The Chattanoogan reports that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says over 10,000 birds have died at Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge in California/Oregon, and the death toll may be closer to 20,000 birds.
Due to drought conditions, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation hasn’t allowed water into the refuge since December, and the refuge may dry [...]

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a falcated duck, which is a nomadic teal from Asia or perhaps Russia, has been causing quite a stir at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, which is part of the Sacramento NWR Complex in California.

The falcated duck has captured the affections of thousands who have made the trip to [...]

On Capitol Hill these days there seems to be a fever that is pushing politicians to call for more and more budget cuts — often without even knowing the impact of the cuts — and that has led land agencies to look for other forms of funding, such as raising entrance fees.
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge [...]

Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, which is located in rural northeastern California and southern Oregon, was established by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 as the nation’s first waterfowl refuge. The refuge consists of 46,900 acres of a varied mix of shallow freshwater marshes, open water, grassy uplands, and croplands that are intensively managed to provide [...]

For anyone who has spent time looking at the USFWS Digital Library, you know the name Dave Menke, thanks to his many beautiful photographs in the public domain — such as the photo of bald eaglets below.
The Herald and News reports that Dave Menke has passed away at 64.

Menke, 64, had worked the past [...]

This week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied Endangered Species Act protection to the Mount Charleston blue, a rare Las Vegas butterfly that government scientists have said needs federal protection to avoid extinction. The population of this highly endangered species has declined drastically since 1995, with recent counts resulting in only 17 butterflies found.
As [...]

Another storm damage report — this one from Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, which is located approximately 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas in the Amargosa Valley of southern Nye County, Nevada.
On the Ash Meadows NWR Facebook page, the refuge reports that rainy weather has damaged refuge roads. The photo below was taken at the [...]

On September 11, 2001, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Manager Rich Guadagno was aboard hijacked United Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania, killing all aboard. Rich had just finished a visit with his family on the East Coast and was on his way back to Humboldt in California.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [...]

From June 19-21, more than 60 volunteers and approximately 10 personnel of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (from Sheldon and Hart Mountain refuges) teamed up to improve habitat for pronghorn antelope and other wildlife, as well as enhance the boundary of the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in northern Nevada.
Volunteers removed 10 miles of unnecessary [...]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking comments until June 30, 2009 regarding the creation of El Toro National Wildlife Refuge in Orange County, California. But not all is smooth with the creation of the refuge. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council:

In 2001, a portion of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air [...]

The Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada will finally open to the public for one day a week (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays), thanks to volunteers who are pitching in at the understaffed refuge.
The Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge was established September 10, 1979 to secure [...]

On December 29, 2008, The Fresno Bee in California reported that a 10-year extension is being sought on an agreement that has allowed toxic water to flow through San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.
The San Luis NWR includes over 26,600 acres of wetlands, riparian forests, native grasslands and vernal pools. The refuge is a major wintering [...]