Volume 21, Issue 1 | January 2011

Editor: Laura M. Bies
Reporters: Emily Boehm, Rachael Confair, and Alexandra Sutton

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:

• Dan Ashe Nominated as Director of Fish and Wildlife Service
• Independent Reports Assess BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program
• White House Releases Guidelines for Scientific Integrity
• Climate Change Summit Reaches Agreement
• Proposed Conservation Plan for Prairie Potholes
• Wolverine Listed as Candidate under the ESA
• Camera-Trap Confirms Survival of Highly Endangered Fox
• News Update: Short-Term Funding Bill Passed
• TWS Update: New Jersey Bear Hunt Concludes With Record Numbers

USFWS Director Daniel M. Ashe Credit: US FWS

Dan Ashe Nominated as Director of Fish and Wildlife Service

On 3 December 2010, President Obama nominated Dan Ashe to be the next Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). A scientist by training, Ashe received a Bachelor’s in Science from Florida State University and then a Master’s degree in Marine Sciences from the University of Washington. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar praised Obama’s decision to appoint a scientist to the post, describing Ashe as “…an outstanding choice to ensure the Service’s programs are both innovative and science-driven as we face the challenges of managing our fish and wildlife resources in the 21st century.”

If the Senate approves his nomination, Ashe will face decisions on delisting gray wolves and grizzly bears while contending with a growing list of candidate species on the Federal Endangered Species List. FWS will also be under pressure to protect critical migration corridors via land acquisition.

Ashe has held science-related positions in the agency for many years, most recently as the science advisor to the director from 2003-2009. Prior to taking that position, Ashe was the Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System from 1998-2003. Ashe currently serves as the Deputy Director under Acting Director Rowan Gould, who assumed the post in February 2010 following the death of Director Sam Hamilton.

Sources: The White House, Department of the Interior, E&E News, LLC (Land Letter, GreenWire).

Independent Reports Assess BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program

Two independent reports released this month assess the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) handling of its Wild Horse and Burro (WHB) Program. The Independent Designated Observer Pilot Program Final Report, conducted by four academic equine specialists and/or veterinarians under the umbrella of the American Horse Protection Association (AHPA), focused on the welfare and treatment of the horses during roundups. These researchers attended three gathers during the summer of 2010, and found that BLM employees were “gentle and knowledgeable” in their treatment of the horses, and moved the horses forward into the corrals skillfully and humanely. The report offers several suggestions for improving the gather process, including limiting the number of public observers at the site to minimize noise, which discourages horses from moving willingly into the trap site.

The Office of the Inspector General (IG) for the Department of Interior completed a second report, the objective of which was to determine if gathers were necessary and performed humanely. This report found no mistreatment of the horses and burros, and concluded that BLM must continue to gather and remove horses because “BLM lands cannot sustain the growing population of wild horses and burros.” It also noted that “…the growing population of these animals must be addressed to achieve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance of the authorized uses of the land.” The IG also cited growing budget concerns, as the total cost of the program has increased from $36.7 million in 2004 to $66.1 million in 2010. Finally, the IG report recommends aggressive research into population control methods, new solutions to reduce the number of horses in short- and long-term holding facilities, and implementation of best science following the ongoing National Academy of Sciences review of the WHB program.

Sources: Inspection of Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program, American Horse Protection Association, E&E News, LLC (Landletter, Greenwire).

White House Releases Guidelines for Scientific Integrity

On 17 December 2010, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released its guidelines for scientific integrity in government agencies. The Memorandum on Scientific Integrity outlines requirements for five areas: Foundations of Scientific Integrity in Government, Public Communications, Use of Federal Advisory Committees, and Professional Development of Government Scientists and Engineers, and Implementation.

Particularly interesting to TWS members, the guidelines in part IV state that agencies should “allow full participation in professional or scholarly societies, committees, task forces and other specialized bodies of professional societies, including removing barriers for serving as officers or on governing boards of such societies.” TWS has long advocated reducing barriers to federal employees holding leadership positions within the Society.

Agencies will have 120 days to develop policies in accordance with the new guidelines. This announcement follows a March 2010 memorandum that presented six basic principles for maintaining scientific integrity and appointed the Director of OSTP to oversee scientific process and activities of the executive branch. 

Sources: The New York Times, The White House.

Climate Change Summit Reaches Agreement

On 29 November 2010, 9,000 delegates from 190 countries met to discuss ways to combat climate change. The United Nations climate change conference deliberated for two weeks, ending with modest proposals on cutting greenhouse emissions and another year for countries to decide on whether to extend Kyoto Protocol.

The Cancun Agreements set a framework for countries, both developed and developing, to break the current stalemate regarding greenhouse gas emissions. Delegates also paved the way for technological development and funding for developing countries. The Agreements reiterated the pledge made in Copenhagen by industrial countries to provide $30 million in aid over the next two years to developing countries and those vulnerable to damages caused by climate change. Delegates stated the intention to raise $100 billion by 2020 for long-term aid, but the source of such funding is still a subject of debate. The Agreements also included plans to prevent the clearing of tropical forests, a practice responsible for 15% of the Earth’s carbon dioxide emissions.

Next year, the delegates will meet in Durban, South Africa to finalize plans, including the strategy to prevent slash and burning of tropical forests and to agree on the financial responsibilities of each country. This year’s meeting disembarked with little progress toward reversing climate change, but laid the groundwork for next year’s meeting.
Meanwhile, in the U.S. House of Representatives, Republicans announced plans to dismantle the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming after they take control of the House in its 112th session. Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), the panel’s senior Republican and climate skeptic, made the announcement. Ed Markey (D-MA) organized the Committee four years ago when Democrats held the majority in the House.

Sources: American Institute for Biological Sciences, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times.

Proposed Conservation Plan for Prairie Potholes

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced its plan to preserve a large swath of prairie pothole habitat across eastern North and South Dakota and the northeastern part of Montana. The Dakota Grassland Conservation Area aims to protect 2 million acres over the next 20 to 30 years by partnering with private landowners to slow the conversion of native prairie to croplands. Volunteer landowners would receive payments for one half to one third the value of their property in conservation easements while maintaining use of the land for cattle grazing or haying after the nesting season in mid-July. FWS would spend approximately $588 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund over the life of the project.

The unique and endangered grasslands of the prairie pothole habitat are studded with ponds and wetlands left behind as the last glaciers receded north. Although it represents just 2% of available breeding ground, 30% of the country’s ducks use this region to breed. Ultimately, FWS hopes to protect as much as 12 million acres of prairie potholes to protect waterfowl breeding grounds.

The plan was released 1 December 2010 and has already drawn opposition from the Montana Grain Growers, whose representatives expressed concern that the government program will impede their ability to farm. However, Ducks Unlimited, who has partnered with FWS in support of the plan, says that they expect opposition to fade as it becomes clear that enrollment in the program is completely voluntary.

To learn more about the plan, please visit the project website. FWS is accepting comments on the proposal until 31 December 2010, and held public meetings in the region earlier this month. Comments can be sent by email to DGCA_comments@fws.gov.

Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, AP Billings Gazette.

Wolverine Listed as Candidate Species under the Endangered Species Act

On 13 December 2010, the North American wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) was listed as a “candidate species” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by the US Fish & Wildlife Service. The candidate species list--sometimes referred to as the “waiting list”--is comprised of species that are acknowledged to be threatened or endangered but the circumstances of which do not yet warrant full listing under the ESA. Candidate species for the ESA are reviewed annually to assess any changes in status or threat level.

The wolverine is a territorial predator in the mustelid family, known for its ferocity in food competition with other carnivores. In the United States, loss of denning sites due to climate change–as females require deep snow to dig their burrows–has been identified as one of the major causes of population decline.

Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Wolverine Foundation.

A camera trap image of a Sierra Nevada Red Fox. Credit: US Fish & Wildlife Service

Camera-Trap Confirms Survival of Highly Endangered Fox

Camera-trap images of the Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator), previously believed to be extinct, have been captured near Sonora Pass, California, offering anindication that the species may not only be surviving but recovering. The images, which appear to show 4 individual foxes, were taken by a camera monitoring a bait station near Yosemite National Park. Scat collected at the same bait station has confirmed the presence of at least 2 individuals, but further results are pending.

The fox was listed as an endangered species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) in 1980, when its population was estimated at just 20 individuals. The Sierra Nevada red fox is a smaller subspecies of the common red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and was historically found at high elevations throughout the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The species was driven to near extinction throughout the 20th century by trapping, persecution, and habitat destruction. Learn more about the Sierra Nevada red fox at the California Department of Fish & Game’s species factsheet website.

Source: Los Angeles Times.

News Update: Short-Term Funding Bill Passed

On 22 December 2010, President Obama signed into law a continuing resolution (CR) appropriations bill that will fund the federal government at 2010 levels through 4 March 2011. The temporary spending measure (H.R. 3082) passed by a 193 – 165 vote (80 members not present) in the House of Representatives and was approved by a 79-16 vote in the Senate. The resolution includes a small increase in spending to compensate for increased need, as well as the President’s proposed 2-year federal civilian worker pay freeze.

Source: The Washington Post.

TWS Update: New Jersey Bear Hunt Concludes With Record Numbers

The 2010 New Jersey bear hunt concluded on 11 December 2010 with record numbers of bear taken by permit holders. Nearly eight thousand permits were distributed, and 591 bears had been harvested at the conclusion of the preliminary count on 13 December 2010. The hunt, conducted by the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife, was one element of a population management program for the black bear, whose numbers have grown vastly in the past 10 years. The Wildlife Society submitted comments supporting New Jersey’s draft bear management plan on 8 June 2010.

Sources: NJ.com, New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife

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