The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is seeking public comments on its recently completed Environmental Assessment of Invasive Species Eradication for Habitat Restoration on Tangik, Poa, and Sud Islands. This Assessment analyzes the consequences of two alternatives, a no action alternative and the proposed action of eradicating introduced European rabbits from Tangik and Poa Islands and introduced hoary marmots from Sud to allow the native ecosystems to recover.
Uninhabited Tangik and Poa are sister islands in the eastern Aleutian chain about 12 miles from Akutan and 750 miles west of Anchorage. Sud is in the Barren Islands 60 miles south of Homer.
This Environmental Assessment; a Frequently Asked Questions document; and photos can be found on-line at http://alaskamaritime.fws.gov/rabbits.htm or paper copies can be requested by e-mailing alaskamaritime@fws.gov or calling (907) 235-6546. Comments will be accepted on the Environmental Assessment through February 10, 2010, and can be submitted by e-mail to alaskamaritime@fws.gov or by fax to (907)235-7783 or by mail to Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, 95 Sterling Hwy., Suite 1, Homer, AK 99603 or by phone to (907) 235-6546.
European rabbits were introduced to Tangik and Poa and hoary marmots to Sud decades ago. Both of these non-native species compete with burrow-nesting native seabirds for burrows, disturb the birds during egg laying and incubation causing seabirds to abandon their nests, and alter native plant communities. The eradication of the non-natives is expected to allow the natural ecosystem to recover and seabirds to thrive. Tufted puffins, ancient murrelets and rhinoceros auklets are the native birds most likely to flourish after the introduced animals are gone.
According to Refuge Manager Steve Delehanty, the refuge has over 50 years of experience restoring native birds and ecosystems by removing introduced species from refuge islands. The Aleutian cackling goose was saved from near extinction by the refuge’s program of removing introduced foxes. The Alaska Maritime Refuge’s purpose is to conserve marine birds, other migratory birds, marine mammals, and the habitats on which they rely. Restoration and conservation of ecosystems is one of the primary objectives of the refuge.
After the 30 day public comment period closes, comments will be analyzed and Refuge Manager Delehanty will either approve the project or decide to conduct further analysis. If the project is approved, the refuge will begin work possibly as early as the spring of 2010.
- FWS-
