3 May 2013

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on Thursday, May 2, that after careful reconsideration, it will reinstate Madison Grimm, 6, of Burbank, South Dakota, as the winner of the 2013 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest.

At the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest, held on April 19 in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, a panel of five judges selected Grimm's painting of a male Canvasback as the winning entry. Following the contest, concerns were raised about the authenticity of the work. The Service had disqualified the artwork in late April, but had continued to evaluate its decision.

The USFWS has released a full statement on its decision to reinstate Grimm.