On the Texas-Mexico border, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives an owl protected status, seeks to declare two mussel species endangered

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, which lives in South Texas, Arizona and Mexico, as a threatened species. (Credit: Ninahale via Wikimedia Commons)

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A tiny owl that lives in the South Texas brush has received protected status from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is also proposing that two species of mussels found in the Rio Grande be added to the endangered species list.