Regional News and Recovery Updates

Region 1

Geographic Information System The Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) North Pacific Coast Ecoregion is using geographic information system (GIS) technology to support information needs of many activities. Foremost among these activities are the development of habitat conservation plans (HCPs) and implementation of the President's Forest Plan. GIS provides a means to collect, analyze, and report data on the locations of species and the landscape features affecting wildlife, such as land cover, elevation, road density, and land ownership.

Through cooperative efforts with State and other Federal agencies, the Pacific Coast Ecoregion has access to detailed computerized information documenting the known locations of threatened and endangered species including, but not limited to, the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus marmoratus). By creating computerized maps of project areas, the GIS database can identify species locations that are inside of, or close to, a proposed project. This information can be used in habitat conservation planning and watershed analysis on Federal Lands to focus efforts on specific species of interest and identify opportunities to minimize impacts before projects are initiated. By using computer models based on GIS, the Pacific Coast Ecoregion has been able to predict the ability of an HCP to sustain viable spotted owl sites over the course of a habitat conservation agreement and compare the projected impacts of alternative land management strategies. In a similar fashion, the technology is being used to provide biologists and managers with quantitative information describing the possible impact on both spotted owls and people that would result from the release of large areas of private lands currently regulated under the Endangered Species Act. This analysis involves integrating geographic and descriptive information about land ownership, spotted owl locations, spotted owl habitat, and Federal land use allocations under the President's Forest Plan.

Port Blakely Habitat Conservation Plan On July 19, 1996, the FWS issued a 50-year permit to Port Blakely Timber Company authorizing incidental take of northern spotted owls, marbled murrelets, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) associated with the company's tree farm in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties in southwest Washington. Port Blakely submitted an HCP to the FWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service for timber management activities affecting 7,486 acres (3,030 hectares) of commercial second-growth trees. Management according to the proposed HCP will produce a net increase in the older forest that provides some of the habitat characteristics needed for spotted owl roosting, foraging, and dispersal. Under this HCP, Port Blakely will increase the total acreage of trees in this older condition by 90 percent over the 50 years covered by the plan. This is especially noteworthy, since very little spotted owl habitat remains in southwest Washington. The HCP is an ecosystem-based forest management plan that attempts to provide for all species that use the habitat types in the plan area.

Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) In April 1996, 19 woodland caribou were translocated from British Columbia to the Selkirk Mountains of northeast Washington as part of a recovery effort for this endangered species. It is aimed at improving the number and distribution of woodland caribou within the Selkirk Ecosystem Recovery Area, which encompasses northeast Washington, northwest Idaho, and southeast British Columbia. The caribou project is a cooperative effort involving the FWS, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, British Columbia Ministry of Environment, and Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Since their release in April, the relocated caribou have traveled throughout the recovery area, some joining the caribou that were still present within the ecosystem. At least one calf has been born and there have been two deaths, with predation being the suspected cause.

This year's translocation effort is the first phase of a 3-year project. An estimated 20-24 caribou will be introduced in each of the next 2 years.

Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) FWS staff from the Ventura Field Office, California State Office, and the Portland Regional Office recently held a public hearing on a draft revision of the recovery plan for the southern sea otter. Concerns were expressed by some attendees about a provision that could remove southern sea otters from the list of threatened species if the current population level of 2,377 reaches 2,650 animals.

Although this issue can be highly emotional, the 20 individuals who testified at the hearing provided well-considered comments and information. The hearing's two sessions, both held in Monterey, California, on July 18, were attended by 60 individuals. Local and regional news media showed interest in this issue and presented balanced accounts of the hearing. CNN's story typified the coverage, clearly presenting the rationale for both sides of the issue. The business-like tone of the hearing was due to long-standing working relationships among the FWS, Southern Sea Otter Recovery Team, and other interested parties.

Hayun Lagu (Serianthes nelsonii) In early August, staff from the Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, Guam National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Air Force, and Guam Division of Forestry erected a fence around the last remaining adult tree of this endangered species on Guam. The fence is designed to protect seedlings from browsing by non-native deer and feral pigs.

Recovery efforts at this site suffered a setback in July with the death of the only sapling and 10 of the 15 seedlings. The causes of death could not be determined, but the timing coincided with a severe infestation of introduced mealybugs and possible stress from the dry season.

In January 1996, the above agencies and the University of Guam planted 12 seedlings in 3 ungulate-proof exclosures on Andersen Air Force Base and the Refuge. As of August, nine of the seedlings were still alive. Although only a single adult S. nelsonii remains on Guam, another 120 occur on the neighboring island of Rota.

Region 2

Whooping Crane (Grus americana) Fourteen whooping crane eggs were collected in Canada's Wood Buffalo National Park in late May. This year, the collection was limited to whooper pairs not represented or poorly represented in the captive breeding flocks. This pick-up is the last scheduled for several years because captive propagation centers are fully stocked and able to produce the number of young cranes needed for the continuing whooper reintroduction project in Florida. Forty-four wild pairs were confirmed nesting in Canada, and 30 chicks were seen during mid-June surveys, along with adults still incubating at 4 nests. These numbers are lower than the record of 1995, when 49 pairs made 51 nesting attempts and 45 chicks were counted in June.

Regions 2 and 4 of the FWS, in cooperation with the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, began an experiment in 1993 to reestablish a nonmigratory whooping crane population in Florida's Kissimmee Prairie south of Orlando. The captive-reared whooping cranes are released at 5 to 9 months of age. The rates of first-year survival for released birds have been increasing as rearing and release techniques have been modified. The principal cause of death has been predation by bobcats. In the first 3 years, 35 percent of the birds were killed in the first 3 months after release as they attempted to learn survival in the wild.

This year, however, only 4 percent of the birds have been lost in the first 3 months after release. Fifty-six cranes survived and at least 4 pairs have formed. The oldest pair, consisting of 4-year-olds, built 7 nests and nest platforms, chased other cranes from the area, and were observed copulating, although egg production has not been confirmed. First egg production typically begins at 4 years of age. Annual releases and evaluation of the project will continue for several years.

Masked Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus ridgwayi) For the past 30 years, the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (now the Patuxent Environmental Science Center, a facility of the National Biological Service or NBS) has maintained the captive breeding flock for this endangered subspecies. Because captive propagation of the masked bobwhite is no longer considered a research task, NBS has withdrawn from the program. Between April 30 and May 14, 657 masked bobwhites were shipped to a new propagation facility at the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona. The FWS has assumed the task of rearing masked bobwhites at this facility for release on the refuge.

Region 3

Fat Pocketbook Pearly Mussel (Potamilus capax) Researchers contracted by the Missouri Department of Conservation recently discovered three live specimens of the endangered fat pocketbook pearly mussel, a species formerly thought to be extirpated from Missouri, in Bel Fountain Ditch in the Missouri Bootheel. An adult, gravid (pregnant) female and two younger specimens were discovered on a mussel bed along with other species of mussels. The gravid female is being kept at Southwest Missouri State University, where Dr. Chris Barnhart is seeking to identify the host fish upon which the larvae of this endangered mussel depend. The presence of younger fat pocketbook pearly mussels at the discovery site suggests that the species is successfully reproducing at the locality.

Mead's Milkweed (Asclepias meadii) Two new populations of the threatened Mead's milkweed were discovered this spring on rhyolite glades in southcentral Missouri. One small population is on Wildcat Mountain in Taum Sauk State Park. A much larger population was found on Profit Mountain within the Missouri Department of Conservation's Ketcherside Mountain Conservation Area.

Region 4

West Indian (Florida) Manatee (Trichechus manatus) After 4 months of research, scientists have concluded that the die-off that claimed 158 endangered manatees this spring (see Bulletin Vol. XXI, No. 3) was caused by a red tide outbreak.

State, Federal, and international researchers examined every available piece of physical evidence and based their conclusion on a series of bioassay experiments. Manatees are thought to have ingested red tide toxins either while feeding on sea grasses or by inhaling toxins in waters having high red tide concentrations. Researchers had not seen red tide concentrations of this magnitude since 1982, when a similar manatee die-off occurred in this same area.

Before the 1996 die-off, population estimates placed Florida's manatee population at 2,600; however, a record 304 manatees died of various causes during the first 6 months of this year, including 206 in southwest Florida (158 of which were caused by red tide). The loss of over 10 percent of the population will have a significant impact on manatee recovery efforts.

Region 5

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) The FWS Northeast Regional Director has approved a final revised recovery plan for the Atlantic Coast population of the piping plover. The new plan, based on increased knowledge of plover biology and management needs, establishes population and productivity goals for four recovery units within the species' Atlantic Coast breeding range. Long-term agreements to protect and manage breeding habitat and maintain wintering habitat will be sought under the plan. Appendices to the new recovery plan contain (a) guidelines for managing recreational activities in plover breeding habitat to avoid direct mortality, harassment, and/or harm; and (b) guidelines for preparation and evaluation of permit applications for incidental take of piping plovers.