From: E&E News
“Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, declared today that the FWS refuge reinforcements could compound risks for wildlife if hunting access increases even as Endangered Species Act consultations on incidental take of wildlife cease."Our Fish and Wildlife Service prioritizing hunting above wildlife protection is troubling, to say the least," Ruch said. "Our national investment in protecting our most vulnerable wildlife may be forfeit by cessation of monitoring during an extended shutdown, thus placing endangered species in further jeopardy."”