy News via email. 'They're still quite small and have just started to open their eyes, so they're not visible to the public at this time. We have six pups in total — three boys and three girls. They have not been named yet, and it's still too early to share any insight into their individual personalities.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists haven't seen this Michigan plant in years. What to know about monkeyflower
This spring, keep an eye out for endangered Michigan monkeyflowers — rare, aquatic wildflowers — if you're heading to northern Michigan. Michigan's only fully endemic, or native, plant, the Michigan monkeyflower is a federally recognized endangered species, according to Michigan State University Extension. Limited numbers of the plant, a member of the figwort family, have been reported in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula and southern Upper Peninsula in recent years. Here's what to know. What is the Michigan monkeyflower? The Michigan monkeyflower is an aquatic to semi-aquatic wildflower, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. When does the Michigan monkeyflower bloom? The perennial typically flowers between mid-June and August and sometimes lasts until October, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service says. A monkeyflower plant in bloom. Where has monkeyflower been found in Michigan? The Michigan monkeyflower is only found in northern Michigan, around the Straits of Mackinac and Grand Traverse areas along the Great Lakes shorelines, said the Michigan Natural Features Inventory of Michigan State University Extension. In the Lower Peninsula, Leelanau County along Lake Michigan in the northwest, there were three reported occurrences of plants, with the plant last observed in 2022. Nearby Benzie County has one reported occurrence, last observed in 2018. Farther north, Charlevoix County reported five occurrences, last observed in 2023. The nearby Emmet County saw four occurrences, with the plant last observed in 2022. Adjacent to the east, Cheboygan County had five occurrences, last observed in 2022. In the Upper Peninsula, Mackinac County reported four occurrences, with the plant last observed in 2023. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed, the MSU Extension said. A 2012 report from the USFWS found the plant growing in 23 sites. What does the Michigan monkeyflower look like? The Michigan monkeyflower has rounded, opposite leaves with course and toothed edges, and tubular flowers with yellow petals and a red-spotted lower lip, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said. Dark green shaded areas show where Michigan monkeyflower has been located. In what habitat does the Michigan monkeyflower grow? The aquatic to semi-aquatic plant lives in cold, calcareous (containing calcium carbonate or chalky) springs, seeps and streams water among northern white-cedar trees and at the base of bluffs near the Great Lakes shorelines, MSU Extension said. The Michigan monkeyflower grows in sand and mucky soil amid cold, flowing spring water, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service website says. More: It's tulip time in Holland. What to know before you visit How did the Michigan monkeyflower become endangered? The Michigan monkeyflower is a federally recognized endangered plant species in the U.S., according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The plant joined the federal list of endangered species in 1990, the University of Michigan Herbarium said. Threats to the Michigan monkeyflower include road construction and development that could disrupt the plant's habitat, the Michigan Nature Association said. Other threats include groundwater pumping, diversion, storms and high lake levels, iNaturalist noted. The Michigan monkeyflower's small population and many of the plants being on private property can complicate conservation efforts, the Michigan Nature Association said. In addition to Michigan and U.S. designations, the plant's global rank is critically imperiled. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Monkeyflower is endangered. Where it might be found in 2025
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Viral Eaglets Growing Up on Live Cam Die From 90-Foot Fall After Storm Blows Nest Off Tree
Three young eaglets died after their nest at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center was blown out of its tree amid severe storms The 22-year-old nest in West Virginia has attracted attention online since 2005, when a live cam was installed so that people could see the bald eagles in their natural habitat While all three baby eagles died, their parents survived and have been seen at a secondary nest in the same tree Three baby bald eagles that developed a devoted following online died when their nest was knocked out of a tree amid severe storms. The eaglets were born in a 22-year-old nest in a tree at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. In 2005, a camera facing the nest was installed so that people could watch the bald eagles in their natural habitat. The camera allowed animal lovers to watch the baby eagles, born in spring 2025 to parents Bella and Scout, hatch and grow before their deaths. On April 19, while severe storms passed through West Virginia, the eagle family's nest was blown to the ground and destroyed, with the eaglets still inside. The National Training Conservation Center shared the sad news on Facebook. "After 22 years, the bald eagle's nest at the USFWS National Conservation Training Center is gone," the center wrote. Related: Beloved Bald Eagle Couple Welcomes 2 Chicks While Fans Watch Livestreamed Births The post continued: "Sadly, none of the three eaglets survived the 90 ft. fall. They were four weeks old. Fortunately, both adult eagles appear to be ok and have been seen flying and perching in the nest tree." In a live-streamed Q&A on YouTube, the following week, a team member from the center, Randy Robertson, shared that eagle mom Bella was in the nest when it was blown over and only managed to escape "at really the last microsecond." He noted Bella could have been seriously injured had she not gotten away. Unfortunately, flying out of the nest was not an option for the baby eagles. Robertson explained that an eaglet begins to fly around 12 weeks into its life. While the storms destroyed the original nest, the eagle parents had begun building a secondary nest in the same tree in 2024. "This new nest is in a very strong section of the tree and has minimal damage. We are hopeful the eagle pair will use this new nest to raise their young next season," the center wrote on Facebook. The facility later confirmed that Bella and Scout "returned to the lower nest" and "started fixing the nest after the big windstorm last weekend." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Related: The Bald Eagle Has Officially Been Named the National Bird of the United States "Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your kind words and support during this difficult time. Your love and condolences mean so much to us as we all grieve the loss of our sweet beloved eaglets and their nest," the center added on Facebook. Dedicated followers rushed to the comments section to react to the news, with some noting that they had a history with the now destroyed in the decades old nest, which housed numerous eagles over the years. "I have watched this nest for 10 years or more now. I am so devastated by what happened, and my heart hurts for Bella, Scout, and the fallen angels," one person wrote. "To watch an eagle family daily, unite, grow, and bond is a blessing in itself. But to witness such a horrific event and in an instant see how this family was ripped apart is heartbreaking." They continued, writing, "To most people, they are just birds, wildlife, you laugh and say…. things happen. To the Eagle community who have been there day in and day out, night after night, these beautiful creatures were part of our everyday lives." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Eaglets killed when 75-mph windstorm knocks bald eagle nest out of tree
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.V.– Three baby bald eagles were killed over the weekend when their nest was blown out of a tree during a sudden windstorm. The eaglets were hatched in March and lived in a nest atop a sycamore tree at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia. The nest was 22 years old and located about 90 feet in the air, according to the NCTC. "The day was peaceful," said Randy Robinson, NCTC outreach coordinator. "We didn't have any rain or hail." But thunderstorms Saturday night triggered severe wind gusts in the region ranging from 60-80 mph. An anemometer in nearby Hagerstown, Maryland reported a gust of 75 mph right at 10 p.m. The eaglets didn't survive the fall from the tree. The nest was "pretty much obliterated," Robinson said. The group of eagles is highly watched and loved via "eagle cams" or 24/7 U.S Fish & Wildlife livestreams of the eagle nests. Robinson said the 4-week-old eaglets weren't ready to fly. Typically, he said, eagles don't learn to fly until 12 weeks old. Bald Eagle Caught By Fish Hook In Texas Takes First Flight Toward Recovery The NCTC said the two adult eagles who lived in the nest, known affectionately by eagle cam watchers as Bella and Scout, seemed to be well and have been seen flying around and perching in the nest tree since the incident. Last fall, the center said the two adult bald eagles had built a new nest in the same tree, 15 feet below the original one. It's hoped that the eagles will lay eggs in the new nest and will use it to raise their young next season. Watch: Baby Bald Eagles Hatch In Longtime Nest Of Beloved Bird Couple The NCTC said the newer nest is in a much stronger part of the sycamore tree and had minimal damage after the windstorm. "We extend condolences to everyone who enjoyed daily visits to the NCTC Eaglecam and many thanks for all the kind words of support," the training center said in a Facebook post. The original nest was built in 2003 by a different bald eagle pair, the training center said. The first eggs were laid in the nest in 2004, and the first eagle cam was installed in 2005. Robinson said the NCTC estimates around 45 offspring had fledged from the original nest. He said the eaglets will be honored with a private flute ceremony. Editor's Note: A mobile push notification to this story stated there were four eaglets killed during the windstorm instead of article source: Eaglets killed when 75-mph windstorm knocks bald eagle nest out of tree
