February 1982 vol. VII NO. 2

Department of interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Technical Bulletin Endangered Species Program, Washington, D.C. 20240

to reproduce in Clear Creek and may compete for food and cover with the Recovery Plan Approved for Clear Creek gambusia. The Wilkinson family, landowners of the Clear Creek Ranch, have played a Clear Creek Gambusia major role in conservation efforts for the species and have demonstrated a high level of environmental concern for the The Clear Creek Gambusia Recovery Where the Clear Creek gambusia and perpetuation of this fish. However, the Plan was approved by the Service on mosquito fish occur together, hybridiza- ranch is presently for sale and the con- January 14, 1982. The Rio Grande Re- tion and competition for food occur. The cern of future landowners cannot be covery Team which includes members mosquito fish generally associates with predicted. from Texas Parks and Wildlife Depart- a eurythermal relatively alkaline envi- Recovery tasks identified by the plan ment, New Mexico Department of Game ronment in contrast to the requirements for the recovery of the Clear Creek and Fish, University of Texas, Okla- of the Clear Creek gambusia. However, gambusia include further research into homa State University, University of its preference for warmer water causes its biology, ecological requirements, Nuevo Leon and the Service prepared a winter migration towards the head- and competition with the mosquito fish the plan. spring where the Clear Creek gambusia and rainwater killifish; protection of the The Clear Creek gambusia (Gam- is restricted. The first dam below the headsprings habitat; maintenance of a busia heterochir) was first collected on head-spring deteriorated over the years captive population; possible restoration February 22, 1953, in Wilkinson Springs and has periodically allowed invasion of of the original habitat (i.e. the entire on the Clear Creek Ranch in Menard mosquito fish into the habitat of the stretch of Clear Creek); and public County, Texas. Listed as Endangered in Clear Creek gambusia. Repairs to the information. 1967, it is only known to occur in the dam which were funded by the Service Implementation of the recovery plan headwaters of Clear Creek located on and carried out by recovery team mem- will be initiated by the Service's the Clear Creek Ranch. The recovery bers and associates in August and Sep- Albuquerque Regional Director and plan identifies the major threats to the tember 1979 have restored this barrier carried out through the Albuquerque species as genetic and environmental and at least temporarily blocked further Regional Endangered Species Staff. competition with mosquito fish immigration by mosquito fish. Further information on the Clear Creek (Gambusia affinis) and potential devel- A collection of rainwater killifish gambusia recovery effort can be ob- opment of its extremely restricted (Lucania parva) in Clear Creek in 1980 tained by contacting the Regional Direc- habitat. documents a recent new introduction tor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Originally Clear Creek was a clear and additional potential threat. Although Box 1306, Albuquerque, New Mexico spring run that freely flowed about 5 km a brackish water species, it is expected 87130 (505/766-2321). to its confluence with the San Saba Riv- er. Upper Clear Creek, which consists of a series of interconnected limestone Removed from Endangered springs originating from Edwards Aqui- fer, has been altered extensively for irri- Species List gation and domestic uses. Prior to 1900, a low, earth-concrete dam was After a review of all available data, combining of two spring outflows, which built about 75 meters downstream from the Service has determined the Tecopa in turn created unfavorable habitat for the headsprings. Three additional dams pupfish ( nevadensis the pupfish. were built downstream from the original calidae) to be extinct and has, there- The effects of habitat alteration, pos- dam in the 1930's, ponding water to the fore, removed it from the U.S. List of sibly combined with competition and base of each subsequent dam. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife predation from introduced fishes, The Clear Creek gambusia has spe- and Plants (F.R. 1/15/82). This action caused such a precipitous decline in the cific habitat requirements which restrict discontinues protection for the fish and population by 1969 that the fish was it to that part of Clear Creek with clear, its habitat provided by the Endangered listed as Endangered by both the Fed- sternothermal, low pH (6.1-6.5) waters Species Act of 1973, as amended. eral and State governments in 1970. By having abundant aquatic vegetation The , a tiny fish only 1972, it was reported to no longer occur composed mainly of an endemic, unde- about 1.5 inches long, was described in at the type locality, and surveys in 1977 scribed form of Ceratophyllum sp. Al- 1948 by Dr. Robert Rush Miller from the failed to locate any other population. though at one time it may have been outflow streams of two springs (north A proposal to remove the Tecopa more widespread in the Clear Creek and south Tecopa Hot Springs) north of pupfish from the Federal list of Endan- drainage, extensive collecting in 1956 the town of Tecopa in southern Califor- gered species was published in the and 1957 found this fish confined al- nia. During the 1950's, remodeling and Federal Register on July 3, 1978. The most entirely to the spring-fed upper- landscaping of the hot spring bath- California Department of Fish and most pool. houses resulted in the rechanneling and Continued on page 7 and Game Endangered Species Staff to coordinate programs for the coming year. Because of no new Section 6 funding in Fiscal Year 1982, California's Endangered Species Program will be greatly reduced. State biologists are re- signing from Recovery Team Leader positions on at least two recovery teams, and the emphasis of staff time will be on processing State endangered species permits. The final draft of the Southern Sea Otter Recovery Plan has been approved by the Director. The Sacramento office has released a report on the results of the California mid-winter bald eagle surveys, 1979- 1981. Approximately 700 to 900 bald eagles were counted annually. The Cal- ifornia portion of the Klamath Basin sup- ported almost half of the eagles in the Endangered Species Program regional Soda, California, recently was extir- State. Manmade reservoirs are the sec- staffers have reported the following ac- pated. The cause of the die-off, which ond most important habitat, supporting tivities for the month of January: did not affect a nearby natural lake pop- approximately 37 percent of California's ulation of the chub, is unknown. bald eagles. Region 1—An artificial pond popula- The Sacramento Area Office en- A revised edition of the Bald Eagle tion of the Endangered Mohave tui chub dangered species staff met with the re- h/lanagement Guidelines: Washington- (Gila biocolor mohavensis) at Fort maining California Department of Fish Oregon was issued in December 1981. The guidelines, created for use by land- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 87103 (505-766-2321): Jerry Stegman, owners and land managers, describe Washington, D.C. 20240 Acting Regional Director; Robert F. restrictions in activities and manage- Stephens, Assistant Regional Director; ment recommendations that should be Robert A. Jantzen, Director Jack B. Woody, Endangered Species (202-343-4717) Specialist. applied around bald eagle nest and Ronald E. Lambertson Region 3, Federal BIdg , Fort Snelling, Twin roost sites. The guidelines are advisory Associate Director and Cities, MN 55111 (612-725-3500): James only, and past editions have been well Endangered Species Program Manager W. Pulliam, Acting Regional Director; received by the numerous private and (202-343-4646) Daniel H. Bumgarner, Ass/sfanf fleg/ona/ governmental land managers who over- Harold J. O'Connor Director: James M. Engel, Endangered see bald eagle habitat in Washington Deputy Associate Director Species Specialist. and Oregon. Single copies may be ob- (202-343-4646) Region 4, Richard B. Russell Federal BIdg., John L. Spinks, Chief, tained from the Area Manager, U.S. 75 Spring St., S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303 Fish and Wildlife Service, 2625 Park- Office of Endangered Species (404-221-3583): Walter O. Stieglitz, Act- (703-235-2771) ing Regional Director; John Christian, mont Lane, Olympia, Washington Richard Parsons, Chief, Assistant Regional Director; Alex B. 98502. Federal Wildlife Permit Office Montgomery, Endangered Species Region 2—Recently, 146 adult razor- (703-235-1937) Specialist. Clark R. Bavin, Chief, back suckers (Xyranchea texanus) Region 5, Suite 700, One Gateway Center, were moved from Lake Mohave to the Division of Law Enforcement Newton Corner, MA 02158 (617-965- (202-343-9242) 5100): Howard Larsen, Regional Direc- Dexter National Fish Hatchery as part of a cooperative program with the States TECHNICAL BULLETIN STAFF tor; Gordon T. Nightingale, Assistant Re- of Arizona and New Mexico. Over one Clare Senecal Kearney, Editor gional Director; Paul Nickerson, Endan- Michael Bender, Assistant Editor gered Species Specialist. million eggs have been produced at (703-235-2407) Region 6, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Dexter, with several million more ex- Center, Denver, CO 80225 (303-234- pected. Young razorbacks from these 2209): Don W. MInnlch, Regional Direc- eggs will be stocked in the wild, or tor; Charles E. Lane, Assistant Regional made available to the States for rearing Regional Offices Director: Don Rodgers, Endangered or stocking in lieu of listing the species. Region 1, Suite 1692, Lloyd 500 BIdg., 500 Species Specialist. N.E. Multnomah St., Portland, OR 97232 Region 7, 1101 E. Tudor Rd., Anchorage, (For more on the stocking program, see (503-231-6118): Richard J. Myshak, fle- AK 99503 (907-276-3800, ext. 495): Keith the September 1981 BULLETIN.) gionalDirector; Edward B. Chamberlain, M. Schreiner, Regional Director; Jon Nel- Region 4—During the January meet- son, Assistant Regional Director; Dennis Assistant Regional Director, Sanford R. ing of the Columbia Dam Coordination Wilbur, Endangered Species Specialist. Money, Acting Endangered Species Region 2, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM Specialist. Committee, the Tennessee Valley Au- thority (TVA) reported completion of its U.S. Fish and Wildlife Regions 2-year field study, which was designed to gather information for its Cumber- Region 1: California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon. Washington, and Pacific Trust Territories. Region 2; landian Mollusk Conservation Program. Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Region 3: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa. Michigan, Minnesota. Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin Region 4: Alabama, Arkansas Florida. Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana. Mississippi. An evaluation of the distribution, host North Carolina. South Carolina. Tennessee. Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Region 5: Connecticut. Dela- fish requirements, habitat, and potential ware. Maine. Maryland, Massachusetts. New Hampshire. New Jersey. New York. Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont. Virginia, West Virginia. Region 6: Colorado, Kansas. Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota. South Da- translocation sites was conducted for kota, Utah, and Wyoming. Region 7: Alaska. two listed species, the Cumberland monkeyface pearly mussel (Quadrula The ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN is published monthly by the intermedia) and the birdwing pearly U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Department of the Interior, Washington, D C. 20240. Continued on page 7 RULEMAKING ACTIONS—JANUARY 1982 Leopard Reclassified as Threatened in Southern Africa

After a lengthy review, the leopard ly taken from the reclassified popula- and overexploitation of this cat for the {Panthera pardus) has been reclas- tions, under the terms and conditions fur trade, especially during the late sified by the Service to Threatened in imposed by CITES. The importation of 1960s, created an enormous drain on part of southern Africa (F.R.1/28/82). leopard products for commercial pur- wild populations and led to its original The change in status under the Endan- poses, including the fur trade, was al- listing in 1972 as Endangered under the gered Species Act affects populations in ways the main threat to the species, Endangered Species Conservation Act Gabon, Congo, Zaire, Uganda, Kenya, and will continue to be prohibited. of 1969. and all African countries to the south. It On the basis of three major studies will remain classified as Endangered in on the leopard conducted since the Background all other parts of its range, and leopards 1972 listing, which indicated that popu- everywhere will be retained on Appen- The leopard is the most widely distrib- lations are stable or increasing in most dix I of the Convention on International uted species of cat, occurring through- sub-Saharan countries, the Service pro- Trade in Endangered Species of Wild out most of Africa, and from Asia Minor posed on March 24, 1980, that those Fauna and Flora (CITES). A special to China, Korea, Japan, and Java; it is populations be reclassified to Threat- provision of the final rule allows the im- also found in India, Sri Lanka, and ened (see April 1980 BULLETIN). The portation of sport-hunted trophies legal- southeast Asia. Widespread poaching Continued on page 6

CITES NEWS—January 1982

The Endangered Species Act of Federal Assistance: Scientific Authority The Service's Office of the Scientific 1973, as anriended in 1979, designates responsibilities are delegated to the As- Authority (OSA) functions as staff to the the Secretary of the Interior as both the sociate Director-Research. U.S. Scientific Authority for CITES. OSA Management Authority and the Scientif- The Service's Wildlife Permit Office reviews applications to export and ic Authority of the United States, for the (WPO) functions as staff to the U.S. import species protected under CITES, purposes of the Convention on Interna- Management Authority for CITES, as- reviews the status of wild and tional Trade in Endangered Species of suring that wildlife and plants are ex- plants impacted by trade, makes cer- Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Man- ported or imported in compliance with tain findings concerning housing and agement Authority responsibilities are laws for their protection and issuing care of protected specimens, and ad- delegated to the Associate Director— permits for legal trade of these species. vises on trade controls.

Service Proposes Removal of Bobcat from Appendix II

The Service announced its determi- States and Canadian populations from September 1981 notice, the Service re- nation that the bobcat {Lynx rufus) is in- Appendix II of CITES (F.R. 1/11/81). A ceived a total of 15 letters from persons appropriately included in Appendix II of preliminary notice which announced the and organizations: 12 in favor of remov- the Convention on International Trade intent of this proposal and requested al of the bobcat from Appendix II of in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna public comments was published earlier CITES and 3 opposed. Nine comments and Flora (CITES) and its decision to (F.R. 9/14/81). in favor of delisting were from State submit a proposal to remove United During the comment period for the wildlife agencies of Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Texas. The Montana Wool Growers Associa- Bobcat Rule Suspended tion, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers A final rule (F.R. 10/14/81) authoriz- effective date of its October 1981 final Association also commented in favor of ing the export of bobcat (Lynx rufus) rule for 60 days while it sought vacation delisting. Comments against delisting taken during the 1981-82 season is of the injunction. However, on Decem- were submitted by the Protec- suspended by the Service for a ber 15, 1981, the District Court denied tion Institute of America, the Defenders 6-month period (F.R. 1/12/81). This ac- the motion of the Service to vacate the of Wildlife, Inc., and the Humane Socie- tion, taken to conform with the U.S. Dis- injunction on grounds that OSA failed to ty of the United States. trict Court injunction prohibiting the promulgate guidelines consistent with a Defenders of Wildlife was the only Service from authorizing the export of previous ruling by the U.S. Court of group to submit detailed reasons for bobcat after July 1, 1981, became ef- Appeals. their position on the proposal. The Serv- fective January 12, 1982. Accordingly, the Service remains un- ice responded in the January notice to On February 3, 1981, the District der court injunction prohibiting the ex- each of Defenders eight points of con- Court for the District of Columbia found port of bobcat and suspends the Octo- tention. (Please consult the Federal the Office of the Scientific Authority's ber rule for 6 months. Further notice Register (Vol. 47, No. 6, pp. (OSA) guidelines for allowing export in- concerning the export of bobcat will be 1242-12461 for the text of these re- valid and issued an injunction which provided when information becomes sponses.) The same document includes prohibited the Service from authorizing available. (See the November 1981 a summary of available information export of the species under CITES. In BULLETIN for more information on the about the bobcat and a discussion of light of this, the Service postponed the October 1981 rule.) Continued on page 8 TENNESSEE STATE REPORT:

^ / Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency Cooperative Efforts Assist State

Very hot weather and bothersome mosquitos which plagued Reelfoot Lake in northwestern Tennessee this summer did little to squelch the enthusiasm of Dr. and Mrs. Arlo Smith, volunteers from the Tennessee Ornithological So- ciety (TOS) and retirees from South- western University In Ivlemphis. On their own time and at their own expense, this couple set up camp close to an obser- vation tower at Reelfoot on June 22, 1981, and set about implementing an eagle hacking project which they had carefully planned in conjunction with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA). The Smiths were given custody of three eaglets which were delivered to TWRA by the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Missouri Department of Conser- vation for the purposes of the project. (All three birds had been blown from nests in Minnesota and Wisconsin; the Wisconsin eaglet had received interim care at the University of Minnesota's raptor rehabilitation center.) TWRA One of the Reelfoot eaglets—just released from the hacking platform on August 6, placed the eaglets in an artificial nest at 1981. Reelfoot and commenced daily feeding. Dr. and Mrs. Smith assisted with feed- ing and monitoring the eaglets for 7 Valuable data and experience was duced from the Chesapeake Bay (Mary- weeks. The Smiths were relieved on gathered through this project, and land and Virginia) at 15 hacking plat- weekends by 11 other members of TOS TWRA has hopes that through addition- forms across Tennessee in a who, in pairs, continued the feeding and al similar efforts nesting eagle popula- cooperative program with TVA. Mem- observation procedures. tions can be re-established in Tennes- bers of TOS and others volunteered for Each day members of TOS climbed see. No successful nesting has been daily feedings of the introduced the 54-foot ladder up the side of a cy- known to occur in the State since 1961, ospreys. press tree in order to enter the Obser- when eagles nested at Reelfoot. vation Room. Here they spent long In addition to working with the Reel- hours observing the eaglets which were foot project, TWRA and the Tennessee The Tennessee Program on a hacking platform in a second cy- Valley Authority (TVA) have cooperated In 1974, the Tennessee State legisla- press 90 feet away. The observers re- in another hacking project at TVA's ture passed the "Tennessee Nongame corded information such as excitability, Land-Between-the-Lakes. In 1980, and Endangered and Threatened Wild- aggression, intimidation, alertness, when several eaglets became available life Species Conservation Act" and as- wing-flapping, growth, preening, and to the State sooner than anticipated, signed responsibility for its implementa- posture. On August 6, the eaglets were TVA had the necessary resources to tion to the Game and Fish Commission. released from the hacking platform. construct hacking and observation tow- During the same year, the Commis- The eaglets apparently migrated from ers on short notice and eventually sion's name changed to TWRA, in order the general area since radio contact hacked both birds. In 1981, three to reflect the agency's broader respon- with the birds was lost after 6 days of captive-bred eaglets (two from Patuxent sibilities. From 1974 through 1977, release. On December 15, the Wiscon- Wildlife Research Center and one from Tennessee's nongame and endangered sin eaglet was found in South Dakota, Columbus, Ohio Zoo) were hacked from species program (NG-ES) was imple- injured by a trap from which it had been the Land-Between-the-Lakes operation. mented by one biologist, William released. It was returned by Service The osprey (Pandion hallaetus), Yambert. During 1978, the NG-ES pro- employees to Dr. Patrick Redig at the listed for protection by the State, has gram was handled by three full-time bi- University of Minnesota center. Upon also undergone a decline in Tennessee. ologists: William Yambert, Robert determining that the eagle could not re- However, 5 years ago it began making a Hatcher, and Thomas Grelen. Since cover, Redig euthanized it. The where- comeback and in 1981, there were five early 1979, the program has been abouts of the other two eaglets Is known nests. A total of forty-seven coordinated by Hatcher. unknown. 6-week old ospreys have been intro- Regarding the hard work and enthusi- where a black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) rookery has ex- isted since 1908, TWRA, the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, the TOS, and the Service cooperated to purchase the land. The species which is protected by the State, has only five known remaining nesting colonies, four of which are in east Tennessee. Cooperative agreements are also be- ing made with owners of caves which provide habitat for the Indiana bat (MyOtis sodalis) and gray bat (Myotis grisescens) in order to limit human en- trance to the caves during seasons of occupation. The Indiana bat exists in 10 caves in Tennessee; there are 67 gray bat caves with over 90 percent of the bats depending on a few caves for winter hibernation.

Other Program Activities An initial top priority of TWRA's NG-ES program was to compile all available in- formation about the status, limitations, and needs of Tennessee's rare wildlife. TWRA and the Tennessee Heritage This 3-inch fish is confined to a single manmade pond and a few headwater Program jointly sponsored the develop- streams of eastern middle Tennessee. ment of Tennessee's Rare Wildlife. The first volume of this species' status re- port, "The Vertebrates," was published asm of the Smiths and other members ognize the uniqueness of their situation in 1980. The second volume, "The In- of TOS, Hatcher recently expressed and are anxious to protect these endan- vertebrates" will be printed in the near gratitude: "We are fortunate to have gered fish. An agreement to protect the future. many capable and interested people species and its habitat has been TWRA sponsored a project launched like the Smiths to help us with our en- reached between the Banks, the TWRA, at the Tennessee Technological Univer- dangered species needs. Many of our and the Nature Conservancy (TNC). sity which seeks methods to determine conservation efforts are carried out The agreement maintains the Banks' the age and annual reproductive suc- completely, or in cooperation with rights as landowners, while simultane- cess of bobcats (Lynx rufus). These TWRA, by private citizens, conservation ously ensuring the protection of the methods have been sought for evalua- groups, (^ederal government agencies, topminnow. tion of bobcat population trends due to and other State agencies. We work es- Dr. David Etnier, the ichthyologist pecially closely with the Tennessee De- from the University of Tennessee who partment of Conservation's Tennessee described the now well-known snail Heritage Program, and have cooperated darter, has found very small numbers of KEY WILDLIFE HABITAT in several projects with TVA, in the topminnow in two streams not far particular." from the Banks' pond, in tvleadow Branch and a tributary to Hickory Creek. In the fall of 1981, Etnier alerted TWRA Citizens Cooperate that the water level in the Banks' pond TWRA has found that most landown- was dangerously low. Accordingly, THIS HABITAT SUPPORTS ers are receptive to protection of endan- TWRA biologists removed most of the gered species habitat if they recognize fish and placed them in aquariums. Re- UNIQUE WILDLIFE SPECIES that they own something unique. TWRA cently, since the water level has again GRAY BAT has negotiated a total of 13 written co- risen, the minnows were put back into operative agreements, and has about the pond. Survival of the species de- INDIANA BAT 10 more in progress. A number of oral pends on protection of water quality and agreements have also been estab- quantity and the avoidance of channeli- PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB lished. TWRA has posted signs (see ac- zation or gravel dredging. companying illustration) to alert pass- The four sites in Tennessee where STATE/FEDERAL ers-by about key habitat areas and to red-cockaded woodpeckers {Picoides LAWS APPLY request their cooperation. borealis) are known to nest are all being A very important cooperative agree- preserved with land owner cooperation. THIS ISA TWRA-LANDOWNER ment is one which has been reached Research is being done to determine with Joseph and Bertha Banks in optimum silvacultural methods for re- COOPERATIVE PROJECT Summitsville, Tennessee. A small generation of preferred pine tree spe- manmade pond on their land contains cies which the birds use for nesting. Copies of this sign are posted near ac- 90 percent of the known barren's top- In order to avoid the sale and devel- tive bat caves in order to help minimize minnow {Fundalus sp.). The Banks rec- opment of a site in Davidson County human disturbance. Tennessee which are protected by ei- ther State or Federal laws include: the snail darter (Percina tanasi), lake stur- geon (Acipenser fulvescens), eastern cougar {Felix concolor cougar), river ot- ter (Lutra canadensis), peregrine falcon (Faico peregrinus), painted snake coiled forest snail (Anguispira picta), and 16 endangered mussels. Tennes- see lists 57 endangered and threatened wildlife species, of these, 28 are also federally listed.

Future Plans Beginning fiscal year 1983, Federal funds which were formerly available for endangered wildlife conservation under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act will no longer exist. Despite finan- cial setbacks, however, it is believed that Tennessee's program has enough public support and volunteers to enable Shaking hands to seal a cooperative agreement to conserve the endangered bar- continuation of priority programs and for ren's topminnow are Bob Hatcher, TWRA Endangered Species Coordinator, and planning of future projects. Mr. Joseph Banks, owner of the manmade pond in the background which sup- During 1982 and 1983, TWRA plans ports about 90 percent of the fish. Others pictured are (from left to right) Ms. Day to continue its bald eagle and osprey Lohmann, Tennessee Nature Conservancy; Jeff Prestwich, TWRA Area Endan- hacking projects at previous rates, with gered Species Coordinator; and Mrs. Bertha Banks. increased use of qualified volunteers to offset budgetary cuts. Sometime be- tween 1983 and 1985, hacking of pere- the requirements of the Convention on the Ohio River muskellunge {Esox grine falcons is proposed. International Trade In Endangered Spe- masquinongy ohioensis) lives have cies of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). been severely polluted from surface and Plant conservation in Tennessee will be After completion of this project in 1982, underground coal mines. TWRA is featured in a later issue of the BULLE- it is hoped that such methods will be hatching and restocking the muskel- TIN. The Tennessee Heritage Program useful for determining baseline bobcat lunge in streams that have recovered has official authority to conserve plants population trend data for future man- sufficiently from pollution. Suitable in the State. agement of this species. Harvest of water quality, however, is seriously bobcat is monitored by the State threatened by increasing coal demands. This article ivas coauthored by through a bobcat tagging program and Tennessee has very diverse habitats Alison Chisholm, an English major at required reporting by fur dealers. which host a wide variety of wildlife spe- Marymount College of Virginia in Since about 1950, the streams where cies. Other endangered wildlife in Arlington, Virginia.

LEOPARD opinions and provided no substantive authorized, and importation of these data. Those comments that did contain products into the United States will con- significant information or matters of tinue to be strictly prohibited. Continued from page 3 special concern were addressed by the Legally taken sport-hunted trophies of standard comment period, which ended Service in the final rulemaking. Upon a Threatened leopards may be imported June 24, 1980, was reopened until De- re-examination of the original status re- into the United States provided the im- cember 24, 1980, because of strong ports, the 1981 leopard study, the public porter has obtained a permit from the public interest. In part because of the comments, and information from many U.S. Management Authority under the controversial nature of the proposed ac- of the affected African nations, the terms and conditions of CITES. In addi- tion, and to insure that the final decision Service modified the action as originally tion, permits for Threatened species would be based on the best available bi- proposed. The populations to be re- may be issued for scientific purposes to ological data, the Service contracted for classified as Threatened were changed enhance the survival or propagation of another study, The Leopard Panthera from those of all sub-Saharan Africa to the species, for educational purposes, pardus and Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus only those of southern Africa. No coun- or for other reasons consistent with the in Kenya " (see October 1981 BULLE- try objecting to the proposal was affect- purposes of the Act. TIN); the comment period was again re- ed by the final rulemaking. Since the leopard is killed indiscrimi- opened from September 8, 1981, to Oc- nately in parts of Africa because of pre- tober 8, 1981. Effects of the Rulemaking dation on livestock, the Service believes Over 1,000 written comments to the Although leopard populations in that limited sport hunting would benefit proposal were received. Of these, more southern Africa have been reclassified the species as a whole by creating an than 90 percent opposed both the pro- as Threatened, they will still receive economic incentive for its conservation. posed reclassification and the proposed protection under the Endangered Spe- Hunting license and guide fees are ex- regulations to allow the importation of cies Act of 1973, and all leopards will be pected to give the affected countries the trophies under CITES, although most of retained on Appendix I of CITES. No means to manage the leopard as anoth- these communications were personal commercial trade in leopard products is er natural resource.

6 REGIONAL BRIEFS (1) competition and predation by exotic, adult peregrines from interior popula- or non-native, fishes have caused the tions to obtain blood samples for pesti- Continued from page 2 decline of the chub and squawfish, (2) cide analysis. In 1982, blood from mussel (Conradilla caelata). TVA plans non-native parasites and diseases have adults from the North Slope regions will to complete its analysis of the data and been introduced as a side effect of also be sampled. Preliminary results present the results to the committee by stocking these fishes, and (3) continued from the analysis of samples collected June or July of this year. stocking and limitations on catching in 1981 indicate higher pesticide resi- non-native fishes demonstrate a prefer- dues in Alaska birds than of those re- Region 5—The Virginia Round-leaf ence for these fishes which, if allowed corded from peregrines on Padre Is- Birch Recovery Plan has been sub- to continue, will eradicate the chub and land, Texas (also collected in 1981). In mitted to the Director for approval. This squawfish populations. cooperation with the Migratory Bird Pro- will be the first recovery plan completed Region 7—A status report has been gram, migration studies on peregrine for a listed tree, and one of the first for completed on the Endangered short- falcons and other raptors will begin in any plant. tailed albatross (Diomedea albatrus). southeastern Alaska this year. Regional endangered species per- Once common in Alaskan waters, this Field activities planned for the Aleu- sonnel are reviewing a proposal from species is now the rarest of all alba- tian Canada goose (Branta canadensis the State of f^assachusetts to use os- trosses. D. albatrus is making a slow leucopareia) recovery effort In 1982 in- preys as "foster parents" for bald eagle recovery, now numbering 250 birds on clude a spring survey of release islands chicks on Martha's Vineyard Island. Torishima and Minami Kojima, Japan. A (Agattu, Amchitka, and Alaid/Nizki), an limited number of copies of the 36-page estimate of the Buldir Island nesting Region 6—Representatives from the status report are available upon request population, the release on Agattu Island Service, Bureau of Land Management, from the Alaska Regional Office. of propagated birds from the Northern Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and During the 1982 field season, the Prairie Wildlife Research Center, and the University of California met in Salt Alaska office will continue the peregrine the trapping and transplanting of birds Lake City recently to discuss develop- falcon survey and banding efforts on from Buldir to Agattu Island. ment of the Beaver Dam Slope Desert five rivers in the interior and North Tortoise Recovery Plan. According to Brian Johns of the Ca- Slope regions of Alaska. Additionally, it nadian Wildlife Service, no Eskimo cur- Last December, about 7,300 hump- will be surveying the northwest coastal lews (Numenius borealis) were seen back chub (Gila cypha) were taken region of the State in anticipation of oil this past summer during a brief survey from the Willow Beach National Fish and gas exploration in this area. As in of the Anderson River region in the Hatchery in Arizona via helicopter into 1981 Alaska office researchers will trap Northwest Territories. Cataract Canyon, Utah, and released in the Colorado River to supplement ex- isting populations. The fish averaged about 3 inches in length, and had been Hawksbill Nesting in Florida marked with coded wire nose tags. The area will be monitored in future years, On October 22, 1981, a female sea colder months in Florida. and all captured humpback chubs will turtle deposited a clutch of 170 eggs on After the October 22 nesting was re- be screened with a field sampling de- Soldier Key, Florida (next to Key Bis- ported, Dr. George Dalrymple of Florida tector to check for the presence of the cayne National Monument). Between International University (FlU) moved ap- magnetized tag. January 20-26, 1982, the young proximately half the eggs to an incuba- emerged and were found to be tion chamber. A total of about 50 eggs The October 1981 BULLETIN re- hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricate). hatched, including those remaining in ported on a Memorandum Opinion and This is one of the first verified hawksbill the Soldier Key nest. Environmental Order issued by the United States Dis- nestings in the United States, and the stress from low temperatures and the trict Court for Colorado regarding a law- first where voucher specimens have long incubation time (over 90 days at suit brought by the Colorado River been acquired. both locations) are thought to have con- Water Conservation District and other tributed to developmental abnormalities plaintiffs against the Department of Inte- The nesting was unusual in several other respects. Until this time, the latest that have plagued the clutch. Most of rior and the State of Colorado. The the hatchlings died within a few days, court ordered that summary judgement sea turtle nesting record in the U.S. dur- ing any season was that of a green and only a few remained alive as of be entered for the plaintiff river dis- February 5 at FlU and the Miami Sea- tricts, declaring that the designations turtle (Chelonia mydas) on September 6, 1981; the hawksbill nesting is the first quarium. Unfortunately, none are ex- and listings of the Colorado River pected to survive. squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius) and sea turtle nesting known to occur in humpback chub as Endangered species are invalid and void. Since then, the PUPFISH concur that all specimens examined in court has withdrawn the Memorandum the area since 1970 represent an unlist- Opinion and Order, and vacated the Continued from page 1 ed subspecies (C. nevadensis judgement. The court found that the fish Game concurred with the available evi- amargosae), which is widespread and were properly classified as Endangered. dence, but proposed to continue sur- locally common in parts of the Unfortunately, this does not end the veying potential habitats until 1979, af- Amargosa River system and in other case. Summary judgement has not ter which removal from the list was springs in and near Tecopa. The been made on the plaintiffs' claim that recommended if no other populations Tecopa pupfish had considerably larger the Federal defendants' impoundment were discovered. scales plus several proportional and projects are in violation of the Endan- Additionally, the Service received other differences which distinguished it gered Species Act; thus, they request comments on the proposal from seven from the Amargosa River pupfish the court "to order the Defendants to concerned citizens, all of whom consid- subspecies. open the gates on every dam on the ered delisting inadvisable. Six respond- Continuing concern and conservation Colorado River System and substantial- ents had observed , five of efforts for C. nevadensis amargosae ly return the river to its natural condi- them in the vicinity of Tecopa, which are justified, because its range and hab- tion." Summary judgement also has not they logically assumed were Tecopa itat are also limited. This surviving sub- been made on the plaintiffs' claims that pupfish. However, biologists generally Continued on page 8 BOBCAT Continued from page 3 BOX SCORE OF SPECIES LISTINGS the CITES criteria for listing species and delisting them from the appendices. ENDANGERED THREATENED SPECIES' Copies of the full text of the Service's Category U.S. U.S. & Foreign U.S. U.S. & Foreign TOTAL proposal which will be sent to the Only Foreign Only Only Foreign Only CITES Secretariat are available from Mammals 15 17 224 3 0 22 281 the Office of the Scientific Authority, Birds 52 14 144 3 0 0 213 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wash- Reptiles 7 6 55 8 4 0 80 ington, D C. 20240. Amphibians 5 0 8 3 0 0 16 Fishes 28 4 11 12 0 0 55 Snails 3 0 1 5 0 0 9 Postal Procedure Clams 23 0 2 0 0 0 25 The Service will send the bobcat Crustaceans 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Insects 7 0 0 4 2 0 13 delisting proposal to the CITES Secre- Plants 51 2 0 7 1 2 63 tariat for consideration through the mail TDTAL 192 43 445 45 7 24 756 procedure. Upon receiving the proposal, the Secretariat will circulate it to all Par- "Separate populations of a species, listed both as Endangered and Threatened, are ties. Parties have 60 days to submit to tallied twice. Species which are thus accounted for are the leopard, gray wolf, bald ea- gle, American alligator, green sea turtle, and Olive ridley sea turtle. the Secretariat comments and data on Number of species currently proposed: 11 animals the proposal. These data and com- 9 plants ments are then combined and commu- Number of Critical Habitats Listed: 50 nicated to all the Parties by the Secre- Number of Recovery Teams appointed: 69 tariat. If no objection is received by the Number of Recovery Plans approved: 46 Secretariat within 30 days of the date Number of Cooperative Agreements signed with States: replies and recommendations were sent 38 fish & wildlife to the Parties, the amendment (the pro- 11 plants January 31, 1982 posal in question) will enter into force in 90 days, except for those Parties which take reservations. If an objection by any PUPFISH Party is received by the Secretariat, the New Publication proposed amendment will be submitted Continued from page 7 to a postal vote after the Secretariat has species and its habitat needs have been The Proceedings of the first annual notified all the Parties that an objection considered locally in planning and de- meeting of the Gopher Tortoise Council has been received. velopment of the region, at least partial- entitled "The dilemma of the gopher Unless the Secretariat receives the ly, because of the listing of its less fortu- tortoise—Is there a solution?" is now votes for, against, or in abstention from nate relative. It is not presently in available. It can be ordered from at least one-half of the Parties within 60 danger of extinction. Richard Franz, Florida State Museum, days of the date of notification, the pro- The Director of the California Depart- University of Florida, Gainesville, posed amendment will be referred to ment of Fish and Game summarized the Florida, 32611 for $5.00. the next biennial meeting of the Confer- status findings of his agency, stating ence for further consideration. If votes that Tecopa pupfish were either extinct are received from one-half of the Par- or at such low population densities that Materials featured in the "New Publications" column ties, the amendment must be adopted sampling methods were unproductive. are presented for information purposes only. The by a two-thirds majority of Parties cast- He indicated that a lookout for possible mention of non-Federal government publications ing votes. The Secretariat notifies all survivors would continue whether or not does not imply concurrence with their contents or Parties of the result of the vote. the species was delisted. with the philosophies of the various publishers.

February 1982 vol. VII No. 2

U&.IMAIL Department of interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife service Technical Bulletin Endangered Species Program, Washington, D C. 20240 POSTAGE AND FEES PAID us DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Int423