Press Release
Draft Agreement to Protect Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel Available for Public Review and Comment
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it has received an application for a proposed Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) for the northern Idaho ground squirrel, a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
The Service is accepting comments on the proposed SHA, an enhancement of survival permit application, and associated Environmental Action Statement and enhancement of survival permit until close of business February 25, 2009.The proposed SHA is between Hixon Properties Incorporated, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Service. The term of the proposed agreement is 10 years, and it may be renewed.
Under the SHA, the applicant will be issued a 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement of survival permit authorizing limited incidental take of northern Idaho ground squirrels due to livestock husbandry, farming operations, logging, recreation, and limited construction activity. The permit will have a term of 15 years.Jeff Foss, State Supervisor of the Services Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office, said, "The purpose of the proposed SHA is to conserve northern Idaho ground squirrels. The applicant wishes to protect currently occupied northern Idaho ground squirrel sites by allowing habitat enhancement measures to be implemented on their private property. We encourage the public to review and comment on this proposed SHA."
The goal of the SHA is to allow ground squirrel populations on the applicants property to expand as a result of the conservation efforts associated with the SHA. Benefits to the species include continued access to the ground squirrel populations for monitoring and potential research projects; potential enhancement of the species habitat in Adams County, Idaho; and minimized ground-disturbance within the squirrel management area.
The northern Idaho ground squirrel is found only in Adams and Valley Counties, Idaho. It occurs in forest meadow-grasslands surrounded by ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir forests. The species was listed as threatened in 2000. Recovery efforts for the northern Idaho ground squirrel have been underway by multiple entities since the publication of the species Recovery Plan in 2003
Copies of the proposed SHA, Permit application and Environmental Action Statement are available for public inspection, by appointment, at the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office at 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, Idaho 83709. Copies may also be viewed on he internet at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/idaho. Written comments should be addressed to Kendra Womack, Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, Idaho 83709. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at 208-378-5262, or by e-mail to: fw1srbocomment@fws.gov.
The Service is accepting comments on the proposed SHA, an enhancement of survival permit application, and associated Environmental Action Statement and enhancement of survival permit until close of business February 25, 2009.The proposed SHA is between Hixon Properties Incorporated, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Service. The term of the proposed agreement is 10 years, and it may be renewed.
Under the SHA, the applicant will be issued a 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement of survival permit authorizing limited incidental take of northern Idaho ground squirrels due to livestock husbandry, farming operations, logging, recreation, and limited construction activity. The permit will have a term of 15 years.Jeff Foss, State Supervisor of the Services Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office, said, "The purpose of the proposed SHA is to conserve northern Idaho ground squirrels. The applicant wishes to protect currently occupied northern Idaho ground squirrel sites by allowing habitat enhancement measures to be implemented on their private property. We encourage the public to review and comment on this proposed SHA."
The goal of the SHA is to allow ground squirrel populations on the applicants property to expand as a result of the conservation efforts associated with the SHA. Benefits to the species include continued access to the ground squirrel populations for monitoring and potential research projects; potential enhancement of the species habitat in Adams County, Idaho; and minimized ground-disturbance within the squirrel management area.
The northern Idaho ground squirrel is found only in Adams and Valley Counties, Idaho. It occurs in forest meadow-grasslands surrounded by ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir forests. The species was listed as threatened in 2000. Recovery efforts for the northern Idaho ground squirrel have been underway by multiple entities since the publication of the species Recovery Plan in 2003
Copies of the proposed SHA, Permit application and Environmental Action Statement are available for public inspection, by appointment, at the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office at 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, Idaho 83709. Copies may also be viewed on he internet at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/idaho. Written comments should be addressed to Kendra Womack, Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, Idaho 83709. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at 208-378-5262, or by e-mail to: fw1srbocomment@fws.gov.
