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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Yesterday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it is proposing to list the rusty patched bumble bee (<i>Bombus affinis</i>) as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed rule is published in the Federal Register today (9/22). This will be the first bee to gain protection in the continental United States, and is fantastic news that caps several years work by Xerces staff and our partners. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">To read the story of this bee and the work to protect it, see <a href="http://xerces.org/rustypatched">http://xerces.org/rustypatched</a> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">There is also an article on the Xerces blog that gives more in-depth information about the threats facing the rusty patched bumble bee as well as the years of citizen science effort and the many collaborators that helped build the evidence base that informed the ESA petition:<a href="http://www.xerces.org/blog/usfws-esa-protection-rusty-patched/">http://www.xerces.org/blog/usfws-esa-protection-rusty-patched/</a> <b></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The USFWS decision was in response to an ESA petition submitted by the Xerces Society in 2013, which was written by Xerces staff, Dr. Robbin Thorp, and Dr. Elaine Evans, and based upon research by many scientists, including Dr. Sydney Cameron and Dr. Sheila Colla. Lawyers from the Natural Resources Defense Council subsequently represented the Xerces Society; their work led to a settlement agreement that compelled the USFWS to reach a decision. In addition, we thank Dr. Leif Richardson for his work compiling a database of specimen records, and the valuable input from Dr. Paul Williams and other scientists in the IUCN Bumblebee Specialist Group that led to the IUCN Red List assessment for <i>Bombus affinis</i> (<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/44937399/0">http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/44937399/0</a>). This was submitted to the USFWS, and may have helped to provide evidence for this decision. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">We also want to recognize the inspiring work of photographer Clay Bolt and videographer Neil Losin, whose collaboration on the beautiful film “A Ghost in the Making” (<a href="http://www.rustypatched.com/the-film/">http://www.rustypatched.com/the-film/</a>) led to great publicity for the plight of the rusty patched bumble bee. This film also sparked interest in a petition that was signed by over 128,000 people urging the USFWS to protect the bumble bee.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">In case you still want to read more about today’s action by the USFWS:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">FROM: Reuters</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Rusty patched bumble bee proposed for U.S. endangered species status</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-bumblebee-idUSKCN11R2TI">http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-bumblebee-idUSKCN11R2TI</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">FROM: Christian Science Monitor</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Could putting a bumble bee on the endangered list save it?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2016/0922/Could-putting-a-bumble-bee-on-the-endangered-list-save-it">http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2016/0922/Could-putting-a-bumble-bee-on-the-endangered-list-save-it</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">FROM: Federal Register, today’s publication of the proposed rule</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/09/22/2016-22799/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-endangered-species-status-for-rusty-patched-bumble-bee">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/09/22/2016-22799/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-endangered-species-status-for-rusty-patched-bumble-bee</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">And finally, if you were wondering about the comment at the top about the rusty patched bumble bee being the first bee in the continental US to be protected, the first bees to gain protection under the ESA are a group of seven species of Hawaiian <i>Hylaeus</i> (yellow faced) bees. These were also listed as the result of a petition from the Xerces Society: <a href="http://www.xerces.org/2015/09/30/seven-native-hawaiian-pollinators-proposed-as-endangered-species/">http://www.xerces.org/2015/09/30/seven-native-hawaiian-pollinators-proposed-as-endangered-species/</a>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Matthew</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">----------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Matthew Shepherd</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Communications Director</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><img border="0" width="128" height="48" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D214B1.A845A870" alt="Xerces-logo-CMYK-email_Outlook"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Protecting the Life That Sustains Us</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Connect: <a href="http://www.xerces.org/">www.xerces.org</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/xerces.society/">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/xercessociety">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/xercessociety/?hl=en">Instagram</a> <a href="http://www.xerces.org/blog/">Blog</a> <a href="https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001HTk7N6nZumLPinBr8VACbNdTXCe732bGu6KpqC13JAKPti_HBe5xyr7t0p4mDfKe2dOsd-TB1qvv772s6GQfVa_SbKKfwBiwl4blH4KvCjq4dpmA2M9UNZ2axlQwu_1Gvjrl2Rb53WUZwsddwCzyorgxedLAaMy3">E-newsletter</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">628 NE Broadway, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97232, USA</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Office: (503) 232-6639 x110</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Cell: (503) 807-1577</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><a href="mailto:matthew.shepherd@xerces.org">matthew.shepherd@xerces.org</a> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></body></html>