Given that they have spread to at least 39 states, there appears to be only two places left in the lower 48--where they are now and where they are going to be. The impact they will have (or are having) on the native avifauna has yet to be determined, but one thing is certain, the Eurasian collared-dove has staked a claim in North America. And it likes the neighborhood.

President Obama signed the $32.2 billion Interior, Environment and Related Agencies fiscal year 2010 (FY10) appropriations bill into law on October 30.   The bill provides a 17 percent increase in spending from last year’s appropriation for most of the natural resources and environmental agencies in the federal government, reports the Wildlife Management Institute. 

One of the most pro-active hunters in the outdoor television industry, Keith Warren attended a charity event in Jefferson Township, Penn., where he spoke passionately about the critical need for all hunters to unite in preserving our outdoor traditions and in protecting the sport of hunting.

But on the eve of the 10 day (Nov. 6 – 15) summit Ms. Peel, who has been the president of The Billfish Foundation for over a decade, is not highly optimistic any strong changes will be made among the attending countries to conservation of tuna and related species. 

Canada and a number of U.S. states have imposed movement restrictions or additional entry requirements for horses from Texas after equine piroplasmosis, a tick-transmitted blood disease of equine animals, such as horses, donkeys, mules and zebras, was detected in South Texas in mid-October.  Equine piroplasmosis may be carried and transmitted by as many as 15 species of ticks.  Although ticks have been collected from the South Texas ranch for testing, final results are not complete, and it is not known whether any of the ticks can serve as a host for the disease.

When the House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife met on October 27 in DC, longtime South Carolina Congressman Henry Brown, Jr. made it clear he was standing up for all of his coastal constituents at home.  “When opportunities for fishing are limited or closed altogether, it does not just affect the charter boats or the bait shops,” Rep. Brown said in his opening statement.