California tiger salamander photos available for media use: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk6VmQeq
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today released a final recovery plan to guide conservation efforts for the federally endangered California tiger salamander in Santa Barbara County. The final recovery plan lays out a strategy to recover the Santa Barbara County Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the California tiger salamander by recommending actions to alleviate the primary threats impacting the species including habitat loss and destruction.
Opportunities identified in the recovery plan may be carried out by willing public and private landowners, in collaboration with the Service, local land managers, and other non-governmental organizations, to help aid in the recovery of California tiger salamanders in Santa Barbara County.
“We’re committed to working alongside landowners to recover California tiger salamanders in Santa Barbara County, while supporting working lands that are the pillars of the local community and economy,” said Steve Henry, field supervisor of the Service’s Ventura office. “This recovery plan outlines how we can continue to work together to move toward recovery, with the ultimate goal of removal from the endangered species list.”
Conservation tools like the Service’s Conservation Banking program, Safe Harbor Agreements, and voluntary easements through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, are available to landowners to support the species’ recovery.
The Santa Barbara County DPS of the California tiger salamander was listed as endangered in 2000 under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) due to habitat degradation as land was converted for large-scale, intensive agricultural use and urban development. Currently, the majority of known California tiger salamanders in Santa Barbara County exist on private lands.
The Santa Barbara County DPS of the California tiger salamander is endemic to the northern portion of Santa Barbara County and currently consists of six distinct metapopulations. California tiger salamanders in Santa Barbara County are genetically distinct, having been separated from other populations for at least 740,000 years.
The California tiger salamander is a large, stocky, terrestrial salamander with a broad, rounded snout. Adults are black with white and yellowish markings and can range from 6 to 10.5 inches in length.
During the dry season, California tiger salamanders can be found in underground burrows dug by squirrels, gophers or other small mammals, surfacing only in the fall and winter after rain to make the trek – sometimes more than a mile – to breeding ponds where they stay from a few days to up to a month to breed. For this reason, they require both aquatic and terrestrial habitats.
In addition to the primary treat of habitat loss and destruction, other threats to the species include hybridization with non-native tiger salamanders, predation and competition by non-native species and vehicle strike mortality. Other potential threats include contaminants, disease and a changing climate.
Additional information about the California tiger salamander is available online.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service.
For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://ventura.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page, follow our tweets at http://twitter.com/USFWSPacSWest, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfws_pacificsw/
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