Ferret with the black feet....

Ferret with the black feet, soon to be chopped meat! (without our help)

Black-footed Ferret

http://azgfd.net/artman/uploads/1/kits_in_burrow2-2_1.jpg

By Aidan Kelly

Description and Ecology of Organism

The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is a mustelid who's appearance consists of a yellowy white core, black feet and tail tip, and a “black mask” around the eyes. They are two feet long, give or take, and 1.5 to 2.5 pounds. Coincidentally, that is about the size of their food source, the black-tailed prairie dog. The ferrets prey on a variety of prairie dog species, which inherently dictates their habitat. Black-footed ferrets also transform prairie dog burrows their home because they don’t dig their own. Black-footed ferrets are nocturnal and extreme specialists when it comes to meals and shelter.  Mustelids generally have short life spans of four to five years and a high juvenile mortality rate. The early mortality rate, averaging fifty perfect or more, has a huge impact on their population growth.

http://www.fws.gov/endangered/news/images/bulletin_spring2009-ferret1.jpg

Geographic and Population Changes

The black-footed ferret is the only ferret species in it’s genus that originates from the Americas. They are estimated to have arrived in North America from Siberia one to two million years ago. Historically, like present day trends, the ferrets inhabited the same territories that prairie dogs did. These territories include mountains and grasslands from Canada through the US midwest to Mexico. Female territorial range is around thirteen hectares while male territory is 36 hectares (Livieri and Anderson 2012). Ferret populations starting declining when prairie dog populations did due to habitat destruction, poisoning, and disease. Currently, all known ferret populations are the result of human reintroduction. The last wild population was observed in South Dakota 40 years ago (Clark 1989). When the last ferret of that population died, the species was thought of as extinct. This was proven untrue when a small population was discovered in Wyoming. Before disease outbreaks had a chance to hurt the population, the wild ferrets were captured and used in a breeding program to reestablish population numbers. The most recent population count (2012) from all the released ferrets yields 362 breeding adults, according to the recovery plan. 

http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/wildlife/images/fermap.jpg

Listing Date and Type of Listing

Black-footed ferrets were recognized as endangered in 1967 by the United States and were officially enlisted as endangered when the Endangered Species Act was created in 1973. The species was just listed as “endangered” though critically endangered may have been appropriate granted that there was only eighteen ferrets alive in the world to biologist’s knowledge. 

Cause of Listing and Continuous Threats

According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, the three main threats to the black-footed ferrets is their native homelands being converted to croplands, the poisoning of prairie dogs, and disease. As we know, black-footed ferrets habitats overlap with prairie dogs so when there was a 90 percent decrease in suitable habitat for prairie dogs, the ferrets were affected as well. The reduction of suitable habitat was a consequence of land conversion for crops and subsequent poisoning that occurred. In 2006, 45 million hectares of prairies that were inhabited by ferrets had been converted to croplands (Ernest et al. 2006). What’s more, 1.3 million hectares of black-footed ferret habitat has also become urbanized. Poisoning of wildlife is evidently a by-product of these sources of habitat destruction. Poisoning is a dramatic threat to ferrets because they can receive it directly, or second handedly through ingesting poisoned prairie dogs. Prairie dog poisoning programs were used from 1916 to 1920 because they competed with livestock for edible forage. Lastly, the  Sylvatic plague has brutally lowered ferret populations. This bacterial disease is transmitted through flea bites or pneumatically. Prairie dogs can contract the plague as well; thus, increasing the chances of ferrets catching it. Recent studies have estimated that 75 percent of the ferret population at a previous release site died from the disease (Griebel 2008). It should be noted that whatever threats are posed to prairie dogs directly or indirectly affected the ferret. At this point, black-footed ferret recovery is a waiting game because it depends on the prairie dog population comeback. Climate change, inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms, and recreational shooting of prairie dogs are all underlying factors in the black-footed ferret decline.  

http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/20131108%20BFF

%202nd%20Rev.%20Final%20Recovery%20Plan.pdf

One variety of poisoned used
http://www.newtree.com.ph/products/490-1.jpg

Description of Recovery Plan

The purpose of the plan is to downlist the black-footed ferret to “threatened” rather than “endangered” and ultimately delisted completely. This is projected to be achieved by 2023 and 2043, respectively. The criteria for downlisting the species is as follows: 1) manage a captive breeding program of 105 males and 175 females dispersed among, at minimum, three facilities, 2) establish free ranging ferret population with at least 1,500 breeding adults, in 10 or more populations, in at least half of the states containing their historical range, 3) maintain aforementioned criteria for 3 years prior to downlisting species, and 4) maintain a 100,000 hectare habitat for prairie dogs by conservation and managing the sylvatic plague. 

http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/20131108%20BFF

%202nd%20Rev.%20Final%20Recovery%20Plan.pdf

Citations (all from the BFF Recovery Plan):

 Livieri, T.M. and E.M. Anderson. 2012. Black-footed ferret home ranges in Conata Basin, South Dakota. Western North American Naturalist 72:196-205.

 Clark, T.W. 1989. Conservation biology of the black-footed ferret Mustela nigripes. Wildlife Preservation Trust Special Scientific Report No. 3. pp 175 

 Ernst, A.E., A.L. Clark, and D.R. Gober. 2006. A habitat-based technique to allocate black- footed ferret recovery among jurisdictional entities. In Recovery of the Black-footed Ferret: Progress and Continuing Challenges. Edited by J.E. Roelle, B.J. Miller, J.L. Godbey, and D.E. Biggins. U.S. Geological Survey. Pp. 89–95.

 Bell, W. 1921. Death to the rodents. U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1920 Yearbook. Pp. 421–438.

 Griebel, R.G. 2008a. U.S. Forest Service. E-mail update on plague at Conata Basin. Personal Communication with BFFRIT. September 3, 2008.

Supporting sources:

http://www.defenders.org/black-footed-ferret/basic-facts

http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/20131108%20BFF%202nd%20Rev.%20Final%20Recovery%20Plan.pdf

San Joaquin Kit Fox: The Kit to Survival

San Joaquin Kit Fox

http://www.drakehs.org/academics/seadisc/endangeredspecies/2010/Melia%20Sam/Efforts%20Being%20Made.html

The Kit to Survival
By: Andre Kohansamad

Ecology: San Joaquin kit foxes are the smallest foxes in North America, measuring only 12 inches tall and 20 inches long and 5 pounds, with a bushy tail and long pointy ears and have a life expectancy of about 7 years. They are one of two subspecies of kit foxes, a member of the canine family. They generally live in grasslands and are mostly nocturnal animals. They live in underground dens (pictured below) that protect them from harsh environments outside as well as predators, such as coyotes. These foxes have on average four or five dens in summer months and can change dens up to 24 different times each year (defenders.org). Within these dens, kit foxes also give birth and keep their young away from harm. Kit foxes prey on various rodents, such as mice and kangaroo rats. They also consume California ground squirrels, black-tailed hares, San Joaquin antelope squirrels, desert cottontails, ground-nesting birds, and insects (ECOS).

http://lpfw.org/our-region/wildlife/san-joaquin-kit-fox/

Geographic and Population Changes: Surveys show that fewer than 7,000 San Joaquin kit foxes remain, which represents about a 33% decline from pre-1930 estimates (Lpfw.org). Prior to 1930, San Joaquin kit foxes roamed most of the San Joaquin Valley in Central California, from southern Kern County north to Tracy. In 1930 a study was done, and it was believed that the kit fox range had been reduced by more than half (CSU Stanlaus). Since 1930, a comprehensive survey has not been taken of kit fox ranges. However, through independent surveys and research projects it is known that they currently only reside on the edges of the San Joaquin Valley, from southern Kern County up to Alameda and Solano. The maps below illustrate how small their range is compared to other foxes and their distribution area.

http://online.sfsu.edu/bholzman/courses/Fall00Projects/kfox.html

http://esrp.csustan.edu/gis/

Listing Date and Type: San Joaquin Kit Foxes were originally listed on the federal endangered species list in 1967. They were also listed by the state of California as a threatened species in 1971. Their listing type is endangered. The recovery plan for the San Joaquin Kit Fox was written in 1998.

Cause of Listing and Main Threats: San Joaquin kit foxes have become endangered due to many human-induced factors, such as shooting, trapping, poisoning, and road kill. However, the main cause for decline in fox populations has been habitat destruction and degradation. Conversion of grasslands to agricultural lands and urban development has caused this degradation to kit fox habitats in the San Joaquin Valley. It is estimated that only about 6.7 percent of the San Joaquin Valley's original wild lands remains undeveloped (ECOS). Loss of habitat has reduced the carrying capacity (number of organisms that can live in a certain habitat) for San Joaquin kit foxes, as well as reduced the number of prey in the area. Continued habitat fragmentation and grassland development will further decrease kit fox populations.

Recovery Plan: The San Joaquin kit fox is considered an umbrella species, meaning conservation efforts toward this species will aid many other organisms in the area. These foxes have a wide geographical range, so conserving their habitat will also conserve other organisms with smaller ranges. The recovery plan entails conserving three main core populations and approximately 9-12 satellite ones. A core population is one that anchors the entire population and hosts many organisms, while a satellite one will have a smaller concentration of foxes. The recovery plan also focuses on creating connections between these populations, so that foxes can safely move from one population to another. The plan will also give farmers incentives to maintain habitats suitable for kit foxes, under the American Farmland Trust (a proposal to address habitat fragmentation) (ECOS). Certain farmlands with drainage problems will be retired to turn into suitable habitat for kit foxes. This will help create stepping stones for kit foxes to travel between large populations. The recovery plan lists many tasks to complete, most of which include, maintaining and protecting natural lands which still provide habitat for San Joaquin kit foxes, and converting old farmland to new habitat. Hopefully these adorable animals will be recovered soon.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d4/6f/b5/d46fb5ee182a7aa303ef6a26289c5698.jpg

Links!!

1) Facts about San Joaquin kit foxes

2) Adopt a Kit Fox

Sources: 

1) "Basic Facts About San Joaquin Kit Foxes." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 06 Mar. 2015. <http://www.defenders.org/san-joaquin-kit-fox/basic-facts>. (Defenders.org)

2) Brown, N. L., C. D. Johnson, P. A. Kelly, and D. F. Williams. "San Joaquin Kit Fox." Endangered Species Recovery Program. CSU Stanislaus, n.d. Web. 8 Mar. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fesrp.csustan.edu%2Fspeciesprofiles%2Fprofile.php%3Fsp%3Dvuma>. (CSU Stanislaus)

3) "San Joaquin Kit Fox." Los Padres Forest Watch. Web. 06 Mar. 2015. <http://lpfw.org/our-region/wildlife/san-joaquin-kit-fox/>. (Lpfw.org)

4) United States of America. US Fish & Wildlife Service. Species and Populations with Recovery Plans. By Daniel F. Williams, Ellen A. Cypher, Patrick A. Kelly, Karen J. Miller, Nancy Norvell, Scott E. Phillips, Sheryl D. Johnson, and Gary W. Colliver. N.p., 30 Sept. 1998. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/pub/speciesRecovery.jsp?sort=1>. (ECOS)

Oregon Silverspot - Keeping Life Beautiful

Oregon Silverspot Butterfly

By: Paige Johnson

Listed threatened October 15, 1980

Description/Ecology

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Speyeria-zerene

The Oregon Silverspot Butterfly is found along the coast of Oregon, and some parts of California. It has golden brown wings with black spots and lines. They have silver colored spots on the underside of their wings. They rely on early blue violet flower as a source of food. This confines them to a small range to where the flower grows. Their habitats are found along the coast near salt-spray meadows. 

Geographic/Population Changes

https://www.flickr.com/photos/81918828@N00/sets/72157624525776976/

The silverspot was historically found along West coast all the way from Washington to California. Due to different forms of habitat destruction, the populations are confined to the coast of Oregon as of the 1900s. The Oregon Silverspot likes habitats where there is mild temperatures, high rainfall, and persistent fog. There were originally 17 sites found along the coast, but today there are only 5. 

http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/Species/Data/OregonSilverspotButterfly/

Why are they important?

• indicators of quality of life
• they have an intrinsic value, and are worthy of conservation
• represented as beauty, freedom, and peace
• scientists use them for research on pest control, evolution, genetics, population diversity, and many more 

Cause of Listing/Main Threats to Existence

• Habitat loss and degradation
• development of  coastal headlands, fire suppression, grazing, and invasion of nonnative plants
• Originally 17 sites, only 5 now 
• Population crash in 1998, now listed as threatened 
• Main threats to existence: development and agriculture, livestock grazing and erosion 
• Climate and weather patterns due to pollution is also another factor 

Description of Recovery Plan - 2001

http://blog.coolerdesign.com/2011/11/edible-weeds/

Recovery plan link :

• Goal to maintain species' current status 
• Increase population through augmentation and reintroduction 
• Actions needed to be taken: protect/manage habitat, monitor populations, reduce take
• Augmentation of 2 populations per year
• Restore habitat  by growing 4,000 violet seedlings per year 

http://www.fws.gov/pacific/ecoservices/endangered/recovery/silverspot/Oregon_Silverspot_cover.pdf

Sources :

http://www.fws.gov/wafwo/species/Fact%20sheets/Oregon%20Silverspot%20Draft%20Final.pdf
http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/Species/Data/OregonSilverspotButterfly/

Save the Snowy Plover Before Its All Over

The Western Snowy Plover

Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus

By Cecilia Huizar

From: http://w.bird-rescue.org/plover_snowy.html 

What is a snowy plover?

From: http://montereybayaquarium.typepad.com
/sea_notes/2009/06/saving-snowy-plovers.html 

If you've never heard of the snowy plover before you would guess it’s some type of animal that lives is a tundra, perhaps? In reality, they are adorable little creatures found on sunny California beaches. They look like walking cotton balls! Well, the baby snowy plovers do. The western snowy plover is a small shorebird characterized by its narrow black beak, short neck, light brown feathering, and white belly. What makes it distinct from other plover species is its tall, dark grey legs [1]. Snowy Plovers feed mainly on small invertebrates such insects and crabs [2]. They make their nests out of a wide range of materials such as driftwood, sea shells, rocks, and kelp [3]. That is why, if you ever visit a snowy plover breeding ground, you must not remove seashells and driftwood from the beach. 

From: http://www.sanctuarysimon.org/mont
erey/sections/specialSpecies/western_snowy_plover.php

Where can they be found?

The snowy plover breeding ground ranges from Damon Point, Washington to Baja Mexico [4]. Although majority of snowy plovers of the pacific coast population stay in their habitat year-round, in some areas a great amount of snowy plovers are migrators. Take the Oceano Dunes population for instance, 60% stay year-round and 40% migrate. The migrators can be seen during their breeding season which is from March to September [3]. Snowy plovers live primarily on coastal beaches, sand spits, beach dunes, beaches at creek and river mouths, and salt pans at lagoons and estuaries [4].

Main Threats

1. Habitat loss & degradation: 

The increase of urban development destroys the snowy plover's breeding and nesting grounds [4].

2. Human Disturbance:

Activities such as kite flying and Frisbee throwing can lower the fitness of a snowy plover. First of all, it raises their stress level which causes them to lose energy drastically. As crazy as it sounds, many die soon after because they don't have enough energy left to search for food. Secondly, to those who survive, they tune out whatever flies in the sky; this makes them vulnerable to hawks. Lastly, a snowy plover's nest can easily be trampled by Frisbee throwers, joggers, dog walkers, tourists, vehicles etc. [5]

3. Introduced Species & Increasing Predation:

Introduced species such as beach grass degrades the breeding grounds. The red fox is not a natural predator of the snowy plover and yet it is a partial cause to its dwindling population. Dogs brought on to the beach by people can be considered predators as well [3].

The Recovery Plan

Specifically, the pacific coast population is listed as threatened in 1993 by the endangered species act. The estimated cost is $149,946,000. If the plan is successful the species could be delisted by 2047 [4]. Before the snowy plover can be delisted, the following must be completed:

1. For 10 years, maintain an average of 3,000 breeding adults distributed along the coast.

• Number 5 on the list is San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara Counties  with an initial population of 1,200

2. Maintain a 5-year average productivity of at least 1.0 fledged chick per male in each recovery unit in the last 5 years prior to delisting 

• From 2012 -2014, the average productivity of Of Oceano Dunes was 1.52 juveniles per male. In 2014 alone, the average was 1.63 [6]

3. In order to ensure the snowy plover from perishing after delisting, a long term management plan must be devised to effectively protect breeding grounds as well as winter and migration areas.

From: http://www.nps.gov/pore/learn/nature/birds_snowyplover.htm

Are you interested in getting involved?
With the Sharing Our Shores Program you can educate the public, spread awareness, and monitor the beach. Here's the link: http://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/p/western-snowy-plover.html 
Guidelines and what to avoid in nesting areas:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/735/files/flyerploverhr.pdf 

                                                                                                                                                                   
Sources
[1] http://www.fws.gov/arcata/es/birds/WSP/plover.html 
[2] http://www.sanctuarysimon.org/monterey/sections/specialSpecies/western_snowy_plover.php
[3] http://www.westernsnowyplover.org/
[4] http://www.fws.gov/carlsbad/SpeciesStatusList/RP/20070813_RP_WSP.pdf 
[5] http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22542 
[6] http://www.fws.gov/arcata/es/birds/WSP/documents/2014_Oceano_Dunes_State_Vehicular_Recreation_Area_Annual_Nesting_Report.pdf 

Links to the Threatened Canadian Lynx

Canadian Lynx (Lynx Canadensis)

by Sarah Kallies

 

http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0831-hance_wolf_lynx.html

 

Background Information:

 

           The Canadian Lynx, a North American mammal part of cat family, has been listed as a threatened species since March 24, 2000.  These cute and fluffy felines can grow to be 30-35 inches in length and can weigh 18-23 pounds.  Their dense grey and brown furs keep them warm during the cold winters and their long legs and large paws are wonderfully engineered for hunting and roaming through the thick snow.  They may be mistaken as bobcats when seen because of their similar sizes, however, the Canadian Lynx are distinctly recognizable by their short, black tipped tails, fluff around their necks, and by their black tufted ears.  Canadian Lynx are mostly nocturnal; however, it is not unheard of to see some wondering during the day.  Their primary source of food is the snowshoe hare, however, when snowshoe hares are scarce, they will hunt rodents, birds, and other animals.

Canadian Lynx are located throughout the northern part of North America and have been found in 14 American states including Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.  Areas with the strongest long-term evidence of the persistence of lynx populations within the contiguous United States are defined as core areas according to the Canadian Lynx Recovery Outline. Although they are known to be very secretive and hidden creatures, enough information has been gathered in order to draft a recovery plan in order to better protect these beautiful animals.



http://www.ldjackson.net/sunday-hunt-for-links-canada-lynx-edition/



Reasons for Being Threatened:

 

           A boreal forest containing a large population of snowshoe hares and an abundance of thick snow is a Canadian Lynx’s ideal habitat.  Because they are so habitat specific, many things are causing them to be threatened.  First off, the primary food source for the Canadian lynx is the snowshoe hare, as mentioned before.  Therefore, the population of Canadian lynx is suspected to directly correlate with the population of snowshoe hare.  Another listed factor is global warming.  The change in temperatures leads to less snow for the lynx to make a home out off.  Other threats include recreational activities and timber harvesting activities such as the construction of roads and pre-commercial thinning.  Canadian Lynx are more reserved, and when they see that more people are coming into their habitat, they will feel threatened and leave.  Lastly, an obvious threat to the Canadian lynx is trapping for their fur.  Restrictions on trapping lynx have been placed in different states during the 1980’s, however trapping still continues to occur in Canada.  With this being a threat, we see less emigration from Canada to USA’s core areas.

 

http://kaufmanfurs.net/index.php?page_id=12&slider=1

 

Recovery Outline:

           The four objectives for protecting Canadian lynx are: 1) Retain adequate habitat quality to support long-term persistence of their populations in all of the core areas, 2) Ensure the long-term persistence of immigration and emigration between each core area and other populations, 3) Ensure secondary areas (population areas other than the core areas) remain available, and 4) Ensure that all of the threats have been addressed.  In order to obtain these objectives we need to commit to managing the core areas, whether they are on private land or federal land, we need to keep track of the lynx in each core area, identify the lynx movements between populations, identify any limiting factors to the lynx’s success in the USA, and lastly, develop a post-delisting monitoring plan so that we can make sure that the lynx do not become threatened again.  Although the recovery plan for the Canadian lynx is just a draft, a lot has been discovered about these awesome cats in order to help protect them since they were listed in 2000.

 

http://becuo.com/lynx-kitten

 

You can help protect the Canadian Lynx by following this link:

 

http://www.defenders.org/canada-lynx/how-you-can-help

 

Sources:

 

http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/mammals/canada-lynx.aspx

http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=A073

 

 

 

The Key Deer in South Florida

The Key Deer in South Florida

Odocoileus virginianus clavium

by Kenneth Lee

Who are they?

The Key deer is the smallest subspecies of the North American white-tailed deer. A number of characteristics distinguish Key deer from other white-tailed deer; these include high saltwater tolerance, low birth rates, low productivity, more solitary habits, and weak family bonds. The Key deer population is the most genetically divergent deer population in the southeastern United States.

Key deer utilize all types of habitat within their range, including flatwoods, rocklands, and different types of wetland. They may use these habitats seasonally or year-round for shelter, foraging, cover, bedding, and fawning. Bucks associate with females only during the breeding season and will tolerate other males when feeding and bedding only during the non-breeding season. They feed on native plants such as red, black and white mangroves, thatch palm berries and over 160 other species of plants.




What happened to them?
The socio-biology of Key deers in South Florida appear to have changed in recent years as a result of increasing influence and contact by humans. Increase in group size, reduction in movements, and change in behavior from the early 1970s to the early 1990s in several subdivisions indicate increasing domestication of the deer and urbanization of its habitat. Since the widespread settlement of humans in the Keys, Key deer have been exposed to influences they had not evolved to overcome, which almost led to their extinction between 1940-1950 and is the cause of their endangerment today.

Historically, the maximum population of Key deer was probably between 600 to 700 individuals in their historical range.Their population was estimated to be 250 to 300 individuals in 1990, assessed the risk of extinction, predicted the impacts of management options, and set targets for recovery. Road mortality continues to increase, as does habitat fragmentation and loss. As long as such threats exist, the status of the Key deer will continue to be in question.




Why did they get listed?
Over-hunting was the main threat before it was prohibited in the early 1950s. Since then, habitat loss, vehicular traffic, habitat degradation, and illegal feeding threatened the Key Deer population. In recent years, the most intensive threat to the continued existence of the Key deer is the loss or alteration of habitat. Residential and commercial construction activities have destroyed essential components of Key deer habitat including vegetation and freshwater resources. Habitat degradation and fragmentation has reduced the Key deer’s distribution and affected behavior. Habitat fragmentation from fencing and development restricts deer movements, creating bottlenecks that interfere with their ability to reach permanent water and feeding areas and often forcing them to cross roads in areas of heavy traffic.

The Key deer was listed as endangered species in 1967. Efforts to enforce hunting bans and to protect the deer from human disturbance allowed the Key deer population to increase slowly. The Key deer remains federally listed due to the continued loss of its habitat and because of high, human-related moralities and disturbances.


Path of Recovery

The objective of this recovery plan is to reclassify the Key deer from endangered to threatened by protecting, managing, and restoring its habitat in the Lower Keys. A National Key Deer Refuge was established in 1957 in Big Pine Key, Florida to protect this precious species. The strategy is to minimize human-induced or human-related mortality in order to create optimal environment for Key Deer to live in.

Work Cited

Multi-species Recovery Plan for the Threatened and Endangered Species of South Florida. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1998. Print.

Image
(1) http://www.keydeer.org/images/wobby_fawn_400w.htm
(2) http://blog.tranquilitybay.com/2012/05/spotlight-on-national-key-deer-refuge/
(3) http://www.keydeer.org/images/conch_fawn_k_wheeler_640x482.htm
(4) http://www.fws.gov/nationalkeydeer/national_map.html

Beware of Beaver Extinction

ESA Assignment: Cory Kent

(drakehs.org)

Recovery Plan for Point Arena Beaver:

This is a mountain beaver that is listed on the endangered species list.  The particular subspecies is only located in a small coastal area in Mendocino County, CA.  There are about twenty-six populations that have been found in this area, so the total number of beavers is estimated to be somewhere between 200 and 500 (US Fish and Wildlife Service 27).  Beavers are very hard to observe because they build such intensive burrows to protect themselves.  These animals are also not colonial and they have very little social interaction.  They are for the most part solitary animals until a small breeding window.  They are a keystone species to several vertebrates and other animals thanks to their burrowing system.  Their presence creates a suitable habitat for salamanders, skunks, moles, mink, and many others.    
The population density for this subspecies is hard to determine but it is somewhere between .61 to .81 individuals per hectare (US Fish and Wildlife Service 33).  This species' population is so hard to determine because it is difficult to count how many beavers are in one burrow.  The reasons that this species has become endangered are habitat degradation and predation.  Their habitat has either been eliminated or degraded due to land development, grazing, timber harvest, and invasion of alien plants species.  Direct threats include predation from household pets and feral animals, poisoning, genetic isolation, and human caused disturbances.  Another handicap for beavers and their need for a specific environment is the fact that they are unable to thermoregulate.  They can handle colder temperatures better than hotter.  Beavers have an unusually low reproductive rate.  Females do not mature until their second year, only have gestation once a year, and usually only produce two or three offspring in the once a year litter (US Fish and Wildlife Service 35)

(Rue)

 
These beavers require a cool, moist area for an ideal environment.  In the Point Arena area that these beavers reside, the environment has been heavily forested due to agriculture, including cattle grazing, which has resulted in the distribution of this beaver population being altered (US Fish and Wildlife Service 5).  

(Wikipedia)

The name of the recovery plan is Point Arena Mountain Beaver Aplodontia rufa nigra (Rafinesque).  The date of the listing was June 2, 1992 in the California/ Nevada region, it was listed as endangered and the plan has been finalized.  The species will be considered for down listing when sixteen populations are protected from human caused disturbance in perpetuity, when they are stable or increasing over ten years, and if they have a mean density of at least four beavers per hectare.  In order to do this, the recovery plan states that we must protect known populations, protect suitable habitats, buffers, and corridors, and develop management plans and guidelines.  Another danger for these beavers is residential neighborhoods setting out rodent traps that sometimes these beavers succumb to.  It is also important to rope off areas where these beavers have their burrows so that humans do not stomp on them, or their surrounding habitat.  Downlisting could be initiated in 2015 and delisting by 2025 (US Fish and Wildlife Service 7).

Other Sources:

http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=MA0073

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/1869/0

Killer Whales

                              The Story of the Killer Whale

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Many of you know this animal as the killer whale, however its scientic name is Ornicus Orca and is part of the family delphinidae, which is a genera of marine dophins.

Killer Whales are easy to spot because of their marks, a black back, white chest and sides, and a white patch above and behind the eye. Males can be up 31 ft and weigh in excess of 6 tonnes but Females are smaller, reaching up to 28 ft and a weight of about 5 tonnes.

 I’m sure many of you recognize this animal or have heard about it through the movie Blackfish (Trailer for blackfish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G93beiYiE74) and the scandle with SeaWorld, did you know the animal is also endangered?

It was listed as an endangered mammal on February 16^th, 2006. Southern Resident killer whales were designated as a depleted stock under the MMPA in 2003. Killer Whales are primarily located along the northeastern coast of Asia from eastern Russia to southern China. To learn more about the extinction of the animal, check out this article on national geographic.

The lighter coloration is where orcas live. National Geographic. 

Killer whales eat a large variety of prey, including most marine mammal species. They have a diversity of foraging tactics, including intentional beaching to gain access to seals onshore. They are known to use cooperative techniques to herd fish and to attack large prey. Killer whales hunt in family pacts.  

Studies have described three distinct ecotypes of killer whales, called residents, transients, and offshores. They are different because of ecological differences, differences in coloration, external morphology, behavior and sound. The three different types of killer whales maintain their distance.

The northeastern Pacific residents love salmon and have a strong preference for one species, the chinook salmon.

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Transients in coastal waters of the northeastern Pacific appear to eat small cetaceans and occasionally take baleen whales.

Killer whales in coastal Norway specialize on herring and on bluefin tuna. In the Antarctic, the killer whales appear to specialize on minke whales, one smaller type eats mostly seals, and yet another small form appears to be a fish-eater.

 If you are interested in orca culture, heres an article to feed your orca obsession!

But why has this wonderful animal been listed as endangered?

Human impact has played a huge role in the animal’s endangerment. Killer Whales have been exploited for many years in several regions worldwide which is the main reason behind its endangerment. 

Norwegian whalers in the eastern North Atlantic took an average of 56 whales per year from 1938 to 1981. The Japanese took an average of 43 whales per year along their coastal waters from 1946 to 1981. The Soviets, whaling primarily in the Antarctic, took an average of 26 animals annually from 1935 to 1979 and then took 916 animals in the 1979/80 Antarctic season (Dahlheim and Heyning 1999; Reyes 1991). Killer whales are still taken in small numbers in coastal fisheries in Japan, Greenland, Indonesia, and the Caribbean islands (Reeves et al. 2003).

Other impacts have been oil spills, Moving boats can disrupt activities such as eating and resting, and underwater boat noise could affect social and echolocation signals of the whales. Lastly, the reduction of predation has played a huge role.

However, there is hope! A recovery plan has been devised.

There are five main concerns that need to be addressed in order to save this species:

1.         Protect the Southern Resident killer whale population from factors that may be contributing to its decline or reducing its ability to recover.

2.         Protect Southern Resident killer whales from additional threats that may cause disturbance, injury, or mortality, or impact habitat.

3.         Develop public information and education programs.

4.         Respond to killer whales that are stranded, sick, injured, isolated, pose a threat to the public, or exhibit nuisance behaviors.

5.         Transboundary and interagency coordination and cooperation.

Hopefully we can save this beautiful mammal from extinction!

(By: Marie Leleu)