2011 February | The Wildlife Society

The Wildlife Policy News

Volume 21, Issue 2 | February 2011

Editor: Laura M. Bies
Reporters: Maeghan Brass

Wildlife Policy News is intended to foster the exchange of information about policy issues among Society leaders. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect official policy of The Wildlife Society unless so stated. Please share this publication with your colleagues. Contents may be reprinted with credit to Wildlife Policy News. We welcome comments and suggestions for future issues at laura@wildlife.org. Download the entire issue as a PDF

In this Issue:

Predator Management Draft Plan Now Available for Keys Refuges

On 3 January 2011, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made available a Draft Integrated Management Plan/Environmental Assessment for the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex. The Complex includes the National Key Deer, Key West, Great White Heron, and Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuges. These refuges comprise diverse habitats and are home to more than 30 threatened and endangered species. Some of these species – such as the Key deer, Lower Keys marsh rabbit, and Key Largo woodrat – are endemic to the refuges and are therefore especially dependent on the science-based management of these lands.

The predator management plan is the result of concerns regarding the impact of exotic and even some native predators on the long-term viability of native species that already face numerous threats. Exotic predators – such as domestic cats, black rats, and reptiles – and native predators, like raccoons, that are artificially inflated in abundance as a result of human-subsidized food sources have had documented impacts on sensitive species in the Keys Refuge Complex. The document considers the environmental impact of three management alternatives: 1) no action, 2) integrated predator management (proposed action), and 3) lethal control only. Comments are due 3 February 2011 and a final plan will be made available once comments have been considered and revisions are made.

To view the draft plan/environmental assessment, visit the project website.

Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Miami Herald.

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NWF Releases New Guide to Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

As part of an effort to provide natural resource managers with guidance and tools for adaptation planning, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) recently released Scanning the Conservation Horizon – A Guide to Climate Change Assessment. This document is a user’s guide to vulnerability assessments and training curriculum and was produced to enable managers of fish and wildlife to “better plan, execute, and interpret climate change vulnerability assessments.”

Noting it as the first step in developing and implementing effective adaptation strategies, the guide emphasizes that vulnerability assessments are necessary for understanding potential impacts of climate change. Such assessments allow for the identification of species most likely to be strongly affected by climate change, as well as improved understanding as to why these species are most vulnerable. The ultimate result is better-informed development and prioritization of conservation actions.

To view a copy of the new guide, visit the National Wildlife Federation’s website.

Source: The National Wildlife Federation.

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Development Further Threatens At-Risk Species in U.S. Private Forests

In early January 2011, the U.S. Forest Service issued Threats to At-Risk Species in America’s Private Forests: A Forests on the Edge Report. The document is the most recent in a series of reports produced as part of “Forests on the Edge,” a Forest Service project working to highlight the benefits of and challenges facing the nation’s private forests. This installment focuses on native animals and plants found in private forests, and the thousands that are already at-risk (listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act) in particular.

The report states that private forests are home to more than 60 percent of all at-risk species (numbering more than 4,6000 native plants and animals) in the lower 48 states. Private forests comprise greater than half of America’s forests and face pressure from housing development, pests, diseases, and fire. Development is of particular concern, as it is likely to reduce important private forest habitat. The report estimates that more than 56 million acres of private forest throughout the United States are likely to undergo increased development over the next several decades. Beyond predictions of major losses in key habitats due to development, the report also offers recommendations to minimize impacts and slow the rate of loss.

A relevant but not directly related action by the Forest Service that has the potential to reduce the development rate of private forests is the proposed rule for implementing the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program. Under this program, communities have the opportunity to apply for competitive grants to purchase and manage their own forests. The rule is currently open for comment until 7 March 2011.

To view the full report, visit the Forest Service website. For more information on the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program and how to comment on the proposed rule, view the Federal Register announcement.

Sources: U.S. Forest Service, E&E News, LLC (Land Letter).

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Test Group of Bison Released Outside Yellowstone

Credit: National Park Service

On 19 January 2011, a test group of 25 bison was released from the Stephens Creek holding facility and, for the first time since near extinction 100 years ago, bison are being permitted beyond the limits of Yellowstone National Park. Equipped with ear tags and GPS collars, the herd is moving outside the northern boundary of the park along the Old Yellowstone Trail and onto Gallatin National Forest land. Not far behind the herd is a group of riders on horseback comprised of representatives from state, federal, and tribal partners cooperating under the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IMBP) and working to monitor the herd’s movement. So far, one bison cow from the traveling herd was shot and killed by Montana Department of Livestock after two days of unsuccessful efforts to move it back onto public land and a group of thirteen was returned to the park after repeatedly moving onto private land.

Until this point, bison have been restricted from the majority of lands beyond the northern boundary of the park as part of a risk management strategy. The greatest concern associated with allowing bison to roam freely outside of the park has been transmission of brucellosis to cattle, a disease that causes the abortion of young in livestock. Only individuals not yet exposed to brucellosis were selected for the test group and then vaccinated.

The release is the second step of the IMBP, which called for an increase in bison outside of the park starting in 2002, but was delayed as arrangements were made to establish a cattle-free corridor between the park and national forest land. The goal of this first release is to understand how bison use the new area. Although some concern remains among livestock growers about potential risks associated with bison outside of the park, the release is viewed as a significant step in terms of bison management and tolerance of the species outside the park.

Sources: National Park Service, E&E News, LLC (Land Letter), Reuters.

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New Refuge Proposed in Everglades

Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

On 7 January 2011, the Obama administration announced plans for the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area that would protect, restore, and conserve more than 150,000 acres of key habitat south of Orlando, Florida, largely through partnerships. As the name suggests, the area would play a key role in the protection of the headwaters of the imperiled Everglades. Specifically, the proposed refuge would improve water quality north of Lake Okeechobee, restore wetlands, and increase connections between conservation lands and wildlife corridors.

The refuge will be established through efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and partners to work with interested and willing landowners. A variety of methods are expected to be utilized to establish the refuge, such as conservation lands that have already been established, fee simple purchase, conservation easements, leases, lands set aside through habitat conservation plans, conservation and mitigation banks, and cooperative agreements with landowners. The refuge would represent the northernmost part of a 4.5 million acre region for which increasing efforts are being made to protect lands for the preservation of both the Everglades and habitat for the Florida panther and other threatened and endangered species.

The proposal is in its early stages and public scoping meetings are being planned for January and February 2011. Development of a Draft Land Protection Plan and NEPA Document is planned for March-May 2011. For more information, visit the project website.

Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, E&E News, LLC (E&E PM).

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Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Reintroduced

On 5 January 2011, House Natural Resources ranking member Ed Markey (D-MA) reintroduced the “Arctic Wilderness Act (H.R. 139),” a bill that would protect Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil and gas drilling. The same bill was introduced by Markey in the previous Congress and proposes approximately 1.5 million acres of wilderness on the coastal plain, a region of the refuge not yet designated as wilderness and of interest for oil development.

Markey encouraged support for the bill and noted concerns about the devastating impacts of oil spills and the ability of authorities to respond to such spills, particularly in cold climates. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the largest of all of the nation’s refuges and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. The refuge is best known for “wilderness, undisturbed wildlife and ecological processes, and unique recreational and scientific opportunities.”

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. On 25 January 2011, Joe Lieberman (D-CT) introduced to the Senate a partner bill (S.33) that designates 1.5 million acres of wilderness along the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Similar to the Arctic Wilderness Act, this bill strengthens protections from oil and gas development on the refuge. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Environmental and Public Works.

Sources: The Library of Congress THOMAS, E&E News, LLC (E&E Daily), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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TWS Update: New DOI Scientific Integrity Policy

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced 1 February 2011 the establishment of a new policy to “ensure and maintain the integrity of scientific and scholarly activities used in Departmental decision making.” The policy applies to all Departmental employees involved in scientific or scholarly activities, the communication of scientific or scholarly information, or utilization of such information in decision-making. It also supports the participation in professional societies. TWS previously commented on the draft policy, published in late 2010.

Sources: US. Department of the Interior.

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News Update: WNS Reaches Indiana

Marking the beginning of this season’s reports of white-nose syndrome (WNS), the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have confirmed that the WNS fungus has reached the state. A bat from a cave in southern Indiana tested positive for the fungus that causes WNS. This discovery marks Indiana’s first case of the fungus, believed to have caused the deaths of more than 1 million bats in the eastern United States. Tell-tale signs include the visibly white fungus on the nose, wings, ears, or tail membrane of infected bats and abnormal behaviors. It is believed that the fungus is transmitted from one bat to another, but people may be inadvertently transporting fungal spores from one cave to the next via clothing or equipment. No cure or treatment exists, but efforts are underway to better understand and prevent WNS.

Source: Indiana DNR.

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