Utah Ecological Services
Mountain-Prairie Region
Surveyor Information

Threatened and Endangered Species Survey Protocols

The following survey protocols were developed to standardize survey efforts for federally listed species. Survey protocol must be followed by all surveys to gaurantee acceptance by our office.

Threatened and Endangered Species Training Opportunities

In coordination with the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, we will be offering four threatened and endangered species survey trainings this year.  These trainings free to attend and are mandatory for those who plan to conduct surveys in Utah in 2013 for listed plant species, Mexican spotted owls, Utah prairie dogs, or southwestern willow flycatchers.  We may receive more requests to enroll in the training courses than can be accommodated in the classroom and in the field.  If this is the case, we will consider a number of factors in approving applicants to attend, including: 1) if you have previously completed similar training; 2) if you are enrolled in a survey course in another State; and 3) your survey plans for the species in Utah.

Vernal BLM Field Office Rare and Listed Plant Orientation Webinar

This webinar emphasizes policy changes, survey and reporting requirements, and identification of rare plants and their habitats in the Uinta Basin. We are making several changes to this program this year, including changing the workshop format to a webinar format.  We still recommend consulting companies that have participated in past training events and have experience working in the Uinta Basin to conduct their own in-house training using materials provided at the workshop and on our Uinta Basin Rare Plant Training website.  It is mandatory that each consultant that plans to conduct plant surveys in the Uinta Basin have a representative attend the webinar, but attendance is not mandatory for all field crews or employees.  We encourage agency, company, and Tribal attendance this year, in addition to consultants.  We hope that offering this training as a webinar will allow more people to be able to attend.We will send updated survey and protocol information to all persons who attended the workshop in 2012. 

  • When: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 – 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
  • Where: Webinar information will be provided to those who enroll by the deadline
  • Registration Deadline: Close of business on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
  • Contact for registration and additional information: Jessi Brunson via e-mail at jbrunson@blm.gov or by telephone at (435) 781-4448.  If you RSVP by email, please put "Uinta Basin Rare Plant Webinar" in the subject line.

Mexican Spotted Owl Survey Training

This training emphasizes identification of owl habitats and use of the Fish and Wildlife Service 2012 Mexican spotted owl (MSO) survey protocol in canyon habitats.  If you have completed a previous training session for MSO in canyon habitats that included a field portion and evaluation, you will not need to attend this training.  We do, however, ask that you review the 2012 survey protocol prior to conducting field reviews.  If you have any questions, please contact Bekee Hotze at Bekee_Hotze@fws.gov.  Otherwise, this survey training is mandatory for all currently permitted and future permit applicants who plan to conduct Mexican spotted owl surveys in Utah.  We will conduct a nighttime calling session north of Moab on Wednesday evening after class.  There will be time to get dinner before we leave for the evening session.  Please bring a headlamp, field clothes, binoculars, sun screen, and, if you wish, food and beverages for yourself for the Tuesday and Wednesday field sessions. 
  • When: March 13-14, 2013 – course will begin at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, March 13, and end at approximately 3:30 PM on Thursday, March 14
  • Where: BLM Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, Suite M, Moab, Utah
  • Registration Deadline: Close of business on Friday, March 8, 2013.  We will accept registration on a first come first serve basis, but if the class does become full, we will ask those not conducting surveys in Utah to attend training in the state they will be conducting surveys in.
  • Contact for registration and additional information: Bekee Hotze via e-mail at Bekee_Hotze@fws.gov or by telephone at (801) 975-3330 ext 146.  If you RSVP by email, please put "Mexican Spotted Owl Survey Training" in the subject line.
Completion of the survey training course is a requirement for obtaining an ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) endangered species permit, which is necessary to conduct Mexican spotted owl surveys.  If you intend to conduct surveys this year in Utah and do not hold a permit, please complete a permit application form as soon as possible (available on-line at http://www.fws.gov/permits/). 

Utah Prairie Dog Survey Training

This training emphasizes identification of Utah prairie dogs and their habitat and use of the Fish and Wildlife Service 2010 Utah prairie dog survey protocol.  Please keep in mind that any individual conducting Utah prairie dog surveys must attend our Utah Prairie Dog Survey Training and obtain a certification card.  If an organization/agency employs multiple surveyors to conduct Utah prairie dog surveys, each of those surveyors must attend the training and become certified.  Surveys conducted by individuals who have not successfully completed the training will be invalid.  New trainees must attend the classroom session plus the field session.  If you attended between 2010 and 2012, there is no need to attend this year.
  • When: Classroom session – May 7, 2013, Field session – May 8, 2013
  • Where: Classroom and Field Sessions – Cedar City, Utah (see agenda for complete details)
  • Registration Deadline: Close of business on Friday, April 19, 2013.  We will notify you of acceptance by April 23, 2013.
  • Contact for registration and additional information: Bekee Hotze via e-mail at  Bekee_Hotze@fws.gov or by telephone at (801) 975-3330 ext 146. If you RSVP by email, please put "Utah Prairie Dog Survey Training" in the subject line.

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Survey Training

This training emphasizes identification of southwestern willow flycatcher habitats, species identification by sight and sound, and use of the 2010 survey protocol.  If you have completed a previous training session for Southwestern willow flycatcher surveys, it must have included a field portion, otherwise this survey training is mandatory for permit applicants who plan to conduct Southwestern willow flycatcher surveys in Utah.  Please bring binoculars, field clothes, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and, if you wish, food and beverages for yourself for the Tuesday morning field session. 
  • When: May 9-10, 2013 – course will begin at 1:00 PM on Thursday, May 9, and end at approximately 12:00 PM on Friday, May 10
  • Where: to be determined
  • Registration Deadline: Close of business on Friday, April 26, 2013.  By Tuesday, April 30, we will inform you as to whether or not you are approved to attend.
  • Contact for registration and additional information: Melissa Burns via e-mail at Melissa_Burns@fws.gov, by telephone at (801) 975-3330 ext. 123.  If you RSVP by email, please put "Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Survey Training" in the subject line.
Completion of the survey training course is a requirement for obtaining an ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) endangered species permit, which is necessary to conduct southwestern willow flycatcher surveys.  If you intend to conduct surveys this year in Utah and do not hold a permit, please complete a permit application form as soon as possible (available on-line at http://www.fws.gov/permits/).  The above trainings are free.  However, you are responsible for arranging and paying for your own transportation, lodging, and meal expenses.  Please share this information with others who may be interested.  If you need more information about a specific training course, please contact the appropriate individual listed above or click on the links above to go to the training web pages.
Last updated: April 24, 2013