Cooperative Conservation - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army

Little brown bats, powerhouses of pollination and pest control, face threats from disease and habitat loss. Climate resilience surveys identify opportunities for proactive conservation for at risk bats.

Mazama Pocket Gophers are ecosystem engineers, boosting nearby plants and animals by enriching and fertilizing the soil as they dig out their underground homes. 

As grassland has declined, so have gopher populations, increasing the need to detect this threatened species. This study kicks it up a notch - The Army has partnered with USFWS to see if arial drones can find gopher populations effectively across a wider area than traditional survey methods.

Over 120 endangered species live on habitat within The U.S. Army Garrison Hawai'i. The nēnē is one of them - the only surviving endemic species of the six that originally lived on the Hawai'ian islands. In Partnership with the USFWS, the Army is dedicated to protecting these geese while empowering the next generation of conservationists. 

Pathways interns charged with leading the nēnē (Hawai'ian goose) restoration program will gain invaluable job experience while monitoring the birds, planting native seedlings, and controlling invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species . Once their projects are complete, pathways interns can move directly into full time federal jobs.

Identifying where bats roost informs critical conservation decisions. An invasive fungal infection called White-nose syndrome kills bats by forcing them out of hibernation, eliminating their chance of surviving the winter. 

The fungus spreads where bats roost, so protecting unaffected habitat is key to preventing these endangered species from going extinct. In partnership with the USFWS, the Army invested in acoustic and mist netting surveys at Camp Shelby and the Louisiana Army National Guard training center to find out where bats remain and how they're making their homes on the installation.

Permafrost is more vulnerable than its name might suggest - increased wildfires and longer warm weather cycles make this critical tundra substrate more vulnerable to damage from recreation and military training exercises. And degradation has serious risks - roads, pipes, and houses built above it can buckle, and thawing can lead to increased flooding and erosion. 

The USFWS has partnered with the Army Garrison in Alaska to develop Vegetated Restoration Mats and Sod Analogs - blocks of organic material planted with native tundra plants. These blocks insulate exposed permafrost to help it recover from heavy use.

Hawai'i is the extinction capitol of the world, having lost more species than any other state. The Army has partnered with the USFWS and Lyon Arboretum to preserve and conserve native ecosystems. 

Joining the team is Julianne Johnson, a federal Pathways Intern whose work includes using samples of critically endangered Hawai'ian plants to create new seedlings.

Improving the conservation status of the eastern regal butterfly

The Eastern Regal Butterfly thrives on the military activity at Fort Indiantown Gap. Regular disturbances to their grassland habitat keep invasive species away, and causes the violets the Regal butterflies feed on to flourish. In fact, the fort is home to the last known population of this species. The Army is now taking conservation to the next level by actively improving their habitat with prescribed burns and violet transplants and seedings. 

Read More Here!

Extreme flooding in Missouri has degraded water crossings throughout Fort Leonard Wood, rendering them impassable by fish and people alike. Rare and endangered species like the Bluestripe Darter, Eastern Hellbender, and Spectaclecase rely on the connectivity of streams, rivers, and creeks to survive. 

The Army and USFWS are improving the crossings for all users by installing crossings that follow the natural shape of the stream bed at natural low points. These crossings require less maintenance than traditional structures, and stabilize the stream, paving the way for these endangered species to reclaim their habitat.

Invasive Tamarisk Removal through American Conservation Experience Internship

Natural springs and vegetated dunes provide key habitat for Dark Kangaroo Mice, Golden Eagles, and Pinyon Jays. Restoration teams hired American Conservation Experience interns to assist with surveying, invasive removal, planting projects, and habitat protection, bolstering Dugway Proving Ground's resiliency against drought and rising temperatures.

Fort McCoy is the premiere Army training grounds in the upper Midwest, where varied terrain, state of the art facilities, and extensive support infrastructure combine to create an excellent environment for success. Invasive species removal not only improves conditions for military training, but restores rare oak savannah habitat for gray wolves, Karner blue butterflies, northern long ear bats, and over 30 threatened species.

Work conducted by Wisconsin Conservation Corps gave young adults the opportunity to gain hands on experience while actively improving local habitats.

Habitat suitability modeling identifies potential habitats for Little Brown Bats, allowing the U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Alaska to make informed decisions to protect habitat for this critical pollinator. 

In Partnership with the USFWS and the University of Alaska Fairbanks, these environmental studies will refine USAG Alaska's habitat modeling methods.

Fort Cavazos

Developing a Biological AssessmentOnline Course

Biological Assessments allow conservation professionals to evaluate the potential effects of proposed actions on threatened and endangered species or critical habitat. The Army has partnered with USFWS to develop an online course to train professionals in successfully writing, submitting, and implementing an effective Biological Assessment.

A Sentinel Landscape represents the opportunity to protect military working lands and wild lands. Defining an area as a Sentinel Landscape allows for stewardship that goes beyond the borders of a military instillation through partnerships with local land management agencies and private land owners. 

The Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape protects over 805,000 acres along the northern stretch of the Mississippi River. The Army is committed to continued investment. Recently, Camp Ripley has invested in bringing on additional interdisciplinary biologists to protect land along the Mississippi River, improve water quality, and enhance the area's climate resiliency.

Prescribed burns have huge ecological benefits, promoting critical grassland habitat and controlling the spread of invasive species. Often times, burns are conducted during the 'dormant season' - when plants are less active, allowing them to bounce back during the growing season. 

However, migratory bats like Hoary bats, red bats, and silver haired bats often remain active during the dormant season, relying on hardwood and pine trees for shelter during daylight hours. The Army, in partnership with USFWS and the U.S. Geological Survey, has funded a study to research whether dormant season burning is disrupting the natural cycles of these bats.