Governor Mark Gordon is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to Wyoming's Executive Order 2019-3 Greater Sage Grouse Core Area Protection through July 30. The updates reflect Wyoming's commitment to state-led sage-grouse conservation strategy utilizing best-available science alongside responsible development.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) installed eight floating enclosures at Lake Harris and Little Lake Harris to promote submerged aquatic vegetation coverage. The three-year habitat restoration project supports the Harris Chain of Lakes Management Plan and provides breeding grounds and shelter for fish and wildlife species.
The National Fish Habitat Partnership and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are providing over $14.8 million to support 58 fish habitat conservation projects across 26 states in 2026. The USFWS contributes $2.7 million with partners adding $12 million, demonstrating a 5:1 federal-to-partner funding ratio for restoring habitats and improving fishing opportunities nationwide.
Jeffrey Kimbell, a longtime SCI supporter, won a hunt sweepstakes and chose to bring his three children on a full bag hunt with Venator Safaris in New Zealand. The family combined hunting with duck hunting, jet boating, skiing, and fishing, harvesting fallow deer, Arapawa rams, red stag, and tahr while creating lasting memories and experiencing conservation firsthand.
The Anti-Poaching and Landscape Protection Strategy (ALPS) has moved into pilot implementation in Mozambique's Zambezi Delta and Zambia's Lower Luano. The initiative combines wildlife protection, community engagement, and governance to combat poaching across nearly two million acres in Mozambique, with the Zambian Government pledging wildlife donations to support recovery efforts.
The USDA formally published a conservation framework on June 2 to protect migratory big game across 17 western states. NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley announced the effort at the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies meeting, focusing on habitat protection, reducing movement barriers, and improving habitat quality for elk, mule deer, and pronghorn.
Dale Light's 1994 donation created the 73-acre Mink Run Wildlife Area in Cedar County, Iowa, featuring grasslands and woodland habitat. Matt Shanklin, wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, is managing the area to develop approximately 60 acres of prairie with native hardwoods while controlling invasive species through prescribed fire rotation.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks proposes a 99-year conservation easement on the 3,652-acre Hannah Ranch in Fergus County to protect critical habitat and increase public access in the Big Snowy Mountains area. The draft environmental assessment is open for public comment through July 28, with a public meeting scheduled for July 21 in Lewistown.
Ducks Unlimited, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bass Pro Shops, and the U.S. Postal Service celebrated the first day of sale for the 2026-2027 Federal Duck Stamp on June 26 in St. Augustine, Florida. The $25 stamp has raised over $1.3 billion for habitat conservation since 1934, with 98 cents of each purchase supporting wetland protection.
Conservation and hunting leaders, including the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, Boone and Crockett Club, and the National Wild Turkey Federation, issued a joint statement emphasizing that Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation (R3) efforts are essential to hunting's future alongside public education and support.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Habitat Council allocated $3.4 million to 71 habitat restoration projects, including improvements to Canyon View Park Pond, Little Montes Wildlife Management Area, and mule deer habitat across Utah. Funds from hunting and fishing license sales support fish and wildlife conservation efforts.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources celebrated 17 graduates of the Maryland Conservation Corps at Sandy Point State Park on June 23. The members completed 9.5 months of training and conservation work, improving over 1,000 acres of public lands and 125 miles of trails while working with partner organizations including the National Aquarium in Baltimore and The Nature Conservancy.
Troy Mills Wildlife Area near Troy Mills, Iowa spans 323 acres of sand prairie, timber, and wetlands along the Wapsipinicon River. Jason Auel, wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Cedar-Wapsi Unit, highlights the area's diverse recreational opportunities including fishing, hunting, and mushroom foraging, noting it remains popular despite being overshadowed by nearby Buffalo Creek.
The Indiana Conservation Partnership announced that Hoosier farmers planted 1.58 million acres of overwinter living covers, preventing an estimated 1.79 million tons of sediment from entering Indiana's waterways. The conservation transect survey, conducted by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Indiana's Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Purdue Extension, and Earth Team volunteers, found that 70% of row crop acres were not tilled over winter.
Sixty-eight Michigan local governments earned recognition in the Michigan Green Communities Challenge for sustainability efforts, including fifty cities, eight townships, eight counties, and two villages. Certifications ranged from Bronze to Platinum, with achievements in energy efficiency, climate resilience, recycling, mobility, and environmental stewardship.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources finalized the purchase of a 50,608-acre parcel in the Book Cliffs roadless area, funded by $50 million allocated by the Utah Legislature. The property will be managed as the Book Cliffs Roadless Wildlife Management Area, providing public hunting and fishing opportunities while supporting habitat for deer, elk, bison, black bear, and Colorado River cutthroat trout.
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved a 34,610-acre conservation easement on Green Diamond Montana Timberlands LLC lands in the Thompson River drainage. The project protects wildlife habitat, provides permanent public recreation access, and allows continued sustainable timber harvest, with funding from the U.S. Forest Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust, and Trust for Public Lands.
Ducks Unlimited and partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service celebrated the restoration of 186 acres across 48 prairie potholes in Minnesota's Orange Waterfowl Production Area, representing over $1 million in conservation investments as part of DU's Living Lakes Initiative.
Yamaha Rightwaters celebrated its seventh anniversary by highlighting significant conservation achievements, including removing 264.2 tons of debris, re-establishing 155 million oysters, and engaging 31,752 students through partnerships with organizations like Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful, the Billion Oyster Project, and Ducks Unlimited.
The Kalamazoo River Cleanup Initiative on Saturday, June 20, invites families, paddlers, and fishermen to remove debris and trash from the Kalamazoo River, banks, and trails across Kalamazoo, Comstock, and Parchment. The event runs 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a celebration at Mayors Riverfront Park.