Unlike many agencies the Fish and Wildlife Service is the target of increases not cuts in the budget proposed by President Obama's administration.
US Fish and Wildlife
A closer look reveals cuts to some programs and large increases to others reflecting the areas of heightened importance under what is turning out to be one of the most wild animal friendly administrations in a long time.
Kit Fox Photo courtesy of Colorado Division of Wildlife
IUCN Details on vulnerability, range, population, habitat,etc, of kit fox
$1.7 billion, with an additional $1 billion in what is called "permanent appropriations". I think that extra $1 billion sounds like funds from that Pittman/Robertson money from hunters and shooters, the folks who fund most wildlife projects in the US.
If I had to describe the overall direction of the spending changes I'd say priorities are being directed towards force multipliers, and cuts are to deadwood.
One big winner is the America's Great Outdoors Initiative an attempt to connect conservation with local and community groups, individuals, and businesses. In our mostly urban living population, too often observing wildlife is a pastime of those with the time and means to travel long distances. Re engaging the American Public with wildlife, the outdoors, and conservation is not only good for the public but maybe a reduction of our carbon footprint as people learn we don't have to fly or drive to interact with nature.
Youth In The Great Outdoors, to educate and encourage careers in conservation to people of all backgrounds.
Also renewable energy development and a phrase I hear again and again, "collaborative landscape-scale biological planning and conservation design" translated I think they mean planning for entire ecosystems rather than focusing on one species or area within that system.
Adaptive Science, to make better science based decisions using "risk and vulnerability assessments, conduct inventory and monitoring, develop population and habitat assessments and models, design conservation measures". (Sounds like science to me)
An increase in funds for processing Endangered Species Petitions. The Service has received more petitions for Endangered Species designation in the last 3 years than the entire 30 years previously. The program is strained and exceeds it's capacity to deliver resolution.
And finally in a move sure to warm the hearts of seaweed huggers everywhere a shift in funds for mitigating the coastal impact of oil development from the Minerals Mangement Service of Deepwater Horizon fame, to the Fish and Wildlife as they might well be better suited to managing the program.
Wapiti in Winter from Colorado Division of Wildlife
Losers are administrative spending "non esential departmental spending" (fun money), fish hatcheries Fish and wildlife was providing fish to mitigate damage from other programs which might be better paid for by the other programs. I'm not sure I can get behind the idea of hatchery fish for fishing anyway. Shouldn't we only take from an ecosystem in sustainable levels? National Wildlife Refuges. Funds from Hunters and Shooters provide lots of funds to refuges to say nothing of all the funds refuges produce on their own.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. They are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for their scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on thier work and the people who make it happen, visit
US Fish and Wildlife Service