Senate confirms top Interior Department wildlife official

The Senate on Thursday evening confirmed Daniel Ashe as director of the Interior Department’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency at the center of battles over Endangered Species Act protections.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar praised the approval of the longtime career official, who will start the job immediately.

“Dan Ashe has served with distinction and integrity in the Fish and Wildlife Service for more than 15 years. He has worked tirelessly to prepare the Service to meet the resource challenges of the 21st century, and his leadership and vision have never been more necessary,” Salazar said in a statement.

“I’m excited to work with him to foster innovative science-driven conservation programs and policies to benefit our nation’s fish and wildlife and its habitat,” he said.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) lifted his hold on Ashe's nomination earlier this week, citing a commitment from Salazar to advance talks on the status of endangered wolves in Wyoming.