A new website launched by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service this week aims to provide publically-viewable information about endangered species in the country and looks set to become a valuable resource for scientists, conservation managers, and non-professionals alike.

Here’s the official press release:

‘The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Program has launched a new, web-based interactive map with information about endangered species success in every state: stories of species making strides towards recovery, audio interviews and podcasts with Service biologists about on-the-ground endangered species conservation, and videos that highlight the Service’s partners.

The interactive map can be found online at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ and also has links for the Endangered Species Program’s new weekly e-newsletter and ways to connect via social media.

The Endangered Species Act provides a safety net for America’s native fish, wildlife and plants. The Service is actively engaged with conservation partners and the public in the search for improved and innovative ways to conserve and recover imperiled species.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfws, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq.’

It remains to be seen, however, whether an issue that’s been bothering SF all morning will be addressed; what exactly is the difference between ‘fish’ and ‘wildlife’??