U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Winter 2009 FishFish &&WildlifeWildlife NeNewwss

Poetry Upon the Ocean / 8 River of Hope / 12 A Leap Forward / 10 Grim Harvest / 16 what’s inside

Departments Director’s Corner /1 Fish Tales /38 News /3 Our People / 39 Conservation in Action / 22 Transitions / 39 Honors / 40 Field Journal / 24 In Memoriam / 43 Around the Service / 25

Features Poetry Upon the Ocean /8 The albatross is a bird of legend and extremes. By Amy J. Gaskill, Marc Romano, Maura Naughton and Greg Balogh

A Leap Forward /10 The journey to Chiricahua leopard frog recovery has begun. By Jim Rorabaugh, Melissa Kreutzian, Mike Sredl, Charlie Painter, Roberto Aguilar, Juan Carlos Bravo, and Carter Kruse River of Hope /12 Students in the Schools in Schools program are helping restore American shad to the Potomac River. By Sandy Burk

Grim Harvest /16 Illegal hunting and bushmeat trade threaten the future of African wildlife. By Dirck Byler

A Bird’s Eye View of Wind Energy /18 Wyoming’s wind energy potential is undeniable, but the state’s challenge On the cover: An adult bison in a field at the will be to lessen the downside for wildlife. National Bison Range. By Marilyn Stone JOHN AND KAREN HOLLINGSWORTH / USFWS

Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 from the director

Honesty, Integrity and Professionalism

s I sit down to write my last message to you for issue, regardless of the political or emotional AFish & Wildlife News, I am filled with humility arguments that might be swirling. They also know and pride. Throughout my more than 30 years with that we have no agenda except truth in science and the Service, I have had the privilege to work with unemotional interpretation of the laws that govern us. many of you—retired and active employees—and Our integrity is and has always been manifested by to witness your dedication to the resource and the taking positions that are supported equally by science Service. I don’t have to tell you that we believe our and law, rather than saying something is fact when we work isn’t simply a job; we believe we have a calling don’t have the science or legislative support. that led us to spend our adult lives with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We have worked diligently to increase the visibility of the Service in science and I am very proud of the In that journey, I have witnessed many things; some scientific work that’s done each day in the course pleasant and rewarding, some not so pleasant. But of Service business. To highlight those efforts, the even in the unpleasant times, I was lifted by the Directorate established three new awards to be given honesty, integrity and professionalism of the Fish and annually to both recognize and thank our good Wildlife Service family that surrounded me. For me, scientists for the work they do. The 2008 (and first) life has some simple rules of engagement. Among the winner of the Science Leadership Award went to most important of those is that to earn respect, one Ken Berg in the Western Washington Fish and must tell the truth, stand by the truth and conduct Wildlife Office. The Rachel Carson Award for business in a manner that gives no one cause to doubt Scientific Excellence (Group) went to the Habitat the first two. and Population Evaluation Teams in Regions 3 and 5. And the Rachel Carson Award for Scientific Excellence (Individual) went to Rachel Mair at White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery for Our integrity is and has always been her excellent work with mussels. I offer my congratulations and appreciation to all winners, manifested by taking positions that are as well as those outstanding nominees who did not win this year. Each award is accompanied by $50,000 supported equally by science and law... to be used to continue scientific work at the stations where the winners reside.

When I was a Field Supervisor I told the staff there You have proven your worth as honest and ethical were three simple rules we must use as our compass. professionals over and over again; there is no doubt First, we must be biologically correct. That means we about the grit from which you were made. However, I are honest in saying what we believe is proven fact, predict that pressures will build as we move into the what we believe is probable fact and, most important, future, and your resolve will be tested as competition what we don’t know. Then, we have to superimpose for natural resources increases. It is critically the information at hand with the law that gives our important to remember that whether we surrender authority or direction to ensure we are legally correct our ethics to those with whom we intellectually agree and within the bounds of legislation in any position we or those with which we disagree, the end result is that may adopt. Finally, we must understand that none of we have surrendered our ethics. No one can take our us can do it alone, whether as individuals or as an ethical beliefs from us. They can only be lost if we organization. That means we seek help and advice acquiesce and give them away. As my final message from our friends and colleagues, or the public if to you, I ask that you continue to steadfastly practice appropriate, to double check our interpretations. honesty, professionalism and integrity in all your endeavors, and conduct business openly with no Fish and wildlife conservation is a non-partisan issue. agenda except truth. I know you’ll do that and I Unfortunately, party agendas or strategy too often know I’m leaving the greatest conservation put us squarely in the middle of political discussions organization in the world, the United States Fish about science and the laws we are charged to uphold. and Wildlife Service, in extremely capable hands. The public respects us because they know they can Thank you for being my professional family and for come to the Service to get the truth about a particular a wonderful career.

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 1 news

Rising to the Challenge habitats and methods to build connectivity for wildlife across The Service in December landscapes, and strengthening released discussion drafts of its key partnerships to effectively climate change strategic and anticipate and address climate action plans for employee change. These key first steps review. Endorsed by the Service will prepare our agency for Directorate, the draft plans have ambitious efforts to adapt to been developed by a diverse team accelerated climate change in of career Service employees to 2010 and beyond.” A polar bear walking along the Beaufort Sea coastline of Alaska. guide the agency’s climate In FY09 the Service plans to identify species and habitats change response and chart a Work has already begun on many vulnerable to climate change and methods to build connectivity course of action through the of the FY09 actions (outlined for wildlife across landscapes. 21st century. below) in some of the Service’s regions. These include: Employees have a 60-day period Building climate change strategy for engaging key during which they can comment Developing a national adaptation leadership and management countries to share and acquire on the plans. strategy and inventory and capacities. Within the next two knowledge of climate change monitoring program. The Service to three years, policy and adaptation, mitigation and The strategic plan focuses on will work with conservation political decisions of enormous education strategies; facilitate adaptation, mitigation, and organizations to address consequence will be made at international exchange of education, and encourages accelerated climate change national, regional, and state personnel; and identify ways Service managers to be more effectively by ensuring levels. The Service will build to engage the Service more innovative and responsive to actions are coordinated across capacity to affect these effectively in the United Nations evolving science, technology, landscapes and political decisions and capitalize on Framework Convention on implementation, and habitat boundaries. In FY09, the Service the talents of its employees Climate Change and other conditions across landscapes will conduct feasibility studies by establishing several key appropriate international forums. working with partners. for the Inventory and Monitoring professional positions and a Program and National Adaptation National Climate Change Team. Identifying, prioritizing, and Along with this plan, the team Strategy, supporting a national adjusting Service activities to has developed an action plan for “blueprint” for these efforts. Identifying priority water needs. consider the effects of climate fiscal years 2009 –13. From this The Service will identify and change. The Service will begin plan, the Directorate has Building regional and field assess priority issues related to looking at areas where climate identified 12 climate change technical capacity for climate water quality and water quantity, change can be incorporated action priorities for FY09— change adaptation. Working with reflecting the best available into planning both our agency’s a series of essential first steps our partners, the Service will climate change predictions planning efforts and those of for addressing climate change. create and enhance field-level and estimating the anticipated State wildlife agencies. These steps build on the capacity to provide cutting edge biological outcomes. Service’s commitment to science and information that Educating and communicating. landscape conservation using will help managers make Addressing habitat The Service will engage and Strategic Habitat Conservation decisions related to changing fragmentation. The Service educate our employees, partners framework and support climate. This includes conducting will provide a report of and stakeholders regarding the the agency’s FY2010 budget a needs assessment for recommendations and agency significance of climate change proposal, as well as its establishing “regional climate progress in promoting habitat for fish and wildlife. We will also transition strategy. science partnerships” that will connectivity to achieve species pursue an aggressive internal boost regional capacity for population objectives. and external communications “Doing nothing is not an option,” science. This capacity will be effort to support our climate said Service Director H. Dale Hall. housed in regionally based Facilitating international change and landscape “In the year ahead, we will move partnerships called Landscape leadership on climate change conservation work with quickly to begin identifying and Conservation Cooperatives and wildlife. The Service will employees, partners and others. filling knowledge gaps, expanding (LCCs), which provide field-level produce a framework and knowledge and understanding, capacity for landscape-scale identifying vulnerable species and biological planning and conservation design.

2 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 SUSANNE MILLER initial investment.TheService therefore constituteacrucial accelerated climatechange,and landscapes atgreatestriskfrom help identifythespeciesand V to guideconservation. Assessing speciesvulnerability response toclimatechange. encourage andsupporteffective frameworks thatarenecessaryto the legal,regulatoryorpolicy recommend prioritychangesin review oftheseframeworksto The within whichweoperate. regulatory appropriate changestothelegal, must considernecessaryand response toclimatechange and policyissues. Reviewing legal,regulatory objectives. habitat, andcarbonsequestration conserved toachievepopulation, what habitattypesshouldbe where, when,howmuch,and approaches todetermine conservation planning wildlife. W restore habitat,andconserve sequestration techniques, to expandterrestrialcarbon work withconservationpartners for wildlife Expanding carbonsequestration by 2025. “carbon neutral”organization emissions. emissions andoffsetremaining emissions, minimizeunavoidable to avoidglobalgreenhousegas immediately institutingpractices carbon footprint,wecanbegin documenting theService’ footprint. Reducing theService’ ulnerability assessmentswill Service willcoordinatea By thoroughly , e Our goalistobea . TheServicewill and willuselandscape policy TheService frameworks s carbon s W David Eisenhauer strategic_plan.html>. Minnesota,Missouri, Region Wildlife staff fromtheFishand A comparablenumberof distance-learning classroom. attend theweeklyclassina of themgraduatestudents, Thirty-six IUstudents,most a smallcarbonfootprint. time awayfromwork,andwith employees, atlittlecost, Fish andWildlifeService professional developmentfor The result:high-quality software. and desktopsharingcomputer by atelephoneconnection or offices,linkedtotheclassroom participate fromtheirhomes personnel fromeightstates of Fish andWildlifeService Associate ProfessorV Service employeesjoinin School ofPublicand — Service Midwest , whoteachestheclass Indiana, Illinois,Iowa, Affairs course — , theyare dial inand icky orld t Winter 2009 Wildlife which ispaidforbytheFishand via adedicatedtelephoneline, the lectures.Theycanalsospeak locations toaskquestionsduring allows viewersatremote “chat” functionwiththesoftware Wildlife on thecomputersofFishand classroom and,simultaneously are viewedonscreensintheIU They usePowerPointslidesthat Wildlife Wildlife accessible tostaffatalllevels be carbonneutral,andthatit minimize the region’ who saidthattheywanted Midwest from adiscussionamongmany “The sparkforthiswebinarcame said Meretsky leveraged environment,” first peopleusingitinawidely time; wejustseemtobethe “This approachisreadyforprime climate change. other anticipatedeffectsof hotter anddryersummers vulnerable torisingsealevels, special areas,manyofwhichare and managingrefugesother protecting endangeredspecies which isresponsiblefor the climate changeisessentialfor Simon saidlearningabout office inBloomington. the a fishandwildlifebiologistwith more thanthat?”saidT How canyouaskforanything presentations ontheirresearch. their fields,andthey’regivingus of theexperts,toppeoplein “V icky hasbroughttogetherall Fish andWildlifeService, Fish andWildlifeService Service. Service participants.A Federation. Fund andtheNational GHG emissionsoreven Region staffmembers F s climateforumto ish &W . ildlife News news o m S imon, >> , / 3 news ANDY KING / USFWS

Climate, continued from page 3 future, which will expect more Counting Bat Noses intensive use of distance-learning in the organization. That technology. Bat biologists are currently discussion gave me the idea to gearing up—at the Fish and contact a Midwest university with “If we’re going to meet the Wildlife Service’s request—to distance learning capabilities to challenge of climate change head underground with digital To estimate the bat density in this digital photograph, propose a collaborative webinar and reduce our carbon footprint cameras in tow. They are surveyors superimposed dots approach,” said Teresa A.N. as an organization, it’s critical preparing to take part in the on bat noses and then counted. Woods, Special Assistant to the that the Service increasingly Service’s 2009 biennial winter This cluster of bats in Ray’s Midwest Regional Director. consider and start using these surveys of the federally Cave, Indiana, had a density technologies,” Ashe said. “It’s an endangered Indiana bat. of approximately 380 bats per Woods said former Midwest important part of breaking new square foot. Regional Director Robyn Thorson ground for us, and we appreciate Digital photography is rapidly and Deputy Regional Director Indiana University’s support.” changing and improving how bat feasibility testing using state- Charley Wooley were “very biologists traditionally estimate of-the-art image-recognition supportive” of the project. She IU students benefit from learning winter-bat populations within software. The Service’s ultimate called Meretsky, and within a to use the technology and from hibernacula (i.e., caves and goal is to develop a program to few weeks the webinar was extensive classroom contact with mines). Having spent hours or more quickly and accurately on IU’s course schedule. Service professionals, Meretsky days manually identifying and identify and estimate the number said. IU faculty members plan to counting thousands of tiny bat of individual bats within digital “It has been a team effort. I am produce an article about the noses on computer screens, bat photographs. The Service’s our region’s lead for the webinar, class experience and have given counters have long hoped for a Bloomington office will be but it is the generosity of poster presentations about it better way. Some have dreamed providing the digital images for many — especially IU for at national conferences. The of running photographs through a the feasibility tests. allowing FWS to participate Service has offered to provide software program and instantly without charge — that makes comments on final papers that receiving an accurate bat count In recent years, the Service and it a success.” IU students produce for the (plus or minus an acceptable its partners have been taking class, and possibly to consider amount of standardized error.) steps to improve the accuracy of Dan Ashe, Science Advisor to them for inclusion in a peer- Fortunately, the weary bat Indiana bat-population estimates Service Director H. Dale Hall, said reviewed agency publication. counters’ dreams may be closer and trends. This information the class also helps the agency to reality, thanks to some USDA ultimately affects the Service’s experiment with a new approach Steve Hinnefeld, Indiana Forest Service remote-sensing assessment of the bat’s recovery to delivering training and to start University Communications specialists who recently criteria. For example, in 2006 preparing for the workforce of the accepted the challenge. the Service sponsored a field test of bat surveyors. The test The Forest Service is used to determined surveyors using Tom Simon, USFWS biologist in Bloomington, sits in on the taking on management digital photography had climate class at Indiana University. challenges associated with the significantly less error in their Indiana bat and its habitat. The population estimates than Indiana bat occurs on national- UNIVERSITY those using traditional survey forest lands in 14 states including techniques. Digital photography

INDIANA Indiana’s Hoosier National Forest. is also valuable because it can Dale Weigel, a forester with reduce field-survey time and Hoosier National Forest, and disturbance levels in hibernacula Andy King, a biologist with the and produce permanent records. Service’s Bloomington, Indiana, However, as a survey technique, Ecological Services Field Office, digital photography is not without proposed the bat-imaging project. limitations. States with large They submitted it as part of a winter populations of Indiana national competition to the Forest bats (e.g., Indiana, Kentucky, Service’s Remote Sensing New York, Illinois, Missouri, Applications Center in Salt Lake and West Virginia) rarely have City, Utah. RSAC selected the adequate staff to count digital-bat unique bat-imaging project for images. Distinguishing pinkish funding and will soon begin

4 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 news

noses from bent wrists and Service Employees Affected by Wildfire in Boise counting tens of thousands of bat noses in hundreds of images On August 25, 2008, when the can take weeks. So, if RSAC human-caused Oregon Trail Fire DUGMORE succeeds in standardizing and blew through a densely populated Y automating a system for southeast Boise community, estimating bat numbers from area residents found themselves digital images, it will benefit asking neighbors from the FLICKR / LINDSA recovery efforts. wildland fire community for direction. U.S. Fish and Wildlife In addition to digital images of Service employees living in the healthy bat clusters, the Service Homestead Rim subdivision and its partners will provide directly threatened by the fire RSAC with those of clusters with jumped in to help neighborhood fungal growth on noses, ears, residents and to assist with the and forearms. Scientists have fire suppression efforts as it associated this fungal growth flanked toward their homes. with the newly emerging threat, white-nose syndrome (WNS). The Chief, Service Fire Management current WNS outbreak apparently Branch Brian McManus had just The Oregon Trail Fire burns near a subdivision in Boise, Idaho. began at four hibernacula near settled in for the evening with his U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees living in the area assisted with fire suppression efforts. Albany, New York, during the family when the president of the winter of 2006– 07. It rapidly Homestead Rim homeowners spread this past winter to about association knocked on his door “I got a message on my cell Homestead Rim watched homes 30 additional sites in New York; alerting him of the fire. McManus phone from Chad saying ‘Can’t above them smolder well into Vermont; Massachusetts; went to assess the situation, talk now. Fighting fire at the the night. Connecticut; and, perhaps, returned home to put on his house. Beckett is with Michael. Pennsylvania. WNS has affected nomex, a flame-retardant suit, We’re good at the house. Gotta “One of our biggest tasks was at least five bat species, including and returned to the edge of the go.’ which summed up the to help calm our neighbors in the Indiana bat. And mortality subdivision that the fire would situation for me,” said Sarah. an intense, highly emotional rates have exceeded 90 percent reach first. “But, I really just wanted to situation,” said McManus. at some sites. get home.” “I explained to my neighbors Another Service employee, As initial funding allows, RSAC what they could do to prepare Chad, whose career includes Kelly Cardoza, was asked to will test the feasibility of imaging themselves for the fire,” said stints on engines, in helitack, and evacuate her home in another software to quickly scan and McManus. “I gave them some as a smokejumper, noted that neighborhood that was in the accurately detect individual bats simple directions so they did the experience will change his path of the fire. Cardoza, who exhibiting fungal growth. Initially, not feel so helpless.” perspective next time he is works in a shared fire outreach researchers did not notice involved in a wildland situation position for both the Fire low levels of fungal growth, Service employees Chad during a fire assignment. “I will Management Branch and Pacific indicative of early onset of WNS, and Sarah Fisher also live have a lot more empathy and Region Fire Management, lives at some affected sites. New York in Homestead Rim. Sarah, compassion for people whose with her husband and son in the biologists later examined and administrative officer for the homes are in the path of a fire,” Oregon Trail subdivision where 10 discovered its presence in Service Fire Branch, was on he said. “Emotions run high and homes were eventually destroyed digitally enhanced photographs. her way home from a fire people have to make last minute and nine others badly damaged If feasible, digital-imaging assignment in northern California, critical decisions about what is by the 93-acre fire. software would provide an when the fire started. Road most important to them.” efficient means of conducting closures kept her from getting to Later, Cardoza worked with a WNS surveillance across the her home until the situation had Chad and Brian’s suppression local fire prevention cooperative eastern United States and calmed down. Chad, Service work and presence on the fireline to deliver a fire safety and Canada. National Training Specialist, aided in the eventual containment prevention skit to an elementary was at home with their son. of the flanking fire which came school in the same subdivision. Andy King, biologist, very close to the edge of their By dressing up as clowns, and Bloomington, Indiana subdivision. Residents of using puppets, music, and >>

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 5 news

Fire, continued from page 5 of a firefighter that night. The panel proved to be a highlight age-appropriate humor, of the conference. cooperators from surrounding city fire departments and area With Boise’s heightened Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett (standing, center) federal wildland fire agencies community awareness and and Northeast Regional Director Marvin Moriarty (seated, regularly present important fire curiosity about how wildland fire left) were joined by New York City Commissioner of Parks and safety messages to children at burns and what wildland fire Recreation Adrian Benepe (seated, right), Executive Director Audubon New York Al Caccese (standing, right), and Executive many area schools . professionals do, McManus and Director New York City Audubon Glenn Phillips in signing the his staff have continued to partnership agreement. “Fire is definitely an emotional answer requests and conducted topic for our neighborhood right community presentations about now,” said Cardoza. “I had a few fire management. One of these Big Apple is for the Birds students come up to tell me about was held at the Homestead Rim losing their homes or to describe subdivision one week after the New York City in October joined native trees, and other plant life their personal experience with fire burned. McManus, Cardoza, an elite group of American cities in city parks provide important the fire. Our being there was and other firefighters from the at the forefront of conservation, resting and breeding grounds for timely and seemed to give them city of Boise and the Bureau of becoming the ninth American city thousands of migrating birds that an opportunity to talk about it in Land Management spoke at the to sign an Urban Conservation fly through New York and other a safe situation.” meeting, which was planned for Treaty for Migratory Birds. cities every spring and fall. With a 45 minutes but extended by strong record of natural resource Chad Fisher participated in a participants to two hours. On October 15, 2008, Deputy conservation, New York City panel discussion with Boise’s Secretary of the Interior Lynn boasts 53,000 acres of open Mayor, Boise’s City Fire Another public presentation given Scarlett and Northeast Regional space and park lands. Department Chief and others by McManus and Cardoza was Director Marvin Moriarty at the Idaho Wildland Fire held in nearby Garden City, which were joined by New York City As part of the treaty commitment, Conference in Boise to study the recently experienced a 30-acre Commissioner of Parks & partners will work together Oregon Trail Fire. The panel gave wildfire close to an interstate Recreation Adrian Benepe, the to improve New York City’s a description of what happened highway. Executive Director of Audubon bird habitat by increasing during the fire and Fisher New York, Al Caccese, and the stewardship, providing recounted his emotions being Kelly Cardoza, Fire Outreach Executive Director of New York restoration of key areas and a father and husband instead Specialist, SE Idaho Refuge City Audubon, Glenn Phillips ensuring proper monitoring in Complex in signing the partnership all New York City natural areas, agreement. Backed by a $65,000 including the city’s Important grant from the Service, the Bird Areas, Forever Wild sites, Snake Study Urban Conservation Treaty will and other critical habitats. support migratory bird initiatives throughout New York City. The Urban Conservation Treaty Shiawasse National Partnering organizations Program started in 1999, when Wildlife Refuge Manager Steve Kahl will match the grant money New Orleans became the first with funding and “in-kind” Urban Conservation Treaty city. AUL HESS / USFWS

P holds an Eastern fox snake. The refuge is contributions of goods and Other Treaty cities are Chicago, partnering with the services, with a total contribution Houston, Philadelphia, Portland Friends of Shiawassee of more than $450,000. (Oregon), St. Louis, Nashville, NWR, Central and Anchorage, Alaska. Michigan University, New York City lies along the and Potter Park Zoo to Atlantic Flyway and is an Jennifer Lapis, Public Affairs, study one of the most essential urban sanctuary for Hadley, Massachusetts threatened and least migrating birds. Ponds, lakes, understood reptiles in the Midwest.

6 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 news

Protecting Habitat in New Mexico Going Green The U.S. Fish and Wildlife one conservation approach In November, the Service Fish and Wildlife Service. It Service, the Bureau of Land isn’t enough,” said Southwest received seven Department achieved a Silver designation Management and the Center Regional Director Benjamin N. of the Interior Environmental under the Leadership in Energy of Excellence for Hazardous Tuggle. “The voluntary Achievement Awards for and Environmental Design Materials Management are agreements provide an avenue energy conservation and rating standard. encouraging landowners, energy to integrate conservation efforts sustainability projects. companies and ranchers to join across these intermingled land Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic and the agencies in a voluntary ownerships.” Interior’s Environmental Wind Energy System, San Andres program to protect and restore Achievement Awards recognize National Wildlife Refuge, New habitat for the lesser prairie Landowners who sign on to the employees and partners who Mexico. Using a tiered approach chicken and sand dune lizard in Candidate Conservation Program have made outstanding to install on-site renewable southeast New Mexico. Both the could be asked to do some of the contributions through energy generation, the San lesser prairie chicken and sand following: allow lesser prairie departmental projects in Andres National Wildlife Refuge dune lizard are candidates for chickens to be placed on their preventing pollution and waste, is able to supply 100 percent of protection under the Endangered lands; control mesquite, the recycling, green purchasing, its own power for several Species Act. potential for which could, if environmental management, months out of the year and has allowed to spread unchecked, sustainable designing and the decreased energy intensity by Included in the program are negatively impact habitat; make greening of facilities, and using 80 percent from the Fiscal Year agreements for participants grazing modifications; modify alternative fuel and fuel 2003 baseline. to voluntarily undertake or fences to reduce collision by conservation in transportation. fund conservation measures prairie chickens; avoid leasing Joel Kemm, Bio-Energy and for the species. The Service habitat to energy development; Service recipients are: Habitat Restoration on the St. recommends using the keeping new surface Croix Wetland Management agreements to encourage disturbances out of dune areas; Dan Thorington, Comprehensive District, Stanton Prairie conservation, while providing removing abandoned powerlines; Recycling Program for Alaska Waterfowl Production Area, greater certainty that if a and, agreeing not to modify Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, Minnesota. Kemm created a species becomes listed as occupied and suitable shinnery Alaska Maritime National mutually beneficial partnership “threatened” or “endangered” oak habitat. Wildlife Refuge. Thorington with loggers to remove scrub despite their efforts, landowners started an outstanding recycling brush and trees for use in bio­ will not be required to make The Bureau of Land Management program for Alaska Islands energy production. This program significant additional changes will work with the Service and and Ocean Visitor Center. saved money, restored habitat at in their activities on federal or CEHMM to identify projects He produced a creative and the Stanton Prairie Waterfowl non-federal lands. and mitigation measures for comprehensive recycling guide Production Area in Wisconsin landowners and companies that for visitors and employees. The and contributed to alternative The lesser prairie chicken and participate in the agreements. program has diverted 80 percent energy production. the sand dune lizard uses habitat of waste from the center, and on intermingled federal and Earlier this year, the BLM forged recycling partnership Honorable mentions are Farallon non-federal lands. Under completed a Resource with others in the community. National Wildlife Refuge the program, a Candidate Management Plan Amendment Environmental Management Conservation Agreement applies for public lands in southeastern Nulhegan Basin Green System Team; Sustainable to federal agencies and ranchers New Mexico to protect the Administration Building and Tualatin River National Wildlife or energy companies that species. The conservation Visitor Contact Center, Silvio O. Refuge Center and Administrative lease lands from the federal measures to be applied under the Conte National Fish and Wildlife Building Project Team; and Greg government. A Candidate Candidate Conservation program Refuge, Vermont. The Nulhegan Owens, Wilna Lodge Modular Conservation Agreement with will add to these efforts, and Basin Administration Building Building, Rappahannock River Assurances applies to private multiply the benefits to the two and Visitor Contact Center at Valley National Wildlife Refuge. landowners, state agencies, and species. the Silvio O. Conte National Fish entities leasing state lands. and Wildlife Refuge is the first DOI Communications Elizabeth Slown, Public Affairs, Energy Star Building for the “Because of New Mexico’s mix of Albuquerque, New Mexico federal, state and private lands,

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 7 poetry upon the ocean

Long viewed as a symbol of good omen, the albatross I remember the first albatross I ever saw. It was during a prolonged gale, in waters is a bird of legend hard upon the Antarctic seas...I saw a regal, feathery thing of unspotted whiteness, and with a hooked, Roman bill sublime. At intervals, it arched forth its vast archangel and extremes. wings...Long I gazed at that prodigy of plumage. I cannot tell, can only hint, the things By Amy J. Gaskill, Marc Romano, that darted through me then. But at last I awoke; and turning, asked a sailor what bird Maura Naughton and Greg Balogh was this. A goney, he replied. —From Moby Dick, by Herman Melville TTE

A he “gooney bird,” or albatross, is a bird California, Mexico. At sea, black-footed

VID P Tof legend and extremes. Long viewed and Laysan albatrosses range over most DA as a symbol of good omen, this wondrous of the North Pacific Ocean and into the group of birds boasts the species with Bering Sea of Alaska. the longest wingspan at more than 11 feet. Soaring on these “vast archangel The core of their breeding range is the wings” the albatross is one of the greatest collection of small islands and atolls of the long distance wanderers in the world. Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. More A breeding albatross can fly more than than 96 percent of the world’s black-footed 10,000 miles to deliver a single meal to its albatrosses and 98 percent of the world’s chick and a fledgling wandering albatross Laysan albatrosses breed on these islands, will fly more than 110,000 miles in its first most of which are under the jurisdiction of year alone. the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Only two albatross species breed in the The breeding populations and ranges of United States, the black-footed albatross both species were greatly reduced during (Phoebastria nigripes) and the Laysan the 1800s and early 1900s, when hunters albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis). extirpated birds from most of the colonies They are distinguished from most other in the Western Pacific to provide feathers Laysan Albatross pair tending egg at species by their Northern Hemisphere for the millinery trade. In 1903, President breeding grounds. distribution. There are 20 islands that Theodore Roosevelt sent marines to guard support black-footed or Laysan albatross Midway Atoll to protect the birds against colonies in most years, spreading from the hunters, and in 1909 he declared the East China Sea to the waters off Baja Northwestern Hawaiian Islands a bird

8 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 reservation. This area later became the species. “More than a hundred thousand objective is to estimate a variety of key Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge albatrosses [worldwide] drown in fishing demographic parameters, such as adult and today is included in the gear every year,” said Dr. Beth Flint, survival, reproductive success and Papaha-naumokua -kea Marine National a wildlife biologist with the Service’s proportion of adults breeding each year. Monument, one of the largest marine Pacific Remote Islands Refuge Complex. This is a challenging task, given that protected areas in the world. Laysan and black-footed albatrosses are Biologists are working directly with known to live to more than 40 years of age. Populations of both black-footed and fishers and industry groups on mitigation The information gained from this new Laysan albatross have increased measures to reduce the bycatch of monitoring program will allow the Service significantly since the cessation of feather albatrosses. Methods such as adding to track the health of black-footed and hunting in the early 1900s. However, weight to longline fishing gear to quickly Laysan albatross populations over globally the black-footed albatross is sink baited-hooks, or setting fishing gear decades. This state-of-the-art monitoring listed as endangered by the International from the side of the boat instead of from effort is currently taking place on Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) the back are very effective in reducing National Wildlife Refuge lands at the and the Laysan albatross is listed as bycatch. Some other successful measures main albatross breeding colonies in the vulnerable. These listings were based include dyeing bait dark blue, deploying Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. on predicted population declines from streamer lines to scare birds away from expected mortalities associated with gear, and setting fishing gear at night. Several other Action Plan priorities longline commercial fishing. Other current Hawaiian fleets have reduced seabird have similarly moved quickly into and potential threats to these species deaths by 97 percent by employing these implementation. For example, Naughton include non-native, invasive predators techniques. But they aren’t the only and Romano are teaming up with Dr. Scott at the breeding colonies; disease; fishing fleets on the open seas. Shaffer of the University of California, contaminants; and sea-level rise related Santa Cruz to track the long-range to global climate change. In the United movements of albatrosses at sea using States, a petition to protect black-footed cutting edge geo-location technology. albatrosses under the Endangered Species The albatross is one Small, lightweight devices enable the team Act was submitted by Earthjustice in to track the daily movements of tagged 2004 and is currently under review. of the greatest long birds over a two year period. Ultimately, these data will be combined with The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is distance wanderers information on fishing distribution and moving toward the goal of maintaining or intensity to determine areas where at-sea increasing black-footed and Laysan in the world. albatrosses may be at risk. albatross populations by working with partners to quantify and address potential A recurring theme in the development threats to these species. To guide this of the Action Plan is the integration of work the Service created a comprehensive education and outreach. A public more Conservation Action Plan (Action Plan) aware of the unique nature of albatrosses and launched an innovative long-term and their conservation needs serves to monitoring program to track albatross generate support for conservation action. populations at their breeding colonies. The breeding colonies on the main Hawaiian Islands have the potential to The Action Plan was initiated by the serve as demonstration sites where the Service, but it is truly the product of a public can view albatrosses first hand in diverse group of agencies, organizations, their natural habitats. Webcams and other and individuals with a responsibility interpretive tools are being considered or interest in albatross conservation. to bring the remote colonies of the The Action Plan is intended to provide This light-weight geo-location device Northwestern Hawaiian Islands into a framework for partnership-based enables sea bird biologists to track long- homes and classrooms, spawning a conservation and management. range movements of tagged birds for up to conservation attitude toward albatrosses The core of the document is a list two years. and other Pacific seabird species. of specific action items that, when implemented, will reduce threats to This is an exciting time to spread the black-footed and Laysan albatrosses and To truly understand the full range of story of the albatross because emerging prevent or stem population declines. threats to albatrosses and assess the technology and innovative scientific effectiveness of conservation actions, research is providing a new window into Many of the highest priority actions Service wildlife biologists Maura their fascinating and unique life history. identified in the plan address the issues of Naughton and Marc Romano with the At the same time, the Service is working mitigation and monitoring of the incidental Pacific Region Office of Migratory Birds in diverse ways to ensure the future of take of albatrosses in commercial fishing and Habitat Programs, have been working this “living poetry upon the ocean…” operations (fishery bycatch). Albatrosses with partners to develop a standardized which is how author Carl Safina so aptly spend much of their lives feeding at sea, set of monitoring protocols. These described these magnificent birds. and their foraging distribution often protocols are the foundation of a overlaps with commercial fishing demographic monitoring program that Amy J. Gaskill is a public affairs specialist in operations. According to the IUCN, is being designed with the collaboration the Pacific Region; Marc Romano and Maura incidental fishery bycatch has been the of scientists from the U.S. Geological Naughton are seabird biologists in the Pacific most significant source of mortality for Survey’s, Patuxent Wildlife Research Region; and Greg Balogh is a seabird biologist black-footed and many other albatross Center in Maryland. The monitoring in the Alaska Region.

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 9 a leap

A Chiricahua leopard frog from the Pajarito Mountains in Arizona near the Mexican border.

Recovery — it is the most important part of endangered species conservation. nuts-and-bolts realities of achieving For most species, considerable funding and staff resources are needed to overcome recovery on the ground. Key elements years of population declines and habitat degradation. Despite the limited resources include protecting the remaining populations and habitats, establishing available, and with a lot of help from friends and partners, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife new populations, monitoring progress, Service has put together a recovery program for the threatened Chiricahua leopard research, public outreach, and adaptive frog (Lithobates chiricahuensis). management.

The primary threats — introduced o augment the scarce funds available The Mexican government lists it as predators and chytridiomycosis — are Tfor recovery activities, the Service amenazada (threatened). not easily addressed. Predators can be has engaged its Partners for Fish and controlled at small sites, but eliminating Wildlife Program and applied to grants The causes of the decline are not always them from large, complex systems is often and foundations. The Service and a clear, and several interacting factors impossible with current technology. dedicated host of partners are slowly are often at play, but experts on the Except for taking precautions not to making progress toward the recovery Chiricahua leopard frog generally agree spread the disease ourselves, scientists of this species. that predation by introduced species are only beginning to understand how to (especially American bullfrogs, sport deal with chytridiomycosis. Some frog The Chiricahua leopard frog is a large, fishes, and crayfish), and an apparently populations are persisting with the often green, spotted frog that historically introduced fungal skin disease disease, especially at warmer and lower was common in the mountains and high (chytridiomycosis) that is killing frogs sites, and they could provide key insights valleys of central and southeastern and toads around the globe are the into how to manage the disease. The Arizona, west-central and southwestern leading causes. Other problems, such recovery team is looking into several New Mexico, and southward in the Sierra as loss and degradation of wetlands, questions: are the frogs developing Madre Occidental and associated sky recent catastrophic wildfires, drought, resistance to the disease? Are there islands of northeastern Sonora and and contaminants, have contributed to environmental factors allowing their western Chihuahua, Mexico. The frog was the decline. persistence, or both? The Service has known to inhabit 469 historical localities. experimented with eliminating the disease Declines were first noted in the early to The Chiricahua Leopard Frog Recovery from habitats but are a long way from mid-1970s, and today the species is only Plan was completed in early 2007. It was solving that problem. The strategy for now known to exist at about 41 localities in developed in an open process with a has been to try to maintain the remaining Arizona and 30 to 35 localities in New technical team that provided top-notch populations and begin reestablishing Mexico. Its status in Mexico is poorly scientific expertise, while three populations and improving habitats in known, but Chiricahua leopard frogs stakeholder groups kept the process places where introduced predators and have declined to some extent there as well. grounded in the social, economic, and disease are absent or manageable.

10 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 Chiricahua leopard frog recovery is still a distant destination, but the journey has begun. forward By Jim Rorabaugh, Melissa Kreutzian, Mike Sredl, Charlie Painter, Roberto Aguilar, Juan Carlos Bravo, and Carter Kruse

Combining outreach and recovery, students and their parents from Sierra Vista, Arizona, assist in a release of frogs that were headstarted at the Phoenix Zoo.

These reintroductions typically involve become important habitats for Chiricahua conservation group) to instruct Mexican collecting egg masses from the wild, leopard frogs, so tools that help the biologists on survey protocols and hatching the eggs and headstarting Service work in partnership with ranchers techniques for captive husbandry, tadpoles at the Phoenix Zoo or other are critical to recovery. propagation, and headstarting of facilities, and releasing late-stage amphibians. tadpoles or metamorph frogs. Limited On Ted Turner’s Ladder Ranch in New wild-to-wild movements of egg masses Mexico and at a high school in Douglas, Restoring an imperiled species is not an and frogs, as well as captive propagation, Arizona, captive propagation and head- easy process, but with hard work from have also been employed. Scientists starting facilities are under construction. many partners, all parties are beginning to have honed techniques and protocols Thanks to the Arizona Game and Fish see how the Chiricahua leopard frog might over the past 12 years, and most Department, Tonto National Forest, and one day be secure again. Recovery is reestablishments now successfully result Phoenix Zoo, aggressive efforts to restore still a distant destination, but the journey in breeding populations. habitats and reestablish populations are has begun. rebuilding a metapopulation (a group of These recovery actions have been spatially separated populations that Jim Rorabaugh, the Service’s recovery leader facilitated by 1) a special rule under exchange individuals through immigration for the Chiricahua leopard frog, is located section 4(d) of the Endangered Species and emigration) of Chiricahua leopard in the Tucson, Arizona, Field Office. Melissa Act that allows incidental take of frogs frogs near Young, Arizona. Meanwhile, Kreutzian, the Service’s lead for Chiricahua resulting from operation and maintenance the Phoenix Zoo and the Arizona-Sonora leopard frog recovery in New Mexico, is of livestock waters on non-federal lands, 2) Desert Museum near Tucson are located in Albuquerque. Mike Sredl is the Safe Harbor Agreements with the Arizona cautiously breeding the last remaining Ranid Frog Programs Manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the frogs from the Coconino National Forest Game and Fish Department in Phoenix. Malpai Borderlands Group (a progressive and the Santa Rita Mountains in Arizona Charlie Painter is the herpetologist for the group of conservation ranchers), and 3) for reestablishment at multiple sites. New Mexico Department of Game and programmatic grazing consultations Major habitat restoration programs Fish in Albuquerque. Roberto Aguilar, with involved federal agencies on public underway at two sites in southeastern DVM, is the Director of Conservation and lands. The 4(d) rule and Safe Harbor Arizona, and one in the boot heel of New Science at the Phoenix Zoo. Juan Carlos Agreements help us build trust with Mexico will benefit Chiricahua leopard Bravo, Naturalia’s Northwestern Mexico ranchers and private landowners, while frogs and other imperiled wetland species. representative, is located in Hermosillo, the programmatic consultations provide a We are also working with Mexican Sonora. Carter Kruse is a senior aquatic framework within which to move forward partners to build capacity for amphibian biologist with the Turner Endangered Species on recovery with the Forest Service, conservation in northwestern Mexico. Fund in Bozeman, Montana. Bureau of Land Management, and In August 2008, the Service will hold a livestock grazing permittees. Artificial workshop at a private reserve in northern water sources developed for cattle have Sonora owned by Naturalia (a Mexican

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 11 SANDY BURK Students in the Schools in Schools program are helping restore American shad to the Potomac River — and learn the value of conservation.

By Sandy Burk Students sample fish near Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge after their shad release. rivriiv ve er off hhoppe

Painting of American shad by Andrea Barnes

12 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 This spring, hundreds of Virginia students traveled to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife After raising the shad for a week, students Refuge part of the Potomac River NWR Complex near Washington, DC to release travel to release sites along the Potomac thousands of American shad and see bald eagles fishing. For more than 15 years River including Occoquan Bay and Great Falls National Park. Occoquan students have hatched and restocked shad as part of the Potomac River American Bay lies in the tidal section of the Potomac Shad Restoration Project’s Schools in Schools program. River, just downstream of Washington, DC. Great Falls is just upstream of Washington. Waters adjacent to the refuge he program is coordinated by Living Understanding the effect of human are part of the historical spawning area TClassrooms of the National Capital activities on the local watershed has been for American shad. Region in partnership with the U.S. a focal point for the science curriculum in Fish and Wildlife Service, Interstate many states, including Virginia, where Since 1996, more than 100 schools have Commission on the Potomac River Basin, teachers and students are encouraged to raised and released hundreds of thousands Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Anacostia participate in a Meaningful Watershed of shad into the Potomac River. Shad Watershed Society, Chesapeake Bay Educational Experience (MWEE). students also helped get a fishway into the Restoration Fund, Chesapeake Bay Trust, Releasing fish, monitoring water quality, Little Falls dam, which was blocking their and the Mirant Corporation, LLC. and doing bird surveys at a refuge allow shad from returning upriver to spawn. students to participate in these MWEE American shad are the largest herring in experiences, which can then lead to service Shad are now the world and make up a critical part of learning credit. returning to the the food webs of the coastal rivers of the Potomac United States. During the past century, In Virginia, starting in the eighth grade, in great numbers. shad numbers declined dramatically due and Maryland, starting in the sixth grade, The program has to overharvesting, dams, and pollution. students can earn service learning credit been featured on Schools in Schools students are helping for restoring shad, doing native plantings national TV and in bring them back. and monitoring wildlife as part of the an award winning Schools in Schools project. These activities book Let the River Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery support the Service’s Connecting People Run Silver Again!, has been a key partner in this effort since with Nature initiative by getting kids which shad its inception, designing the student tanks outside and involved with nature for students helped write. Schools from other with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and credits through working with a National river areas around the mid Atlantic — from offering technical assistance for hatching Fish Hatchery and refuge complex. North Carolina to New Jersey — have also and raising the fish. Shad release sites on started to raise shad. the Potomac River now include Occoquan During the Schools in Schools project, Bay, adjacent to part of the historic students join Service and River Last year, Schools in Schools teachers spawning grounds for American shad on Commission biologists and watermen to received training in a new food web the Potomac River. fish for shad and to collect shad eggs. activity and how to use the eagle web cams They get to bag eggs and help transport at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Getting kids outside to refuges, especially them to their schools. While collecting fish and the Service’s National Conservation for school credit, can be a challenge for or releasing shad, they often see bald Training Center. During the food web any school or refuge staff. Liability, eagles and osprey fishing, too, observing activity, students built the food web of standardized testing, limited time- all of the food web of the river first-hand. their river with plant and animal cards these are hurdles teachers often face including the bald eagle and shad. The when trying to get their students outside Back in the classroom, students hatch the food web activity illustrated how the entire to learn. shad in tanks designed by Harrison Lake ecosystem of a river—including the National Fish Hatchery staff. With eagle — benefits directly from healthy Schools in Schools is helping to change guidance from Living Classrooms and fish populations, including shad. that by offering activities that help hatchery staff, students monitor and teachers reinforce the curriculum treat the tanks to ensure successful Students also watched the eagle cams, concepts they teach, as well as provide shad hatching and growth until they are observing eagle behavior in the nest. field experiences that give students credit released by students. Both eagle cams vividly showed the eagle toward graduation. parents feeding their eaglets fish, with the Blackwater eagle cam on the Chesapeake Bay showing the eagles feeding shad to >>

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 13 MARTY MCLEVY / USFWS 14 har Jim Cummins,abiologistwiththeInterstateCommissiononP American / Fish &W vests eggswithelementar webs declined ildlife News of shad During the Winter 2009 dramatically coastal make y schoolstudents. the up past rivers a of baldeaglesinthemidA home tooneofthelargestconcentrations this areaoftheP Deputy RefugemanagerDaffny Hoskie, protection ofthebaldeagle. A to bespecificallyestablished forthe release theirshad,wasthefirstrefuge W Elizabeth HartwellMasonNeckNational coastal eagles.Theyalsolear fish, includingshadandotherher they fledge,andthattheirprimar their youngever Students lear understanding offoodwebs. students anddramaticallyreinforcedtheir their foodweblessonwasexcitingforthe their eaglets.Suchvisualreinforcementof River ildlife Refuge,acrossfromwherethey critical century due , continuedfrompage13 of dams, andpollution. to the ned thateaglesneedtofeed overharvesting, part , y twohoursorsountil otomac Riverisnow shad United otomac RiverBasin, of tlantic. numbers the ned thatthe ccording to States. rings for y foodis food beach toreleasetheirfish.Ser F V On theshadreleaseday other birds. quality andbirdwatchingforeagles student-raised shad,monitoringwater at OccoquanNWRtoincludereleasingthe Classrooms plannedtheirfieldexperience and shadprojectstafffromLiving hand. SoRefugeRangerMartyMcLevy NWR Complex,toseetheeaglesfirst­ three refugeswithintheP NWR andOccoquanNWR,twoofthe to visitElizabethHartwellMasonNeck many shadstudentsandteacherstowant W and huntinggroundsattherefuge. excited toseesomeactiveeagle nesting Ser watched eagleshatchandgrow onthe the studentswerethrilled.Having Elizabeth HartwellMasonNeckNWR, nest andeaglesfishingacrosstheriverat sur graders walkedtherefugetodoabird A to theriverspawn. were releasingwhenthoseshadretur someday feedonthever were abouttoseeontherefugemay eagles ontheeaglecamsandthosethey populations inournationsrivers,andthat continued successdependsonhealthyfish Robinson pointedoutthattheeagles species listinJune2007. eagle wasremovedfromtheendangered resulted inthebaldeagle’srecover the banningofpesticideDDThad proper managementbytheSer the histor Randy Robinsonfollowedwithatalkon NCTC DistanceLear through thehatcher restore fishsuchasAmericanshad refuge. ShealsotoldhowtheSer four yearstolaytheireggsnearthe the A students howtheirshadwouldmigrateto biologist LisaMossexplainedtothe air irginia’s SouthCountyMiddleSchoolin f atching theeaglecamsatschoolled ter releasingtheirshad,theseventh vey withMcLevy vice eaglecams,thestudents were fax CountylinedtheOccoquanBay tlantic Oceanandretur y ofthebaldeagleandhow y program. . Spottingabaldeagle ning Coordinator , studentsfrom y shadthatthey otomac River n inthreeto vice fisher vice and vice helps y . The ned y JEANETTE O’CONNOR / LIVING CLASSROOMS hatching intheshadtankbuiltbystudents. Fisheries biologistandauthorSandyBurkshowsstudentshowtocareforAmericanshad important partofriver largest largemouthbass tour Carter andherstudentswonthe County MiddleSchoolteacherJeanine A Secretar H. and dignitariessuchasSer Classrooms andfeaturedfishingguides The eventwascoordinatedbyLiving National HarborontheP River BassT to participateinthefirstannualNation’s Schools instudentsgotachance T retur the shadthattheyhadjustreleasedcould restoration work.Inthreetofouryears, bald eaglewasabeneficiar made theconnectionfirst-handonhow the eagleshuntingoverhead,students bay fromtheirshadreleasesiteandseeing V o iewing thedistanteaglenestsacross tmospheric A completetheirfieldexperiences, DaleHall,andTimK nament’s firstprize,catchingthe n tofeedtherefuge’seagles. y attheNationalOceanicand our dministration. South nament heldinMayat ’s ecosystemand eeney — otomac River y oftheirshad another vice Director , Deputy . Service formorethan15years. outreach materialswiththe environmental education Center Conservation T working attheNational consultant currently biologist andeducational Sandy Burkisafisheries to thesea. their River tobegin down theP were swimming boats, babyshad And under prey ofthebaldeagle. restoration effortsandhowit has great helped recover . Shehasdeveloped connection betweentheirshad neath their otomac jour raining Students aretaughtthe ney y ofthebaldeagle. Online Resources and clickonEducational this article,visit T potomacriver shad restorationproject,visit cam, visit Student activityunderthe .org> eacher sectionofboth .friendsofblackwater F ish &W Resources, ildlife News . . / 15

THOMAS BARNES / UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY Illegal hunting and bushmeat trade threaten the future of African wildlife.

By Dirck Byler

ncreasing pressure from poaching is As part of a larger effort to raise Idriving the decline of Eastern Africa’s awareness, build conservation capacity, magnificent assemblages of wildlife. and take direct action in Eastern Africa, Fueled by an expansion of the commercial the Fish and Wildlife Service recently trade in bushmeat a term applied launched an innovative new fellowship to any wild game hunted for food program at the College of African Wildlife illegal hunting is decimating populations Management in Mweka, Tanzania. The of hippopotamus, wildebeest, zebra, MENTOR Fellowship Program (Mentoring and many other species that play a for Environmental Training in Outreach critical role in maintaining important and Resource conservation) is aimed at ecological processes. training emerging wildlife professionals from four Eastern African countries The threat is not just to wildlife but to a (Kenya, Southern Sudan, Tanzania, and lucrative tourist industry that is also one Uganda) in the requisite skills required to of the continent’s biggest employers. address the illegal bushmeat trade. “This The intense pressure is overwhelming new fellowship program will not only the existing capacity of wildlife agencies directly bolster capacity of wildlife to address the issue, which is fueled by professionals in Eastern Africa to address a booming demand for bushmeat from the illegal bushmeat issue, but increase urban markets and even from African the capacity of the college to provide immigrants living in the United States. instruction to our existing student body,” It’s a trend the U.S. Fish and Wildlife said Freddy Manongi, Deputy Principal of Service and dozens of partners have the College, during a ceremony marking worked for years to reverse largely the start of the program. in the forested areas of Central and West Africa.

Migratory species, including wildebeest and zebra (above), and animals outside of well-protected areas are particularly susceptible to meat hunters’ snares.

16 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 MICHELLE GADD / USFWS especially onissuesrelatedtoillegal our experienceinwildlifeconser F project officerwiththeA Binamungu, anothermentorandasenior W Olupot, aseniorresearchscientistwiththe throughout Easter to conser in car this issue,aswelltoinvolvestudents opportunity tofocuspublicattentionon “ throughout the18-monthprogram. will workside-by-sidewiththefellows A involvement offourhighlyexperienced The foundationoftheprogramis as anAssistantW for awoman,butfortunatelyshewashired wildlife managementwouldbetootough community but thisisnolongeranoptionformy upon huntingtoputfoodonthetable, they aregone.Myfatheroncedepended in theareasaroundmyvillage,buttoday many ofthehuntedspecieswereplentiful and largercommunity resources playedinthelifeofherfamily age, havingseentheimportancenatural conser hunting. Damalu’sinterestinwildlife T towns. LowaeliDamalugrewupinasmall past twodecadesintheirownvillagesor declining wildlifepopulationsduringthe involved withtheissue,havingwitnessed Many ofthefellowsarepersonally prosecution underCommonwealthlaw develop precedenceforsuccessfulwildlife understanding ofwildlifevaluesand our universities.W are notof wildlife crimes.Issuesrelatedto guidelines andregulationsconcer are simplynotawareofthelegal “Many intheUgandanlegalcommunity improve Ugandanwildliferegulations. knowledge oftheissuetoultimately prosecutor who hasworkedasagover Opyene, aUgandanfellowandattor enforcement, andscience).V the illegaltrade,(policy selected reflectthemultiplefacetsof The diversebackgroundsofthefellows wildlife professionals.” bushmeat, tothenextgenerationof As amentorinthisprogram,Iseean anzanian villagethatdependedupon oundation, says“It’sachancetopasson frican conser ildlife Conser r vation wascementedatayoung ying outpracticalfieldactivities ve wildlifeinmycountr ten partoflegalcourseworkat , wantstoincreasehis .” Initially vation professionalswho vation Society arden atSaananeIsland e n A needtoincreasethe , manytoldher , “ frica,” saysW , education,law As ayounggirl, frican W nment incent . Thadeus vation, y and ning ildlife ney illiam .”

EVANSON KARIUKI / USFWS FELLOW Evanson Kariuki,a in Kenya. Bushmeat huntercaughtbyparkpolice availability ofsustainablealter organized crimeandincreasingthe has onbiodiversity awareness oftheimpactbushmeathunting demand,” saysDamalu,“byraising “I’m lookingatwaystoreducethe such asT demand forbushmeatinurbanareas key componentoftheissue program, Domaluisseekingtoaddressa the nutritional,economic,and cultural bushmeat requiresanunderstanding of F and prosperityinEaster negative impactsonecotourismgrowth bushmeat tradecouldhavelongerter have lostpartsoftheirtr hurt bysnaressuchaselephantswho heartbreaking fortouriststoseewildlife on tourismdevelopment.Hesays,“Itis about theimpactofbushmeathunting Masaai Maraandisnowver working ondesnaringcampaignsinthe from K T Natural ResourcesandT intelligence officerfortheMinistr became awildlifelawenforcementand Game Reser oday inding sustainablealter , asafellowinthe enya, hasspentmanyyears anzania’s capitalDaresSalaam. ve inT , humanhealth, anzania. Shelater MENTOR MENTOR n A unks. The ourism. natives toillegal — y concer frica.” F consumer natives.” ellow y of ned m food securitystrategies,policyandlegal issues suchasalter innovative pilotinter assessments, thefellowsdevelop and policyreviews.Basedonthese monitoring, stakeholderworkshops, assessments throughfieldwork,research, conducting nationalandlocalbushmeat home countries.Thefirstphaseinvolves fellows implementfieldprojectsintheir During thecourseofprogram, The Gelman, programcoordinator the livelihoodsoflocalpeople,”saysNancy trade inEaster reduce theimpactofillegalbushmeat consensus onthenextstepsnecessar stakeholders, wehopetoachieve “By bringingtogethermultiple health, development,andconser illegal bushmeatandtheintersectionof diverse rangeofbackgroundstodiscuss conference willinvolveparticipantsfroma organized bythefellowsthemselves.The culminates inamajorregionalconference, The 18-monthfellowshipprogram constituency buildingactivities. health interactions,and/oreducationand solutions, lawenforcement,wildlife-human bushmeat crisisinEaster developing acoordinatedresponsetothe contacts withtheoveralllong-ter dimensions oftheissueanddevelopnew gain greaterexposuretotheinter F communities inmeetingtheirneeds.” up withalter working inmultipledisciplinesandcoming part F Heather development andhealth,”comments numerous sectors,suchascommunity program bringstogetherexpertisefrom in Arlington,V of InternationalAffairs-AfricaPrograms, Dirck BylerisProgramOfficerfor theDivision needs oflocalcommunities.“ Union (IUCN),W Institute, andtheW Conser the NatureConser Inter A Collaborative Group,(aconsortiumofthe Management, andtheA the CollegeofA signed bytheF funded throughacooperativeagreement ellows participatingintheprogramalso orce. “F frican W MENTOR of national, theJaneGoodallInstitute, a vation Society Eves larger ellows intheprogrambecome Winter 2009 ildlife F natives toassistlocal irginia. fellowshipprogramis of n A ish andW community frican W the orld W oundation, Conser frica, whileimproving vancy native livelihoodand orld Conser F Bushmeat ventions toaddress , W ish &W frica Biodiversity orld Resources , W ildlife F ildlife ildlife Ser n A of ildlife ildlife News The frica. . practitioners Crisis vation und). vation. m goalof MENTOR national vice, vation y to T ask / 17 A BIRD’S EYE VIEW

Birds and bats fly. An obvious statement, but have you pondered the ramifications Wyoming’s wind of airspace as habitat? Wind energy development and its impacts on aerial wildlife prompt us to consider airspace in new ways. What should soaring raptors use of energy potential is wind currents when hunting tell us about turbine siting? How does weather affect the altitude of migrating songbirds and how can we mitigate mortality from collisions with undeniable, but the spinning blades? Why are there more dead bats than birds found beneath turbines? state’s challenge ildlife biologists are seeking the In Wyoming, wind energy potential will be to lessen W answers to these and other questions ranks seventh in the nation according to as wind joins the country’s suite of energy American Wind Energy Association the downside for resources. (AWEA). The state’s challenge, as it is elsewhere, will be to lessen the downside wildlife. Many wind energy turbines are sited on for wildlife. private land, which often restricts data By Marilyn Stone collection of the turbines’ impact on Wind turbines’ penetration of airspace has wildlife. To address this roadblock, caused bird and bat mortality, although the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the amount and impact of that mortality is several partners have purchased disputed. Land-based turbine blades are conservation easements in the Prairie intruding farther into airspace. To harvest Pothole region of North and South Dakota energy from lower speed winds, both where wind turbines are sited. In 2008, towers and rotors must reach higher, the first year of a three-year study was which also increases the rotor-swept areas completed on the effects of turbines on and the intrusion into air habitat. New breeding dabbling ducks, such as mallards models now exceed 425 feet in height and and blue-winged teal. Insights from a new blade developed by Knight & this study in North America’s Duck Carver in partnership with Sandia Factory may help with siting and National Laboratories is being tested. mitigation considerations as wind energy The blade measures about 89 feet in facilities spring up across the country.

18 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 W OF WIND ENERGY

length, approximately 10 feet longer than other sign of injury, which makes a previous standard designs. decompression-related death a possibility, in the opinion of Dr. Al Manville, a biologist Dave Young, a wildlife biologist with with the Service’s Migratory Bird Office. WEST, Inc. an environmental consulting FLICKR / GARY WEDDLE firm in Cheyenne, says their studies have Young has seen up to 70 percent to found less bird mortality, especially raptor 80 percent of the mortality at newer mortality, with larger turbines with slower wind energy projects made up of moving blades. Slower is a relative term, passerines or perching birds. Total however. The turbine blade tips may still estimates of mortality are only one or be moving between 100 and 185 miles per two birds per megawatt, however, so hour depending on the turbine model and the total number of birds killed isn’t the wind speed. alarming, in his opinion, especially when compared to other sources of avian A decrease in the visual smear effect is mortality such as building windows, one hypothesis to explain the decreased highways, communications towers, mortality among raptors. Visual smear oil spills, pesticides and cats. occurs when a blade, such as a small plane’s propeller, spins so fast that it On the flipside, Manville is concerned disappears to visual perception. that populations already in decline or threatened can’t take another hit. In fact, A Rough Ride Wyoming passerine species such as Studies have found that sage grouse Just as a building creates swirling Western meadowlarks, lark buntings and abandon mating areas near tall snowflakes, the turbine blades create bobolinks, have been declining in North structures where predators could perch. turbulence, too. Does this turbulence only America for many years. In his words, give birds and bats a rough ride if they “It’s a tough nut to crack.” enter that airspace or is there something more sinister occurring? Bats have been Biologists disagree as to whether the found beneath turbines with collapsed study design captures an accurate picture lungs and burst blood vessels, but no of mortality, however. >>

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 19 FLICKR / CHARLENE BURGE

Wind, continued from page 21 Sometimes mitigation means attempting to maintain a balance between predators Manville has concerns that scavengers are and prey. Overhead power lines to the removing songbird carcasses before wind energy projects can provide raptors they’re counted, thus skewing mortality with new perches in an environment estimates toward the low end, although historically devoid of such advantages. these are still the best data available. Although there’s no force of law behind best management practices, Bureau of Bob Oakleaf, head of Wyoming Game and Land Management’s (BLM) guidelines Fish Department’s non-game section, suggests burying low-voltage lines up to Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area shares Manville’s concerns on mortality 69 kilovolts, which includes lines providing in California. estimates, especially regarding the search power to turbine motors, remote-control area for small birds such as bluebirds, communication lines and lines carrying saying, “The first feather drop might electricity generated by the turbines. be in Nebraska” after a collision with a Habitat Impacts The lines are buried in a common trench turbine blade. Some studies suggest Even without direct mortality, Watson sees adjacent to roads so habitat disturbance resident birds learn to avoid the turbines, the wind energy projects as a permanent is minimized. with migrants accounting for most of habitat alteration that will diminish the body count. available habitat. Walt George, National Project Manager with the BLM in Cheyenne says, “The Migrating songbirds usually fly at “The faulty logic in mitigation for turbines industry (wind energy) acknowledges altitudes of 500 feet or higher during presently is largely to account for the that it’s cost-effective, practical and safe fair weather, but the turbine heights footprint occupied by the turbine,” to bury low voltage power lines.” are approaching that elevation. Storms- explains Watson. “But the area they’re especially at night-boost the risk to affecting is much wider. There’s a vertical Alternatively, wind energy companies migrants, as the birds fly much lower airspace component, plus a greater can use compensatory mitigation where during inclement weather. Turbine lighting horizontal zone in which the raptors they make modifications at other sites to differs from that of communication towers, probably won’t forage.” decrease wildlife mortality. For instance, however, and the difference means less local power distribution lines built back mortality for birds. Lights on the nacelles Researchers are investigating several in the 1930s and 1940s can electrocute of turbines, the gearbox and drive train technological or structural mortality raptors. The wires are too close together, housed at the top of the tower, are mitigation strategies. For instance, allowing the birds to touch two lines at the generally red-strobe or red-blinking the angle of the blade can be adjusted same time. Wind energy companies can incandescent lights, which seem to be or feathered to stop or slow rotation. sometimes choose to install perch guards, less attractive to the birds. Feathering keeps the blades from spinning for instance, to prevent electrocution on too fast and breaking in a gale. If radar old power lines rather than at the site of Although resident birds may have the could detect in-coming flocks of birds and the turbines. advantage of familiarity with local signal the turbines, the blades could be dangers, they’re not bulletproof, so to feathered until the birds pass. Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area east speak. Jim Watson, research biologist of San Francisco in California taught us with Washington Department of Current radar technology can generally valuable lessons about location. One of Fish and Wildlife, has been studying detect “targets.” Although the targets the factors making the facility particularly ferruginous hawks in Wyoming and might be birds, bats, insects or weather deadly for raptors was siting it on a elsewhere in the West. “When raptors phenomenon such as rain, radar is still ground squirrel colony where the are in a territorial encounter with another valuable. Researchers can tease out birds hunt. bird, they go charging through their the identity of targets by using filters, territory haphazardly. That’s when interpreting the images, and validating In addition to avoiding sites of colonial they’re most likely to get whacked,” says the “targets” by visual or other means. prey habitat, Oakleaf of Wyoming Game Watson. “It’s somewhat speculative at this and Fish Department says it’s important point and it’s only been shown in a golden Biologists studying wind energy projects to locate wind energy projects back from eagle study, but I think it makes a whole in West Virginia and California found that canyon rims. Raptors use rising wind lot of sense.” the most mortality in a row of turbines currents as they soar and survey the along the ridgeline occurred at the first ground below for prey. Migration corridors turbine, leading to another potential should also be avoided, although Oakleaf mitigation strategy. Perhaps a “dummy recognizes there’s much biologists don’t turbine” at each end of the row would alert know about aerial migration corridors. birds to avoid the danger of the real thing.

20 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 The Service would like to make sure that renewables —including wind — are done in as wildlife friendly, Bad for Bats “The history of wildlife management Mitigation by siting isn’t simple, habitat-friendly way is replete with using deterrence however. What’s good for birds might as possible. That’s an mechanisms, but animals often habituate, be bad for bats. so effectiveness declines over time,” unquestionably huge says Arnett. To avoid further habitat fragmentation that disturbs both ground-nesting birds challenge. If the bats do habituate or if deterrence and birds in the air, biologists recommend technology is too pricey, it may be cheaper locating wind energy projects in cropland Dr. Al Manville, biologist for the to feather the blades at certain times, but or areas already fragmented, but Service’s Migratory Bird Office the effectiveness remains unproven as yet. researchers need to study the impacts on Changing the sonar signature of the blade bats. At least one wind energy project in may be another way to discourage bats agricultural and open prairie in southern from a fatal flight path, but this has yet to Alberta, Canada has been associated with caught in the vortex and suffer some form be investigated. much higher than expected bat fatalities. of rapid decompression. Or maybe they’re hitting the blunt ends of the blades.” Arnett wants rigorous pre- and post- Dracula’s nocturnal escapades may be well construction research studies so that wind documented, but the natural history of Necropsies have found bats with collapsed energy companies and wildlife biologists bats in the non-mythical realm remains lungs also, again pointing to sudden and can identify patterns of mortality and illusive. Bats are 20 percent of the fatal decompression. thus predict which sites will have low and mammals as a group collectively in high mortality. Wyoming and an important predictor of Grenier is concerned that wind energy environmental health, but the research projects are being constructed in wind “We’ve found higher fatalities on lower challenges they present mean we know corridors without adequate information wind nights, for instance,” says Arnett. little about them. on how bats, especially migratory species “By doing daily searches, we could use the corridors. correlate fatalities with the previous Martin Grenier, non-game mammal night’s wind and temperature patterns.” biologist at Wyoming Game and Fish Unlike birds, bats seem to be attracted Department, says the largest of to the turbines, although we don’t know Manville says the Service endorses Wyoming’s bats, such as the hoary and why. Based on thermal imaging, bats renewable energy, but he voices the big brown bats, only weigh 12 to 25 grams investigate towers, non-moving and slow- concerns of many wildlife biologists when or less than an ounce. That limits the moving blades. Arnett hypothesizes that he says, “The industry is moving forward weight of radio transmitters to about the bats are curious and may be attracted rapidly and we’re (the Service) a little 5 percent of the bat’s body weight or about to potential sites for congregating with behind the power curve. The Service a half of a gram. A radio transmitter that other bats or a food source. Bat kills are would like to make sure that renewables, size lasts only about three weeks. Couple highest when the wind is light enough to including wind, are done in as wildlife that with bats’ nocturnal activity and allow the insects to swarm, but still strong friendly, habitat-friendly way as possible. wildlife managers are operating in the enough to propel the turbine blades. That’s the challenge. It’s unquestionably a dark, so to speak. huge one.” Turbines don’t seem to emit ultrasounds Not all bats found under turbines are that attract bats from long distances says Editor’s note: The Service has convened dead, however. Some may have been Arnett, but it’s possible the swishing a federal advisory committee to study the stunned by a non-fatal collision with a sound of the rotors turning or the rotors’ effects of wind turbines on wildlife and blade, but are unable to get airborne from movement attracts the bats. develop guidelines to assist in the sitting of the ground. Pallid and long-eared myotis land-based turbines. bats, both found in Wyoming, can fly from Arnett is experimenting with an acoustic the ground, but not all species can do so, deterrence device that would jam the bats’ Marilyn Stone is a freelance writer in Paonia, including the hoary bat. signals, thus inhibiting their sonar and Colorado. This article was originally published prompting them to hunt elsewhere. Bats in Wyoming Wildlife magazine. Often there are no visible wounds on all avoided the jamming signal in laboratory bats found dead beneath turbines. Ed experiments, and bats’ activity in the area Arnett, a biologist with Bat Conservation affected by the device was reduced by 50 International says, “Some necropsies by percent during field tests. The range may Europeans have found burst blood vessels be limited to six to seven meters, however, in the body. We know bats don’t fly into depending on the frequency used by stationary objects, but some may get different species, and it could be limited by a time factor as well.

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 21 conservation in action

which makes restoration somewhat easier Back to Life than if you were working in a large basin that’s receiving a myriad of impacts,” Scientists discover that the trispot darter —a explained Powell. “You want to try to hit home runs when you can.” species that hadn’t been collected in Alabama’s Little did they know, they were about to waters since 1947—is alive and well. embark on an incredible discovery.

By Denise Rowell Beneath the murky water was a treasure- chest of species, and it didn’t take long for one biologist to strike gold. Dr. Patrick O’Neil, co-author of Fishes of Alabama, picked up a small fish out of the seine.

“It was different than any of the other species we had collected that morning,” said Powell.

After preserving the fish, O’Neil and Powell took a closer look. Female trispot t was an unusually cold October “It had three distinct saddles across its darter collected morning, when six biologists woke up in back, a reddish band of spots along its in the Big Canoe I the small Alabama town of Gadsden. After dorsal fin and a dark tear drop under the Creek watershed. DR. PATRICK O’NEIL / GEOLOGICAL a hearty, southern breakfast of biscuits and eye,” said Powell. SURVEY OF ALABAMA gravy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist Jeff Powell waited for the fog to lift and the air Its characteristics were eerily similar to to warm up. The goal was to perform fish that of a species that hadn’t been collected surveys at several sites in the Big Canoe in Alabama’s waters since 1947. Could they Creek watershed, a part of a statewide have possibly picked up a trispot darter? effort to reintroduce imperiled aquatic species into the state’s most sensitive “No one had seen one alive in decades,” watersheds. said Powell. “In fact, it was believed to have been extirpated in Alabama for the “We were in the process of selecting sites more than seventy years.” at which we could begin monitoring baseline conditions, prior to the Could it be that this ghost of a fish had reintroduction,” explained Powell. come back to life?

Alabama is rich in aquatic diversity, with Blown away by their findings, Powell was more than 750 species of freshwater eager to see if they had indeed discovered fishes, mussels, snails and crayfish. the trispot darter. After further examination Protecting and restoring them can be by O’Neil, it was confirmed. The trispot overwhelming, and with hundreds of darter was alive in the state of Alabama. species in trouble, there’s no time to lose. Powell says the magnitude of the discovery That’s why biologists are following the is immeasurable. Alabama Field Office’s Strategic Five-Year Plan. The plan prioritizes the most “It’s very important because we thought imperiled habitat types and species, this species was gone forever,” said Powell. focusing on six different regions within the “Now, it gives all the more credence to our state. One of those areas includes the Big restoration efforts.” Canoe Creek Watershed. Biologists collected eight darters “This basin supports at least one known altogether. So, was the discovery just listed mussel species and is designated dumb luck? critical habitat for seven others. In addition, it’s a relatively small watershed, Not hardly.

22 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 conservation in action

In this case, timing and planning were show that you can discover different Denise Rowell is a Public Affairs Specialist everything. Trispot darters begin their things at different times of the year.” with the Alabama Ecological Services spawning ritual during late autumn. Field Office However, most biologists conduct surveys So, what’s the next step for this fickle fish? in the summer. Powell says it’s time to re-evaluate the population status of the species, and begin “During the summer, trispot darters are developing a clear monitoring plan. As for laying-low in their non-breeding habitat. the ground-breaking discovery, Powell They lurk under the stream banks and says it brings even more motivation to the Conservation in Action is an ongoing other areas that are often difficult to biologists who have dedicated their lives to series of stories and essays highlighting sample,” explained Powell. “However, they conserving and understanding these Service conservation efforts and are much more active and vulnerable to complex aquatic systems. partnerships. Submissions can be collection in the winter. In late autumn, e-mailed to or sent to David Eisenhauer, editor, migration in search of small springs and Powell. “As long as we have a solid Fish & Wildlife News, 4401 N. Fairfax Dr., seeps to deposit their eggs. It just goes to strategic plan and a passion to explore, MS 330, Arlington, VA 22203. who knows what else we can find?”

Biologists sorting through a seine full of leak material—the preferred habitat of the trispot darter. MARTY KODIS / USFWS

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 23 field journal

following burglaries that River Booty occurred some time back. Although the suspected Anyone who works at a small field station burglar was in jail, the is well acquainted with the need to rally to safes were never the cause and help with whatever the day recovered. demands. As Visitor Services Manager at Ohio River Islands National Wildlife The entire team of divers Refuge (full-time staff of six), I’ve found that week—10 in all— myself driving a tractor pulling a tree joked about what we planter, swirling a brush around the bowl might find. Good of a toilet, smoothing the surface of freshly visibility made for poured concrete—it all just needs to be tantalizing notions about done and sometimes it’s your turn even if finding the booty. Patty, you’re not all that good at it. in fact, reported a rectangular box that Most of the time I welcome these she encountered when diversions from the routine (except maybe checking the lines on the toilet brush), and you never know the first day, but where your willingness might take you, decided it was just like 14 years ago when I agreed to train some miscellaneous as a scientific diver. Our refuge biologist, debris associated with Patty Morrison, needed diving as a tool the bridge. to assess and monitor native freshwater mussels and asked me to consider On that final dive, she training for a dive team. showed me the box, but this time we saw So there began underwater adventures something more. Screw that have ranged from entering a dark, bolts were visible on one spooky dredge hole in a murky river to side as though the box aquarium-style viewing in a sparkling had once been attached Service divers Patty Morrison (right) tributary. I truly feel lucky that my work to something. We rolled the box to and Janet Butler (left) display their river sometimes allows me to witness the examine it further, and there peering up booty with volunteer Dick Esker and EPA underwater world of mussels and to bring at us was the dial knob of a safe! Being diver Jim Gouvas. these experiences back to the public. prepared as we were to haul up large bags But despite all the memorable dives of mussels, we tied lines around the safe, I’ve had in search of mussels, they’ve surfaced to our support boat, and had the And one more thing: we only recovered all been trumped by a discovery that crew take the line attached to the safe. one of the “two or three” missing safes. had nothing to do with wildlife. With another trip to the bridge site We towed the safe into shore and called planned this year (to return the rescued An assignment on the Allegheny River the police. Within minutes, word spread mussels to their original home), it’s brought our dive team to a bridge to the local community and the rightful possible that more “river booty” awaits! demolition site. During a span of three owner identified the safe. Although it years, we helped with the task of remained in police custody, she was Janet Butler is Visitor Services Manager at removing mussels, including hundreds thrilled to learn that the safe had never Ohio River Islands NWR in Williamstown, of endangered clubshells and northern been opened despite pry marks around its West Virginia riffleshells, within the footprint of the door. She said it had been stolen following project area. With that work finally a “big weekend” for her small business completed, Patty and I began retrieving about a year and a half earlier. Field Journal is an ongoing chronicle of the underwater lines that marked the conservation and life in the U.S. Fish and work area. Although we never learned the exact Wildlife Service. Please send personal amount of cash inside the safe, we did essays, profiles, and other submissions I think it was in back of both of our minds know it was in the thousands of dollars. (700 words or less) to: Field Journal, that this would also be the last chance to The owner offered to reward us, but, of Fish and Wildlife News, 4401 N. Fairfax find something the locals had asked us to course, we declined. The real reward is in Dr., MS 330, Arlington, VA 22203 or e-mail be on the lookout for. Two or three safes the story it now allows us to tell about our were missing from nearby businesses diving adventures.

24 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 around the service USFWS

Owned by the Bob and Jean pacific Sanders family of Portland, Oregon, the vast cattle operation Learning the Ropes encompasses 260,000 deeded Assistant Director of the U.S. acres and 800,000 acres of Fish and Wildlife Service’s federal grazing allotments in Endangered Species Program, the shadow of 9,773-foot (Bryan Arroyo), spent three days Steens Mountain. working as a ranch hand on Southeastern Oregon’s Roaring “This ranch is here to be Springs Ranch last July. Roaring environmentally, economically Springs’ ranch manager Stacy and socially sustainable,” said Davies taught Arroyo the art of Davies. “The environmental Arroyo (right) with ranch manager Stacy Davies. ranching in the west and how he portion of the mission is highly manages Roaring Springs to dependant on working agencies. We identified 130 “Managers like Stacy are really enhance wildlife habitat. cooperatively with natural threats to redband trout and laid the way to ensure that we’ll resource agencies like the Fish out an action plan to address have both the legacy of ranching Davies and Arroyo participated and Wildlife Service. Working these threats. In this past 10 as an economically viable in the job exchange program cooperatively with them is critical years we’ve eliminated 110 of function in our economy and “Walk A Mile In My Boots” to the overall management and those 130 threats,” said Davies. also the biodiversity conservation a highly-successful program sustainability of this ranch.” “These actions have kept the of resources that we are all established in 2003 as a redband off the endangered entrusted with and cherish in this partnership agreement between The ranch employs 14 cowhands species list.” country,” said Arroyo. the Service, the National —who wrangle 6,000 cow-calf Cattlemen’s Beef Association pairs while hay crews harvest Davies developed a high- “I think the agencies and the and the National Cattlemen’s more than 200 tons of alfalfa intensity, short-duration grazing National Cattlemen Beef Foundation. This program was annually from 20,000 acres of schedule that keeps his cattle Association are on the right track designed to foster a greater irrigated meadows. fed while safeguarding the with programs like Walk a Mile. mutual understanding, respect range grasses, including the There’s no way for an average and improved communication Roaring Springs supports 1,050 willows along 140 miles of rancher like myself to reach between ranchers and natural wild mustangs, plus uncounted streams and rivers. Washington, DC without this kind resource employees in the pronghorn antelope, Rocky of program,” said Davies challenging conservation Mountain elk, cougars, coyotes, As part of the reciprocal Walk a decisions they each make bobcats and thousands of birds, Mile in My Boots exchange, Rangelands are a valuable part of every day. among them raptors, cranes and Davies joined Arroyo in our heritage, showing that rural migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, Washington, DC last August, landowners care deeply about “The Fish and Wildlife Service wading birds and songbirds. spending his three days meeting the land. Ranchers like Stacy is committed to working with with legislators on a variety of Davies have shown that landowners and ranchers. The “From where I sit at a desk in DC conservation issues and meeting stewardship of the land has been Walk a Mile in my Boots program you don’t get to see this first with the staff at the Service’s and will continue to be critical to provides us an opportunity to hand. Yesterday I learned about national headquarters to educate the conservation of fish and experience first hand how these seedlings of native grasses, them on ranching and wildlife wildlife. The Walk a Mile in My ranchers make a living while water infiltration and implications management. Boots program is showing that maintaining biodiversity on their of recovering from juniper there is a shared optimism that ranches,” said Arroyo. infestation. These are state-of­ “My biggest goal is to move land management practices are the-art University of Nevada, forward with the Service with improving and that together we “The Walk a Mile in My Boots Reno research projects regard to endangered species, can find ways to continue this program gives us an opportunity information that Stacy will build that it would be a positive rather positive trend. to bring someone from an agency into his management scheme,” than a negative to a landowner if into our lives, to share our said Arroyo. you have a listed species on your To learn more about this program challenges and our success with land. I think it is possible. My please visit . how the agency works and what into the Catlow Valley Fishes how things work in Washington, a fellow like Bryan needs to do Candidate Conservation DC maybe I can help influence it Amy Gaskill, Public Affairs, on a daily basis,” said Davies. Agreement with federal and state in that direction,” said Davies. Portland, Oregon

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 25 around the service

Recovery Milestone with the start of the Guam Bird efforts of the Government of subpopulations must increase The captive breeding program Rescue Project. During the first Guam, the American Zoological to 1,000 individuals, but the for the Guam Micronesian two years of the project, 29 sihek Association and our other timeframes are extended to kingfisher reached its goal of were moved from Guam to partners, this beautiful bird has ten years. 100, bringing one of the few several mainland zoos; and by been saved from extinction. remaining Guam forest birds a 1990 the captive population was The future and its reintroduction Sihek are relatively small, step closer to re-establishment up to 61 birds. back into the wild depend in measuring about 8 inches in of a wild population. large part on the involvement length and weighing 1.8 to 2.7 The first captive-reared sihek and commitment of the people ounces, with females being Since the mid 1960s, nine of the were returned to Guam in 2003. of Guam,” said Patrick Leonard, slightly heavier than males. The 11 species of native forest- More birds were returned in 2004 field supervisor for the Service’s adult male has a cinnamon- dwelling birds from Guam have and in 2008 bringing the captive Pacific Islands field office. brown head, neck, upper back, gone extinct, primarily due to population on Guam to 10 and underparts. A black line predation by the non-native individuals. The program has The revised recovery plan, extends around the nape and the brown treesnake. The kingfisher, expanded to include 17 captive released November 15, focuses eye ring is black. Some of the known as “sihek” in Chamorro propagation facilities on the on actions that will coordinate lower back, wing, and shoulder (their native dialect), is one of the U.S. mainland and Guam. and monitor recovery efforts, feathers are greenish-blue, and few remaining native bird species Hindered by high mortality rates restore populations, control the tail is blue. The feet and eye from Guam. and poor reproduction, progress predators, protect and manage are dark brown, and the bill is has been slow; however, this habitat, and increase public black except for some white at The sihek was originally listed as year the goal of 100 individuals awareness to ensure the long- the base. The female resembles endangered in 1984. By 1988, the was finally reached. term survival of this bird species. the adult male, but the upper species no longer existed in the One example of a recovery action breast, chin, and throat are paler, wild, and now is found only in “Our goal is to bring this colorful is extensive predator control, and the remaining underparts and captivity. Captive breeding efforts native bird species back to Guam especially that of the brown underwing linings are white to save the species began in 1983 and its people. Thanks to the treesnake, throughout habitat instead of cinnamon. where the bird has been reestablished. Historically, the sihek occurred Micronesian Kingfisher throughout Guam in all habitats

RESOURCES Criteria for upgrading the species’ except pure savannah and status under the Endangered wetlands, and as late as 1945 it Species Act are to establish was considered a fairly common two subpopulations of at least forest bird. Factors that may have TIC AND WILDLIFE 500 birds each; ensure both led to their decline include subpopulations are either habitat loss or degradation, stable or increasing for a period pesticides, competition with the

DIVISION OF AQUA of at least five consecutive introduced black drongo bird, years; ensure sufficient habitat disease, and introduced GUAM is protected and managed; predators such as cats, rats, and control brown treesnakes monitor lizards, and brown and other introduced predators. treesnakes. To remove the species from the endangered species Ken Foote, Public Affairs, list altogether, the two Honolulu, Hawaii around the service

Citizen Stewards private landowners will receive variety of conservation activities: southwest Lynn Scarlett, Deputy Secretary assurances that their operations marking fences to prevent for the Department of the Interior, will continue regardless of mortality in pre-dawn flights to Keeping with Tradition joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife whether the species ever come ‘booming’ grounds; construct The Navajo Nation held a youth Service and Bureau of Land under the protection of the escape ramps in livestock tanks hunt this past fall in Arizona for Management (BLM) in December Endangered Species Act, and for birds and other wildlife to Navajo tribal youth who have to kick-off an innovative operators on federal lands will exit safely; and maintain habitat never hunted before. From written conservation program that receive a greater degree of (e.g., restore grasslands) so that essays submitted, 20 hunters encourages landowners, energy certainty that their operations will these lands can be used for were chosen to participate in the companies and ranchers to not change. Both species live in future reintroductions of lesser program, which is in its fourth protect and restore habitat for southeast New Mexico. prairie-chickens. consecutive year. Participants the lesser prairie chicken and had to pass both the state of sand dune lizard. The Service, BLM and Marbob Southwest Regional Director Arizona and Navajo tribal hunter Energy Corporation of Artesia Benjamin Tuggle accepted the education courses, as well as The agencies and the Center of signed a Candidate Conservation signed agreements and noted, participate in several shooting Excellence for Hazardous Agreement. Marbob will minimize “The people who work for the sessions. Their reward was the Materials Management will surface disturbance within a Service and the BLM are truly opportunity to be part of a deer administer voluntary Candidate lease in Lea County by reducing dedicated and they do so much hunt in the Tribe’s trophy Conservation Agreements (CCAs) and relocating the number of to create and maintain healthy management unit. Participants for oil and gas lease holders on wells it plans to drill, and by landscapes,” Tuggle said. “But were provided with all hunting federal lands and Candidate constructing infrastructure in we know that it’s the folks who gear necessary and rifles Conservation Agreements with locations that avoid habitat for live and work on the land every borrowed from the tribal Fish Assurances (CCAAs) for state the lesser prairie-chicken. day — the citizen stewards who and Wildlife Department. and private landowners to benefit are responsible ranchers, private the species. Chris Brininstool, a rancher in land owners and energy Joe Early, Southwest Region Lea County, signed a Candidate companies — who sustain those Native American Liaison, Partners can now take actions Conservation Agreement with good conservation practices.” volunteered as a mentor and to reduce or eliminate threats to Assurances covering the guide. The tribal and non-tribal the lesser prairie-chicken and operation of 1,280 acres of Elizabeth Slown, Public Affairs, mentors help the hunters learn sand dune lizard on all land private lands within her ranch. Albuquerque, New Mexico about deer and their habitat, why ownership types. In return, Brininstool will undertake a tribes hunt, and tracking, gutting, and skinning skills. Early helped (Left to right) Southwest his young hunter get his first deer USFWS Deputy Regional Director during the two day hunt. The Brian Millsap, Southwest first-time hunters harvested a Regional Director Benjamin total of 20 deer. The venison and Tuggle, Lea County rancher the skins from the deer were Chris Brininstool, Doug used by the participants and the Lynn, Executive Director Tribe. The youth hunt was filmed of the Center of Excellence and is expected to air as part for Hazardous Materials of a new program called Management, and Deputy “Bone Collectors” on the Interior Secretary Lynn Outdoor Channel this spring. Scarlett.

Penny Gage, Public Affairs, Washington, DC

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 27 around the service

Restoring a Native The beetle release process of habitat and habitat The reach of the Rio Grande that midwest involves digging holes, or plugs, fragmentation, light pollution, flows through Big Bend Ranch at specially selected sites, and competition with other State Park, Big Bend National A Boost to Rare Beetle placing a quail carcass and a pair carrion feeders. Park, and the Rio Grande Wild At first glance, the American of tagged beetles in each cavity, and Scenic River will play an burying beetle isn’t exactly the and re-covering the plugs. This American burying beetles are important role in recovering a poster child for the effort to save process simulates a natural about 1 to 1.5 inches in length native fish that has been absent endangered species through setting for the beetles’ life cycle. with orange and black bodies, from Texas waters for nearly reintroduction. For one thing, and feed on dead animals, or 50 years. Approximately 500,000 it’s an invertebrate — no fur, no Partners plan to monitor the carrion, as larvae and adults. Rio Grande silvery minnows feathers, nothing to endear it to release sites for signs of breeding American burying beetles form a were released into the river in the public. And then there’s the activity by checking for larvae brood chamber and prepare the December. The release supports beetle’s lifecycle — adults find a and later for new adult beetles. carrion for use by their offspring. the Fish and Wildlife Service’s plan freshly dead animal and use its Burying beetles are one of the to recover the rare minnow so that carcass as a nursery and food The American burying beetle only species of insects that it no longer needs the protection source for the larvae. But it’s was designated a federally display a high level of parental of the Endangered Species Act. exactly this behavior that makes endangered species in care, with both males and the American burying beetle 1989 — the first insect to be so females tending the larvae. About 100,000 of the minnows a marvel of adaptation. And a recognized. This beetle species came from the City of partnership of agencies is helping was historically found in 35 Breeding programs for the Albuquerque’s RGSM Rearing the beetle toward recovery in states, including Ohio, and American burying beetle are and Breeding Facility. The majority part of its historic range by several Canadian provinces. taking place at the St. Louis Zoo, came from the Service’s Dexter releasing burying beetles and Remnant populations of the the Roger Williams Park Zoo in National Fish Hatchery and creating conditions that help American burying beetle Providence, Rhode Island, the Technology Center in New Mexico. them produce young. presently occur only in eastern Ohio State University, and at the The Center breeds and rears fish parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Wilds, a conservation center in to maximize genetic diversity and Most recently, the Service joined Nebraska, South Dakota, and on southeastern Ohio. supplement wild populations. with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, Block Island, Rhode Island. The the Ohio State University’s beetles’ population decline has Georgia Parham, External Affairs, Reintroduced minnows in the Department of Entomology, the been attributed to pesticides, loss Bloomington, Indiana Texas reach of the river will be St. Louis Zoo, and the U.S. Forest considered nonessential and Service to bring the American experimental. The designation burying beetle back to the An adult American burying beetle and larvae. The Service is is allowed under a section of the Buckeye State. In late June, partnering with other groups to reintroduce the endangered ESA that encourages the 228 pairs of American burying beetle in Ohio. reintroduction of a species by beetles were released in Wayne reducing regulations. National Forest in southeastern Ohio with hopes they will SELBO / USFWS “Using a nonessential, establish a population. experimental designation SERENA ensures that the daily activities The beetles were released in of water users and landowners Athens County, in an area of are unaffected by the Wayne National Forest surveyed reintroduction,” said Benjamin in 2006 and 2007 to determine N. Tuggle, Southwest Regional whether the species was still Director for the Service. present. The last known record “Community leaders told us of an American burying beetle in they were supportive of the State of Ohio was in 1974 in the reintroduction program Hocking County, which is but emphasized they needed adjacent to Athens County. to count on reliable flows and water delivery. We can satisfy both fish and human needs.”

Elizabeth Slown, Public Affairs, Albuquerque, New Mexico

28 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 around the service

Meeting the Neighbors floods at least once every two to “Holy cow, did you just see that?” With squally winds blowing, dark three years, leaving behind sand said Missy Klein of Jacob. While southeast gray clouds blocked the sun’s and small gravel, which the birds the audience continued to look rays all morning on Saturday, use to camouflage its two or three on, the adult male exploded out of Quick Response June 28, 2008. But the gloomy buff, lighted spotted eggs in a the water and flew off with a The Fish and Wildlife Service’s weather did not prevent citizens shallow scrape in the substrate. To small minnow in its beak, bringing Southeast Region Spill Response from the small Illinois town of protect the terns, county officials it back to the nesting female. Strike Team and Delta National Jacob from getting a bird’s eye closed the road until the birds Wildlife Refuge leaders view of a new neighbor that completed their nesting cycle. Those who attended the program responded to an oil spill in New moved into town in late May. Fish were treated to gift bags, Orleans, Louisiana, last summer and Wildlife Service employees During the event, the Service courtesy of Ecological Services, providing wildlife rescue, from Middle Mississippi National provided spotting scopes and full of bird-related stickers, contaminants expertise and Wildlife Refuge and Marion binoculars to help visitors view pencils, posters, coloring books, damage control to federal, state, Ecological Services Field Office the nesting terns from a distance. as well as a least tern beanie and private organizations and put together an event to introduce But participants got a bonus: one baby. Administrative Assistant companies to help mitigate the people of Jacob to the adult male decided to put on a Shelley Simmonds from the damage to fish and wildlife. endangered least tern. show — as television news Marion ES Field Office and cameras rolled — by flying Assistant Field Supervisor Joyce On July 23, 2008, the equivalent of The project got its start when overhead into the strong winds Collins ordered and filled all gift 9,000 barrels of Number 6 fuel oil local terns decided to nest on a and calling loudly. The bird bags and handed them out to was released in the Mississippi gravel road in Jacob. Generally, hovered in one spot over the members of the audience. River following an accident the bird makes its home on open inundated farm fields, peered Collins, along with Refuge involving a ship and barge. Ships sandbars along the Mississippi downward in search of an Manager Robert Cail answered and generators use Number 6 River, but high water levels forced appetizer to bring its mate, additional questions after the fuel oil — also known as bunker C the bird to make Swan Pond Road folded its wings and slammed program ended. fuel — to run their engines. This its temporary home. The road into the water. oil type became notorious during “This is a wonderful opportunity previous spills for spontaneously to inform and inspire not only sinking and re-floating, as well as

USFWS adults but also our youth, who covering wildlife in a thick black will be the decision-makers in the sticky mess. future,” said Cail. The spill stopped commercial The interior least tern is a very shipping and recreational boating small white tern with black cap, on about 80 miles of river for white forehead, pale gray back about a week. The closure and wings, black-tipped yellow extended from River Mile 98 bill and very shallow wing beat. in New Orleans south to the The interior population was Southwest Pass Sea Buoy at the protected under the Endangered mouth of the Mississippi. The oil Species Act as endangered in in the river, on shorelines, and in 1985 after populations declined adjacent wetlands in the area due to threats such as habitat was a significant threat to fish, loss and degradation and wildlife, and habitat quality. disturbance of nesting sites. Responders and the public Kevin Lowry, Middle Mississippi reported 879 oiled birds and other River National Wildlife Refuge wildlife, but most were still mobile and escaped capture. At least 55 birds, mammals, and alligators Kevin Lowry connects children with nature by offering were captured for rehabilitation, information on the life history of the federally endangered with about 32 being successfully interior least tern. cleaned and released. >>

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 29 around the service

Response, continued from page 29 The Strike Team used several and reconstruct the disappearing small outboard powered boats, wetlands. The wetlands there “The challenge with this spill was surface drive mud boats, airboats, have been disappearing partially the complex nature of the terrain, helicopters, and a floatplane to due to the lack of sediment

combined with the length of assess the impacts, make TOM MACKENZIE / USFWS renourishment when the mighty riverbank we had to search — suggestions to reduce and Mississippi River was channeled in excess of 200 miles of riverbank mitigate the spill’s damage to for navigation, sending the rich from the impact zone in New wildlife and their habitat, and sediments deep into the Gulf of Orleans downstream to Venice, rescue oiled wildlife for Mexico instead of creating marsh Louisiana,” said Buddy Goatcher, rehabilitation and release. habitats with natural sediment contaminants specialist with the deposits from the river. Service’s Lafayette Ecological This incident represented one Service Office, and operations of the largest deployments “Most of the birds that died from team chief for this incident. of a contingent of Service the spill were ducks, often “We responded to public and environmental contaminants covered in oil,” said Bill Starkel, other responders’ sightings, specialists and personnel on Southeast Regional Spill and we also searched from record. These contaminants Coordinator, based in Atlanta. our helicopters, airboats, and specialists have all responded to “Wading birds tended to be oiled other vehicles. We located numerous past spills, resulting in in the front — from their beaks to and captured oiled wildlife increased protection for wildlife Oiled great egret in the their legs — from feeding in the and transported them to the and greater protection for the marshes between the oiled water.” rehabilitation team in Venice.” environment, but this was the first Mississippi River and the levy time the Strike Team deployed near Belle Chasse. The Strike Team assessed the The quick-response Strike Team en masse since it was officially impact of the oil spill and included 15 environmental formed over a year ago. knowledge and professional skills provided advice and support to contaminants specialists, to capture oiled birds, mammals, the Incident Command led by the logistics, and External Affairs staff At least four personnel from and reptiles. They also used live United States Coast Guard. They from the Service who responded Southeast Louisiana Refuges traps and cannon-fired nets to also conducted hazing to protect on a rotational basis, in four to Complex and Delta NWR, near remove animals from the oiled wildlife by using 100 propane 20 day tours. the mouth of the Mississippi marshes in between the river and cannons (loud automatically fired River, also sprang into action to the levee. noisemakers), an airboat, bird- “Our high visibility, and constant battle the onslaught of the scare balloons, Mylar tape and presence at the Command Post mixture of light sheen and black An additional six boats also hand-held noisemakers similar to made us a valuable contributor tar that formed after the oil supported the Delta NWR bottle rockets launched from flare in the spill response,” said reacted to the water temperature booming efforts from Clean and starter pistols. The intent of Felix Lopez, environmental and evaporation. Harbors Environmental Services, the hazing was to deter the birds contaminants specialist from the a specialized cleanup company from being contaminated by the Service’s Caribbean Field Office, “We did our best to stop this oil well-versed in recovery and oil pooled along the banks “We participated in strategy from hitting the marsh here at response. Delta NWR reported through the nearly 100-mile meetings, press conferences, Delta National Wildlife Refuge,” only a light sheen in the area, but stretch of the Mississippi, from and worked with the National said Jack Bohannan, refuge had to suspend use of dredging New Orleans to its mouth in the Oceanographic and Atmospheric manager at Delta NWR. The materials to create wetlands as Gulf of Mexico. Administration Scientific Support refuge staff worked to protect the the dredging materials had been Coordinator and the Shoreline refuge by placing booms at key contaminated. A month after the spill, members Cleanup Assessment Team.” locations to try to deflect the oil of the team continued to support from entering the refuge. Apparently, some of the oil that the cleanup efforts. Lopez described the Shoreline sank and headed downstream Cleanup Assessment Team as an Trained experts from U.S. was pulled up by dredging Tom MacKenzie, External Affairs, interagency team headed by Department of Agriculture operations near the mouth of the Atlanta, Georgia NOAA that assesses oiled Wildlife Services also supported Mississippi. Delta National shorelines and recommends or the Wildlife Group’s response Wildlife Refuge uses dredged evaluates cleanup options. team by using their wildlife material to create wildlife habitat

30 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 around the service

Botanists Blitz Appalachian Cliffs for Endangered Plant Wells and Ulrey are part of a basically birth and death rates,” team canvassing the small explained Wells. “It then Even for a botanist, it was an highest mountains in the Southern number of mountaintops where estimates the risk of extinction at unusual workday. Chris Ulrey, a Appalachians. spreading avens is found. The various points into the future, botanist with the National Park team also includes botanists from based on these rates. If we see a Service, tossed the rope over the “The goal is to get an accurate the U.S. Forest Service, North population declining, we can try cliff’s edge, announced his picture of the abundance and Carolina State Parks, North to determine why and address descent, and began dropping well-being of as many spreading Carolina Natural Heritage the problem.” down the cliff face. But any avens populations as possible,” Program, Grandfather Mountain, semblance to recreational said Carolyn Wells, a botanist with Tennessee Department of the A possible growing threat to the rappelling vanished when, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Environment and Conservation, plant that isn’t directly addressed dangling from the rope, Ulrey and the Archbold Biological by this work is climate change. lifted the hammer drill that was Spreading avens was protected Research Station. Spreading avens is adapted to slung over his shoulder, put a hole under the Endangered Species some of the coldest places with in the rock next to a cluster of Act as endangered in 1990, and Spreading avens grows in the harshest weather in the endangered plants, nailed a it’s a focal species for high- rosettes, with a circular pattern Southern Appalachians, and numbered tag into the hole, elevation rock outcrops and cliffs of small leaves just above the biologists expect two possible and began yelling out plant in the Southeast; a habitat with ground and a tall center stem outcomes from warming measurements to a note several rare species, many of bearing bright yellow flowers. temperatures. In one scenario, taker below. which suffer from the same The plants grow in patches warmer temperatures may enable threats. These threats include ranging in size from a single lower-elevation plants to move up The rappelling, tagging, and data inadvertent trampling and rosette covering less than a the mountain, displacing cold- collection is part of an extended associated erosion from hikers square inch to hundreds of weather plants. Under another effort to track the endangered and climbers and over-collection. rosettes covering two square scenario, the declining frequency spreading avens, a plant found Some botanists also suspect the yards. The scientists will measure of harsh weather events, only on a handful of cliffs and encroachment of competing the size of each patch, tagging such as snow and ice—which rocky outcrops on some of the shrubs may also pose a threat. each with a metal tag, and then periodically scour the rock use a laser range finder to map surface, clearing away less hardy the patches in relation to one vegetation and opening up Service Botanist Carolyn Wells seeks out endnangered another. In addition, they’ll search habitat for spreading avens— spreading avens. for individual seedlings, tagging could also lead to declines in the them with a metal pin. Returning plant. Less frequent snow and ice USFWS annually to verify the presence of could mean the rock outcrops the tagged plants and patches, wouldn’t be scoured, allowing remeasure the patches, and note competing vegetation to grow new seedlings will allow the and out-compete the endangered botanists to track changes in spreading avens. While the work the population. done by the botanists is unlikely to provide a definitive cause Once five-to-six years of data and effect link between global have been collected, scientists warming and any impacts to the can run population viability plant, it will show population analyses to estimate the trends over time that may be extinction risk for each correlated with changes in population. temperature and other environmental factors. “A population viability analysis looks at two things — how quickly Gary Peeples, Outreach new plants are being added, and Specialist, Asheville, how quickly plants are dying; North Carolina

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 31 around the service ORABONE

inherited a piece of land and a investigated dune habitats; and FLICKR / LAURA northeast “good sum of money.” Given 10 Station 3 practiced tide pooling. minutes and no boundaries on Beyond the Classroom how to use their imaginary The teachers appreciated a day In June, Parker River National property, students drew of sunshine and learning, the Wildlife Refuge hosted second expansive homes, farms, students were exhilarated by and third-graders from Francis M. shopping centers and carnivals. their foray into nature and the Leahy Elementary School in Students then were lined up, refuge staff was thrilled to be a Lawrence, Massachusetts for facing each other with their part of it all. a first-hand lesson in the wonder property and their waterfront of nature. meeting that of their neighbors. Kate Toniolo, Supervisory Park Excitement grew as they saw Ranger, Parker River National Swans at Trustom Pond In 2007 the refuge established who their new neighbors were Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge. a partnership with the school, and what amenities they were working with them to provide provided with. quality environmental and Nature Through the Lens children directly with the habitats science education to minority Every student was handed two The sun begins its retreat below that they will one day help to children in an underserved pieces of garbage (pre-rinsed the horizon, casting a rosy hue conserve. The class that refuge community. Prior to their refuge recyclable items) to hold onto. upon the clouds. Bank swallows volunteer Tom Tetzner teaches visit, Service employees had the The students at the top of the line, venture out to make an evening does exactly that. He combines opportunity to visit the classroom “headwaters” passed their snack of the insects hovering an active field aspect with the art to deliver a one hour lesson to garbage to the student to above calm waters. The evening of photography. This creates an grades kindergarten through the right of them. Students choir starts its warm-up as activity that gets kids excited fourth grade. This lesson engaged accumulated more as the water crickets, cicadas and frogs take about getting outdoors and the students in what a marine flowed and were not allowed to up the song. The calls of a few interacting with the natural world environment looks like, and who pick up what had been dropped. catbirds, a belted kingfisher and around them. the major players are. Two This lesson demonstrated the a great blue heron soon join the different lessons were conducted flow of a river, and the passing of chorus. The scene is set for a The class consists of two-hour for varying age groups. litter from headwaters to ocean. beautiful evening at Trustom sessions taking place at several At the end of the garbage pass, Pond National Wildlife Refuge national wildlife refuges located Younger students (K–3) were students in headwaters had in Rhode Island. in Rhode Island. A group of 6 to10 called up one by one to pick a virtually no litter, while students children and several adults follow once-living creature from a in the “ocean” were disgusted at In our developing world, the Tetzner as he takes them from rubber container. Students the mess. At the end, students beauty seen here is becoming forests and shrublands to vernal were most excited about the realized that what they pollute harder and harder to find. The pools and salt ponds. The exoskeleton of a horseshoe crab, on their property affects other Service devotes itself to the knowledge he has gained as a the prickly dried tube feet of the people and beings. conservation of these protected former scout master provides starfish, the carnivorous moon lands all over the country. Its the perfect background for our snail, and most confused by the When the buses finally arrived at purpose is to create a balance exploration of the ecosystems. piece of litter scattered with the the refuge, it was evident that the between nature and its rapidly beautiful beach treasures. The kids were excited to be there. changing environment. The key It is wonderful to see children interactive experience with the Along the way to the southern to this balance is bridging the scatter around the vernal pool at students as they grew closer to end of the refuge, they were gap between our nation’s natural Kettle Pond Visitor Center. They the marine animals, made them fortunate enough to see several habitats and the surrounding excitedly dip their nets into the more excited about their salt marsh birds, and a deer. The communities. What better way murky water catching all sorts of upcoming field trip. students then split into three to start than with the future critters: spotted salamander groups with names: Sharks, generation? larvae, wood frog tadpoles and Fourth graders participated in an Jellyfish and Seals. Each group to everyone’s delight—an adult activity to develop environmental was assigned to a station with One goal of the Fish and Wildlife green frog. Everyone gathers in sensitivity. In this activity, a naturalist from the refuge. Service and the National Wildlife a circle as a Service employee students were given a legal sized Station 1 encouraged students Refuge System is to instill a sense gently places the freshly caught piece of paper with a shoreline to think like scientists as they of wonder in young minds about specimen on the leafy ground. drawn on it. Students were investigated the essential beach the natural world. The best way The frog actually seems to pose instructed to imagine they had material (sand); Station 2 students to accomplish this is to connect as the cameras click and flash.

32 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 around the service

Each child and parent is trying to Recovery Program partners get the best picture they can mountain-prairie include the States of Colorado, before the frog hops away. Utah, and Wyoming; Fish and Plastic bins bearing water are Fish Passage capital projects. Reclamation Wildlife Service; National Park filled with the afternoon’s fruitful Ceremony in Colorado Deputy Commissioner Kris Polly Service; Bureau of Reclamation; findings. Water beetles, dragonfly In July the Upper Colorado River said, “Reclamation has examined Western Area Power nymphs, salamanders and frogs Endangered Fish Recovery each project from different Administration; Colorado River all swirl in the shallow pools. Not Program (recovery program) perspectives, tested new ideas, Energy Distributors Association; only do the kids get to take held a dedication ceremony to and created state-of-the-art water development interests; pictures of what they see, they celebrate this spring’s completion solutions for endangered fish and environmental organizations. get to touch and feel them too. of a 900-foot-long fish passage at recovery. Today, with screens The Recovery Program received This provides them with an the Price-Stubb Diversion Dam in installed to prevent canal a Department of the Interior exciting hands-on experience western Colorado. The dam was entrapment, fish can freely swim Cooperative Conservation Award that they can’t seem to stop the last remaining barrier to fish upstream with access to restored on April 21, 2008. talking about as they take the trail migration on the Colorado River floodplain habitat. It is a success back to the visitor center. from Utah’s Lake Powell to the for endangered fish recovery in “Completion of capital projects upper end of critical habitat near the Grand Valley.” in the Grand Valley brings these These kids not only learn to take Rifle, Colorado. rare, big-river fish a giant step pictures of wildlife, but Tetzner Established in 1988, the closer to recovery,” said Jay also teaches them about Other capital projects in western Recovery Program is a voluntary, Slack, then deputy regional landscape photos and taking Colorado for endangered fish cooperative program whose director of the Fish and Wildlife shots of the beautiful plant life were also recognized. These purpose is to recover the Services Mountain-Prairie as we walk the trails at Ninigret include fish passages and endangered humpback chub, Region. “Colorado pikeminnow National Wildlife Refuge. At screens at three privately owned bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow and razorback suckers are known Ninigret Pond they get to take and operated diversion dams; and razorback sucker while to migrate long distances to underwater pictures of crabs and a hatchery raising endangered water development proceeds in complete their life cycle. With the jellyfish, as well as learning how razorback suckers to stock in accordance with federal and opening of the Price-Stubb fish to fish for clams. Everyone has so rivers; canal check structures state laws and interstate passage, fish now have the ability much to learn from Tetzner about that help conserve water; a compacts. to move freely in 290 miles of the photography and about nature. barrier net at a local reservoir Upper Colorado River. >> He takes walks just about every that prevents nonnative sport fish day to observe nature and from escaping into the Colorado capture its beauty. The pictures River; and more than 1,100 acres Former Mountain-Prairie Region Deputy Regional Director these walks yield are stunning. of restored floodplain habitat. Jay Slack has his hands full showing Deputy Interior The knowledge and experience Secretary Lynn Scarlett an endangered razorback sucker raised at the Grand Valley Endangered Fish Facility in Grand he shares creates a wonderful “Today, we celebrate the Junction, Colorado. learning experience for his completion of capital projects in young students. Colorado’s Grand Valley to benefit endangered fish,” Deputy Getting people interested in Secretary of the Interior Lynn nature and its conservation is Scarlett told a crowd of more RECOVERY PROGRAM very important to the Fish and than 100 people. “These projects Wildlife Service. Tom Tetzner’s are a result of the collaboration, efforts are the mark of a truly cooperation, and hard work of devoted volunteer and he hopes Recovery Program partners and in future years to expand his the community to ensure that photography class to all ages endangered species conservation SZCZESNY / COLORADO RIVER and further spread a love and and water development and ELLEN appreciation of the natural management can co-exist.” world around us. The Bureau of Reclamation Sarah Lambson, SCN intern, (Reclamation) supervised all Trustom Pond National aspects of the construction of the Wildlife Refuge

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 33 around the service ARKS FISH, WILDLIFE AND P ANA ANIE BERGH / MONT

Ceremony, continued from page 33 Wolf Watch STEF It was just the guys and me on “Restoring passage at these four wheelers, checking sites Black wolf barriers gives fish access to river set up to catch grizzly bears on reaches above diversion camera in the remote, wilderness have been successful in obtaining management is needed, due to structures where more water and of the Wind River Mountains. a Tribal Wildlife Grant for work tensions that will arise between habitat are available. Not only I was along for the ride with four with grizzly bears and other, large the needs of wolves and the will this benefit the endangered men: Ben, a tribal Fish and Game mammals. It is because of this needs of people. Traditional fishes, but also other native fish warden; Lee and Sam, two recent grant that I was privileged to see Tribal views recognize wolves as species including bluehead college graduates temporarily a remote part of the mountains kin,...as helpers, as strong, and sucker, flannelmouth sucker and working for the Wyoming Fish and inadvertently interrupt the as deserving of respect and roundtail chub”, Slack added. and Game; and Ben, a tribal wolves’ lunch. placed here by the Creator for member. It was absolutely a purpose.” Other dedication speakers were: beautiful; crisp air, blue skies, In the heartland of a state that U.S. Representative John Salazar; no wind. We couldn’t have asked considers gray wolves predators, For a year and a half, the writers Jennifer Gimbel, director, for a better day. Wind River Reservation is a of the plan and MOU interviewed Colorado Water Conservation haven for wolves. The Service’s elders and learned of the Board; and Greg Trainor, utility We were on the rim of Bold conservation office and its sister importance of the wolf in Eastern and streets director, City of Grand Mountain and the Bob Creek ecological services office helped Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Junction. Recovery Program drainage above Crowheart Butte the Tribes develop a Wolf cultures. The elders told stories Management Committee in Wyoming. As we crested a rise, Management Plan. The plan and memories. One of the most Chairman John Shields from the we spooked a herd of elk cows includes a Memorandum of powerful statements made by an Wyoming State Engineer’s Office, and calves grazing and lazing Understanding (MOU) with the elder is, “Wolves wandered to served as master of ceremonies. about in the valley below and Service that designated the wherever the food was, like they ran south. With their prey Tribes as its agents for wolf- earlier people did. They did not Following the dedication vanishing, two wolves sprang related management activities on know boundaries. Now, wolves ceremony, many participants from the underbrush. One ran the Reservation “to the maximum are being confined to certain toured a fish passage and screen after the herd, the other saw us extent possible under federal areas, like Native Americans at the privately owned Redlands and ran west. When he statutes and regulations...” have been confined to Water and Power Company discovered he was by himself, The MOU extends until July 2013, reservations.” facility. They also visited a he circled a few times, then sat and may be amended. restored floodplain wetland at the down and howled. This caused The plan designates wolves as Grand Valley Audubon Society’s the herd of bull elk 100 yards Since their reintroduction to game animals, not predators, Lucy Ferril Ela Wildlife Sanctuary. away to run over the crest to Yellowstone in 1995, wolves have for which hunting and trapping the north. been spotted on the reservation seasons will be established for The Recovery Program continues at the East Fork, Gooseberry/Owl all lands within [the] 1868 exterior to manage fish habitat, work to Wind River Reservation is a large, Creek, and near Crowheart. Data boundary of the Wind River reduce the threat of nonnative ecologically diverse tract of land from 1907 show that wolves had Reservation, as modified by fish species while maintaining in the heart of Wyoming, and the dens in the same areas they are the Lander and Thermopolis sportfishing opportunities, present home of the Northern roaming in today. While the 2.2 agreements. This important produce genetically diverse fish Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone million acre reservation is not in distinction recognizes the role in hatcheries and stock them in tribes. These two tribes work the State of Wyoming’s wolf wolves play in the cycle of the river system, and monitor and hard at working together for the conservation area, it includes life and the need to control collect data on the endangered benefit of the land and the 500,000 acres of wolf habitat, and population numbers so wolves fish to measure progress toward species inhabiting it. Bobby St. management is the responsibility don’t make it a habit of preying on achieving recovery goals. The Clair has been the director of the of the Tribes. The wolves are cattle and sheep for their fare Recovery Program’s efforts will joint-tribal Wildlife Department attracted to the plentiful herds of instead of elk and deer. help ensure that the endangered for two years. He needs more antelope, deer and elk, and the fishes remain an important part of staff; he’d love to have more number of wolves will probably Biologists anticipate the wolves the West’s heritage. game wardens. He also depends expand in the future. staying in the higher elevations on the Fish and Wildlife Service and remote parts of the Debbie Felker, Information and conservation office in Lander, run “The tribes look neutrally upon reservation, although lack of food Education Coordinator, Upper by Dave Skates, for biological wolves and consider them as a may make livestock tempting. Colorado River Endangered Fish work and direction. The Tribes wildlife species for which Therefore, wolves that prey on Recovery Program

34 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 around the service

livestock may need to be refuge’s ship M/V Tiglax brought maintain monitoring instruments managed to minimize impacts alaska them to the island in May, and on Kasatochi and could not on livestock. The MOU permits would pick them up the end of detect exactly what was going the Tribes’ Fish and Game Close Call August. They lived in a trapper’s on. Disbelief mingled with anxiety Department to handle When refuge biologists first felt cabin from the 1920s and studied as tremors increased and depredating wolves. volcanic Kasatochi Island shake, seabirds as biologists every became detectable to the AVO. they dismissed it as just another summer on Kasatochi for 13 The tribes intend to conduct wolf fact of life in the volatile Aleutian years. Kasatochi was lush and On August 6, the refuge, the monitoring, handling of livestock Islands. But after a few days of green and boasted a beautiful regional office, and the AVO all depredations, and education the tremors becoming more blue lake in a deep caldera. A concurred that evacuation was and information programs for frequent, Ray Buchheit and Chris hundred thousand least and the prudent choice and Spitler set the wolves throughout the Ford started getting a little crested auklets, storm petrels to work trying to arrange it. The reservation. St. Clair said in anxious. Volcanoes were on and puffins lived on the 700-acre problem was that the M/V Tiglax three years, his department will everyone’s mind as two other island qualifying it as one of the was 24 hours away, the nearest conduct a study to determine volcanoes on the Alaska Maritime best islands in the central Coast Guard ship was 24 hours how many wolves are on the National Wildlife Refuge, Okmok Aleutians for bird study. away, there were apparently no reservation. If wolves are no Caldera and Mt. Cleveland, had fishing boats in the area, and longer listed and the numbers of already erupted unexpectedly On August 5, Buchheit and Ford a Coast Guard helicopter on wolves justify it, his department and explosively within the prior first voiced their concerns over Adak that could have easily will use a lottery system to three weeks. Still, no one the radio to biologist Lisa Spitler, accomplished the rescue was award a couple of tags only to suspected that long dormant who manned the office on the broken down and needing a part tribal members for hunting Kasatochi Volcano was just days closest inhabited island — Adak that was 24 hours away. Finally and/or trapping. away from a cataclysmic eruption Island, 50 miles away. Spitler Spitler lined up local fisherman that would bury the entire immediately turned to the Alaska Al Giddings, who would be ready To educate the folks about island — the refuge cabin, the Volcano Observatory (AVO) to sail at dawn from Adak in his wolves, his department installed bird cliffs, the sea lion rookery — volcano monitoring website 32-foot boat, Homeward Bound, 4-foot by 4-foot signs at trailheads and send the biologists fleeing for which gave no indication of to accomplish the rescue. with information about wolves their lives. trouble brewing. Spitler followed and where they are located on up with a call to the AVO, but Dawn of August 7 was the reservation. His department Buchheit and Ford were the only Kasatochi was considered accompanied with rapidly provides handouts to the public people on Kasatochi, 1,100 miles dormant with no historically increasing tremors and a strong, and makes presentations at the southwest of Anchorage. The recorded eruptions. AVO did not sulphur smell. About 10 a.m. >> local schools to fourth graders and above. They discuss wolves as one of the many animals on View of the Kasatochi Island the reservation. Soon, they will caldera in August 2008. The Y BUCHHEIT have a wolf hide and a stuffed crater rim is enlarged, there RA wolf to show the students as part are active steam fumaroles of their museum of animals. and vents and the crater is beginning to refill. The handout for adults got my attention: a bumper sticker freely distributed by St. Clair that says, “Real Men Aren’t Afraid of Wolves.” It gets a chuckle as it is intended to do, yet it makes an important point. As the one wolf ran away from us when it saw us, I learned that wolves are more afraid of us than we are of them. Humans are one of their predators.

Kim Greenwood, Tribal Liaison, Denver, Colorado

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 35 around the service

a nine-minute earthquake caused about half of their former number But as a federal agent, he rock falls and convinced Buchheit and only two pups were observed california/ routinely changed his identity and and Ford it was time to head to with the herd. set up phony businesses to the beach. The next few hours nevada infiltrate plant and animal were tense as tremors intensified There was virtually nothing green smuggling rings. and neither the two on the beach left showing on the island and A Rare Breed nor Spitler in Adak could raise the biologists estimate it will take Ken McCloud’s wife, Rose, used From 1992 to 1996, McCloud Homeward Bound on the radio. It decades for plants to re-colonize. to bang on their mailbox every sported a long ponytail and dyed wasn’t even certain that Giddings Service botanist Steve Talbot, day before collecting the beard while investigating reptile could get his small boat across who has pre-eruption data from family’s letters. smugglers in Madagascar, the rough, open water to reach Kasatochi and saw the island Germany, Canada and Indonesia. isolated Kasatochi. Buchheit and after its eruption, couldn’t help “She was afraid someone had put He had an extra phone line Ford contemplated launching but be intrigued by the possibility a rattlesnake in there trying to installed in his home and took their skiff and had an emergency of studying the return of the get me,” McCloud said. calls in the middle of the night course plotted in their GPS for the plants. Replacing Kasatochi as from smugglers in other nearest island, Great Sitkin Island an annual seabird monitoring It wasn’t just paranoid behavior. continents. 20 miles away. But the day was site is a problem refuge biologist In his 30 years busting up wildlife foggy and the surf was rough. At Jeff Williams will face. Annual smuggling cartels as an inspector The investigation led to numerous sea, they wouldn’t be visible to monitoring sites are key to and undercover agent for the arrests and the felony conviction their rescuer. Finally, seven miles providing trend data and 13 years U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, of a curator at the San Diego Zoo. out from Kasatochi, Giddings of study on Kasatochi helped the Ken McCloud dealt with gun- came on the radio and assured refuge paint a picture of what wielding criminals almost daily For his next big case, Operation all he would make it to the island. was happening with seabirds in and had at least three contracts Botany, McCloud posed as an When the Homeward Bound the central Aleutians. taken out on his life. importer of rare and endangered arrived, no time was wasted in plants. He used a fake name, abandoning the shaking island, The refuge owes a debt to McCloud, an expert in rare phony IDs and hidden cameras to leaving gear and computers Giddings and Mochizuki for their reptiles, retired from the federal gather incriminating evidence behind. Just a few hours into rescue mission, which was government in June and took a against international Cycad their journey to Adak, Buchheit, a lot more daring than they job with the Peninsula (California) smugglers. Authorities indicted Ford, Giddings and deckhand, probably realized at the time, Humane Society & SPCA as a 12 men in the case, nine of whom Eric Mochizuki did not hear the and to Lisa Spitler for her major crimes investigator. were convicted. mountain erupt, blowing ash to work in setting up the rescue 45,000 feet, burying the island and maintaining constant “To my knowledge he is the only “Usually I feel like I’m playing a with scorching pyroclastic flows, communication with Buchheit person with his skill set working role like an actor,” McCloud said. and disrupting air travel from and Ford. According to Marianne with a local humane society “Knowing quite a bit about Anchorage to Seattle. Guffanti of AVO, “Kasatochi is anywhere in the world,” society reptiles, I can walk the walk and yet another example of a very president Ken White said. “Sadly, talk the talk.” Two weeks later, Buchheit important lesson we are learning there is no shortage of a local stepped ashore on a new in volcanology. We don’t application...of the international McCloud, 54, grew up in Los Kasatochi courtesy of an AVO necessarily have much time from smuggling of animals. We already Altos, California, and earned a helicopter carrying scientists to when a volcano first shows signs have a number of significant bachelor’s degree in biology at document the eruption. Buchheit of unrest until when it can erupt cases that he is heading for us.” Foothill College. He loved reptiles said that “It was impressive; the explosively.” Needless to say, this from an early age, and as a child way it had changed. Definitely a presents special challenges for McCloud said he can’t provide in diapers would stand in the sight to see.”The refuge cabin managing a refuge of volcanic details on those cases because backyard calling out to lizards. was buried under up to 100 feet of islands on the ‘Ring of Fire.’” many of them are covert. ash, a new coastline extended hundreds of yards beyond the old To learn more about the refuge’s coast and the birds were gone. restless volcanoes and see Buchheit tried to find the exact more images visit the Alaska spot of the cabin but, “The ground Volcano Observatory website got too hot. I didn’t think I needed . to go any farther.” Sea lions had returned to the beach at only Poppie Benson, Outreach Specialist, Anchorage, Alaska

36 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 $20 billionayearglobally number between$10billionand division. Service’ Cleva, aspokeswomanforthe billions ofdollars,saidSandy estimated profitmarginsinthe drugs andarmstraffickingwith international cashcow Wildlife smugglingisan my field,”Martinsaid. “He blowsmeaway and amphibians. who knowmoreaboutreptiles maybe 30peopleintheworld “I don’ some researcherspossess, advanced graduatedegrees McCloud doesn’ Martin notedthatwhile as acop.” said. “Hedoesn’ enforcement officers,”Martin which isatypicalforlaw individual. He’ “Ken isaverysoft-spoken since thelate1980s. closely withMcCloudoffandon enforcement whohasworked consultant inbiologicallaw Dr “He’ working undercover injuries tohisbackwhile retired aftersufferingserious also studiedcriminology and WildlifeService,wherehe In 1977,McCloudjoinedtheFish . David Martin,anindependent s themaster t thinkthere’ s Estimates haveputthat Law s unassuming, Enforcement t havethe t comeacross , flatout,”said s morethan , andthat’ . , rivaling . He . s Reprinted withpermission. Palo Jessica Bernstein-W to seeadifference.” Martin said.“Y “He’ to backhisinvestigations. the societyhassufficientfunds unlikely tologinternationaltravel, He addedthat,whileMcCloudis 15 animalcontroloperators. three crueltyinvestigatorsand humane caseswiththesociety’ directly tohimandisworkingon White saidMcCloudreports environment thatweshare?” the ecosystem,tovery what’ extinction ofspecies.Now “W guns ordrugs,”Martinsaid. crimes worsethansmuggling clearly makesthesekindsof “The intrinsicvalueofwildlife can bedisastrous. many ofwhichdieintransit, environment andanimals, But theconsequencesfor to Martin. milder punishments,according as drugsandfetchesfar can beaslucrativetotraffic endangered wildlife,which to identifyextremelyrareand often don’ look fordrugsorfakepassports, Customers agents,trainedto borders andstatelines. or skins,acrossinternational animal productssuchasivory and plants,aswelldead transportation ofliveanimals It includestheillegal e’re goingtocausethe s goingtobeadiamond,” Alto s thatgoingtodo Daily t havetheexpertise ou’re reallygoing News . ax, s Office Interior’ W After learningfromKathy Up CloseandPersonal Secretar His RoyalHighnessPrinceZeidRa’adandDeputyInterior Conser Head ofW Environmental RangersDirectorate;MahdiQuatrameez, of EnvironmentandNatureProtection,Division Pictured (fromlef International T as anadvisorontheoffice’ said W important conservationwork,” international partnerswiththeir we candirectlyassistour “It’ to assistinanti-poachingefforts. of theendangeredNubianIbex, Mujib equipment willbeusedatW Conservation ofNature.The Royal Al-Hussein fortheJordanian States PrinceZeidRa’ad Ambassador totheUnited to HisRoyalHighnessJordanian binoculars andspottingscopes presented 15advanced of theInteriorL On excellent optics. Reserve’ used binocularstooutfitthe optics, andverygoodcondition, of newbinocularsfromV arranged toobtainacombination Wildlife Hopper MountainNational Marc W W for anti-poachingenforcementat ashburn oftheDepartment adi MujibReserveinJordan, s alwayssatisfyingwhen November Society forthe Nature about eitzel, whohasserved vation ofNature;JordanianAmbassadortotheU.S., s InternationalAffairs eitzel, projectleaderat Refuge Complex, s 15rangerswith y , LynnScarlett. ildlife L a Reserve, thehome 3, echnical need ynn Deputy Scarlett t) MajorF for aw EnforcementDivision,RoyalSocietyfor binoculars Secretary ortex s adi awaz F around theservice Winter 2009 for manyofourinternational available tosupportourjobs,but granted theresourceswehave years. “W Assistance appreciated,” efforts, whereitwillbemuch to supportourenforcement get thisequipmentintothefield anxious toreturnJordan International funded bytheU.S. procedures onastudytour investigating lawenforcement at themeeting.Hehasbeen Quatrameez, wasalsopresent Conservation ofNature,Mahdi the Enforcement The headofWildlifeLaw partnership.” breadth oftheJordan-U.S. testimony tothestrengthand of Jordan’ cooperation intheconservation that “Jordanian-American the generousdonationnoting of theJordaniangovernmentfor expressed hisgratitudeonbehalf Prince ZeidRa’ad,forhispart, a luxury tools, likebinoculars,canbe counterparts, evensimplefield Sacramento, California Scott Flaherty aleh Elfayez,Chief Royal .” F Society forthe e oftentimestakefor s richbiodiversityis ish &W Office forseveral Development. “Iam Division for , ExternalAffairs, Quatrameez said. ildlife News Agency for / 37

DOI fish tales

That alternative was the new technique, pioneered in Bad Medicine Portugal, of leucotomy — popularly called lobotomy — by which the nerve fibers of the prefrontal lobes of That Dr. Walter Freeman — the “father of American the brain were cut in an effort to relieve various LIBRARY OF MEDICINE lobotomy” — got his start working for the U.S. Fish psychiatric disorders like anxiety, anger, and violent

TIONAL and Wildlife Service’s parent agency is both a mood swings. Walter Freeman, St. Elizabeths’ NA fascinating account of muddled missions in the supervisor of autopsies until 1933, became its greatest Federal bureaucracy and a challenging reminder American proponent, performing the first lobotomy to today’s arbiters of “sound science” that standards in the United States.

COURTESY OF THE in medicine—like biology—evolve, and can take occasional wrong turns down dark and perilous alleys. Because of its invasive nature, limited track record, and wildly varying results, lobotomy was — and “Aside from the Nazi doctor Josef Mengele,” remains — a controversial surgical procedure. one critical contemporary biographer concludes, Some patients experienced remarkable success “[Freeman] ranks at the most scorned physician in their restoration to a semblance of normal life. of the twentieth century.” Others were reduced to dull and listless shadows of their formerly violent and raging selves. An unlucky Walter J. Freeman Historically, the Interior Department and its bureaus few died on the operating table. have displayed a schizoid personality, their pasts a cluttered attic of responsibilities and missions that Freeman, having left St. Elizabeths and in private now seem alternately charming and baffling. Interior practice and on the staffs of Georgetown and George once managed the District of Columbia jail, the Washington universities by 1936, accelerated the pace pensions of Civil War veterans, a colonization plan of lobotomies with his “transorbital” technique. The for freed Haitian slaves, and the Columbia Institution procedure employed icepick-like tools through the for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb (now the bony orbit of the eye sockets to reach and sever the prestigious Gallaudet University). Fish and offending sectors of the brain. Wildlife’s past is littered with forgotten refuges and decommissioned fish hatcheries unfamiliar to Part medical visionary, part operating room showman, contemporary ears…and its curious assignment of Freeman would perform 3,500 such quick-turnaround servicing Congressional fish tanks on Capitol Hill. operations, assembly-line style, at state hospitals across the nation. He travelled in a van known as the But our employer’s penchant for oddball “lobotomobile,” in a career that lasted until his death responsibilities took its most unusual twist during in 1972. Once hailed as a miracle technique by the Interior’s 88-year management of the Government international medical community, lobotomy began Hospital for the Insane, a Washington asylum for its rapid decline by the 1950s, eclipsed by various mental patients from the District, the military, and mood-altering psychiatric drug therapies that didn’t other Federal agencies founded in the 1850s by require invasive surgery. legendary reformer Dorothea Dix. Later renamed St. Elizabeths, Interior’s supervision lasted until 1940. Far less than a story of good and evil than a complex account of science in a more primitive era — barely a With a dramatic rise in institutionalization of the generation ago — a retrospective portrait of Interior’s mentally ill in the early 1900s, St. Elizabeth’s cared Walter Freeman is the complicated story of a caring for 4,300 patients by 1924…and hosted one newly- physician who employed a deeply flawed and largely arrived neuropathologist intent on making a name unproven surgical technique in what were believed for himself…Dr. Walter Freeman. to be the best interests of his patients. Such accounts force us to question how we regard good medicine, “Even in the 1920s, hospitals lacked treatments that and remind us that one generation’s scientific healed, or even helped, many patients, and institutions optimism is occasionally discredited upon the like St. Elizabeths had grown into huge warehouses arrival of the next. of the sick,” writes Jack El-Hai, author of The Lobotomist: A Maverick Medical Genius and His Tragic Quest to Rid the World of Mental Illness. This is the sixth in a series of short features about “Psychiatric hospitals of the 1920s really could little-known aspects of the Interior Department’s do little for patients with mental disease except U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by David Klinger house and feed them…Younger, often idealistic of the National Conservation Training Center in psychiatrists bridled at this sterile incarceration Shepherdstown, West Virginia. and sought alternatives.”

38 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 our people

Greg enhance fish, wildlife, their habitats, include managing the Service’s Siekaniec, and the hunting, sport fishing and relations with the news media, transitions formerly recreational boating opportunities Congress and Native Americans, Refuge they provide. as well as the region’s Internet Headquarters Manager presence, and audiovisual and of Alaska Southwest publication production. Jerome Ford was promoted to Maritime the position of Deputy Assistant Refuge, has Brian Hanson Hastie began her career in Director for Migratory Birds. His been named spent 32 years conservation with The Nature last position was a Fish and Wildlife Assistant working for the Conservancy, working as a biologist for the Director’s Office. Director of the National Wildlife Service before government affairs specialist in Refuge System. A 24 year veteran retiring at the Arlington, Virginia, and as outreach Jay Slack has of federal service with the Refuge end of 2008. coordinator for the Altamaha River become the System, Siekaniec started his The majority Bioreserve in Darien, Georgia. second Director career at J. Clark Salyer NWR as a of his tenure of the National refuge clerk and progressed through was spent A native of Huntsville, Texas, Hastie Conservation management positions in Montana, with the New Mexico Ecological holds a bachelor’s degree in biology Training North Dakota, and Wyoming in Services field office serving as from Southwestern University, Center in addition to Alaska. He completed Deputy. While there, Hanson worked a master’s degree in public Shepherdstown, a stint in Washington, DC as the on multiple water development affairs and a master’s degree in West Virginia, Deputy Chief of Refuges prior to projects, the largest of which was to environmental science. succeeding John R. “Rick” Lemon, joining the management team at guarantee water supply for the Zuni who retired in May. Alaska Maritime Refuge in 2001. Indian Reservation, which included Hastie and her husband Keith, multiple species inventory of the also a Service employee, live in Slack, 44, most recently served Hannibal area. Additionally, he completed Shutesbury, Massachusettes, with as Deputy Regional Director for Bolton has instream flow work on both the their two young daughters. the Fish and Wildlife Service’s been named Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River. Mountain/Prairie Region in Assistant Hanson also worked at the Denver Mike Bartlett Lakewood, Colorado. Slack Director for Wildlife Research Center studying was the project joined the Service in 1991 as State Programs the impacts of contaminants on leader of the a herpetologist in the Phoenix and Federal prairie bird species, and served as New England Ecological Services office. In THER BELL / USFWS

Assistance. lead for the Water Acquisition and HEA Field Office 1993, he moved to the Washington Bolton is a Management Subcommittee on the and a strong Office, where he was Chief of 30-year veteran of the U.S. Fish and Middle Rio Grande. Recently, he presence in the Listing and coordinator of Section Wildlife Service, having served in solidified the Southwest Region’s conservation 7 consultations in the Endangered several technical fisheries positions connection with Strategic Habitat arena for 13 Species program. Slack went on in Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Conservation by serving as the years until he retired this spring. to supervise the Vero Beach Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Regional Coordinator. Hanson's Bartlett’s Rhode Island accent and Ecological Services office in Iowa. He has served as the Deputy experience and thoughtful approach his distinctive laugh characterized Florida for nine years. AssistantRegionalDirector for will be sorely missed. his rock-solid commitment to the Fisheries Program in the Great the Service coupled with an Slack received his B.S. in biology Lakes Big Rivers Region, and was Northeast appreciation for the challenging and M.S. in ecology in 1986 and responsible for policy development issues he worked so hard to resolve. 1988, respectively, from Illinois and implementation, as well as Kyla Hastie State University in Normal, Tribal and hatchery issues, for the has taken In May, the Environmental where his academic research eight state program. His scope the position Protection Agency gave Bartlett its in herpetology centered on the of management encompassed of assistant lifetime achievement environmental speciation of rare frogs in the seventeen field stations. Bolton THER BELL / USFWS HEA regional merit award, calling him a stalwart United States. He received the most recently served as Acting director for protector of fish and wildlife Interior Department’s Meritorious Assistant Director for the Wildlife External resources who fought for habitat Service Award in 2005. and Sport Fish Restoration Program Affairs for protection, especially wetlands and in Washington, DC. Bolton will the Northeast fish habitat, across the six-state Slack and his wife Heather oversee the Wildlife and Sport Region. New England landscape. McSherry, a former Service Fish Restoration Program. Through Previously based in Athens, biologist, will live in administration and oversight of Georgia, Hastie worked in a number Recognizing Bartlett’s leadership Shepherdstown. federal grant programs that provide of positions for the Southeast in conserving trust species and hundreds of millions of funding Region, including public affairs habitat, the Service gave him its yearly, the program helps states, specialist,NativeAmerican liaison, meritorious service award. He insular areas and the District of friends group coordinator and played a role in several Natural Columbia to conserve, protect, and special event planner. Hastie’s new Resource Damage cases, including responsibilities in the 13-state region a $20 million Superfund settlement

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 39 our people

in New Bedford, Massachusettes, species, habitat restoration and Santavy has served as project programs, where he persuaded trustees to environmental contaminants. She leader at the Green Lake National and his land fund projects with fish and became project leader of the newly Fish Hatchery in Ellsworth and acquisitions wildlife value. named Virginia Field Office, where as acting project leader at the for numerous spent her entire Service career. Maine Fishery Resources Office refuges have Bartlett began his 38-year career in East Orland. left a lasting with the Service working for Animal Mayne said her involvement in mark on Damage Control in Ohio. He moved management and recovery of Santavy’s new duties will continue the Refuge to theNew JerseyF ieldOffice, the bald eagle was especially his current work of leading a System. one of the first Ecological Services rewarding. conservation hatchery program that Midwest Regional Director, Robyn offices, in 1974 and remained in the contributes more than 70 percent Thorson presented Bryant with the Northeast Region for the balance of “When I started my career,” she of all sea-run Atlantic salmon Meritorious Service Award from his career. He was deputy assistant said, “it was rare to see an eagle. returns to the U.S. annually. In the Secretary for his significant regional director in the regional Now we see them throughout the addition, Santavy’s responsibilities contributions to land acquisition and office for 17 years before moving to Chesapeake Bay area. I just hope will include providing Service realty and the Wildlife and Sport the New England Field Office. we can keep it that way.” leadership, policy coordination and Fish Restoration programs. technical expertise within a multi- Bartlett earned a bachelor’s degree Helping to establish refuges — agency framework for recovering In the Northeast Region, Bryant in mathematics and a master’s Eastern Shore of Virginia, Cedar Atlantic salmon in Maine and other helped acquire the first tracts of degree in animal science-wildlife Island Unit of Chincoteague, James interjurisdictional fisheries in the land on the Stewart B. McKinney management from the University of River and Rappahannock River Gulf of Maine. and Sunkhaze Meadows NWRs. Rhode Island. He served in the Army Valley national wildlife refuges — In the Pacific Region he helped from 1966 to1968. was, according to Mayne, her most Prior to coming to the Service, establish theSacramentoRiver, fulfilling work experience. Santavy worked with Montana Tualatin and Grays Harbon NWRs, Bartlett’s post-retirement life Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the and helped expand California's San includes sitting on the board of “Our work pointed to imminent Prince William Sound Aquaculture Pablo Bay and San Joaquin River the New Hampshire chapter of the development threats to fish and Corporation in Alaska, and the NWRs. In the Midwest Region, Coastal Conservation Association; wildlife habitat,” she said. “Happily, Oregon Department of Fish Bryant directed land acquisition teaching classes for American the Service acquired those areas and Wildlife. for the Migratory Bird Acquisition Military University; and spending with help from our partners.” Program, helped establish Detroit time with his wife Jeannie, his three Currently, Santavy serves on the River NWR, and made significant daughters and one granddaughter. Mayne was born in Norfolk and Board of Directors and the Land additions to Patoka River, raised in Salisbury, Maryland. Stewardship Committee of the Great Cypress Creek, Ottawa and Karen Mayne She bagged apples for a produce Pond Mountain Conservation Trust, Big Muddy NWRs. retired after company to earn money for college. which owns over 4,300 acres of land 30 years of She earned a biology degree in Maine and provides conservation As Chief of the Midwest Region's federal service. from Old Dominion University in land trust services on small tracts of Division of Wildlife and Sport THER BELL / USFWS

HEA Mayne’s career Norfolk and a master’s degree in land with a high conservation value. Fish Restoration, Bryant worked include working organizational management from He is also a member of the American diligently with state partners to on bald eagle George Washington University in Fisheries Society, Wildlife Society, facilitate recreational hunting and recovery and Washington, DC. Ducks Unlimited and Bucks Mills angling. Notable efforts include helping to Rod and Gun Club. Indiana's acquisition of the 8,000 create four national wildlife refuges. Prior to retirement, Mayne received acre Goose Ponds for waterfowl She was also the first woman the Department of Interior’s Originally from Michigan, Santavy hunting and Ohio's acquisition of Ecological Services project leader in Meritorious Service Award. grew up on his family’s farm, where 8,000 acres of former Owens-Illinois the country. he developed an interest in nature, forest for turkey hunting. Paul Santavy conservation, land management, Mayne was with the Corps of was brought to hunting and fishing. These interests Bob Bryant's excellence and Engineers’ regulatory program in Maine by fish. lead him to complete a B.S. degree outstanding contributions to the Norfolk, Virginia, before she moved He has been in wildlife biology and fisheries Service were recognized in a to the Service’s Gloucester office in appointed the management at Michigan State retirement presentation at the 1978. There, she and now-Regional manager for University. Paul spends his free time Midwest Regional Office. John Director Marvin Moriarty worked on theU.S.Fish hunting, fishing and enjoying nature Christian, MidwestRegionARD wetland permit reviews and federal and Wildlife with his wife, Rebecca. for Migratory Birds and State projects for two months before Service’s Programs, said, "A good measure he left for the Washington office, Maine Fisheries Program Complex Midwest of a person's character is what leaving Mayne as the sole employee. in East Orland, which oversees they have accomplished that is the Craig Brook and Green Lake Bob Bryant retired on September lasting, and Bob has made a lasting More staff joined Mayne as the National Fish Hatcheries and the 30, after 24 years with the Service. contribution to fish and wildlife workload grew from focusing on MaineFisheryR esourcesOffice. Bryant's accomplishments have conservation." water resources to endangered In his three years with the Service, spanned three Regions and two

40 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 our people

uses aircraft for wildlife telemetry, of large-scale trafficking in sea While theNationalFlyway Council, easement enforcement, and habitat turtle skins, shells, and products the North American Waterfowl honors evaluations. Law Enforcement uses from Mexico and China—resulted Management Plan Committee, the aircraft to support their missions. in the successful prosecution Service Regulations Committee Headquarters Migratory Birds uses aircraft to of seven defendants from those and leaders of the Association survey and count breeding and countries who were arrested in the of Fish and Wildlife Agencies all Service Aviators Win “Gold wintering waterfowl and eagles. United States. Investigations or endorsed the concept of conducting Standard” for Safety Standards prosecutions of more than a dozen a Waterfowl Policy Summit as TheGeneralServiceA dministration The Interagency Committee for other individuals implicated in this recommended in the 2007 Joint Task awarded the Service’s aviation Aviation Policy’s federal aviation case are still underway. Honorees Group report; no one knew exactly program a “Gold Standard” award “Gold Standard” program is a included: George Morrison, Curtis how that should be accomplished. at theDepartment’sAviation Board voluntary, self-certification program Graves,LeoS uazo, HenryLopez, Mott volunteered to head this effort of Directors meeting in October, to recognize those agencies that and Alejandro Rodriguez. and assembled a cadre of volunteers 2008. Michael Grant, the Service’s have made the commitment to from Canada, the U.S., and the aviation manager, accepted the federal aviation. The Committee Seth Mott is being recognized NGO community to develop and award on behalf of Paul Schmidt, the adopted a set of "Safety Standards for the body of work he has plan this meeting. Service's aviation executive. The and Guidelines” to provide agencies performed in relation to the award currently hangs on the wall with a framework for developing initiation, planning, and execution Over the course of the past year of the Service's conference room at their own comprehensive flight of the workshop on The Future Mott has steered this group Main Interior. program standards to enhance of Waterfowl Management. The as they wrestled with complex operationalsafetyande ffectiveness impetus for this workshop was a and substantive issues related in their flight programs. recommendation from a joint task to discussions on waterfowl group of North American waterfowl population management, harvest, Applicants were evaluated on experts representing the states, and conservation. their operations and maintenance the Federal Governments of the manuals, training and safety U.S. and Canada, Universities and The Workshop was completed in program, aircraft surveys and the private sector. This group, August, 2008, and the consensus data reporting. commissioned by the North achieved there set the course American Waterfowl Management of creative work in waterfowl Nicholas Throckmorton, Plan Committee and the National management for the next several Public Affairs, Washington, DC Flyway Council proposed the years. This is a testament to the adoption of a more cohesive dedication and perseverance of “This award signifies the Members of the Special waterfowl management framework Mott and the many others who achievement of our goal to develop Operations Unit of the Service’s with meaningful, measurable goals have worked on taking this from better processes and procedures Law Enforcement Branch were that integrate habitat conservation, a concept to reality. This award for managing the Service’s aviation honored by the Department of harvest management, and is in recognition for Mott’s role program in a safer, and more Justice andU.S.AttorneysO ffice stakeholder interests. To address in all phases of this effort and his effective and efficient manner,” on December 9, 2008, for their the institutional needs and policy continuing dedication to improving said Grant. “This is especially part in a three-year undercover decisions necessary to implement the understanding and management important since our pilots routinely investigation of sea turtle this framework, a waterfowl policy of North America’s waterfowl fly at altitudes as low as 150 feet smuggling. Operation Central—a summit was convened. resource. off the ground when flying wildlife major covert Service investigation management missions over some of Eight Service employees were the most austere areas in Lower Smuggled sea turtle skins siezed during Operation Central nominated for this year’s Sense of 48 States, Alaska and Mexico. Wonder award for excellence in the There is no room for error.” USFWS field of environmental education and interpretation: Susan Kain, Each year, 63 active Service Visitor Services Manager at Deer pilots and six Service trained and Flats NWR, Idaho; Dennis Pritchard, evaluated contract pilots fly 18,000 Supervisory Wildlife Refuge hours. This roughly equals 72 trips Specialist at Sevilleta National around the earth at the equator. Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico; Pilots undergo extensive training Byron Fortier,Supervisory Park in the air and in the class room Ranger at Southeast Louisiana each year. The Service currently NWR Complex; Laury Zicari, maintains at fleet of 59 aircraft, Deputy Field Supervisor at the 37 of which are in Alaska. New York Ecological Services field office; Suzanne Fellows, Three key Service programs Assistant Nongame Migratory maintain aircraft and pilots for their Bird Coordinator at the Regional operations. The Refuge System Office, in Denver, Colorado; Neesha

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 41 our people

Wendling, biologist at the Fairbanks Through the WCEP ultralight Whooping cranes, named for their Mountain-Prairie Office in Alaska; Janet Schmidt, project, whooper chicks are hatched loud and penetrating unison calls, Park Ranger at Stillwater NWR, at theU.S.GeologicalSurvey’s live and breed in wetland areas, Steve Moran Nevada; and Donna Stanek, Chief Patuxent Wildlife Research Center where they feed on crabs, clams, and Ron of VisitorServices andOutreach in Laurel, Maryland, and at the frogs and seeds. They are distinctive Reynolds in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The International Crane Foundation in animals, standing five feet tall, with (left) were Sense of Wonder award celebrates Baraboo, Wisconsin. After initial white bodies, black wing tips and recently a legacy started by former Service rearing and training, they are red crowns on their heads. presented the employee Rachel Carson, whose transported to Necedah National prestigious book A Sense of Wonder illustrates Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin to WCEP was formed in 1999 under the National the bond between nature and the begin learning how to fly behind leadership of representatives from Blue Heron human spirit. ultralight aircraft piloted by partner the International Crane Foundation, Award Operation Migration in preparation Operation Migration Inc., Wisconsin sponsored by the North American Midwest for the long journey to Florida’s gulf Department of Natural Resources, Waterfowl Management Plan. This coast. Through this unprecedented U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the award recognizes outstanding Honoring project, WCEP representatives U.S. Geological Survey’s Patuxent contributions toward the nearly a have worked together to release Wildlife Research Center and conservation of waterfowl habitat. decade of more than 60 whooping cranes into National Wildlife Health Center, whooping eastern migratory population. the National Fish and Wildlife Moran has served as the Service’s crane recovery Foundation, the Natural Resources Rainwater Basin Joint Venture efforts, John This October, the WCEP group Foundation of Wisconsin, and the Coordinator since 1993. During Christian, launched its eighth migration since International Whooping Crane this time, he has worked to form Assistant 2001, leading fourteen whooping Recovery Team. habitat conservation partnerships Regional crane chicks from Necedah based on trust and cooperation Director for Migratory Birds and NWR to two national wildlife Northeast with many private landowners, State Programs for the Midwest refuges in Florida —St.Marks thereby achieving unprecedented Region, received a National and Chassahowitzka NWRs. The TheFederalE xecutiveAssociation wetland improvements on private Audubon Society’s Green Hero ultralight-led flock will pass through (FEA) of Western Massachusetts lands. There is a tremendous sense Award for his instrumental role Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, selected Pamela M. Dansereau, of pride in the habitat conservation in establishing and supporting Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia Investigative Case Specialist in accomplishments of the Joint the Whooping Crane Eastern to reach the final destinations. the Northeast Regional Office, Venture by its partners. Partnership (WCEP). Funded by as professional employee of the Toyota, the Together Green program, “It is incredibly important for year in the category of emergency Since 1991, Reynolds has served as “aims to provide inspiration, future generations to develop management, public safety and law the Project Leader for the Service’s leadership and opportunities that an appreciation for nature now,” enforcement. Dansereau received Habitat and Population Evaluation inspire people everywhere to take Christian says. “As this project the award at FEA’s 2008 Excellence Team. Ron’s contributions to the action at home, in their communities progresses, it is important that we in Government Awards ceremony. conservation and understanding and beyond to improve the health of continue to share the whooping She has worked in the regional law of waterfowl and their associated our environment.” crane story with the public, because enforcement office for 12 years wetland and grassland habitats at the survival of this species really and for the Federal Government state, national, and international Christian was instrumental in does depend on how the human and for 25 years. levels are substantial. He is a establishing and co-chairing WCEP, nature interaction plays out. This respected and proven leader a coalition of Federal, state and project truely is making wildlife Six Northeast Region employees in waterfowl and wetlands non-governmental organizations history and has captured the publics competed for awards in various conservation in the Prairie Pothole dedicated to restoring the imagination. I have described it as categories. In addition to Region and his advice and guidance endangered whooping crane as a the wildlife equivalent of putting a Dansereau, the nominees were: is regularly sought by individuals self-sustaining species in eastern man on the moon!" distinguished federal supervisor, and agencies throughout the North America. Linda Shaffer (deputy chief, ITM); U.S. and Canada. Whooping cranes were on the verge professional employee of the year, “The state agencies, non­ of extinction in the 1940s. Today, administrative, Sharon Woodin governmental organizations, and there are only about 500 birds in (program analyst, BF); outstanding individuals we work with are key existence, 350 of them in the wild. support employee, Sharon Koroski partners in this unprecedented Aside from the 68 Wisconsin-Florida (grants assistant, FA) and Stacey effort to reintroduce whooping birds, the only other migrating Pacheco (administrative support cranes into the eastern flyway,” population of whooping cranes assistant, Silvio O. Conte NFWR); said Christian. “We are grateful for nests at the Wood Buffalo National and distinguished federal manager, the efforts of our whooping crane Park in the Northwest Territories of Tony Lèger (chief, NWRS). colleagues in helping to make this Canada and winters at the Aransas project a success. Quite simply, we National Wildlife Refuge on the couldn’t do this without them.” Texas Coast.

42 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 our people

Alaska Ashworth will be sorely missed Captain Bell received the by his friends, family and Department of the Interior’s Honor Deborah Corbett,Regional Historic in memoriam coworkers. He was a man of many Award for Meritorious Service Preservation Officer for the Alaska accomplishments, but most of all, he signed by Secretary of the Interior Bob Ashworth,DeputyAssistant was a dedicated father and husband Dirk Kempthorne and presented Region, was one of four recipients Director for Business Management who was deeply involved in his by Regional Director Tom Melius in of the first annual Secretary of and Operations, collapsed and community. To a person, those who 2007. The award, one of the highest the Interior Historic Preservation died suddenly while on a site visit knew him best characterize him as a given in the Department, was Award. The winner in the Federal in conjunction with the Service kind and compassionate person who granted in “recognition of his many Preservation Office Category, Deputies Group meeting in Lake treated everyone with respect. years of outstanding seamanship Corbett is the Service’s only Placid, New York this fall. archeologist in Alaska—a region and exemplary support of Captain international maritime conservation that contains 16 National Wildlife He leaves behind his wife, Kevin Bell, programs” for the Service. Refuges totaling more than 78 Annamarie, and three children, 53, passed million acres. Her responsibilities Christina, Bobby and Thomas. away this Mary Joyce cover all aspects of the federal The Service extends deepest past January Hemenway preservation program, including sympathies to them in this in Homer Williams, research, identification, protection, difficult time. coordination with Native villages, surrounded whose by his family. tenacious and care of museum collections. Ashworth joined the Federal Bell had been conservatism government in 1985 as a clerk/typist struggling with brain cancer for and patriotism In 2008, Corbett partnered with for USGS, rising through the ranks about a year. Bell was a “larger­ fervor found more than a dozen organizations, to become a Contract Administrator. than-life” character who had sailed fertile ground universities, government entities, He received the Department’s on the Alaska Maritime National in the Fish and tribes to leverage federal funds Superior Service Award for his Wildlife Refuge’s M/V Tiglax since and Wildlife Service’s “Take Pride to accomplish dozens of projects. accomplishments at USGS. He its commissioning in 1987. Through in America” campaign during the Other projects include the complex then served as a senior Grants his intelligence, dedication and zest, Reagan and Bush administrations, issues associated with World War II Management Analyst with the Bell worked his way up from cook/ died July 21 in Arlington, Virginia. in the Pacific in the Aleutian Islands Corporation for National Service, deckhand to become Captain of She was 47. as well as coordination with the a Federal grant-making agency, the 120 foot ship, the largest in the Japanese government. She has also before joining the Service in 1999 Service’s fleet. Daughter of a U.S. Foreign Service partnered with the Kenaitze Indian as chief of the Branch of Contracts. officer, Williams was born in 1961 tribe and sponsored a youth Susten Ashworth was promoted to chief A memorial service was held for in Munich, Germany as Cold War Camp for Native kids that connects of the Division of Contracting and Bell with a reception following at tensions erupted at the start of the kids with their past and trains them General Services in 2001, and in the Refuge’s Islands & Ocean Visitor Kennedy administration, and was for possible careers in natural and 2006, he became Deputy Assistant Center. He was a well known figure raised in an atmosphere that prized cultural resource management. Director for Business Management in the biological, seafaring, and public service and commitment to and Operations. Corbett has been involved with Homer communities. Bell was a Cub country. Upon graduation from the Scout leader, a coach, and a tireless University of Redlands in California vast stretches of the Iditarod In an agency of people who get advocate for youth hockey, being with training in communications National Historic Trail and has things done, Ashworth stood out one of the founders of the Homer and political science, Hemenway assisted the research along the for his problem-solving skills, Hockey Association. worked as an editor for the Heritage route and sponsored archaeological his attention to detail, and his Foundation, a Washington, DC investigation through a major unwavering focus on supporting the Captain Bell liked to refer to himself think tank. Later, she served as community on the trail. Service’s mission. As we rightfully as “just the boat driver,” but this press secretary to Idaho Senator emphasize wildlife conservation, was a gross underestimation. Bell Steven Symms — at the time, she it is important to remember the was a passionate advocate for was the youngest press secretary vital contributions of skilled wildlife, for the work of the Refuge, on Capitol Hill. administrators like Ashworth who and for the Aleutian Islands. Driven work tirelessly behind the scenes to by his great curiosity about the As “Take Pride” coordinator for keep our waterfowl survey planes natural world, he enthusiastically the Service in the 1980s, Williams flying, important habitat work on supported the scientific work fashioned a series of wildlife- schedule and thousands of our conducted from his ship. He was a oriented projects in support of employees supplied with essential great champion of people, praising the government-wide promotional equipment. and encouraging all who set foot on campaign, including print and the Tiglax. He particularly loved to television public service advertising introduce children to the Aleutians that enlisted the talents of and the work of the Refuge, leading Hollywood celebrities to rekindle spirited school programs and public support for public lands Tiglax tours. conservation. Her flair for the >>

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 43 our people

Williams, continued from page 43 When she joined the Service in Keith M. Schreiner, former Regional colleagues, a vast breadth and 1991, Martin worked in the Snake Director of theAlaskaRegion, depth of knowledge resulting artistic and a dogged political savvy River office in Boise, Idaho. In April passed away September 19, at his from decades of experience with were later enlisted to support other 2000 Martin took on her duties home in Grand Junction, Colorado. Hawaii’s flora and fauna. agency efforts, including the Federal as the Supervisor in the Spokane He was 83. Schreiner served duck stamp program, outreach to Ecological Services field office. 27 years with the Service. During his time as a Service the Boy Scouts of America, and to Here she supervised up to employee, Woodside spent a decade Washington-area special needs 45 staff, including a branch Schreiner roles within the Service working for the Hawaiian and audiences, such as Gallaudet office in Wenatchee and the are numerous. He joined the Service Pacific Islands NWR Complex. He University’s environmental Central Washington field office. in 1956 as a Wildlife Biologist in made important contributions to the education programs for hearing- Tulsa, Oklahoma. He then worked as establishment of the Oahu Forest impaired children. Martin was dedicated to the Assistant Federal Aid Supervisor NWR, the Kona Forest Unit of the conservation and the protection in Albuquerque, New Mexico before HakalauForestNWR, PalmyraAtoll In chronic pain for much of her of fish and wildlife, and coming to the Washington office NWR, and the Kingman Reef NWR. career, Williams suffered from consistently emphasized the where over an 11 year period he Following his time with Refuges, multiple sclerosis for more than need for communication and worked as a Wildlife Research he worked for 12 years in various 20 years, and her health was further collaboration in order to reach Specialist in the Division of Federal programs within the Division of compromised by a diagnosis of resolution on controversial Aid, then as Chief of the Office of Ecological Services in Honolulu, breast cancer in 2006. Her final issues. Her negotiation skills and Endangered Species/International including Environmental Review and Federal Government employment innovative thinking were admired Affairs, and finally as the Associate Partners for Fish and Wildlife. was as a writer-editor for the and appreciated throughout the Director of Federal Assistance. From Department of Homeland Security. conservation community. the Washington office he moved Prior to his work with the Service, to Alaska, serving as the Area Woodside spent 27 years working Williams is survived by her husband, Martin loved the outdoors, camping, Director for the Alaska Region, then for the Hawaii Division of Fish and Fielding Williams, a U.S. Marine whitewater rafting, and backcountry as the Regional Director until his Game. This segment of his career Corps Captain; a son; and her skiing with family and friends. She retirement in 1983. started in 1952, seven years before parents. She was buried in Arlington had a long infatuation with the Hawaii became a state. Among National Cemetery. rugged Sawtooth Mountains of Funeral services for Schreiner were his positions with the Division of central Idaho where her outdoor held in September in Ollie, Iowa. Fish and Game were Non-game Susan B. adventures often took her. She Wildlife Section Leader and Wildlife Martin, also took great pleasure creating Donald V. Gray died in June, Branch Chief. One of his tasks as Project gourmet dinners, and was an 2008 at the age of 97. Gray was a State biologist was to manage Leader for avid reader. an exemplary Service employee, the Hawaiian Islands NWR (now the Upper working across the country part of the Papahanaumokuakea Columbia Martin was an active member of during his 37-year career. He was Marine National Monument) under Fish and the Idaho chapter of the American Refuge Manager of St. Marks a management agreement with the Wildlife Fisheries Society for 30 years, NWR in Florida, Santee NWR in Service, prior to the stationing of office in and served as their first woman South Carolina, Horicon NWR in Service personnel in Hawaii. Spokane, president. Friends, family and Wisconsin, Lower Souris (J. Clark He was also instrumental in the Washington, colleagues are in the process of Salyer)NWR inN orthDakota, successful effort to reestablish died after a long battle with cancer establishing a memorial graduate and the Upper Mississippi NWR in populations of Hawaii’s state bird, on September 15 at her home in scholarship in her honor, to be Minnesota. Gray was presented the nene. Woodside retired from Coeur d’Alene Idaho, surrounded administered by the Idaho Chapter. theService’s DistinguishedService the State in 1979. by her loving family. Award by Stewart Udall in 1968. Martin is survived by her husband Born in Kapa’au on the island of Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in Donald; daughter Jamie and son David Harold Hawaii, to a long time Hawaii family 1951, Martin grew up in Blackfoot, Aaron and their spouses, and the “Kawika” (his grandfather was a whaler); Idaho, not far from Yellowstone many friends and colleagues who Woodside Woodside showed an interest in National Park. will miss her greatly. died in June, wildlife at an early age. He began 2008 at the his wildlife career in 1939, assisting After graduating with a B.S. in Memorial donations can be sent age of 84. pioneer botanist and ornithologist biology and an M.S. in microbiology “In Memory of Susan Martin” to His 22-year George C. Munro with the banding from the University of Idaho, Martin the Sawtooth Society, P.O. Box 268, stint with of seabirds on offshore islets of served with the U.S. Forest Service, Boise, Idaho 83701. To make an the Service Oahu. At age 15, Woodside was and then the Idaho Department online donation, or to learn was just the a founding member of the Hawaii of Environmental Quality. more, visit their website at most recent chapter in a long and Chapter of the Audubon Society, . incredibly rich career of natural remaining an active member all his resources management in Hawaii. life. Joining the Army during WWII, He brought to his work and to his Woodside was on a troop ship bound

44 / Fish & Wildlife News Winter 2009 our people

for the invasion of Japan when the the Stillwater NWR in Nevada, and Rothschadl was enthusiastic about Park in South Dakota. He worked war ended. Following his military a year later he was back home in communications and using the for the Bureau of Land Management service, he attended Washington Montana working for the Bureau Internet for sharing the Service’s as an outdoor recreation planner in State University, and graduated of Land Management. But the call conservation message. He began Worland, Wyoming, and Medford, in 1951 with a degree in wildlife of refuge work was strong, and working for the Northeast Region Oregon. He also worked for the management. he once again landed in Idaho at as the Accomplishment Reporting U.S. Forest Service, first at the CamasNWR in theSoutheast Idaho System/Web manager in External Willamette National Forest in Woodside’s continuous desire to Complex. Like all migrating species, Affairs. As the Service’s Internet Eugene, Oregon, and then as get out and explore nature resulted the lure of moving on once again presence grew, his job evolved to a public affairs specialist for in countless treks to mountain tops, caught Deutscher, and finished his focus solely on Web management. Wayne-Hoosier National Forest in river bottoms, rainforests, wetlands, career with the Service as Manager Bedford, Indiana. He worked in the seabird colonies, remote islands, for Guam NWR. Rothschadl was an active and communications field for several caves, coral reefs and more. As a respected member of the national years in the private sector before result, he saw firsthand Hawaii’s Like most refuge personnel, Web Council. In August he joining the Service in 2000. natural places and rarest species, Deutscher loved the land and its hosted the council’s meeting, a number of which are now extinct. creatures. He grumbled when “Possibilities...Web 2.0 and Born and raised in Watertown, paperwork kept him desk-bound, Beyond” in Hadley, Massachusetts. Wisconsin, Rothschadl attended Woodside served as a mentor and but there were always evening and One Web Council member noted Michigan Technical University in teacher for several generations of weekend treks around the refuge that despite Rothschadl’s usually Houghton and graduated with a Hawaii biologists, passing on to that fueled his spirit. quiet demeanor, during this meeting bachelor’s degree from Wisconsin them his extensive experience in he took the spotlight to shine it on State University in Whitewater. Hawaii’s natural environments and The legacy Deutscher leaves behind important issues. He served two years in the Army, his encyclopedic knowledge of the is his passion and concern for then returned to school to earn state’s plants and animals. managing natural resources for all His colleagues remember a master’s degree in outdoor those to come. Rothschadl as a kind and thoughtful recreation management from Gerald man who was dedicated to doing a Colorado State University in “Gerry” Ron thorough job. They also remember Fort Collins. Deutscher Rothschadl, his wicked sense of humor. He passed away one of the epitomized the behind-the-scenes Rothschadl intended to retire in the after a three Service’s worker, but he was also an eloquent spring. One particular mountain year battle first Web man with a deep passion for his in Colorado called to him, and had with colon managers, family and for conservation. plans to climb it. He leaves his wife cancer. died Anne; and his daughters, Laney of The Refuge November 26 Rothschadl began his federal career Denver and Theresa of Chicago. system and its people had always following a as a National Park Service park felt like family to Deutscher, a brief battle ranger at Jewel Cave National retired Refuge Manager. Just days with acute leukemia. He was 64. Monument and Wind Cave National before his death, Deutscher, whose most recent home was in Avon, Indiana, watched migrating cranes Wartime Relic as they winged their way north, and lamented that his sixtieth B-24D Liberator bombers such spring would be his last. Until the as this one which crashed due end, Deutscher was busy planting to weather on Atka played a trees and planning habitat for significant role in WWII in the backyard visitors. Aleutians. World War II Valor in STEVE HILLEBRAND / USFWS Deutscher started his career in 1975 the Pacific National Monument atL aCreekNWR near Martin,South was created by Presidential Dakota. From there, he journeyed Proclamation signed by southwest to Browns Park NWR in President Bush December Colorado. Under the mentoring of 5th. Sites on the Aleutian Manager Jim Creasy, Deutscher’s Islands of Attu, Kiska and Atka love of refuge work was born and within the Alaska Maritime became a life-long commitment. For National Wildlife Refuge were the next ten years, he found himself included in the monument managing Bear Lake NWR in Idaho. along with locations in Hawaii Deutscher’s next staging area was and California.

Winter 2009 Fish & Wildlife News / 45 parting shots USFWS

Outgoing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall pauses during a hunting trip in 2006. Hall retired from the Service in January 2009 after a career spanning more than three decades.

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