U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service January/February 2014 | Vol 11, No 1 RefugeUpdate National Wildlife Refuge System www.fws.gov/refuges

This statue in Sebastian, FL, honors Paul Kroegel, first volunteer, first game warden and first refuge manager in what is now the National Wildlife Refuge System. (Kevin J. Lowry) Pelican Island Frog Study Reveals Low Rate Refuge Celebrates Of Abnormalities, Some Hotspots Paul Kroegel’s 150th

n unprecedented 10-year study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows By Kevin J. Lowry Aencouraging results for frogs and toads on national wildlife refuges. lorida is steeped in history. The study, published Nov. 18 in the peer-reviewed online journal PLOS Paleo-Indians were among ONE, finds that on average less than 2 percent of frogs and toads sampled on 152 F the Americas’ first human refuges had physical abnormalities involving the skeleton and eyes. The rate is lower inhabitants. Juan Ponce de Leon than many experts feared based on earlier reports. This indicates that the severe was the earliest known European malformations such as missing or extra limbs repeatedly reported in the media during explorer. St. Augustine is the United the mid-1990s were actually very rare on refuges. States’ oldest city. Yet one of the greatest stories in Florida and “Frogs and toads are strong indicators of wetland and environmental quality. What American conservation history is affects them affects a broad range of other species,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. largely unknown – to residents and “This research significantly advances our understanding of amphibian abnormalities tourists alike. while amassing one of the world’s largest datasets on the issue.” Pelican Island National Wildlife The study also highlights areas of the country with more abnormal frogs than Refuge is doing something about that. expected. These areas, termed “hotspot clusters,” warrant further research to determine their causes. On Jan. 9, refuge staff and volunteers are spearheading the inaugural Concern about amphibian abnormalities became widespread in 1995 when middle Pioneer Festival in Sebastian, FL, to school students discovered frogs with misshapen, extra or missing limbs at a celebrate the 150th anniversary of Minnesota wetland. Since then, scientists have continued to report frogs and the birth of Paul Kroegel, the nation’s

continued on pg 19 continued on pg 15 Focus: Law Enforcement, pages 8-15 Chief’s Corner Law Enforcement Work Is Central to Our Mission RefugeUpdate

have often wondered what it was I did law enforcement patrols with Sally Jewell Address editorial like back in the early 1900s for no training for months before a slot Secretary inquiries to: I Paul Kroegel to grab his 10 gauge in a nine-week police training course Department of the Refuge Update shotgun, jump in his boat and try to opened at the Federal Law Enforcement Interior USFWS-NWRS chase market hunters away from the Training Center. During that training, 4401 North Fairfax Dr., Dan Ashe Room 634C nesting colonies at Pelican Island. It was I realized just how clueless I had Director Arlington, VA a dangerous thing to been and how dangerous it was to U.S. Fish and Wildlife 22203-1610 do. His love for the have untrained people conducting law Service Phone: 703-358-1858 Fax: 703-358-2517 birds and his anger enforcement efforts. Jim Kurth E-mail: at their destruction Chief [email protected] must have made I enjoyed law enforcement work, National Wildlife for some tense especially the game warden part of it. I Refuge System This newsletter is served as an officer working on refuges published on recycled encounters with the Martha Nudel paper using soy-based bad guys. in Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, Editor in Chief Michigan and Rhode Island. I saw all ink. Jim Kurth Our Focus in this kinds of cases. I witnessed appalling Bill O’Brian Managing Editor issue of Refuge disregard for wildlife laws. I caught C Update is on law enforcement. We some bad guys. I had my life threatened. sure have come a long way since Perhaps most important, I learned how Paul Kroegel’s time. We have come a central our law enforcement work is to long way in professionalizing our law our conservation mission. I saw how enforcement program during my career. critical it is to provide safe places for our employees and visitors. I was one of the last refuge officers who Inside received a badge and a gun before I Today’s federal wildlife officers working went to any training. on refuges bring forward a tradition of Realty Awards service that is more than 100 years old. A savvy supervisor, a persistent When I reported for duty at Mississippi They are an elite force with the best wetland management district staff, Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge training in the business (it now takes and a highly cooperative Friends in 1979, the people in charge gave me almost a year to fully train an officer). organization are 2013 National a government ID card, turned it over They have increased professionalism, Realty Award recipients. Page 4 and stamped it with “the authority to safety and conservation far beyond enforce laws administered by the Fish anything I could have dreamed of during Help From Our Friends and Wildlife Service.” They gave me a my years in the field. The work is still Friends and neighbors of John Smith & Wesson Model 66 stainless steel dangerous, and these men and women Heinz Refuge in Pennsylvania have .357 magnum revolver, handcuffs and serve with great courage and distinction. spoken up forcefully in defense of leather gear. I couldn’t be prouder of them. conservation – and they’re making a I hope you enjoy big difference. Page 5 reading about our officers and the Technology in Texas work they do. Balcones Canyonlands Refuge in Remember when Texas is using airborne technology you see them to with a new level of sophistication for thank them for the benefit of endangered songbirds. their service. Page 6

Focus: Law Enforcement Federal wildlife officers help keep refuges safe for wildlife that inhabit The federal wildlife officer vehicle standards and design were recently revised. The color scheme was changed from white with reflective stripes to them and the people who visit them. gray with a badge on the door, in part to give the vehicles a distinctive game Pages 8-15 warden look. (USFWS)

2 • Refuge Update GREG KRAMOS/USFWS JIM MINNERATH/USFWS

The tallgrass prairie of eastern Kansas is resplendent green in springtime, above left, and tinted with red in fall, right. The mission of the Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area is to preserve that prairie and its ranching heritage.

Slowly but Surely Preserving Prairie in Kansas

By Bill O’Brian 1.1 million acres of prairie within a 3.3- That’s where Bill Sproul comes in. He is million-acre project boundary. a private rancher. Sproul, his wife and or Bill Sproul, fall is the most son run cattle seasonally on about 11,000 beautiful season on the tallgrass “There is no place like the Flint Hills, acres near Sedan, KS. Sproul cherishes F prairie of Kansas. He relishes how standing high on top of the rolling hills “that open vista. The absence of people, grasses change “back to brown with a with nothing but a sea of grasslands as absence of human presence, absence of red tint getting ready for winter,” sumac far as you can see in every direction, roads; no powerlines, no cellphones, no turns yellow and the sun’s low angle the wind in your face, feeling a calming houses. The absence of everything” on lights the landscape. peace,” says Bohannan, project leader unbroken tallgrass prairie. “It’s hard to for the conservation area. “Even though For Jack Bohannan, spring is the hold onto that,” he says. “It’s important I know I won’t see a herd of wild buffalo that we preserve at least a little bit of it.” prairie’s best time “because everything is coming over the horizon, I still expect to vibrant green with new growth – bright every time.” Sproul admires Aldo Leopold’s idea that and fresh with the blue sky.” “we abuse land because we regard it as a While Bohannan and Sproul are commodity belonging to us. When we see seasonally out of sync, they agree that Rancher Bill Sproul land as a community to which we belong, the tallgrass prairie and ranching culture we may begin to use it with love and cherishes “that open respect.” of eastern Kansas should be preserved. vista. The absence of Together, they are helping do that people … The absence of To Sproul, “commodity” means money; through the 2½-year-old Flint Hills “community” means restraining the Legacy Conservation Area, which everything.” commodity impulse for the greater good. is gaining momentum after a slow “I practice community conservation,” start. Because of cultivation, tree he says. “But I have to remind myself of encroachment and development, only Bohannan is committed to conserving that because I’m a capitalist.” habitat for grassland-dependent birds, about 4 percent of North America’s The Sprouls donated the first perpetual tallgrass prairie remains – most of it in such as grasshopper sparrow, upland sandpiper, Eastern meadowlark, easement – on 4.25 acres – to the Flint the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas and Hills Legacy Conservation Area in northeastern Oklahoma. The mission dickcissel and greater prairie chicken, and for the endangered Topeka shiner September 2011. Then, two years later, of the conservation area, which is in October 2013, the conservation area’s administered for the U.S. Fish and minnow. “Another important goal,” he says, “is to help ensure that the ranching first purchased easement – 2,450 acres – Wildlife Service by the National Wildlife closed. Two more are pending. “As word Refuge System, is to preserve up to heritage continues. It is important to the protection of the Flint Hills.” continued on pg 19

Refuge Update • 3 PATRICK CARROLL/USFWS PATRICK CARROLL/USFWS

John Saxhaug, left, received the Dieffenbach Award for his work as Midwest Region supervisory realty specialist. The staff at Kulm Wetland Management District received the Land Legacy Award for work to conserve wetland habitat in North Dakota, right. Saxhaug, Kulm WMD, Friends Group Earn Realty Awards

savvy supervisor in Minnesota, a significant contributions to the Service’s information. By calling the landowners persistent wetland management mission. The award is given annually to who did not respond to the mailings, A district staff in North Dakota, and Service employees or volunteers who do more interest was generated. This a highly cooperative Friends organization not work in the realty function. approach identified which landowners in New England are recipients of the have no interest in an easement offer, 2013 National Realty Awards. The staff members were recognized and the WMD will not waste time re- for their targeted, persistent and contacting that same landowner.” Midwest Region supervisory realty systematic approach to identifying specialist John Saxhaug received the willing landowners interested in The Friends of the Silvio O. Conte Rudolph Dieffenbach Award. The receiving wetland easement offers on Refuge received the National Land award is given annually to a realty their properties. The approach involved Protection Award. It is given annually employee for significant contributions to sending letters that included estimated to private citizens, groups, organizations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s land easement payments to landowners corporations, public agencies and their acquisition systems, operation or mission. whose properties were of particularly employees or volunteers outside the high conservation value and following Service – for contributions to land During Saxhaug’s decade-long tenure up with phone calls if needed. The protection for fish and wildlife resources in the Midwest, the region has acquired approach also included field-checking in partnership with the Service. and conserved more than 100,000 acres. hundreds of properties to identify In particular, his work with The Nature wetland basins to protect and making The Friends group – an association Conservancy and the state of Minnesota GIS (geographic information system) of about 50 organizations from the has helped the Service acquire more than shape files for each property. conservation, education, recreation 18,000 acres at Glacial Ridge National and economic sectors – was honored Wildlife Refuge for a bargain price. As a result, 7,331 wetland acres were for creating a framework that accents conserved on or near Kulm WMD in “the true relevancy and value land He was cited for developing partnerships fiscal year 2012. conservation actions have on recreation, that “have helped to maximize land education and economic opportunities” acquisitions while minimizing the amount “Hundreds of phone calls were made, and for “integrating the grassroots of time required to complete purchases.” and most of the calls had to occur agenda into the national agenda.” after hours when landowners weren’t The staff at North Dakota’s Kulm working in the field,” the Bismarck The acquisition boundary of Silvio O. Wetland Management District – Wetlands Acquisition Office said. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge including project leader Mick Erickson, “Kulm WMD showed great teamwork in Vermont, New Hampshire, biological technician Ryan Shively and when they developed this system of Massachusetts and Connecticut private lands biologist Wes Weisenberger initiating landowner contacts, field- encompasses the Connecticut River – received the Land Legacy Award for checking properties and making spatial watershed.

4 • Refuge Update Friends of Heinz Refuge joined a neighborhood coalition that is fighting to conserve green space adjoining the Philadelphia refuge. (Ron Holmes/USFWS) Community Backs Heinz Refuge and Conservation

By Karen Leggett Law Center of Philadelphia helped the has been meeting with city officials and coalition become an officially recognized senses a “groundswell coming up in favor riends and neighbors of John community organization. The Keystone of conservation.” Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Conservation Trust obtained a grant to F Tinicum have spoken up forcefully fund experts in engineering, economics Beer says the coalition has generated in defense of conservation and green and environmental impact. strong, unprecedented relationships space in their Philadelphia community – between the refuge and the community. and they’re making a big difference. The land in question is part of a 128-acre parcel adjacent to the refuge that is “Many of the local residents here just It started in June 2012 when a resident subject to development. never walked into the refuge even if of the Eastwick neighborhood noticed they only lived a half-mile away. This a surveyor. The curious resident called Developing a Strategy particular issue brought us an instant refuge manager Gary Stolz and Ross The coalition is using the time offered connection,” she says. “The Friends got Pilling, who works for the Keystone by the withdrawn re-zoning proposal to know the teachers and the principal Conservation Trust, a nonprofit to develop a strategy for the future of of the neighborhood school, and we had environmental organization. Together, the land that goes beyond its opposition programs for the fifth grade throughout they learned that Korman Development to one apartment complex. Nearby the entire academic year.” Co. wanted to re-zone 35 acres next to challenges that affect the community Heinz Refuge for 722 apartments and and the refuge include frequent flooding, The coalition also held meetings at the 1,034 parking spaces. Not only that, a two Superfund sites with landfills, toxic local library, prompting library staff City Council hearing on the re-zoning emissions from oil refineries and jet fuel to invite Friends to present a program proposal was scheduled within days. dumping from Philadelphia International about the refuge. Several Eastwick Airport. In 1972, intense lobbying by a residents have become Friends. “We worked around the clock and showed different Eastwick community group led up with an army of partners put together “It’s all about connections. One person to establishment of Heinz Refuge rather meets one person and then the next in a couple of days,” recalls Stolz. “We had than providing more land for the airport. almost 100 people representing refuge person,” says Beer. “Eastwick Friends Friends, the Sierra Club, Audubon, “The community wants to protect this & Neighbors Coalition is committed universities and planning groups, the green space,” says Stolz. “The group to planning and advocating for an Delaware Riverkeeper Network and civic is coalescing around sea-level rise, environmentally, economically and socially associations.” Two dozen people testified contaminants from the landfill and sustainable future for the community.” against the re-zoning. Eventually, the re- flooding issues.” Stolz would like to see Or, as Stolz says, “people in the zoning bill was withdrawn. the land become a wooded buffer for the community have now taken ownership.” 300 species of migratory birds and other “A small but significant victory for wildlife on the refuge, with an accessible the coalition!” wrote Debbie Beer, a trail from an existing regional rail station Karen Leggett is a writer-editor member of the Friends of Heinz Refuge to the refuge visitor center. “That would in the Refuge System Branch of who spearheaded the 2012 creation create potential for every schoolchild Communications. of the Eastwick Friends & Neighbors to come by mass transit to visit and Coalition. Pilling and the Public Interest directly engage with nature,” he says. He

Refuge Update • 5 Using LiDAR to Identify Songbird Habitat in Texas

By Steven Sesnie he National Wildlife Refuge System’s Southwest Region T Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) initiative and Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge are using airborne technology with a new level of sophistication for the benefit of endangered songbirds. Aerial photos and satellite images long have helped the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determine what habitat to protect for endangered species. And limited use of light detection and ranging Left: A LiDAR (light detection and ranging) image shows vegetation height, ranging from low (orange) (LiDAR) is quite common on national to high (blue), inside (below black line) and outside Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge wildlife refuges. But since 2012 Balcones in Texas. Right: A corresponding image – modeled from bird on-the-ground field surveys and LiDAR- derived height and canopy cover layers – shows areas likely to have a high density (red) of endangered Canyonlands Refuge and the regional golden-cheeked warblers. (USFWS) I&M initiative have been using LiDAR altimetry extensively to identify patches of habitat that can best support thriving from LiDAR can augment on-the-ground “It’s astounding how strong the populations of endangered golden- field surveys to identify the songbirds’ relationships are when we compare our cheeked warblers and black-capped preferred habitat. The 3D images are bird surveys and vegetation data to tree vireos. The resulting three-dimensional being used to characterize warbler height and canopy cover GIS layers “picture” is helping biologists, fire habitat in particular. They depict land developed from LiDAR,” says I&M managers and other specialists see how features with striking clarity not widely biologist Jim Mueller, who has designed a to best protect and restore habitat for available less than a decade ago. bird monitoring protocol for the refuge. the birds. “LiDAR is not necessarily replacing Helps Set Goals surveys on the ground. It’s adding value The 25,000-acre refuge in the Hill “We needed a way to identify the best to field data by allowing us to model Country of central Texas was established habitat for warblers and other habitat relationships and map them to in 1992 to conserve habitat for warblers endangered species, like the black- better target management activities.” and vireos. Both are neotropical capped vireo, using scientifically credible migrants that winter in Mexico and techniques that can be repeated to Making LiDAR work in a conservation Central America and occupy a narrow monitor changes, both on and off refuge management context at Balcones breeding range in the southwestern lands,” Balcones Canyonlands Refuge Canyonlands Refuge and elsewhere United States in spring and summer. The manager Deborah Holle says. “LiDAR is requires collaboration. warbler prefers older oak and Ashe now playing a big part in that.” “These data don’t just roll out of the juniper woodlands; the vireo prefers I&M wildlife biologist and biometrician computer” says Mueller. “We’ve had to semi-open shrublands. Sarah Lehnen agrees: “We are able to coordinate our field-sampling efforts with LiDAR works much like a laser learn so much more about what type of biometricians, remote-sensing scientists, rangefinder, estimating distance to an habitat conditions really matter to landscape ecologists, fire managers and object. But a LiDAR sensor is mounted breeding warblers. This information can other I&M staff from the very beginning, on aircraft, sends out a pulse of laser then be used to set management goals working as an interdisciplinary team with light and receives back thousands of and identify high-priority habitats.” different strengths and skills.” individual measurements from objects Older, taller trees and dense juniper and Wildland fire is an important factor in below in the blink of an eye. Each oak tree cover preferred by golden- maintaining warbler habitat. LiDAR’s measurement, or “return,” is mapped to cheeked warblers can be mapped from ability to characterize woodland create a detailed 3D sketch that can LiDAR data and imported into a understory, overstory and hazardous fuel include trees, shrubs, buildings, bridges, geographic information system (GIS) or conditions is being explored. wind turbines, telephone lines and other other software to model relationships land features. between on-the-ground bird surveys and Steven Sesnie is a spatial ecologist with the Refuge System’s Southwest Region Highly accurate vegetation height, habitat conditions. Inventory and Monitoring initiative in density and canopy cover data layers Albuquerque.

6 • Refuge Update Budget Cuts Pinch Invasive Species Work

By Bill O’Brian ederal budget cuts and the sequester have constrained the F work of the National Wildlife Refuge System across the board, but invasive species control has been particularly hard-hit. Over the years, the Refuge System has made great strides in eradicating or controlling invasive plant and animal species on land it conserves. It has eradicated rats from Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and from Hawadax Island in Alaska Maritime Refuge [related story on page 17]. It has eradicated Spartina densiflora (a cordgrass) from California’s Humboldt Bay Refuge and is on track to eradicate Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia – a critical feeding and resting spot for migratory birds Verbesina encelioides (a flowering plant) along the Atlantic Flyway – has felt the pressure of invasive species budget cutbacks on multiple levels. (Joe Milmoe/USFWS) from Midway Atoll Refuge. Hundreds of smaller projects have controlled which is a widespread problem throughout – such as refuge managers,” she says. invasives for the benefit of fish, wildlife Back Bay,” says refuge manager Doug “There was no intention or desire to cut and native habitat. Brewer. “Without aerial spraying, it is the regional invasive species specialist, but However, as Refuge System funding has very difficult to control ‘phrag’ since it there is no way to fill the position without been reduced by $50 million since fiscal spreads quickly.” losing another important position.” 2010, the fight against invasive species Controlling phragmites is important Back Bay Refuge felt a double whammy, has suffered. Refuge Annual Performance to the 9,250-acre refuge that provides but across the Northeast, as in other Plan (RAPP) data from 2010 to 2013 show: critical feeding and resting habitat for regions, invasive species projects are • The number of acres of non-native, migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway. being squeezed. At New England’s invasive plants controlled declined Uncontrolled, the non-native reed grass Silvio O. Conte Refuge, control of pale by 60 percent. aggressively crowds out seed-producing swallowwort and water chestnut has been native vegetation that benefits birds. jeopardized. In Maine, a summer seasonal • The number of acres treated for non- invasive plants biotech position went native, invasive plants declined by Additionally, Northeast Region invasive unfilled. In upstate New York, Iroquois 37 percent. species biologist David Bishop, who Refuge had to drop plans for an ambitious was stationed at Back Bay Refuge invasive control effort, and Montezuma • The number of invasive animal until recently, has not been replaced. populations controlled declined by Refuge had to forgo vital reed canary Bishop “gave us almost unlimited grass control in 2013. 46 percent. access to expertise on invasive species Furthermore, a $1 million Refuge System control,” says Brewer. Bishop, who now The concern for refuges everywhere is initiative that has supported one or two works at The Nature Conservancy in that hard-won native habitat gains will be large invasive species projects annually South Carolina, also provided guidance lost if budget pressure doesn’t ease soon. regarding phragmites, feral pigs, nutria since 2009 – including projects cited above “It is critical that prevention, early – may not be funded for fiscal 2014. and other invasives to federal and state land managers all along the East Coast. detection and rapid response, control or Back Bay Refuge in Virginia and the eradication are carried out as planned,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Budget constraints have forced the says Refuge System invasive species Region in general exemplify how budget Northeast Region to leave dozens coordinator John Klavitter. “Otherwise, pressure affects the field. of Refuge System positions vacant, time and effort are wasted, and the according to acting regional invasive number of invasive species increases and/ “Given the cuts over the past two years, species coordinator Laura Eaton. “So as or expands their range.” including FY14, we will likely not be able people leave, there is no filling behind to do any aerial spraying for phragmites, them. Only critical positions are refilled

Refuge Update • 7 . . .Law Enforcement

Federal wildlife officer Jon Beyer talks to an angler at Seedskadee National Federal wildlife zone officer Bruce Butler assists visitors at Vieques Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming. Beyer, now at Audubon Refuge and Wetland National Wildlife Refuge in Puerto Rico. Butler holds one of the National Management District in North Dakota, is one of the National Wildlife Refuge Wildlife Refuge System’s 281 full-time officer positions. (Raul Sanchez/ System’s 111 dual-function officers. (Keith Penner) USFWS)

Not Perfect, but “the Coolest Job You Can Have”

By Bill O’Brian hunters in Louisiana; up in the early “We need to add full-time officers,” Hall morning with the beautiful sunrises and says. “We’re at the lowest staffing level ince the days more than a century marvelous sunsets that you see by being for law enforcement that we’ve been at ago when first refuge manager/ out there every day. It is absolutely the in decades. We’ve lost a considerable Sgame warden Paul Kroegel was coolest job anyone can ever hold.” amount of our dual-function officers to patrolling the waters surrounding what retirement and relinquishment of their is now Pelican Island National Wildlife In recent years, the division can point credentials, and we critically need to add Refuge in Florida, law enforcement has to many accomplishments. It has full-time positions to replace those.” been fundamental to conservation in the spearheaded the establishment of the United States. Service Honor Guard, updated the In the mid-1990s, Hall says, the Refuge Refuge System law enforcement badge, System had 685 dual-function officers – Over the decades, refuge law reclassified the federal wildlife officer officers who served simultaneously as enforcement officers have had different title and position description; clarified a refuge manager or biologist. In 2002, titles, have moved away from dual- numerous policies, including one on taser a Department of the Interior secretarial function roles, have endured staffing use; and revised federal wildlife officer directive mandated reduced dependency shortages and have reported to different vehicle standards and design. on dual-function officers. So today agencies within what is now the U.S. Fish there are 111 dual-function officers and and Wildlife Service. But their mission That vehicle redesign, being phased in 281 full-time officer positions (34 of has remained essentially the same: to over five years, changes the color scheme which are vacant or have an officer in keep national wildlife refuges safe for from white with reflective stripes to gray rigorous training, which takes almost wildlife that inhabit them and the people with a badge image on the door – in part a year). That’s a total of 392 federal who visit them. to give the vehicles a distinctive game wildlife officers. warden look. “We don’t want the public to The current title, since a 2012 overhaul, is mistake that one of our biologists is a law By way of comparison, Hall says, the federal wildlife officer. And it’s “the coolest enforcement officer,” says Hall. “We don’t state of Florida alone has about 600 job you can have,” says Jim Hall, chief of want the drug-trafficking organizations to conservation officers. Wisconsin has the the Division of Refuge Law Enforcement mistake that, either.” lowest conservation officer-to-hunter/ since 2010. “From tagging grizzly bears angler ratio among the 50 states: 1 on the Alaska tundra to checking deer Still, inadequate staffing remains a hunters in Mississippi to checking duck prime concern. continued on pg 15

8 • Refuge Update . . .Law Enforcement Saving Lives Is All in a Day’s Work

By Karen Miranda Gleason nforcing fish and wildlife regulations is central to a E federal wildlife officer’s job. For Russell Haskett at the Southeastern Idaho National Wildlife Refuge Complex, rescuing stranded hunters just happens to come with the territory. Normally, Haskett’s job involves patrolling by truck, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), boat or aircraft. Depending upon the time of year, he may encounter hunting and fishing violations, Migratory Bird Treaty Act infractions or looting of archeological sites. He patrols lands on and off the complex’s four refuges (Minidoka, Camas, Grays Lake, Bear Lake) and one waterfowl Federal wildlife officer Russell Haskett patrols the Snake River. Haskett’s territory includes production area (Oxford Slough). Southeastern Idaho National Wildlife Refuge Complex’s four refuges and one waterfowl production area. (Lance Roberts/USFWS) One day while on duty in December 2012, Haskett responded to a Power Haskett returned to the rescue site to and game officer for the Shoshone- County sheriff’s radio report and found find one of the victim’s eyeglasses. After Bannock Tribe, of which he is a member. two waterfowl hunters clinging to their he visited the victim in the hospital twice, He joined the Service in 2004. capsized canoe in the frigid Snake River his own focus quickly returned to the near Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge. reason he comes to work every day – to Today, Haskett’s work involves ongoing As the first law enforcement responder protect wildlife. joint cooperation with officers from on the scene, he weighed the risk of the Tribe, as well as Idaho Fish and trying to save the men versus staying Game, the county sheriff and Service alive himself. “Without law enforcement, special agents. While federal wildlife officers perform all of the efforts done by He is also part of a special team a range of duties and are certified in biologists are just good involving Washington, Oregon, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) Idaho that eradicates illegal marijuana and first aid, search and rescue is not recommendations.” growth, an increasing problem on part of their training. public lands in the Northwest. He is one “Without law enforcement, all of the of only five Service law enforcement The men had been in the freezing water efforts done by biologists are just good staff members trained in short-haul for half an hour despite their attempts to recommendations,” he says. “You need helicopter operations. get to shore. One was unconscious. The law enforcement to give what the [U.S. other couldn’t speak. Haskett waded into But regardless of the risk or danger Fish and Wildlife] Service does teeth.” the river and, for the third time in his involved with his daily tasks, he wants to But as first responders, wildlife officers career, saved lives. go home at the end of the day. inevitably end up helping people, too. “It was a calculated risk,” he says now. “My No. 1 rule is to assess the situation Years ago, Haskett rescued another “It was either [go in] or watch those so you don’t become a victim yourself,” man and his 12-year-old son who had two guys drown.” One man was treated he says. grounded their boat, also while hunting and released after the rescue; the other waterfowl on the Snake River. He once Karen Miranda Gleason is a public went into cardiac arrest, underwent even responded to a traffic accident and affairs specialist in the Refuge System surgery and survived after 10 days in pulled a man who had suffered a seizure Branch of Fire Management at the the hospital. from a burning vehicle. Those incidents National Interagency Fire Center in occurred during his 13 years as a fish Boise, ID.

Refuge Update • 9 . . .Law Enforcement Paws on the Ground

By Karen Leggett ogs that work with federal wildlife officers need the Dcapabilities of a top-notch police service dog – and more. They must be able to “work all day around gunfire and still make a compliance check with a waterfowl hunter, or work a beach with 300 people and still be ready to assist with an emergency arrest,” says Darryn Witt, national coordinator of the National Wildlife Refuge System canine program and an officer in Illinois at Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The Refuge System has eight canine officers, each assigned a dog because they expressed interest. The Refuge Canines like Rudi, whose handler is federal wildlife officer Darryn Witt at Upper Mississippi System is aiming to add one to two National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, are skilled at protecting officers and sniffing out contraband. canine teams each year. “We need (Eric Tomasovic/USFWS) continuity among our individual canine teams,” says Witt, “as well as their drugs and run in the presence of trained to work in extreme heat and cold, consistency in dog selection, training and a dog. Dogs also have detected illegal, in boats and on rugged terrain. the way the dogs are deployed.” New hidden lead shot. canine teams will be established based Law enforcement dogs develop a on officer and field station interest, Protecting Officers relationship with their handlers. “It’s funding and local need. Federal wildlife officers usually work 24/7 care of a very expensive piece of alone and often in remote areas. Dogs can government equipment,” says Witt. He Canines are taught to protect officers be a force multiplier. “If I show up alone,” refutes the presumption that these are and locate contraband – from narcotics to says Witt, “I have my own presence. “edgy dogs waiting for a fight. They antlers, ginseng and waterfowl or game When I bring Rudi with me, it’s a can be friendly, but on command, they over the limit or out of season. different level of officer presence. People can apprehend someone.” In fact, Witt “If we have to search for something, I have a lot of respect for the canines.” says, Rudi can be extremely social, so he insists that all those friendly people on can do it in a fraction of the time with a Most law enforcement dogs used in dog compared to four or five officers,” the beach not pet Rudi so the dog knows the United States are bred in Europe. he is working. says federal wildlife zone officer Eddie German and Dutch shepherds and Brannon in Florida, the first refuge Belgian malinois are considered the best Johnston calls the canine program “a law enforcement officer to request a all-around breeds. Refuge System dogs field initiative that needs to be supported dog in the 1990s. Brannon says he and are purchased from American vendors by Headquarters. It directly helps German shepherd A.J. have helped locate that provide training with handlers after protect the officers and the natural lost hunters, children and people with the dogs’ initial law enforcement training. resources of the Refuge System.” And he Alzheimer’s disease. Dog and handler attend 40 hours of quotes Refuge System Chief Jim Kurth: Witt’s canine, Rudi, can smell marijuana refresher training each year. The “If we can’t put more boots on the in a tackle box; he can also sniff out dogs are certified annually by national ground, we can put more paws on the heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. accrediting organizations. They must ground.” be high-energy but also playful enough Division of Refuge Law Enforcement Karen Leggett is a writer-editor deputy chief Rich Johnston says groups to perceive the search for evidence as a game with a possible reward. They are in the Refuge System Branch of of narcotics smugglers have abandoned Communications.

10 • Refuge Update . . .Law Enforcement One Full-Time Officer for All of New Mexico

By Bill O’Brian hen you think of Southwestern federal wildlife officers, drug W interdiction probably comes to mind. And, while Ben Lanford does do anti-drug-smuggling work, his job entails much more than that. For starters, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s only full-time federal wildlife officer for New Mexico’s eight national wildlife refuges, Lanford covers a lot of ground. He is the primary officer for Bosque del Apache, Sevilleta, Las Vegas, Maxwell, Rio Mora, San Andres and Valle de Oro Refuges. That’s roughly 400,000 acres of refuge land in a 160,000-square- Most of federal wildlife officer Ben Lanford’s work involves game warden duties, but he regularly does mile territory. At Bitter Lake Refuge narcotics enforcement, too. Above left, he helps with duck banding at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife in southeastern New Mexico, refuge Refuge in New Mexico. Above right, he takes part in a multi-agency drug raid in Arizona. (USFWS) manager Floyd Truetken and outdoor recreation planner Steve Alvarez serve as of checks,” he says. “Because the Service prepare me as an officer in ways no other dual-function officers. has such a small LE presence in this job can,” he says. “The Service, especially zone with the limited amount of officers, I in LE, has strong ties to hiring vets.” Because the territory is huge, federal spend a lot of time educating hunters and land management agencies cross- answering questions.” While he is mostly a game warden, designate officers in New Mexico. Lanford does drug enforcement, too. Year-round, he is on the lookout for He regularly serves on details along “I work almost day to day with other land Archaeological Resources Protection the Arizona-Mexico border, particularly management officers for the Bureau of Act violations related to New Mexico’s at Cabeza Prieta Refuge – where in Land Management and Forest Service to abundant prehistoric, Native excess of 1,000 pounds of narcotics are help provide law enforcement coverage on American, Spanish and even Civil War seized weekly, on average, he says. At their lands. They, in return, provide some cultural resources. New Mexico refuges, marijuana growth is coverage for refuges,” says Lanford, who an increasing problem, he says, as is based at Bosque del Apache Refuge “As all of our officers know, we come is heroin and methamphetamine in central New Mexico. “There are no across all walks of life during our patrols,” trafficking statewide. typical days, only typical seasons.” he says. “Any day can go from a simple fishing compliance check with a family to At border security training, he learned In the hot summer months, when refuge a felony arrest on your next stop.” that millions of dollars in narcotics travel visitation slows, Lanford helps Service annually from Mexico to Denver on firefighters in various capacities. He also Lanford, a 27-year-old New Mexico Interstate 25, which runs through Bosque keeps an eye out for underage outdoor native, grew up hunting, fishing and del Apache and Sevilleta Refuges. parties and trespassing violations on enjoying the outdoors. “The idea of being refuges and other federal lands. a game warden was always appealing to Still, he finds his game warden duties me,” he says. “When I discovered the most satisfying. In fall and winter, he focuses on refuge Fish and Wildlife Service, I knew I found visitors – “everything from first-time what I wanted to do.” “The most rewarding part of my job is family visitors to professional wildlife walking up to a group of hunters and, photographers” – as well as migratory Before joining the Service, he served before I finish identifying myself, they bird hunters and poachers. four years in the Marine Corps, including shout out a ‘Good morning, Ben,’ ” he Iraq and Afghanistan combat tours. says. “Seeing wildlife in places most “A typical migratory bird season involves “The leadership, training, discipline and people only see in pictures makes coming thousands of miles of patrol and hundreds experiences I had in the Corps helped to work easy.”

Refuge Update • 11 . . .Law Enforcement On the LE Beat, “No Day Is Like Any Other Day”

By Bill O’Brian ormally that would be a suspicious vehicle to me,” “N says Samantha Fleming as she patrols a Patuxent Research Refuge road that is closed to motorized traffic. “But it’s okay. That’s Bill Harms, a volunteer who’s collecting vegetation samples” for Patuxent’s herbarium. Fleming, a federal wildlife officer at the Maryland refuge, knows its 12,841 acres and the people who frequent them like the back of her hand. “It’s important to have relationships with visitors. Lots of times they’re your eyes and ears. They let you know what’s going on,” says Fleming. “The better Federal wildlife officer Samantha Fleming embarks on a pre-dawn patrol of Patuxent Research Refuge in Maryland. (Bill O’Brian/USFWS) you know them, the better they feel about the refuge, the safer they feel on the refuge” and the more likely they are to most places, but there is such a diverse the refuge and is the scene of frequent to report something untoward happening use up here and it’s so accessible to the auto accidents that result in refuge on the refuge. public that we stay very, very busy.” fence damage. It was 9:30 on a Saturday morning when The Central Tract is why it’s called Fleming recognized Harms – basically Samantha Fleming has Patuxent Research Refuge. The tract lunch time for her on this day. She houses the U.S. Geological Survey had been at the refuge since 4:30 a.m. been interested in the law Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and She checked in participants at a youth and protecting animals endangered species/migratory bird wild turkey hunt before dawn. Then, since she was growing up facilities. The tract is generally closed as first light and refuge wildlife arose to the public, but errant bicyclists, lost simultaneously, she began to patrol in near Boston. drivers and speeding delivery vehicles her U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law cause problems. With about 200 people enforcement Chevrolet Tahoe. She had been away for a few days, so from various agencies working on “Patuxent is challenging because it is an before the refuge opened to visitors at the refuge, issues regarding research urban refuge,” Fleming says. “We are 8 a.m., she checked roads, trails and permits and personnel matters arise, too. 20 minutes from D.C. and 20 minutes “potential hotspots” for damage, dumping Everything in order on this Saturday, from Baltimore, so we get an influx of or mischief. She also checked that signage Fleming gassed up and headed back to different types of people. We get a lot of was intact and gates were locked. the North Tract. backcountry folks, and we also get a lot That’s important on former military base land holding unexploded ordnance and Hers can be a solitary job. So, in addition of city folks coming in not really knowing to chatting up, checking on or nodding to how to be in a refuge.” rifle ranges still used by the National Security Agency, the Secret Service visitors, she relies on the U.S. Park Police, Patuxent Refuge is challenging also and others. county police and other law enforcement because it has three separate tracts in agencies for help. “I need all the support two counties. Next, she drove 20 minutes to the 2,540- I can get,” she says. acre South Tract, “where our beautiful On this day, Fleming started on the North visitor center is. … We had a rash of Not that she’s complaining. Fleming has Tract, “where the majority of hunting vehicle break-ins. We’ve had to update been interested in the law and protecting goes on and fishing,” she says. “That’s our camera system.” Today all was animals since she was growing up near our biggest challenge, trying to cover the quiet, so she checked out Service land Boston. She enjoys being outside. She 8,000 acres, which is small in comparison along Maryland Route 197, which bisects especially likes that – even though she’s

12 • Refuge Update . . .Law Enforcement

Fleming checks the hunting license of Patuxent Refuge visitor Christian Wilder. (Bill O’Brian/USFWS)

on call pretty much 24/7 – “no day is like because it’s so big, and they’ve got a smile “It’s hard for me to sum up what the any other day.” that’s ear-to-ear. And you can tell right refuge means to me,” Christian Wilder then and there they’re hooked,” she says. said, “because I’ve been coming here She employs a low-key style, when “Same thing with hunting.” since I was younger than my son is. I possible. In approaching individuals look forward to him growing up here, my who might be violating the law, she is Back on the North Tract, she helped two daughter growing up here and hopefully conversational, not confrontational. “I young hunters measure wild turkeys their children growing up here.” don’t start off as close-minded or rough,” they took and reminded them to report she says. She builds rapport. That way the kills to the Maryland Department of He said he and Sebastian will be back “they tell me what I need to know” Natural Resources. next year for the youth turkey hunt. uneventfully. “If I come off as being confrontational, they’re more likely to She also touched based with 10-year- Samantha Fleming likely will be there, come off as confrontational.” old Sebastian Wilder. On this day, too, checking them in, checking out Sebastian did not bag a turkey. But his their harvest and, as always, checking on And she loves seeing kids catch their first father, Christian, was grateful for the refuge. fish. “Sometimes they have to have their the opportunity. dad or mom help them pull the fish in

One Service, Three Types of Officers Video There are two distinct law enforcement programs and three types of officers in the U.S. Fish and A video related to Wildlife Service. this article, “A Day in The Division of Refuge Law Enforcement has federal wildlife officers. the Life of a Federal Wildlife Officer,” is The Service’s Office of Law Enforcement has special agents and wildlife inspectors. on the U.S. Fish and Federal wildlife officers and special agents have similar authority to carry firearms, make arrests Wildlife Service You and enforce conservation laws, but officers work primarily on refuges and agents work primarily Tube page: off refuges. http://youtu.be/ Wildlife inspectors are import-export control officers who ensure that wildlife shipments comply IXvpnWb9LtU. with U.S. and international wildlife protection laws. They refer violations to special agents.

Refuge Update • 13 . . .Law Enforcement Connecting With Villagers “in a Neighborly Fashion”

By Bill O’Brian t’s only a slight stretch to say that Yukon River king salmon I have spawned a novel approach to National Wildlife Refuge System law enforcement in Alaska. King salmon is an important cultural and culinary part of Alaska Natives’ subsistence lifestyle. Its numbers in the Yukon River have been dropping for years. For the species’ long-term health, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service imposes regulations on king salmon fishing. The regulations aggravate Alaska Natives whose remote villages are within refuges. Federal wildlife officers must enforce the regulations and issue citations for violations such as fishing during In an effort to better communicate with Alaska Natives, federal wildlife officers have been making closed periods. informal, unannounced, meet-and-greet visits to remote villages such as Nunapitchuk, which is surrounded by Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. (Ake Lindstrom) “Ninety-nine percent of the time when a federal wildlife officer arrives in a village,” says Alaska Region Refuge System threatened,” says Bedingfield, who Sometimes an elder will invite the law enforcement chief Jim Hjelmgren, estimates he has made 45 drop-in visits officer(s) in for coffee or black fish dipped “something not cool is happening.” in the past two years. “It is absolutely in seal oil. Occasionally, villagers will crucial these relationships be developed, halt a council meeting to welcome the So, Hjelmgren and his officers have been or we can be seen as nothing more than officer(s). Virtually always, “the young making informal, unannounced, meet- hard-handed, impersonal disciplinarians. kids want to talk. They always ask our and-greet visits to villages. They show But if we can tie strings to hearts of names, what we are doing, where we up in uniform, say hello, listen, answer individuals and find mutual respect as co- live,” Hjelmgren says. “At times, the kids questions. They connect with villagers “in laborers in stewardship, then we will see following us resemble a parade.” a neighborly fashion.” native people wanting to work alongside Even though the visits are expensive, Federal wildlife officers from a dozen of us to conserve and protect resources.” time-consuming and logistically difficult, Alaska’s 16 refuges have made about 80 Hjelmgren, Bedingfield and others such visits, most in recent years. Bringing “Positivity” to Town These stroll-around-the-village visits believe in them because they work. “The idea came from my core belief contrast with formal visits scheduled for a “Sitting on a couch talking makes a that, for the most part, federal law certain time in a certain place with certain difference. Shaking a hand at the boat enforcement agencies are missing great people. The drop-in visits are “speaking landing makes a difference. Providing an opportunities to further their agency’s to a neighbor over the fence rather than elder the ability to vent while I buy a can mission,” says Hjelmgren. “No matter in a sterile meeting room environment,” of sardines at the village store makes a how well we do our jobs, if folks utilizing says Hjelmgren. difference,” Hjelmgren says. “With 77 refuge lands choose not to follow the “It is not enough to have an official million acres of refuge lands in Alaska, we law, our mission and goals for resource government-to-government meeting once need rural villages to believe in the conservation will be unobtainable.” every five years,” says Bedingfield. “That Service’s mission. If they don’t, and Officer Isaac Bedingfield agrees. is good, but it still keeps the Service refuse to comply with the rules and seeming aloof, impersonal and distant.” regulations in place, the resources of “When the villagers hear on the radio Alaska will lose on a grand scale.” that the Service is restricting their The villagers generally react well when fishing or hunting, it is natural for officers bring “positivity” to town, them to feel their way of life is being Hjelmgren says.

14 • Refuge Update . . .Law Enforcement

Pelican Island Refuge Celebrates Paul Kroegel’s 150th — from page 1

first refuge manager. Thereafter, the traveling to the festival to hear in person refuge plans to use Kroegel’s life story Sebastian Mayor Bob McPartlan proclaim to reenergize its visitor services and Jan. 9 as “Paul Kroegel Day.” outreach programs. The festival will include live music Kroegel came to Sebastian in 1881. It was authentic to the pioneer era and tastings an era when Florida was undeveloped of pioneer food such as swamp cabbage, and wild, a jungle-like landscape with heart of palm salad, oysters, smoked no air conditioning, no mosquito control, fish, clams and honey. There will be no modern conveniences. It was also an demonstrations of duck decoy carving, era that tolerated the slaughter of brown wool spinning, beekeeping, cast netting, pelicans, egrets and herons. quilt stitching and boatbuilding, all pioneer-era activities. Also scheduled: Kroegel was 17. His mother had died storytelling by Kroegel’s granddaughter; in his native Chemnitz, Germany. fishing in the biologically diverse estuary; Now, he, his father and brother were and bird walks. immigrating to Florida, homesteading A statue of Paul Kroegel overlooks the Indian on a shell midden along the west bank Lagoon ecosystem that he conserved with such Ironically, the story of Pelican Island of the Indian River Lagoon overlooking fervor in the early 1900s. A five-minute video Refuge – home of the centennial about Krogel’s life is at http://bit.ly/18yEYQh. tiny Pelican Island. Two decades later, (Kevin J. Lowry) boardwalk and iconic Refuge System he would become the first volunteer, first habitat – is largely unknown locally. So, game warden and first refuge manager in coming months and years, the refuge in what is now the National Wildlife Eventually, Kroegel was named warden of will emphasize its rich past in visitor Refuge System. Pelican Island. He was paid $1 a month by presentations and will encourage nearby the federal government and $7 a month schools to weave refuge history into “Kroegel had a hard childhood and was by Audubon societies to protect the birds. their curricula. resolved to work for things he considered Even after President Theodore Roosevelt important, such as wildlife conservation,” declared the five-acre island a federal That way, local students from a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service preserve in 1903, Kroegel was forced to kindergarten to 12th grade, snowbird biography says. “Although initially he had supplement his salary with boatbuilding retirees, college spring breakers, no authority to protect the brown pelicans and farming. European tourists and residents of on the small island opposite his home, he Florida’s central east coast alike will know did his unofficial best as a citizen warden The Pioneer Festival, which will what the Service has known for decades: of sorts. He tried to position his sailboat commemorate the life and times of Paul Kroegel’s work to protect the and 5’6’’ frame between the faster boats Kroegel, is designed to reconnect the city dynamic ecosystem of the Indian River of gunners. He wore a big hat and carried of Sebastian and its business community Lagoon is worthy of global respect. a double-barreled 10 gauge shotgun to with the nation’s first refuge. It is also make his point.” designed to inform Germans about their Kevin Lowry is the visitor services native son’s legacy in America. Barbara manager at Pelican Island National Ludwig, the mayor of Chemnitz, is Wildlife Refuge.

Not Perfect, but “the Coolest Job You Can Have” — from page 8

to about 12,000. The Refuge System In 2004, the International Association of statistics to develop a new risk-based responsibility is double that: 1 officer for Chiefs of Police (IACP) figured the deployment model for every unit of the about 24,000 hunters/anglers. Refuge System should have 845 full-time Refuge System. It is expected to be officers based on visitation, miles of road completed soon. “That depicts the fact that our folks are and trails, known crime on refuges, working as hard as or harder than any endangered species enforcement, and other conservation law enforcement more. The IACP is using updated officer in the country,” Hall says.

Refuge Update • 15 Around the Refuge System

Iowa Valley Proud Environmental Council, Rep. John Dingell and more than 300 After more than two years in storage, Friends of the Wildlife Corridor and the U.S. and Canadian partners attended artifacts from the sunken 19th-century refuge. They planted about 14,000 trees the groundbreaking, which culminated steamboat Bertrand are now back on on 20 acres on the Resaca Del Rancho a decade of restoration work. The display at DeSoto National Wildlife Viejo tract near Brownsville. Restoring visitor center – on property known as Refuge. In June 2011 as Missouri River and connecting native habitat is vital to the Refuge Gateway – is adjacent to floodwaters rose to record levels, more ocelots and other wildlife in the Lower the refuge’s Humbug Marsh Unit, the than 100 volunteers and workers rushed Rio Grande Valley, where 95 percent of only Ramsar Convention Wetland of the museum collection of 250,000 artifacts habitat has been cleared for development International Importance in Michigan. out of the visitor center to safe temporary or agriculture. Over the years, Rio “As a young boy growing up in southeast quarters. Now, after re-inventorying, re- Reforestation participants have planted Michigan, I have many fond memories cataloging and re-labeling the artifacts, about 200,000 native seedlings on more of hunting and fishing along the shores the refuge has moved the collection back than 620 acres of land in the corridor of the Detroit River and Lake Erie with into the visitor center, where the exhibit refuge. Lower Rio Grande Valley Refuge my dear old dad,” said the 87-year-old has been streamlined and reorganized. comprises 90,000 acres on about 115 units Dingell. “The banks of the river looked A primary goal of the reorganization, along 275 river miles. The refuge is home a lot different than they do now. There according to collection curator Dean to 1,200 documented plant species. Via was less concrete and more trees, less Knudsen, was to ensure quick flood the Rio Reforestation event, says refuge brick and mortar and more wetlands. evacuation in the future. To that end, manager Bryan Winton, “we are able to This groundbreaking is yet another display and storage cabinets are on spread the word of the value of the native step in preserving and protecting land casters and the exhibit is being selectively plant species in attracting the full range so important to our region and so dear rotated. Only 35 or 40 percent of the of native wildlife like birds and butterflies to my heart.” The visitor center grand artifacts are on open display at any given into people’s back yards.” opening is scheduled for fall 2015. An time; the rest are in storage. As result, article about the progress at Detroit repeat visitors might see different objects Michigan River Refuge appeared in November/ The Refuge System’s determination to on different visits. The Bertrand, which December 2012 Refuge Update. serve urban populations took a big step sank in the river in 1865, was discovered in November with the groundbreaking on the refuge in 1968 with much of its Washington-Idaho of an 11,800-square-foot visitor center Facing reduced budgets and seeking cargo intact. The collection includes tools, at Detroit River International Wildlife to cut maintenance and operations bottled alcohol and foodstuffs, clothing, Refuge. Service Director Dan Ashe, costs, the Inland Northwest National cannonballs and thousands of other Civil Wildlife Refuge Complex last fall sold War-era artifacts. off three fire engines. The complex Texas includes Turnbull, Little Pend Oreille For the 22nd year, and Kootenai Refuges. “Ordinarily, we volunteer supporters would keep vehicles in good working of Lower Rio Grande order for as long as possible,” said long- Valley National time assistant zone fire management Wildlife Refuge officer Doug Frederick, who coordinated spent half a day the sale through the General Services planting native tree Administration. A specially outfitted and shrub seedlings 1999 Ford F-550 pickup was purchased on refuge land. Rio by Stevens County, WA, for $17,400. The Reforestation XXII county often helps the refuges manage was held in November wildfires and prescribed burns. A private after being postponed individual bought a 1998 Ford diesel because of the federal F-250 pickup, originally fitted with a government shutdown small tank for drip torch fuel, for $14,825. in October. About Another individual bought an older 900 people – mostly Model 80 U.S. Forest Service engine for secondary school about $3,000. Proceeds were added to the students and young U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service forestry technician Florentino “Tino” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific Caldera oversees native tree and shrub planting at Rio Reforestation Region Working Capital Fund, which adults – participated XXII at Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge in south in the annual event Texas. About 900 people planted about 14,000 trees on 20 acres. banks money to buy replacement vehicles sponsored by the (Georgiana Matz) for fire management.

16 • Refuge Update Alaska For the first time, breeding tufted puffins have been documented on Hawadax Island in Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The news comes just five years after the removal of invasive Norway rats from the place formerly known as Rat Island. Leach’s storm-petrels, thought to have been extirpated because of the rats, have also been heard. Song sparrows and For the first time, breeding tufted puffins have been documented on Hawadax Island in Alaska Maritime National Wildlife snow buntings are Refuge. The news comes after the removal of invasive Norway rats from what was formerly known as Rat Island. (Ilana Nimz) rebounding as well. Norway rats were action to combat the illegal wildlife the design for supporting the eagle nest, spilled onto the island’s rocky shores trade. In recent years, the number of and Halstead’s Arboriculture provided in a 1780s shipwreck. Since then, the elephants slaughtered by poachers in technical guidance on the best way to rats had decimated native bird species Africa and Asia has risen to more than stabilize the tree. Images of the eagles’ by eating eggs, chicks and adult birds, 30,000. Among the items crushed were nest are at: http://bit.ly/1iebExo and by ravaging habitat. In 2008, after raw and carved ivory tusks, sculptures years of planning, the U.S. Fish and and trinkets. The United States is one Hurricane Sandy Wildlife Service, Island Conservation and of the world’s largest ivory consumers, Restoration Projects The Nature Conservancy successfully making this event especially significant Last fall, at the one-year anniversary of removed the rats using rodenticide for Americans. Hurricane Sandy, Interior Secretary bait. The early increases in native bird Sally Jewel announced that $162 million populations are expected to lead to more Oregon will be invested in 45 restoration and ecosystem recovery. Seabirds drive Community partners, including research projects designed to buttress vegetation communities on islands free of Portland General Electric, Halstead’s Atlantic Coast communities and habitats invasive predators by delivering marine- Arboriculture Consultants and the against powerful storms. Many of the based nutrients to the soil. As seabirds Oregon Eagle Foundation, helped projects are scheduled to be completed increase on Hawadax, scientists expect Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge on national wildlife refuges, including: plant communities to return to this save a bald eagle nest. In the 2013 spring Edwin B. Forsythe Refuge, NJ; Martin natural state. and summer nesting season, a pair of and Eastern Neck Refuges, MD; Prime Colorado eagles successfully raised one eaglet Hook Refuge, DE; Great Dismal Swamp to fledgling in an area visible to refuge and Chincoteague Refuges, VA; Seatuck The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service visitors. But the nest was established and Wertheim Refuges and Lido Wildlife destroyed six tons of confiscated on top of a dying oak tree in danger of Management Area, NY; Parker River elephant ivory at Rocky Mountain falling over, so the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge, MA; and other coastal refuge Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in mid- Service reached out to the community lands. November. Service Director Dan Ashe for help. Portland General Electric was joined by leading conservationists provided the equipment, manpower and and officials from the Departments of expertise to stabilize the tree. Oregon Justice and State in a call for global Eagle Foundation provided guidance on

Refuge Update • 17 Assessing Alligator Snapping Turtles at Sequoyah Refuge

By Nicole Haskett-Osborn carnivorous. The species, which can live to 100 years in the wild, equoyah National Wildlife is secretive and mostly aquatic, Refuge in eastern with the exception of rarely SOklahoma has begun a observed basking. health assessment to pinpoint why the number of alligator snapping The health assessment is turtles has declined substantially capturing turtles in baited over the past decade. commercial hoop traps. It targets creeks that historically had the Historically, the refuge has highest turtle populations as well supported a rich turtle as several managed wetlands on community, including alligator the refuge. snapping turtles, which have been in decline for years elsewhere in Two such creeks exemplify Oklahoma. Sequoyah Refuge was the decline. one of the few places in the state with a robust alligator snapping Data from a baseline survey turtle population that had been conducted in 1997-2000 show used as brood stock for there were an estimated 127.5 to reintroduction efforts. 152 alligator snapping turtles in Big Vian Creek. In 2010, the However, over the past decade estimate was 22. In 2011, it was that alligator snapping turtle 50. In 2012, it rose to between 111 population has collapsed. and 171.4, but that numerical Research indicates that entire age range appears to have been classes from this 10-year period artificially high, possibly because are missing. Biologists are baffled of favorable trapping conditions about the cause. In addition, and movement among creeks. carcasses of box turtles are appearing, suggesting that there A similar survey shows there may be a disease outbreak. were 68.4 to 86.6 alligator Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge biologist Dustin Taylor snapping turtles in Little Vian “In short, not only did the weighs an alligator snapping turtle. The Oklahoma refuge, the Creek in 1997-2000. By 2010, the alligator snapping turtle Refuge System Inventory and Monitoring program, Missouri estimate was 38 to 54. In 2011, it populations decline, so did the State University and the Tulsa Zoo are studying why the turtles’ was 12 to 14.7. population is in decline at the refuge. (Eric Stewart) entire turtle community,” says Sequoyah Refuge wildlife biologist All the while, capture rates for all Dustin Taylor. “The decline in turtle species have declined, most alligator snapping turtles is Sequoyah Refuge offers excellent noticeably for red-eared sliders especially alarming if you consider that habitat alligator snapping turtles, which and alligator snapping turtles. are endemic to waterways that Sequoyah Refuge contained one of the To determine if disease is a factor, the ultimately flow into the Gulf of Mexico. two populations thought to be stable in scientists are taking white blood cell The 20,800-acre refuge is on Kerr eastern Oklahoma.” counts and looking for the presence of Reservoir, where the Canadian and specific viral antibodies as well as endo- In response, the refuge, the National Arkansas Rivers meet. It includes and ecto-parasites. Wildlife Refuge System Inventory and riverfront and floodplain forest, Monitoring program, Missouri State floodplain sloughs and oxbows, managed “If one or more pathogens are at work,” University and the Tulsa Zoo are taking wetlands, cropland and about 7,500 acres says Taylor, “it is possible that turtles, action. Led by Missouri State assistant of open water in the reservoir. amphibians or fishes could be serving as biology professor Day Ligon and reservoirs for these pathogens.” graduate student Jay Krystyniak, they Largest Freshwater Turtle are collaborating on a turtle health The alligator snapping turtle is North Nicole Haskett-Osborn is a public assessment. They are monitoring America’s largest freshwater turtle. It is affairs specialist in the Southwest alligator snapping turtles, three-toed box known for its large, “snapping” jaw, Region office in Albuquerque. turtles, red-eared sliders, Mississippi which it uses to warn off predators and muds and common snapping turtles. catch prey. It is almost entirely

18 • Refuge Update Frog Study Reveals Low Rate of Abnormalities, Some Hotspots — continued from page 1

toads with severe abnormalities and documented global amphibian population declines, disease outbreaks and an increased rate of species extinctions. In 2000, Congress asked agencies within the Department of the Interior, including the Service and U.S. Geological Survey, to address growing concerns about the health of amphibians in the United States. In response, the Service launched a 10-year study, the largest ever of its kind, to determine the distribution and severity of amphibian abnormalities within the Refuge System. The research effort – called the National Abnormal Amphibian Program – sampled more than 68,000 frogs on 152 refuges and, in the process, compiled one of the world’s largest databases on A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service study published in the journal PLOS ONE finds that on average less amphibian abnormalities. than 2 percent of frogs and toads sampled on 152 refuges had physical abnormalities involving the skeleton and eyes. (Rick Hansen/USFWS) On average, only 2 percent of the frogs and toads were classified as having skeletal or eye abnormalities, the types often exceeded the national average of sampled. There was virtually no evidence of abnormalities most commonly studied. 2 percent, affecting up to 40 percent of that some species were more likely to The expected background range of zero emerging amphibians in some be abnormal than others or that more to 2 percent skeletal/eye abnormalities individual samples. abnormal frogs were found in some years was found at many refuges. Extra limbs than in others. were exceedingly rare: just 0.025 percent Although this study was not designed of all frogs sampled. The research effort – called to investigate the reasons behind However, consistent with other, prior the National Abnormal amphibian abnormalities, the results studies, the Service’s study detected strongly implicate localized causes. This areas where sites with higher rates of Amphibian Program – is consistent with other research, some abnormalities tend to cluster together sampled more than 68,000 of which has identified contamination, geographically. Within these regional frogs on 152 refuges. predators, parasites or the interaction of hotspot clusters, which were found in these as potential factors. the Mississippi River Valley (northeast Analysis of the data showed that the Detailed information about the study, Missouri, Arkansas and northern including a link to the PLOS ONE Louisiana), in the Central Valley of location where the amphibians were collected was a better predictor of article, is available at: http://www.fws.gov/ California, and in south-central and contaminants/Issues/Amphibians.cfm eastern Alaska, abnormality frequency whether they would be abnormal than was their species or the year they were

Slowly but Surely Preserving Prairie in Kansas — from page 3

of the easement program is spreading, A key to getting this far, Bohannan “Everybody has a little bit different so is the interest from landowners,” says says, has been partners – including the agenda, but in the end the goal is to save Bohannan. state of Kansas, National Park Service, the Flint Hills and their culture,” Bill The Nature Conservancy, Kansas Land Sproul says. “No one outfit can do it all. A key to future success is the federal Trust, Ranchland Trust of Kansas, the We have to neighbor-up and help each Land and Water Conservation Fund, Tallgrass Legacy Alliance and private other.” which pays for easements and is up for landowners like the Sprouls. reauthorization in 2015.

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A Look Back . . . Kip Koss

ip Koss was “our living work we were doing.” As a member of connection to ‘Ding’ Darling,” Kip Koss the advisory committee for the refuge’s (1935-2013) says Toni Westland, supervisory new visitor/education center, Koss was K was a champion refuge ranger at J. N. “Ding” Darling of conservation an active fundraiser who designed the National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel and of the exhibit areas about his grandfather. Island along Florida’s Gulf Coast. national He transferred funds from the Darling Christopher “Kip” Koss was the son of wildlife refuge Foundation to the “Ding” Darling Darling’s daughter Mary. He served in in Florida named for his Wildlife Society, the refuge Friends the Air Force and flew commercial planes grandfather group, to create a permanent endowment for Pan Am for 27 years before devoting J.N. “Ding” that provides $5,000 in annual grants to his retirement to furthering the legacy of Darling. local teachers for environmental projects. his famous grandfather. After Koss’s death late last year, U.S. Koss was born in Iowa and studied Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan economics at Stanford University. Five Ashe wrote that “Kip and the foundation generations of the Darling family have and catalogued nearly 7,000 of his were great partners with the Service in vacationed on Sanibel and Captiva grandfather’s Pulitzer Prize-winning promoting the Refuge System, the Duck islands, and Koss continued to return editorial cartoons onto a searchable CD, Stamp program and ongoing every summer from his retirement home donated numerous Darling artifacts conservation education, all arenas in in Key Biscayne. He admitted being to the National Conservation Training which his grandfather was an American “pretty grossly ignorant of Darling’s Center, and spearheaded production of pioneer.” When the Service instituted a work” when he became president of the the recent documentary film about his national Heritage Award in 2002 for J.N. “Ding” Darling Foundation in 1983, grandfather’s life, “America’s Darling.” extraordinary contributions to preserving but he was a quick study. The foundation Refuge manager Paul Tritaik says Koss the agency’s history, Ashe noted that was instrumental in consolidating was “a warm, engaging gentleman Koss was the unanimous choice for the land acquisitions to complete Sanibel with a good sense of humor” who was first award winner. National Wildlife Refuge, later renamed “passionate about conservation and not for Darling. Koss himself compiled shy about showing his support for the

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