U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalizes habitat protections for endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is designating approximately 1.5 million acres of occupied critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act for the endangered rusty patched bumble bee. This designation covers 33 counties in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The bumble bee is found primarily in urban and suburban areas in the Midwest, including greater metropolitan areas such as Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota; Chicago, Illinois; Iowa City, Iowa; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.