Governor Kelly Appoints Chris Kennedy as Secretary of Wildlife and Parks

~~Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Secretary Brad Loveless to Formally Retire in April~~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that she has appointed Chris Kennedy as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) effective March 18, 2024. Kennedy is preceded by Secretary Brad Loveless whose tenure with the Department began in January 2019.

“I’m grateful to Secretary Loveless for his steadfast commitment to the State of Kansas and our state’s natural resources over the past five years,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I’m confident that Chris Kennedy is the steadfast leader needed to guide the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks in its next chapter.”

Born in North St. Louis, Missouri, Kennedy was introduced to natural resources at a young age, having grown up shooting, hunting, boating, and fishing. He brings nearly three decades of experience in wildlife and natural resources, beginning with his first internship out of high school at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conducting water quality and quantity research projects across Arkansas, Kansas, and Louisiana. In 1996, Kennedy joined the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), where he remained until this appointment to succeed Loveless.

While at MDC, Kennedy assisted private landowners, managed public waters, conducted public resource education, and sought to increase the agency’s ability to serve all citizens. He is perhaps most well-known for his work researching, managing, and restoring aquatic species such as alligator gar while advancing opportunities for Missouri’s youth to work with resource professionals to better manage public resources. Kennedy has also been a guest on the National Geographic Channel’s Monster Fish and Animal Planet’s River Monsters on episodes featuring the alligator gar.

“I am honored that Governor Kelly has appointed me to serve the people of Kansas in this capacity,” Chris Kennedy said. “I am delighted that my more than 30 years of experience will further strengthen the KDWP’s mission to conserve and enhance the state’s wildlife and natural resources to be enjoyed by Kansans for generations to come.”

To make the transition as smooth as possible, Secretary Loveless will assist Kennedy with integrating into the agency prior to Loveless’ formal departure in April.

“Chris has proven himself a great leader of people with an exceptional understanding of fish, wildlife, and outdoor recreation issues,” Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Secretary Brad Loveless said. “He’s very fortunate to be working with the professionals at Kansas Wildlife and Parks, and conversely, I know they will really appreciate and enjoy working with someone as capable and committed as Chris.”

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Service launches National Gray Wolf Recovery Plan

Feb 2, 2024

USFWS Public Affairs HQ

WASHINGTON — Recognizing that the national discussion around gray wolf management must look more comprehensively at conservation tools available to federal, state and Tribal governments, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a path to support a long term and durable approach to the conservation of gray wolves, to include a process to develop – for the first time – a National Recovery Plan under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for gray wolves in the lower 48 states. Today’s announcement does not make any changes to the legal status of gray wolves in the United States.

After an extensive peer-reviewed assessment using the best available science, the Service today announced a not warranted finding for two petitions to list gray wolves under the ESA in the Northern Rocky Mountains and the Western United States. This finding is not action-forcing; the legal status of gray wolves does not change as a result of this finding.

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Wake Sports Legislation

Outdoor News

Bill Moritz, Wildlife Management Institute

December 15, 2023

Legislation (LRB 5069/1) was recently introduced in Wisconsin to provide protection against wake sports activities in Wisconsin lakes. Wake boats are specially designed boats that create large wakes to allow recreationists to enjoy wake boarding and wake surfing. The larger wakes also may impact aquatic environments, shoreline erosion and private property, and public safety. The use of water as a ballast may also have the unintended consequence of spreading aquatic invasive species (AIS).

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Whitmer taps ex-Michigan Lottery commissioner to run DNR

Carol Thompson

The Detroit News

September 6, 2023

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed former Michigan Lottery Commissioner M. Scott Bowen as director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Bowen will lead the department as it undertakes “historic renovations and upgrades at state parks across Michigan,” Whitmer said in a Tuesday press release announcing Bowen’s appointment. “Together, we will leave our public lands in better shape.”

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Minnesota DNR Regains Authority to Manage Captive White-Tailed Deer Facilities

August 2023  WMI Outdoor News Bulletin Vo. 77, No. 8

The Minnesota legislative process this year produced significant changes to the management of captive Cervidae facilities. In addition to transference of management authority from the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (MBAH) to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), there were important changes to fencing requirements, prohibition of new registration of captive white-tailed deer (WTD) facilities, movement of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)-infected captive WTD, and importation of live captive Cervids, detailed below. It should be noted that MBAH retained authority over captive cervid species other than WTD.

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