On March 5, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) had decided that the greater sage-grouse was warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), but that the listing is precluded at this time due to higher priority listing actions, according to the Wildlife Management Institute. The decision establishes sage-grouse as a candidate species and allows states to continue to manage the species, including managed hunting where appropriate.

The 22-member Wind Turbine Guidelines Federal Advisory Committee announced on March 5 that it had reached consensus on a set of recommendations (Guidelines) for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to utilize to avoid or minimize the impacts of land-based wind development on wildlife and habitat, reports the Wildlife Management Institute.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary, Tom Vilsack, recently announced that USDA will offer an opportunity for general enrollment of lands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) later this year.

2010 is a critical election year for conservation in Texas, and the City of Houston is a key battleground for electing candidates who stand for clean air, clean water, and open spaces.

A controversy has erupted in the sport fishing community over a new federal management plan for oceans and Great Lakes waters. Recent opinion pieces circulating on the internet and reported on numerous radio stations have stoked the flames through revelations that the policy, if implemented, would prohibit recreational fishing within vast areas of public water.

More than 1,250 archers competed in 31 categories during the Hoyt Pro/Am Tour Friday through Sunday at Uchee Creek for prizes totaling $100,000.  Archers shot 40 targets. The 3-D foam targets included antelopes, deer, boars and wolves. The archers shot at known and unknown distances during the event.

A cooperative research study between the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University and the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station determined that tissue residues on the 11th day post-treatment in chemically immobilized white-tailed deer were at minimal levels.

Ducks Unlimited will recognize five Texans for their individual conservation commitments in Austin, Texas May 1. The Texas Heroes of Conservation evening, including; cocktails, dinner, honors presentation and auction, will be held at the Renaissance Austin.