Fish and Wildlife Service

The United States Department of Interior has designated Wednesday as a fee-free day for public lands to commemorate the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act, which is aimed at addressing the historically underfunded, multi-billion-dollar deferred maintenance backlog at national parks and public lands. In celebration of this achievement, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt announced that … Continued

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources opened online registration for the state’s 14th annual regulated alligator hunts on Tuesday. Registration must be completed by 8 a.m. on July 10. A total of 260 Alligator Possession Tags will be distributed among five hunting zones. The administrative fee to apply for an Alligator Possession Tag … Continued

This past week, I had the pleasure of visiting many fine farmers and foresters throughout Southwest Alabama to learn more about the incredible work they do on a daily basis. This was part of my annual “Ag Matters” agricultural tour, which brings me to farms and forests in each of the six counties that make … Continued

Tuesday, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, announced that the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Decatur was awarded $5.443 million as part of the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fiscal Year 2018 construction projects operating plan. “Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge plays a key role in helping to protect, manage, and restore lands and waters throughout North Alabama,” … Continued

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter On Thursday, October 23, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Montgomery announced 18 indictments against two South African nationals, Dawie Groenewald, 46, and his brother, Janneman Groenewald, 44, and their company Valinor Trading CC (doing business as: Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris). The pair were charged with conspiracy, Lacey Act … Continued

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has issued a press release to announce that the nine whooping cranes that wintered in the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Decatur, Alabama left to go on their Spring Migration on April 12th.  The nine cranes are flying unassisted this time … Continued

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama sturgeon is an endangered species according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).  The USFWS is seeking public comment on the draft recovery plan for the Alabama sturgeon. The USFWS is asking the public, business community, and local, state, and federal governments to make comments about … Continued

By Brandon MoseleyAlabama Political Reporter  In a press release, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the federal agency had listed two freshwater mussels – the rayed bean and the snuffbox – as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.  The two mussels are found in river systems in the eastern United States.  The … Continued