FWS Seeks Comments on Export Program for Furbearing Species

The Fish and Wildlife Service seeks comments on a draft risk assessment (here) it has prepared in connection with a review of its Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Export Program for furbearing species, it said (here). FWS is proposing to continue unchanged its export program, which requires tagging of skins of bobcat, river otter, Canada lynx, gray wolf and brown bear to be exported from the U.S. The agency is also considering several alternatives to the current approach, including an end to tagging requirements, no longer permitting export of furbearing species taken from the wild, and terminating state and tribe programs approved by FWS. Comments are due April 10.