Natural Resources Conservation Service
May 28, 2021
The National Cattlemen s Beef Association and Public Lands Council expressed opposition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service s decision to move forward with Endangered Species Act designations for the Lesser Prairie Chicken.
The FWS decision designates two distinct population segments (DPS) of the species. The Northern DPS covering southeastern Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and the northeast Texas panhandle will list birds as threatened. The Southern DPS covering New Mexico and the southwest Texas panhandle will list the species as endangered.
Unfortunately, the decision to implement restrictive ESA protections for the species after a decades-long conservation partnership directly disincentives continuation of effective, public-private conservation partnerships. Ninety-five percent of the lesser prairie chicken s habitat is privately owned, making collaboration with agricultural producers pivotal to the r
2021 Cooperative Research Unit Recognition Awards
Cooperative Research Units Recognition Awards Release Date:
May 6, 2021
These awards represent significant achievement in the CRU Program. We congratulate the recipients for their scientific excellence, and service to the program, to their cooperators, and to natural resource conservation.
The Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) has awarded the Administrative Excellence Award to Kimmie Takaki, Business Manager for the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Kimmie is recognized for her outstanding performance in 2020 and for exceptional service to the Unit, the Wyoming Unit’s cooperators, and the CRU National Program.
Dr. John D. Thompson, Deputy Chief, CRU – Service Award