US Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife

Draft Recovery Plan Available for Pearl River Map Turtle

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a draft recovery plan for the Pearl River map turtle (Graptemys pearlensis), a freshwater turtle listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2024. The plan focuses on habitat conservation and restoration, threat reduction, population growth, research on reproductive biology and ecological needs, and increased public awareness. The Service is seeking review and comment from local, state, and federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public until May 22, 2026.

FWS Awards $6.6M to 35 Tribes for Wildlife Conservation

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is awarding $6.6 million to 35 federally recognized Native American and Alaska Native tribes across 15 states for conservation projects under the Tribal Wildlife Grants program. Nine of the awarded proposals went to tribes that have never received Tribal Wildlife Grants funds before. Since 2003, the program has awarded more than $131 million supporting 732 conservation projects, with over 100 million acres of habitat influenced or managed by 575 federally recognized tribes. Projects include salmon monitoring, Apache trout recovery, Roosevelt elk habitat restoration, fisher population research, green crab removal, and lake whitefish reintroduction.

Nina Liang, 17, Texas, Wins 2026 National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest

Nina Liang, 17, of Texas won the 2026 National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest with an oil painting of a blue-winged teal pair titled 'Sailors of Mustard Algae.' The winning artwork will appear on the 2026-2027 Junior Duck Stamp, which raises funds for youth wildlife and wetlands conservation education programs. Second place went to Jisun Yoon, 14, of New Jersey; third place to Thora Larson, 14, of South Dakota; and the Conservation Message Contest was won by Iris Lovett, 13, of Wisconsin. The program sold approximately 3,000 Junior Duck Stamps at $5 each in the prior year.