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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Fish & Wildlife News US Fish & Wildlife Service January 1999 Fish & Wildlife News: January/February 1999 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/fwnews Part of the Animal Sciences Commons "Fish & Wildlife News: January/February 1999" (1999). Fish & Wildlife News. 6. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/fwnews/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the US Fish & Wildlife Service at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Fish & Wildlife News by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Fish & Wildlife News January/February 1999 Anne Badgley in as Region 1 RD 2 Interior Plans 150th Bashes Year-Round 9 Fighting Invasives in the Ohio River 16 Service Releases More Mexican Wolves 4 Bringing the Hatchery to the Volunteers 10 Hollywood Comes to a Refuge 18 LE Busts Coral Smuggling Ring 5 Cranes Draw Crowds in New Mexico 11 Rare Fish Makes a Comeback 23 Service Embraces Migratory Bird Initiatives 6 Tribute to Region 1 Employees Killed on Duty 12 Student Leaders Take D.C. by Storm 26 A New Concept in Beef 8 Team Implements Ecosystem Approach 15 2 Anne Badgley Position Changes Steps in as Pacific in Washington Regional Director External Affairs Badgley most recently served as assistant regional director for external affairs in Region 1. She came to the Service in 1996 after serving as chief of staff for the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. Badgley also worked as the primary environmental and natural resources aide and legislative assistant to former Senator Brock Adams of Washington state, and as deputy director of congressional and intergovernmental affairs for the Department of the Interior. She practiced law as an environmental attorney for Seattle-based firm Perkins Coie in its Washington, D.C., office. A native of Seattle, Badgley holds a master’s in business administration from the University of California in Los Angeles Pacific Regional Director Anne Badgley. and a law degree from the University Assistant Director for External Affairs Tom Photo by Tami Heilemann/DOI. of Washington. While there, she was Melius. Photo by Tami Heilemann/DOI. editor-in-chief of the Law Review and was honored as the National Association of Anne Badgley is the new regional director Women Lawyers’ outstanding law graduate. Service Welcomes New AD for External Affairs for the six-state Pacific region. She also has experience in radio and Tom Melius is the Service’s new assistant television news. director for external affairs. “Anne has a strong background in natural resource management and knows western “These credentials, coupled with her Melius is the former director of conservation issues well,” Director Jamie Rappaport background in natural resources policy and a senior advisor at the National Clark said. “In addition, Anne has a management have provided her with Fish and Wildlife Foundation. reputation as a creative and innovative a strong foundation for assuming the leader. I believe she will be an excellent responsibilities of regional director,” “Tom’s experience with legislative issues, addition to the agency’s management, and Clark said. public relations activities, and federal I look forward to working closely with her grant-making programs both with the in supporting the mission of the Service.” Foundation and on congressional committees, makes him a natural to head the External Affairs office and a solid addition to the Service,” said Director Jamie Rappaport Clark. On the cover: Mussel in peril. Service biologist Janet Butler displays two zebra mussel-encrusted native mussels taken from the Ohio River (see story on page 16). Zebra mussels and other invasive species are responsible for the deaths of many thousands of native species each year. Photo by Eric Eckl. 3 Prior to working at the Foundation, Melius Million Named Partnership Coordinator Among the many media campaigns Million served as a senior staff member on the Phil Million, Service Public Affairs head supervised were the book, film, and news Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, since 1984, has given up the daily fire drills of coverage for the 50th anniversary of the and Transportation, managing legislation Public Affairs to become the special assistant Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid program; a involving oceans and fishery-related issues. for Conservation Partnerships, a new major outreach campaign on the effect of Before that he was a staff member on the position located in External Affairs in the drought on duck populations and the need House Committee on Merchant Marine and Washington Office. for duck harvest restrictions; and press Fisheries, where he advised members on fish coverage of the reintroduction of gray wolves and wildlife-related legislation that included In his new position, Million is working to in the Yellowstone ecosystem. migratory waterfowl and the federal Duck re-energize the Service’s partnership Stamp program, federal aid activities and agreements with constituent groups, and will Million served as assistant director for endangered species. also be focusing on the Service’s role in the Public Affairs beginning in 1984 and later newly-funded outreach campaign for sport became chief of Public Affairs when the Melius also worked as an assistant director fishing and boating, established under the Assistant Director for External Affairs for the National Rifle Association in auspices of the Sport Fishing and Boating position was created. Washington, D.C., supervising the group’s Partnership Council. hunting information, awards and education Stepping into the Public Affairs chief program, and working extensively with state “Phil’s legacy to the Service from his years in position is Megan Durham, who most fish and wildlife agencies. He began his Public Affairs is substantial,” said Mike recently served as the National Outreach career as a wildlife biologist in Pennsylvania Smith, Deputy Assistant Director for Coordinator. Durham will oversee the Media at Nemacolin Trails Hunting Reserve. External Affairs. “For those who were not Services, Broadcast and Audiovisual, and here 15 or 20 years ago, it is hard to imagine Printing and Publications offices located in Melius has served as a congressional advisor the advances that have been made in the the Main Interior Building. Before becoming to a variety of international U.S. delegations, Service’s awareness and understanding of the Service’s outreach coordinator Durham including the delegations to the Convention the importance of good public affairs work to served as deputy chief of Public Affairs and on International Trade in Endangered our conservation mission. Phil helped the as chief of the office of Current Information Species of Wild Threatened Fauna and Service understand why public affairs was (now Media Services). Flora, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands important, and his skill and credibility with and the U.N. Conference on the the news media helped the Service gain Durham’s 25-year career with the Service Environment and Development. public understanding during numerous includes public affairs support for all Service crises. He also supervised the production of programs and the North American A native of South Dakota, Melius received a the Service’s major videos, ran a professional Waterfowl Management Plan, as well as 2 bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology and a printing operation, and established strong years as an editorial assistant for technical master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries public affairs staff support for programs. research publications in the former science from South Dakota State University. Research Division. “Perhaps his most important legacy,” Smith contended, “is the sound reputation and Rachel F. Levin, Public Affairs, credibility of the Service’s public affairs Washington, DC operation among the nation’s news media.” 4 Mexican Wolf Program Pushes On Workshop Targets Marine Invertebrate Trade Biologists moved two groups of Mexican Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt assisted wolves into acclimation pens in the Apache Service biologists in transferring the female National Forest in mid-January, while the wolf to the Campbell Blue pen. four remaining wolves from the first reintroduction last year were released into “My presence here is to say the lobo is here the forest with markings intended to help to stay. We will do whatever is necessary to hunters distinguish them from coyotes. ensure its success,” said Babbitt. Service and Arizona Game and Fish Of eleven wolves, released as part of an Department biologists transported five experimental, nonessential population, only wolves from Ted Turner’s Ladder Ranch in these four remain in the wild. Biologists southern New Mexico to the Engineer captured four other wolves and returned Springs acclimation pen, and shortly after them to Sevilleta NWR in New Mexico. moved four wolves from Sevilleta NWR to Five wolves were apparently shot, including the Turkey Creek pen. the mother of the first Mexican wolf pup born in the wild in more than 25 years. Making a match. Service Special Agent Each of the two new groups consists of a Consequently, it is presumed, the pup is DeMarion McKinney practices coral family of wolves bred in captivity; adults dead too. identification during a workshop field trip were held at the facilities for 12 to 14 months to a coral importer’s warehouse. Photo by and offspring