Notice2026-01250
Endangered Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Permit Applications
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service
Abstract
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications for a permit to conduct scientific research to promote conservation or other activities intended to recover and enhance endangered species survival. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits certain activities that may impact endangered species, unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 15 (Friday, January 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2947-2951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01250]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-ES-2025-N037; FXES11130200000-256-FF02ENEH00]
Endangered Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Permit Applications
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to
comment on the following applications for a permit to conduct
scientific research to promote conservation or other activities
intended to recover and enhance endangered species survival. With some
exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits certain
activities that may impact endangered species, unless a Federal permit
allows such activity. The ESA also requires that we invite public
comment before issuing these permits.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please submit your written comments by
February 23, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Document availability: Request documents from the contact in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
Comment submission: Submit comments by email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b1d7c683eec5d4eec1d4c3dcd8c5c2f1d7c6c29fd6dec7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0d6c782efc4d5efc0d5c2ddd9c4c3f0d6c7c39ed7dfc6">[email protected]</span></a>. Please specify the permit application you are
interested in by number (e.g., Permit Record No. PER1234567).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Boyer, Acting Supervisor,
Environmental Review Division, by phone at 737-932-1341, or via email
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#167d77627f734974796f73645670616538717960"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d161c091418221f1204180f3d1b0a0e531a120b">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals in the United States who are deaf,
deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711
(TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services.
Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services
offered within their country to make
[[Page 2948]]
international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), prohibits activities that
constitute take of listed species unless a Federal permit is issued
that allows such activity. The ESA's definition of ``take'' includes
hunting, shooting, harming, wounding, or killing, and also such
activities as pursuing, harassing, trapping, capturing, or collecting.
The ESA and our implementing regulations in the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) at title 50, part 17, provide for issuing such
permits and require that we invite public comment before issuing
permits for activities involving listed species.
A recovery permit we issue under the ESA, section 10(a)(1)(A),
authorizes the permittee to conduct activities with endangered or
threatened species for scientific purposes that promote recovery or
enhance the species' propagation or survival. These activities often
include such prohibited actions as capture and collection. Our
regulations implementing section 10(a)(1)(A) for these permits are
found at 50 CFR 17.22 for endangered wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.32 for
threatened wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.62 for endangered plant species,
and 50 CFR 17.72 for threatened plant species.
Permit Applications Available for Review and Comment
Documents and other information submitted with these applications
are available for review by any party who submits a request as
specified in ADDRESSES. Our release of documents is subject to Privacy
Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552)
requirements.
Proposed activities in the following permit requests are for the
recovery and enhancement of propagation or survival of the species in
the wild. We invite local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies and the
public to submit written data, views, or arguments with respect to
these applications. The comments and recommendations that will be most
useful and likely to influence agency decisions are those supported by
quantitative information or studies. Please refer to the permit record
number when submitting comments.
Table 1--Permit Applications
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Permit record No. Applicant Species Location Activity Type of take Permit action
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PER23398797.............. U.S. Fish and Ocelot (Leopardus Ohio, Texas........ Captive Harass, harm....... New.
Wildlife Service, pardalis). propagation, bio-
Region 2/Ocelot sample.
Recovery; Alpine,
Arizona.
PER23398796.............. Bruhns, Wanda; Southwestern willow Arizona, Presence/absence Harass, harm....... New.
Flagstaff, Arizona. flycatcher California, surveys, nest
(Empidonax Colorado, New monitoring.
traillii extimus). Mexico, Nevada,
Texas, Utah.
PER23188967.............. Norris, Thomas; Golden-cheeked Texas.............. Presence/absence Harass, harm....... New.
Kyle, Texas. warbler (Setophaga surveys.
chrysoparia).
PER23249867.............. Choctaw Nation of Gray bat (Myotis Oklahoma........... Presence/absence Harass, harm, New.
Oklahoma; Durant, grisescens), surveys, bio- capture.
Oklahoma. Indiana bat sample.
(Myotis sodalis),
northern long-
eared bat (Myotis
septentrionalis).
PER22884850.............. Jenkerson, Jeffrey; Texas hornshell Arkansas, Missouri, Presence/absence Harass, harm, Amend.
San Marcos, Texas. (Popenaias New Mexico, surveys, capture.
popeii), Ouachita Oklahoma, Texas. relocations, trap.
rock pocketbook
(Arcidens
wheeleri), Neosho
mucket (Lampsilis
rafinesqueana),
scaleshell mussel
(Leptodea
leptodon), winged
mapleleaf
(Quadrula
fragosa), dunes
sagebrush lizard
(Sceloporus
arenicolus).
PER21892107.............. Vidal, Amanda; Golden-cheeked Texas.............. Presence/absence Harass, harm....... New.
Leander, Texas. warbler (Setophaga surveys.
chrysoparia).
PER21921910.............. Lewis, Chancey; Houston toad (Bufo Texas.............. Presence/absence Harass, harm....... Renew.
Cameron, Texas. houstonensis). surveys.
PER21485967.............. Allira, Meagan; Gray bat (Myotis Oklahoma........... Presence/absence Harass, harm, New.
Norman, Oklahoma. grisescens), surveys. capture.
Indiana bat
(Myotis sodalis).
PER21344773.............. Edwards, Christine; Texas trailing Texas.............. Presence/absence Harm, collect...... Renew.
St. Louis, phlox (Phlox surveys,
Missouri. nivalis ssp. collection.
Texensis).
PER21344774.............. Tetra Tech, Inc.-- Southwestern willow Arizona............ Presence/absence Harass, harm....... Amend.
Tucson; Tucson, flycatcher surveys.
Arizona. (Empidonax
traillii extimus).
PER21266468.............. Frey, Jennifer; New Mexico meadow Arizona, Colorado, Presence/absence Harass, harm, New.
Radium Springs, jumping mouse New Mexico. surveys, trap, capture.
New Mexico. (Zapus hudsonius capture, handle,
luteus), Penasco tag, bio-sample.
least chipmunk
(Tamias minimus
atristriatus).
PER21344775.............. Leonard, Wendy; Golden-cheeked Texas.............. Presence/absence Harass, harm....... Renew.
Helotes, Texas. warbler (Setophaga surveys.
chrysoparia).
PER21339358.............. Brown and Gay Golden-cheeked Colorado, Kansas, Presence/absence Harass, harm....... Renew.
Engineers, Inc.; warbler (Setophaga New Mexico, surveys,.
Frisco, Texas. chrysoparia), Oklahoma, Texas.
lesser prairie-
chicken
(Tympanuchus
pallidicinctus),
dunes sagebrush
lizard (Sceloporus
arenicolus),
Houston toad (Bufo
houstonensis).
[[Page 2949]]
PER21344776.............. Dallas Zoo Dunes sagebrush Texas.............. Hold, handle, Harass, harm, Renew/amend.
Management, Inc.; lizard (Sceloporus captive rearing, capture.
Dallas, Texas. arenicolus), captive
Houston toad (Bufo propagation,
houstonensis), headstarting,
Barton Springs captive breeding,
salamander educational
(Eurycea sosorum), display,
Texas blind reintroduction.
salamander
(Eurycea rathbuni).
PER21894441.............. Hawks Aloft, Inc.; Southwestern willow New Mexico......... Presence/absence Harass, harm....... Renew.
Albuquerque, New flycatcher surveys.
Mexico. (Empidonax
traillii extimus).
PER20350238.............. Morrison, Michael; Golden-cheeked Texas.............. Presence/absence Harass, harm, Renew.
Bishop, California. warbler (Setophaga surveys, band, capture.
chrysoparia). trap, handle, nest
search, camera
monitoring,.
PER20678521.............. Forstner, Michael; Houston toad (Bufo Texas.............. Presence/absence Harass, harm, Renew/amend.
Seguin, Texas. houstonensis), surveys, bio- capture, kill.
Barton Springs sample,
salamander headstarting,
(Eurycea sosorum), reintroduction,
Austin blind translocation,
salamander capture, voucher
(Eurycea specimen, captive
waterlooensis), propagation.
fountain darter
(Etheostoma
fonticola).
PER20350987.............. Terrell, Danielle; Golden-cheeked Texas.............. Presence/absence Harass, harm....... Amend.
Austin, Texas. warbler (Setophaga surveys.
chrysoparia).
PER20285322.............. Borstein, Samuel; Leon Springs Texas.............. Capture, trap, Harass, harm, New.
San Marcos, Texas. pupfish euthanize, bio- capture, kill.
(Cyprinodon sample, voucher
bovinus), Comanche specimen, DNA
Springs pupfish sequencing.
(Cyprinodon
elegans), fountain
darter (Etheostoma
fonticola), Big
Bend gambusia
(Gambusia gaigei),
Clear Creek
gambusia (Gambusia
heterochir), Pecos
gambusia (Gambusia
nobilis), peppered
chub (Macrhybopsis
tetranema),
smalleye shiner
(Notropis
buccula),
sharpnose shiner
(Notropis
oxyrhynchus).
PER22885812.............. Henson, Jeremy; Pink mucket Arkansas........... Presence/absence Harass, harm, Amend.
Round Rock, Texas. (Lampsilis surveys. capture.
abrupta), fat
pocketbook
(Potamilus capax).
PER20370275.............. Joint Base San Golden-cheeked Texas.............. Presence/absence Harass, harm, Renew.
Antonio; Camp warbler (Setophaga surveys, handle, capture.
Bullis, Texas. chrysoparia). band.
PER20284844.............. Buckingham, Houston toad (Bufo Texas.............. Presence/absence Harass, harm....... New.
Matthew; Lufkin, houstonensis), Surveys, salvage.
Texas. Guadalupe
fatmucket
(Lampsilis
bergmanni), Texas
fatmucket
(Lampsilis
bracteate),
Guadalupe orb
(Cyclonaias
necki), Texas
pimpleback
(Cyclonaias
petrina), Balcones
spike (Fusconaia
iheringi), false
spike (Fusconaia
mitchelli), Texas
hornshell
(Popenaias popeii).
PER21344777.............. Sonoran Institute; Gila topminnow Arizona............ Presence/absence Harass, harm, Renew.
Tucson, Arizona. (Poeciliopsis surveys, voucher capture, kill.
occidentalis). specimen.
[[Page 2950]]
Texas State Barton Springs Texas.............. Presence/absence Harass, harm, Renew.
University; San salamander surveys, harry, capture, kill.
Marcos, Texas. (Eurycea sosorum), herd, handle,
Austin blind trap, voucher
salamander specimen.
(Eurycea
waterlooensis),
Texas blind
salamander
(Eurycea
rathbuni),
fountain darter
(Etheostoma
fonticola), Comal
Springs riffle
beetle (Heterelmis
comalensis), Comal
Springs dryopid
beetle
(Stygoparnus
comalensis),
Peck's Cave
amphipod
(Stygobromus
pecki), diamond
tryonia
(Pseudotryonia
adamantina),
Gonzales tryonia
(Tryonia
circumstriata),
phantom tryonia
(Tryonia
cheatumi), phantom
springsnail
(Pyrgulopsis
texana), Pecos
amphipod (Gammarus
pecos), Pecos
assiminea snail
(Assiminea pecos),
diminutive
amphipod (Gammarus
hyalleloides),
Coffin Cave mold
beetle (Batrisodes
texanus), ground
beetle (Rhadine
exilis), ground
beetle (Rhadine
infernalis),
Helotes mold
beetle (Batrisodes
venyivi),
Kretschmarr Cave
mold beetle
(Texamaurops
reddelli), Tooth
Cave ground beetle
(Rhadine
persephone),
Cokendolpher cave
harvestman
(Texella
cokendolpheri),
Robber Baron Cave
meshweaver
(Cicurina
baronia), Madla
Cave meshweaver
(Cicurina madla),
Govermnment Canyon
Bat Cave
meshweaver
(Cicurina
vespera),
Government Canyon
Bat Cave spider
(Tayshaneta
microps), Tooth
Cave spider
(Tayshaneta
myopica), Tooth
Cave
pseudoscorpion
(Tartarocreagris
texana), Bee Creek
Cave harvestman
(Texella
reddelli), Bone
Cave harvestman
(Texella reyesi),.
PER20454959.............. Kutz, Julie; Southwestern willow New Mexico......... Presence/absence Harass, harm....... New.
Albuquerque, New flycatcher surveys.
Mexico. (Empidonax
traillii extimus).
PER22242412.............. USDA Forest Southwestern willow New Mexico......... Presence/absence Harass, harm....... Renew/amend.
Service--Carson flycatcher surveys.
National Forest; (Empidonax
Taos, New Mexico. traillii extimus).
PER20454960.............. Bureau of Land Black-footed ferret New Mexico......... Presence/absence Harass, harm, New.
Management, Taos (Mustela surveys, trap, capture.
Field Office; nigripes), New nest monitoring.
Taos, New Mexico. Mexico meadow
jumping mouse
(Zapus hudsonius
luteus),
southwestern
willow flycatcher
(Empidonax
traillii extimus).
PER20735572.............. U.S. Bureau of Wildlife: Desert Arizona, New Mexico Presence/absence Harass, harm, New.
Reclamation--Phoen pupfish surveys, nest capture, kill.
ix; Glendale, (Cyprinodon monitoring, hold,
Arizona. macularius), Gila voucher specimen.
chub (Gila
intermedia),
spikedace (Meda
fulgida), woundfin
(Plagopterus
argentissimus),
Gila topminnow
(Poeciliopsis
occidentalis),
Colorado
pikeminnow
(Ptychocheilus
lucius), Yuma
Ridgway's rail
(Rallus obsoletus
yumanensis), loach
minnow (Tiaroga
cobitis),
razorback sucker
(Xyrauchen
texanus),
southwestern
willow flycatcher
(Empidonax
traillii extimus);
Plants: Pima
pineapple cactus
(Coryphantha
scheeri var.
robustispina).
PER21273610.............. Texas State Ocelot (Leopardus Texas.............. Transport, Harass, harm, Amend.
Aquarium; Corpus pardalis). rehabilitation. capture.
Christi, Texas.
PER23567771.............. Nueces County Hawksbill sea Texas.............. Hold, handle, tag, Harass, harm, Amend.
Coastal Parks; turtle nest searching, capture.
Corpus Christi, (Eretmochelys egg collection,
Texas. imbricata), Kemp's transport, captive
ridley sea turtle incubation.
(Lepidochelys
kempii),
leatherback sea
turtle
(Dermochelys
coriacea).
[[Page 2951]]
PER21593741.............. ACI Environmental Texas hornshell New Mexico, Texas.. Presence/absence Harass, harm....... Amend.
Consulting; (Popenaias surveys,
Austin, Texas. popeii), Texas relocations.
fatmucket
(Lampsilis
bracteate).
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Public Availability of Comments
All comments we receive become part of the public record associated
with this action. Requests for copies of comments will be handled in
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, National Environmental
Policy Act, and Service and Department of the Interior policies and
procedures. Before including your address, phone number, email address,
or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should
be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us to withhold your personal identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. All
submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations
or businesses, will be made available for public disclosure in their
entirety.
Authority
We provide this notice under section 10 of the Endangered Species
Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Leston Jacks,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-01250 Filed 1-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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