Examines scientific and technical issues related to determining risks to endangered species and calls for federal agencies with responsibilities for protecting these species to develop common assessment approaches.  From the National Research Council

Examines the use of vaccines in livestock in Great Britain and outlines the pros and cons of using vaccination in livestock. From the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

Online tool for locating species in the U.S. and its territories.  Offers more than 100 million mapped records of nearly every living species nationwide.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

Provides a framework for natural resource managers and other partners to conserve species in view of major climate change.  Based upon seven climate adaptation goals.  From the Fish and Wildlife Service and other partners.

The surge in gun sales following the Newtown school massacre and renewed legislative efforts at gun control have resulted in increases in funds for wildlife conservation from the excise tax on guns and ammunition sales. This report examines these taxes, their allocation, and their use.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Describes how trafficking in great apes is now part of organized crime’s multi-billion dollar global trade.  From the United Nations Environment Programme

Describes how the African elephant population is being decimated by poachers engaged in illegal international ivory trading and what needs to be done to ensure its survival.  From the United Nations Environment Programme.

Reviews controversies related to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the federal agencies involved in implementing provisions of the act, the role of science in the ESA process, and how the courts have viewed agency use of science criteria. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

http://www.fs.fed.us/research/publications/gtr/gtr_wo87.pdf

Summarizes findings and management challenges about the status, trends, and projected 50 year future of forests, rangelands, wildlife and fish, biodiversity, water, outdoor recreation, wilderness and urban forests, as well as the effects of climate change upon these resources.  From the Forest Service

This report outlines the ESA provisions most relevant to the act’s impacts on private property and surveys the major ESA-relevant principles of Fifth Amendment takings law.  The report then summarizes court decisions on whether particular government actions based on the ESA “take” private property.   From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Latest in a series of five year reports on outdoors recreation, such as fishing, hunting, and wildlife w atching, the number of participants, and the economic impact.  Reports that nearly 38% of Americans participated in wildlife-related recreation in 2011, an increase of 2.6 million participants from the 2006 survey.    From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Census Bureau

Describes changes in managed and wild bee populations, provides a listing of possible factors negatively affecting managed and wild bees, and summarizes scientific research regarding the role of pesticides among the facts affecting the well-being of bees.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Discusses the reasons for amphibian decline in the U.S.   From the United States Geological Survey

Presents an updated list of plant and animal species native to the U.S. that are considered candidates for the Endangered  and Threatened  Wildlife and Plants listing.  Summarizes the status and threats to each candidate species.  Adds two new species to the list and removes three.    From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Describes the major features and controversies of the ESA as background for consideration of possible amendments in the 113^th Congress.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by National Agricultural Law Center

Explores two approaches to managing land for balancing nature conservation with sustainable food production.   From the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

Press release which announces details of proposed plan for allowing additional oil and gas development while protecting caribou herds and bird habitats in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.  The plan is scheduled to be released in November 2012.  Includes link to map of preferred alternative.  From the Interior Department

Concerns have been expressed about the impact of wind turbines on wildlife, especially birds.  There is clear evidence that bat mortality at wind turbines is of far greater conservation concern.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

The federal government and partner organizations have spent more than $6 million since 2005 to deal with Burmese pythons and other large invasive constrictor snakes in Florida.  Illustrates the costly problem of invasive species.  From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The purpose of this report is to identify and analyze the potential economic impacts of the designation of critical habitat for the northern spotted owl.  Finds that the economic impacts of the          proposed critical habitat revision will be minimal or may even have a positive impact if forestry management practices are followed that increase timber harvest.    From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Describes characteristics of treat-and-release hospital visits for animal-related injuries such as stings and bites.  From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Provides background details on an agreement between the United Egg Producers and the Humane Society of the United States to work together to craft federal legislation to regulate how U.S. table eggs are produced, the details of legislation that has emerged to date, and the controversy surrounding such legislation.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Proposed agency guidance document for voluntary compliance by prescription drug industry in restricting the use of antibiotics in animal feeds due to the growing fear about the emergence of drug-resistant germs.  From the Food and Drug Administration

These voluntary guidelines provide a structured, scientific process for addressing wildlife conservation concerns at all stages of land-based wind energy development.  The guidelines discuss various risks to species of concern from aspects of wind energy projects and are designed to minimize impacts of such projects on wildlife and their habitats.  From the Interior Department

Memorandum which outlines considerations that the Interior Department must follow in proposing areas that will provide critical habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl.  From the White House

Discusses how local food markets, the horse industry and agritourism are sparking growth in the agricultural sector of the city economy.   From the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia

Scientific article on the threat to wildlife posed by pythons in Florida.  From the National Academy of Sciences

Presents a plan for action over the next 5-10 years to identify what must be done to assist the living resources of the U.S. (plants, fish, wildlife) survive and adapt to a warming climate.  Describes how climate change is expected to affect the eight major ecosystem types in the U.S.  From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Suggests that there may be a connection between weather conditions, the flight patterns of migratory birds, and outbreaks of novel pandemic influenza strains.  From the National Academy of Sciences

Provides a uniform set of criteria for assessing the scientific necessity for using chimpanzees in biomedical and behavioral research.  Concludes that research use of animals so closely related to humans should not proceed unless it offers insights not possible with other animal models and is of sufficient value to offset the moral cost.  From the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council