conservation

The plains spotted skunk received good news from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week. The Service finds there is a viable population species in its range and that it is not at risk of extinction.

A conservation group focused on rivers is asking Oklahomans to keep an eye out for small black caterpillars and the yellowish-brown adult beetles that defoliate invasive tamarisk trees, also known as saltcedar.

Oklahoma has managed to restore nearly 100 unhealthy streams — more than any other state. Oklahoma officials say credit is due to individual farmers and the conservation programs that support them.

The move was cheered by locals and environmentalists who said the declaration will preserve history and create outdoor opportunities for border residents in West Texas.

A new study shows a threefold increase in Midwest farm acres using the offseason crops to help protect the soil and reduce runoff, but it still makes up less than 8% of all farmland.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture spent $7.4 billion dollars on two of its conservation programs in recent years, but a report from an environmental group found a very small percentage of that money went to practices that help fight climate change.

It’s the time of year when Monarch butterflies migrate through the Midwest, and butterfly tagging events are held nearly every weekend. However, these events have bigger goals than just collecting data.

Farmers can use far less chemical fertilizer — which can be expensive and harmful to the environment — and maintain high crop yields, according to a new study.

Conservationists say habitat loss and climate change have led to a decline in the number of monarchs over the past three decades.

The National Audubon Society is taking a market-based approach to conservation. Its “bird-friendly beef” certification program proposes to measure ecosystem health by using birds as a metric.