Since 2010, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has been deluged with listing petitions for potentially imperiled species. The first was a mega-petition by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and others that covered 404 aquatic species. Of these species, 61 had already been designated by the FWS as candidates for Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection. The FWS entered into a settlement agreement with CBD that delineated a set schedule for final decisions on the status of the petitioned species. In 2012, the FWS received an additional petition from CBD to evaluate 53 reptiles and amphibians, and they continue to receive petitions seeking action on additional species. To date, there are 496 species to be considered for listing, and the Southeast region of the FWS has responsibility for more than 60 percent of these.

The fourth and final pilot workshop exploring application of Wildlife Governance Principles (WGPs) to state fish and wildlife agencies was held in Ithaca, New York from September 28 to 30, 2016. Staff from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation?s Bureau of Wildlife (NY BOW) met with Dr. Dan Decker, Dr. Bill Siemer, and Meghan Baumer of Cornell University; Ann Forstchen from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and Dr. Pat Lederle of the Michigan Division of Wildlife to review results of an agency self-assessment comparing traits and practices of the NY BOW to traits and practices aligned with WGPs. This workshop, along with similar sessions held in Florida, Michigan, and Montana earlier this year was conducted under a 2016 Multi-State Conservation Grant (MSCG). At the recent Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) meeting in Philadelphia, the state agency directors approved a 2017 MSCG to further training related to the WGPs based on results of these pilot workshops. The Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) participated in development of the WGPs and the workshops and believes application of these principles will improve agency performance and help achieve the recommendations of the AFWA Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America?s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently released a report detailing how wildlife can benefit through the application of sustainable forestry practices, according to the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI). The report, titled Sustainably Managing Forests Creates Golden-Winged Warbler Breeding Habitat, highlights proven conservation strategies for the bird based on sound forestry management.

Led by Dr. Al Zale with the Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit at Montana State University, researchers Michael Lance and T. David Ritter are working closely with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks personnel, local landowners, and engineers to study salmonid movements in the popular Smith River system in central Montana. Anglers come from around the globe to pursue rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown trout (Salmo Trutta) in the Smith?s breathtaking canyons. To date, research has shown that major Smith River tributaries function as important spawning and nursery areas, tributary confluences function as areas of thermal refuge, and salmonid migrations vary greatly in magnitude and timing.