Several More States and Provinces Hit by Fatal Bat Disease

April 28, 2010–Bat losses can have major impacts on ecosystems, as they routinely consume large quantities of insects and themselves provide food and nutrients for other plants and animals. There also are economic impacts as caves close to recreational use, in an effort to combat the spread of the disease.

1 in 7 Wildlife Refuges Has Genetically Engineered Crops

March 17, 2010–Three organizations file a lawsuit against the USFWS, a new study finds three strains of GE maize likely damaged organs of rats that ate the foods for just three months, pesticide use associated with GE crops may actually be greater than for traditional crops, and GE seed prices skyrocket.

Birds: New Listings, Cutting-Edge Research, and At-Risk Assessments

March 17, 2010–For the first time in 25 years, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has updated the list of federally-protected migratory birds. The net result is the addition of 175 species, bringing the total to 1,007.

Feds Launch New Tool For Locating Endangered Species

March 17, 2010–Find out if an endangered or threatened animal or plant species lives in counties of interest to your audience, and cover it in the context of current news developments or some other at-risk-species angle.

Recovering Eagles Flock to U.S. in Winter

February 3, 2010–This a good time to report on the fate of the bald eagle; the National Wildlife Federation provides a couple of lists that pinpoint at least one spot in every state except Hawaii where the big birds can typically be found.

Feds Release New Info on Climate-Plant Connections

January 6, 2010–Research and policy discussions are focusing on both natural plant systems and domesticated ones, especially agriculture — one possible effect being shifts in water availability.

USGS Offers Early Warning On Wildlife Die-Offs

October 14, 2009–You may find a local wildlife story by keeping your eye on the US Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center which keeps constant surveillance on outbreaks of wildlife disease and posts the information online as it comes in.

Info on Rare Orchid Handled Like Nuclear Secret

August 26, 2009–The Canby's bog orchid, not seen in Maryland for 20 years, has reappeared at the Nassawango Nature Preserve. A Washington Post reporter was allowed to see and write about it, but with unusual restrictions.

Judge Orders USDA To Release Data on Wolf Program

August 26, 2009–The locations of conflicts in New Mexico and Arizona between livestock and Mexican gray wolves, which were reintroduced in 1998, will now be made public in hopes of identifying problem areas and taking preventive steps.

'Thousand Cankers' Rapidly Kills Walnuts

August 19, 2009–Yet another deadly tree disease is spreading in North America. This one, documented in 8 states so far, affects black walnuts. Early hints indicate it could also affect other, agriculturally significant walnut tree species.