U.S. Fish&Wildlife Service

DANGERED Huring the last great ice age, wooly mammoths, wild horses, musk oxen, caribou, and a host of other creatures migrated from Asia across the Bering Land BULLETIN Bridge to the place we now know as Alaska. Following March/April 1999 Vol XXIV No. 2 this rich resource came no- madic hunters, among the first humans to inhabit the New World. 7he wildlife these people sought provided not only food, shelter, and cloth- ing, but also a spiritual link with nature. Today, modern nomads— to u rists— tra uel from every corner of the globe to enjoy Alaska's wild- life treasures. At the same time, Alaskans continue to depend on fish and wildlife for subsistence, commerce, and quality of life. Balancing the needs of people and wildlife in a fragile environ- ment requires taking an ecosystem approach to re- source management. WASHINGTON D.C. OFFICE Washington. D.C. 20240

Jamie Rappaport Clark. Director Richard Hannan, Acting Chief. Division of Endangered Species (703)358-2171 Gerr>'Jackson, Assistant Director for Ecological Senices Martin Miller, Acting Deputy Chief. Division of Endangered Species (703)358-2171 Kathi Bangert. Chief. Branch of Infomiation Management (703)358-2390 Jo\- Nicholopoulo.s, Chief Branch of Conservation & Classification (703)358-2105 Charlie Scott, Chief Branch of Recoi en' Delisting ( 703)358-2106 Rick Savers, Chief Branch of Consultation & HCPs (703)358-2106

REGION ONE Eastside Federal Comple.x. 911 X.E. 11th Are. Portland OR 97232

California. Hawaii. Idaho. Nevada. Oregon. Anne Badgley, Regional Director (503)231-6118 Washington. American Samoa. Commonwealth http:' 'www.rl i'ws.gov of the Xorthern Mariana Islands. Cuaiii anil the Pacific Trust Territories

REGION TWO P.O. Box 1306. Albuquerque. SM 87103

Arizona. Sew Mexico. Oklahoma, and Texas Nancy Kauhnan, Regional Director (50^)248-6282 http: ifw2irm2.irm 1 .r2.fvvs.gov.

REGION THREE Federal Bldg.. Ft. Snelling. Twin Cities MS55111

Illinois. Indiana. Iowa. Michigan. William Hartwig, Regional Director (612)715-5301 .Minnesota. Missouri. Ohio, and Wisconsin http://uTvw.fws.gov/r3pao/

REGION FOUR 1875 Century Blvd.. Suite 200. Atlanta. GA 30345

Alabama. Arkansas. louisiana. Georgia. Kentucky, Sam Hamilton. Regional Director (404)679-7086 .Mississippi. Sorth Carolina. South Carolina. Florida. http://ww-w.fws.gov'r4eao Tennessee. Puerto Rico, and the I'.S. Virgin Islands

REGION FIVE .iOO Westgate Center Drive. Hadley. MA 01035

Connecticut. Delaware. Maitie. Maryland. Ronald E. Lanibertson. Regional Director (413)253-8300 .Massachusetts. Sew Hampshire. http:/ w-ww.fws.gov, rSfws Sew Jersey. Sew York. Penn.sylvania. Rhode Island. \'ermont. Virginia, and West Virginia

REGION SIX I'.O. Box 25486. Denver Federal Center. Denver C080225

Colorado. Kansas. Montana, Sebraska. Sorth Ralph O. Morgenweck, Regional Director (303>236-7920 [ Dakota. South Dakota. I 'tah. and Wyoming http ://%-«-«•. r6. fws. go V

REGION SEVEN lOl l F. Tudor Rd.. Anchorage. .AK99503

Alaska Dave Allen, Regional Director (907)786-3542 http ://w-ss-w. r7. fw.s .gov/ IN THIS ISSUE DANGERED 4 A Land of Superlatives

6 A Diversity of Ecosystems

8 Short-tailed Albatross: Back from the Brink BULLETIN

Telephone: ( 703)35f^-2390 Contributors 10 Management in the Fax:(703)358-1735 David B. Allen Internet: Richard Whiteford Face of Uncertainty R9FWE_DES.ESB@fwsgov Janey Fadely bttp://www.fu

Associate Editor Fred Armstrong, Jr. Martha Balis-Larsen Catherine Berg Karen Boylan

Art Director Martha Balis-Larsen 14 The Brown Bears of Kenai: Chuck Dauphine David Yeargin A Population at Risk Susan Jewell Susan Bury Hank Fischer LaRee Brosseau Elsie Davis 16 An Alaska Native's Perspective Lisa Arroyo Linda Morse Andy Moser 18 The Exxon ValdezSpiW: 10 Years Later

On the Cover Although brown l:)ears in Alaska are not 20 Alaska's International Affairs listed as endangered, habitat Program fragmentation has put the Kenai

Peninsula population at risk.

Corel Corp. photo 21 So... You'd Like to Work in Alaska?

22 Canada and U.S. Save Shared Species at Risk

The Endangered Species Bulletin welcomes manuscripts on a wide range of topics related to endangered species. We are particularly interested in news about recovery, habitat conserva- tion plans, and cooperative ventures. Please contact the Editor before preparing a manuscript. Top 10 Reasons to Support Rancher We cannot guarantee publication. Compensation

The Fish and Wildlife Service distributes the Bulletin primarily to Federal and State agencies, and official contacts of the Endangered Species Program. It also is reprinted by the University Departments of Michigan as part of its ownpublication, the Endangered Species UPDATE. To subscribe, write the Endangered Species UPDATE. School ofNati^ral Resources, University of Michigan, Ann 26 Arbor, MI48109-111 "S; or call (734J 763-3243- Listing Actions 28 Regional News and Recovery Printed with vegetable-based ink on recycled and recyclable paper. Ifyrjudo not keep Updates "9... iw back issues, please recycle the paper, pass them along to an interested person, or donate them to a local school or library. 31 The ESA at Twenty-five m

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ENDANGKRHI) SPKCIKS miI,I.F'nN MARCH AI'KIl. 1999 \'OLl'ME XXI\' N"0. 2 recognized tribes with 15 different of the Aleutian Canada goose (Bmiita A,Lt S86.00 0 square miles (1.5 language groups, and 16 percent of the canadensis leiicopareia), a ]:)artnership million square kilometers), Alaska is State's population is Alaska Native. with the fishing industiy for conser\'a- one-fifth the size of the lower 48 States. Learn more by reading "An Alaska tion of the short-tailed albatross I Superimposed on a U.S. map. Alaska Native's Perspective" in this issue. (Phoehastria alhatriisj, and a Spec- would stretch from Florida to Minnesota Alaska has the longest international tacled Eider Management Plan for the to California. Geographically, our State border of any state, and is located in a Yukon Delta. covers four time zones, but for practical unique international "neighborhood"— The FWS takes an ecosystem reascjns only two are used throughout seven other nations share the circumpo- management approach to its steward- most of the state. The westernmost lar region encompassing the Arctic ship of Alaska's threatened and endan- Aleutian Islands are actually in the Ocean and Beaufort Sea. These nations gered species, and we recognize two Eastern Hemisphere. There are 33,904 include Russia, Canada, Norway, key factors: (1) the various components miles (54,550 km) of coastline, twice Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and of an environment are interrelated, and that in the lower 48. Alaska also boasts Greenland (Denmark). Our Interna- (2) success in fish and wildlife manage- more than 3 million lakes larger than 20 tional Program is described in this issue. ment issues begins by involving State acres (8 hectares), more than 3.000 Only 23 species federally listed as agencies and a broad spectrum of rivers, 63 percent of the Nation's endangered or threatened occur in pLiblics. I hope you enjoy this issue, wetlands. 39 mountain ranges. 17 of the Alaska. Seventeen of these are man- which is devoted to Alaskan eco.systems 20 highest peaks in North America, aged by the National Marine Fisheries and issues. 1,800 islands; and 100,000 glaciers. Service, with the other six managed by Transportation in Alaska presents the Fish and Wildlife Ser\ ice (FWS). David B. Allen is the FWS Alaska unique challenges, since less than three Although Alaska has relatively few li.sted Regional Director. percent of the state is accessible by species, the challenges associated with road. Aircraft are a lifeline to many recovering them are daunting. All but \ illages and bush communities through- one of the listed species managed by out the state. But severe winter weather FWS (the Aleutian shield-fern, Land high costs can make travel within Polystichum aleiiticum) are migratory, the state complicated; it often costs wintering in very different ecosystems more to fly from Anchorage to Barrow than they breed, and their extensive than it does to fly from Anchorage to ranges make international cooperation Washington, D.C. in management necessary. Much of Over 85 percent of the National remote Alaska is still unsurveyed for "Wildlife Refuge System (nearly 77 wildlife and plants, and there is com- million acres, or 32 million ha) is in paratively little knowledge available on Alaska, and more than 42,000 river arctic and subarctic species. Some miles (67,600 km) are within refuge species are found in very isolated areas, system boundaries. Arctic NWR alone is and it can be hard to track their the size of South Carolina. Alaskan problems and progress. (Read about climates also can vary widely. Tempera- the.se challenges in this issue.) Because tures range from -80 degrees F (-37 some species are so wide-ranging, the degrees C) in winter to 100 degrees F average area covered in formal Endan- (38 degrees C) in summer. gered Species Act (section 7) consulta- tions in Alaska exceeds 100 million Contrast Alaska's sheer size with its acres (40 million ha). Finally, a strong small human population (621,000) and subsistence culture thrives in Alaska. you get a rough average of one person The FWS works side-by-side with per square mile. However, more than 75 Alaskan natives to manage listed species percent of Alaska's population resides in so that both recovery and cultural needs the larger towns and cities. Numerous may be met. Alaska native villages are scattered throughout the State, and physical Recent successes for endangered and isolation has produced a cultural threatened species in Alaska include diversity here that is probably un- recovery of the Arctic peregrine falcon matched. There are 226 Federally- (Faicoperegrinus). proposed delisting

ENDA.\GERl-:i) Sl'ECIES Bl'LLETIN .M.A.RCH. Al'RII. 1999 VOLrME XXIV NO. 2 A Diversity of Ecosystems by Richard Whiteford

Tjth. hee U.S. Fi.sh and Wildlife Service flood plains and higher uplands. Such (FWS) has initiated an ecosystem mammals as gray wolves iCanis lupus), approach to protecting species and wolverines (Gulo gulo), and moose habitats. In Alaska, the ecosystem {Alces alces) are found here. approach is essential to allow enough One division of the interior ecosys- room for some species to migrate tem, the interior highlands, has many beyond their presently established rugged mountains topped with majestic, ranges to compensate for climate and snow-capped peaks. Dwarf scrub other environmental changes. Unbroken ccjmmunities of mountain-avens (herbs corridors are needed to prevent disrup- in the rose family), such as Dryas tion of the food supply and provide the octopetala. D. integrifolia, and D. elbovi'-room needed for migration. drumnionclii. dominate this inhospi- For its purposes, the FWS has table environment. Dall sheep (Ovis identified 10 ecosystems in Alaska: dcilli). moose, caribou (Rangifer 1) The arctic ecosystem begins at tamndus). and ground squirrels are Point Barrow, the northernmost point of found in this region. land in the United States, and extends In the interior bottomlands, south for around 250 miles (400 meandering streams feed numerous kilometers) to the Brooks Range. It oxbow and thaw lakes. Needle leaf, reaches from the Arctic Ocean on its broadleaf, and mixed forests are the western border to Canada's Yukon norm. It is prime habitat for many Territory to the east. The flat lowlands mammals, including moose, caribou, of the North Slope are shrouded in beavers (Castor canadensis), and thick permafrost and do not drain well, muskrats (Ondatra zihethicus). It is also which causes the formation of many a haven for ducks, geese, salmon, and thaw lakes in summer. Foothills separat- other fish. The bulk of Alaska's human ing the flat lowlands from the Brooks population resides in this region.

Range are covered with tussock sedges 3) The south-central ecosystem and low shrubs. At higher elevations, extends southward from Cook Inlet and the vegetation includes such trees as the Chugach Mountains. This area is white spruce (Picea glaucaj and balsam covered with rugged mountains, ice poplar (Populus halsamifera), with an fields, and glaciers. Moose, mountain understory of willows (Salix alaxensis, goats (Oreaninos americanus), and S. planifolia. and S. kmata). The arctic small mammals live in the mountains, ecosystem supports polar bears (Ursus while salmon and freshwater fishes maritimus), arctic foxes {Alopex lagopus). inhabit the streams. musk oxen (Ovihos moschatiis), 4) The southeast ecosystem reaches waterfowl, and small mammals. down the Alaskan panhandle to Queen 2) The interior ecosystem roughly Charlotte Island. A cluster of about spans from the Brooks Range south to 1,100 islands, the tops of a submerged the crescent-shaped Alaska iVlountain mountain range, is known as the Range and west from the Kaiyuh Alexander Archipelago. This region Mountains to the Canadian border. The includes the Tongass National Forest, interior's rolling forested lowlands and the largest national forest in the United uplands are dominated mostly by white States. It consists of deep narrow bays, a spruce on the south slopes and black ragged coastline, high sea cliffs, and a spruce (Picea mariana) in the low wet, somewhat milder climate. Western

(3 END.'WGERED SPECIES BriLETIN MARCH/APRIL 1999 VOLUME XXIV NO. 2 hemlock (Tsnga heterophylki) and Sitka whale (Balaena glaciaHs). bowhead spruce (Picea sitcheusis) lilanket the whale (Balaena mysticetus). and shore line and cliffs, providing habitat humpback whale (Megaptem for moose, mountain goats, and black- iiovaeaiigliae). as well as one marine I tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionns), reptile, the leatherback sea turtle while the coastline and rivers teem with f Derniochelys coriacea). Walruses waterfowl and salmon. (Odoheiius rosmanis) are also found. 5) The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta The Bristol Bay-Kodiak eccxsystem ecosystem, a flat wetland region includes the Alaska Peninsula and the pocked with peat mounds and sand watersheds of the Kvichak and dunes, is dominated by the dwarf scrub Nushagak Rivers. This 100-mile (l6l- crowberry (Empetnim nigrum J. It km) long by 40-mile (65-km) wide stretches from the Norton Sound south island is dominated in the north by to the Killbuck Mountains. In the north, spruce forests, while the interior is the Yukon River flows into the Yukon dense with lush vegetation, and the Delta along the Bering Sea, and in the .southwest is covered with grassy south, the Kuskokwim River drains the hummocks. Summers are cool and wet, Killbuck Mountains. The Yukon- and winters here have a moderate Kuskokwim Delta ecosystem is impor- maritime climate. Kodiak's native tant habitat for more than 1.75 million mammals are the Kodiak (or brown) When it comes to saving geese and swans, 2 million ducks, and bear, northern river otter (I.outra natural diversity, many say more than 100 million shore and water canadensis), short-tailed weasel Alaska is Americas last chance to do things right the birds. The land supports moose, (Miistela erminea). little brown bat first time. Only about one caribou, grizzly bears (Ursiis arctos), (Myotis htcifugus), and tundra vole percent of Alaska's natural black bears (Ursus americaniis), and (Micmtiis oeconomiis). Millions of areas have been gray wolves. seabirds such as cormorants, gulls, significantly altered by 6) The Northwest ecosystem murres, and puffins inhabit the bays, human activity so far, yet less than 12 percent of its consists largely of the Seward Peninsula. inlets, and shores. various ecosystems are in A narrow strip of coastal lowlands gives The rugged volcanic arc of the highly protected areas. way to the rolling hills of the uplands, Aleutian Islands reaches 1,100 miles Given the speed and which are interspersed with isolated, (1.800 km) westward from Alaska's magnitude of ecological rugged mountains. Very cold year- mainland, well past the International changes in the lower 48 round. this area is thinly inhabited by Date Line, The islands separate the States over the past century, humans. It supports such mammals as Bering Sea from the Pacific Ocean. Americans cannot afford to be complacent about Alaska. caribou, seals, rabbits, scjuirrels, musk- Short-tailed albatrosses (Phoehastria rats. and beavers. Along the coast, ice alhatnis) can be found here in the fishing and seal hunting are means of summer, feeding off the rich waters. subsistence for the native people, Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jiihatus), 7-10) Four marine ecosystems arc sea otters (Enhydra liitris). and north- around Alaska. To the north is the ern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinusj live Beaufort/Chukchi Sea. to the sotith- along the coast. Seabirds can be found west are the Bering Sea/Aleutian by the millions. Islands and the Bristol Bay/Kodiak Cooperati\ e partnerships among the ecosystems, and to the south is the FWS and other public and private Opposite page, top to bottom: Denali North Pacific/Gulf of Alaska ecosys- concerns are critical to protecting National Park, Dall sheep, bald eagle, forest, humpback whale, tem. The Beaufort and Chukchi Seas Alaska's rich terrestrial and marine coastal glacier, river otter are a part of the Arctic Ocean and are diversity. 'With .so many widely wander- Corel Corp. photos frozen much of the year. Bristol Bay lies ing species, the eco.sy.stem approach is south of the Bering Sea and is flanked the best way to manage Alaska's wildlife. Above, top to bottom: The on the south by the Aleutian Islands. endangered Aleutian shield-fern (Polystichum aleuticum), an island in Many whales on the Endangered Richard Whiteford is an eni'ironmen- the Aleutian chain, polar bear Species list inhabit the.se marine tal journalist and a rnemher of the Photos by Virginis Moran, Karen Boylan/ ecosystems, including the northern right Society of Consen'ation Biology. USFWS, and Corel Corp., respectively

EXDANGKKED SPECIES Uru.ETIN MARCH, APRIL 1999 VOLLME XXIV NO. 2 7 Short-tailed Albatross: Iwjaney Hadely Back from the Brink

Short-tailed albatrosses (Phoehastria and adults may stay at sea and skip one cilhatnis) once numbered in the or more breeding seasons, especially if millions. These magnificant. graceful, they are displaced from the colony by golden-crowned seabirds soared across di.sturbance or habitat destruction. There the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea is no information on how many short- during the non-breeding season, and tailed albatrosses sur\'ived the slaugh- gathered on numerous remote western ters, but in 1950, several were ob,ser\'ed North Pacific islands in large dense nesting on Torishima. By 1954, the colonies during the breeding season. numbers had grown to 25 birds and at Today, however, fewer than 1,000 short- least 6 pairs. Japan designated the short- tailed albatrosses remain, and they face tailed albatross a protected species in threats tliat are difficult to cjuantify, 1958 and added protection in 1962 and predict, and alleviate. 1972. Harvest is prohibited and human Short-tailed albatros.ses were brought activities on Torishima are restricted. to the brink of e.xtinction in the middle These protective measures, together All photos by Hiroshi Hasegawa of this centuiy by large-scale exploita- with intensive habitat enhancement tion at breeding colonies that began in projects on Torishima. have made it the late 1800's. Between 1885 and 1903, possible for the population to grow to an estimated 5 million of the birds were approximately 500 breeding birds and taken at Torishima Island, Japan, alone. 1.000 total birds today. While this Large-scale killing of short-tailed increa.se is encouraging, the total worid albatros.ses continued until the early population nests in only two colonies. 1930's, except for a few years following Approximately 30 adults nest on remote the 1903 volcanic eruption on the Minami-kojima Island, which is difficult island. Albatross down was used for and dangerous for biologists to visit quilts and pillows, the wing and tail because of territorial disputes. The feathers for writing quills, bodies for remaining 95 percent of the species' fertilizer and fat, and eggs for food. An breeding birds nest at the Tsubamesaki account from this period stated that ("Swallow Point") colony on Torishima. short-tailed albatrosses were "...killed by The albatross's eggs are, more or less, .striking them on the head with a club, all in one basket.

and it is not difficult for a man to kill Short-tailed albatros.ses face other between 100 and 200 birds daily." By natural and human-related threats. The 1949, there were no short-tailed alba- island of Torishima is an active volcano trosses breeding at any of the 15 or that has erupted several times in the last more historically known breeding sites, century. In 1903, an explosive eruption including Torishima, and the species caused 125 human deaths and signifi- was reported to be extinct. cant habitat destruction on the island. Thankfully, the report was premature. Albatross breeding habitat is also Albatrosses spend much of their lives at threatened by monsoon rains that can sea where they are harder to detect than cause mudslides and erosion. Short- at the nesting grounds. Juveniles spend tailed albatros.ses return to the same years at sea before returning to their ne.sting sites each year, and destruction natal colonies to breed for the fir.st time. of breeding habitat can delay nesting by

i:NI)ANC,i:RK[)Sl>KCIKSBrU.KTI\ .M.-VRCH .-M'RIL 1999 VOU'.ME XXIV NO, 2 any surviving adults for years. Because Seabird bycatch in .southern fisheries Torishima is the only large colony of has been effectively reduced through short-tailed albatrosses in the world, a the use of: 1) weighted lines, which catastrophic event could have devastat- sink immediately upon entering the I ing effects on the future survival or water, 2) streamers flown or buoys recovery of the species. dragged above the longline as it is Conservation and monitoring efforts being set, and 3) underwater setting of continue on Torishima. Dr. Hiroshi longlines. Recognizing the threat that Hasegawa of Toho University in Japan seabird bycatch could represent, has made several trips per year to representatives of the longline industry Torishima since 1976 to monitor the requested that the National Marine colony and band chicks. To protect the Fisheries Service (NMFS) implement colony from mudslides and soil erosion, regulations requiring the use of seabird he mounted an enormous project to deterrent devices in Alaska's hook-and- stabilize slopes and direct mud flows line groundfish fishery. In response to away from the colony with artificial this request, and as a result of Biological berms and transplanted vegetation. Opinions issued under the Endangered These efforts have paid off with Species Act, NMFS ado[5ted regulations improved nesting success. More re- requiring the use of seabird bycatch cendy, he used an experimental reduction measures in these fisheries. program to establish a new colony in Since 1995, observers on Alaskan stable, well- vegetated habitat on the fishing vessels have reported five short- Because the short-tailed albatross was originally opposite side of Torishima in an area tailed albatross deaths on longlines (two listed as a foreign less likely to be affected by any future in 1995, one in 1996, and two in 1998). endangered species, it is volcanic eruptions. Using decoys and Although population modeling indicates currently protected by the that this rate of mortality in North Pacific broadcasting recorded albatross vocal- Endangered Species Act ^ izations, he successfully lured at least fisheries will not jeopardize the future throughout its range except one pair of breeding adults to the new survival and recovery of the species, in the U.S. The potential colony site, and the first chick was continued vigilance in improving the threats posed by longline produced in 1997. Long-term plans call effectiveness of seabird bycatch deter- fishing (above), plastics pollution and oil for establishing additional breeding rent measures, and in monitoring the contamination may not colonies at other sites. Short-tailed other threats to the species, is critical. individually represent albatrosses have also been observed on The Biological Opinions on Alaska's significant threats, but when Midway Atoll in the Northwestern fisheries also required NMFS to develop combined with a Hawaiian Islands since the early 1930's. catastrophic event on and implement a research plan to test Although there are no confirmed Torishima, could jeopardize the effectiveness of existing seabird breeding records, Midway Atoll (now a the survival and recovery of deterrent methods in reducing bycatch this species. Thus, the national wildlife refuge) could be a in North Pacific fisheries. The plan has species is still at risk. On potential future colony site. now been developed and the agencies November 3, 1998, the FWS In addition to natural threats on the are searching for funding. Meanwhile, published a proposal to extend the range over which breeding grounds, albatrosses face fishermen in the North Pacific and the species is listed to human-caused threats at sea. These Bering Sea continue to test and improve include the U.S. include plastics ingestion, oil contamina- these methods. Seabird bycatch mitiga- tion, and longline fishing. Seabirds tion measures are also being tested and actively search out longline vessels in considered in Hawaiian pelagic longline search of bait. During longline setting, fisheries. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife baited hooks are available to surface- Service and NMFS are committed to feeding birds from the time the hooks continuing cooperative approaches to leave the vessel until they sink out of short-tailed albatross conservation with range. If birds are hooked while international and domestic partners. attempting to feed on bait, they can be dragged underwater and killed. Janey Fadely is a Wildlife Biologist in the Alaska Region.

END.ii.N'GERED SPECIES BULLETIN .MARCH/APRIL 1999 VOLUME XXIV NO. 2 9 Management in the Face by Greg Balogh and Brian McCaffery of Uncertainty

hen the spectacled eider the hunters responded. The reported (Somateria fischeri) was listed as a subsistence harvest of spectacled eiders threatened species in 1993, scientists dropped notably after 1992. knew very little about this enigmatic As an unintended consequence of seaduck. They were uncertain about decades of spring and fall waterfowl total population size and even the hunting, however, hundreds of tons of location of the birds For nine months lead shot pellets have been deposited out of the year. Most critically, they along the coastal weriands of the Y-K didn't know why eider numbers were Delta. Analyses of blood samples from declining, only that they were. In just a Y-K Delta spectacled eiders revealed few decades, a 95 percent decline befell that both adults and young ingest this the population on Alaska's Yukon- toxic shot, and that a portion of them Kuskokwim Delta (Y-K Delta). die of lead poisoning as a result. Author Greg Balogh holds a male spectacled eider. The paucity of data on this species The nationwide ban on lead shot USFWS photo meant that recovery- planning would was not enforced on the Y-K Delta draw more on the team's collective prior to 1998 for a number of compli- wisdom and common sense than on cated management reasons. With the knowledge of spectacled eider biology. observation of lead poisoning in eiders, It was a situation in which management howe^'er, the ban has been phased in had to meet uncertainty head-on. and enforced. Steel shot clinics were held in villages all across the Y-K Delta Wildlife Management Begins With to teach villagers how to shoot the new People Management non-toxic loads, and to dispel the many Due to the spectacled eider's remote myths regarding both lead and steel habitats, encounters with humans are shot that persisted in rural Alaska. rare. Consequently, management Refuge personnel offered steel shot to options for this species are limited. Sport poor villagers in exchange for the hunting of the species was probably cheaper lead shot they already had. never of much consequence, and ended in 1991, although subsistence hunting Filling in The Gaps continued. This subsistence harvest is After addre.ssing people manage- one of the few suspected causes of ment, scientists began filling in the 9- decline that can be managed. Spring month-per-year gap in the species' life waterfowl harvest in rural Alaska is histor}'. Radio and satellite transmitters illegal btit has been generally tolerated attached to eiders from the three known by law enforcement officers out of populations (Y-K Delta, North Slope, deference to native culture and tradi- and Ru.ssia) gave biologists the data that tion. In an effort to reduce the harvest led to the discovery of important and of spectacled eiders. Refuge Information remote molting areas off the northwest Technicians (RITs) from the Yukon coast of Alaska and northeast coast of Delta National Wildlife Refuge ex- Russia. Then in 1995, scientists finally plained the plight of the spectacled unraveled the inystery of where eider to villagers. They asked for the spectacled eiders spend the winter. hunters' help in eider conservation, and

10 ENn.WT.ERKI) .SI'KCll'S Bl I.LIiTIX .MARCI1 APRIl. 1099 VOU'ME XXIV NO. 2 A signal from a long-silent satellite could also be sustaining artificially high transmitter led biologists to a vast predator populations. A popular claim expanse of sea ice that contained among indigenous peoples is that the numerous small cracks and fissures. government's research on the spectacled These breaks in the sea ice contained eider breeding grounds leads to nest huge concentrations of spectacled abandonment and predation. eiders, as many as 50,000 in a single Any number of changes in the Bering flock. One aspect of this species' Sea eco.system could be affecting biology was finally working in the spectacled eiders. One theory looks to managers' favor. Apparently, neariy all increasing populations of walrus and of the spectacled eiders on the planet gray whales as competitors for food congregate in a 40-mile (64-kilometer) used by eiders during the months they diameter area of the Bering Sea during are at sea. Unknown ecological changes winter. This created a unique opportu- could also be caused by excessive nity for an inexpensive global census of commercial harvest of Bering Sea the species. Recent winter surveys have fisheries. Recently described declines in placed the population at about 400,000. bivalve distribution and abundance (perhaps due to global climate change

Still Searching for the Smoking Gun or trawl fisheries) could be affecting the It turns out that about 90 percent of eider's fcxjd supplies. the world's spectacled eiders are from Then there is the ubiquitous problem the Russian breeding population. The of environmental contaminants. The Female (leflj and male spectacled unexpected abundance of Russian Bering Sea is almcxst certainly the source eider eiders gave the species as a whole some of the elevated selenium, copper, and Photo by John Warden breathing room this side of extinction. cadmium levels detected in some eiders. The fact remained, however, that the •Whether these elevated heavy metal Y-K Delta population had been concentrations are a serious problem to devastated. In keeping with the general eiders, however, is unknown. The theme of tmcertainty regarding this ducks probably acquire the metals from species, the historic trend of the Alaskan their marine food items, but the source North Slope population was still of the metal is (as you may have unknown. If historic population trends guessed) unknown. were known, scientists might be able to One of the few certainties in spec- unravel the mystery behind the Alaskan tacled eider management is that the decline. If the species' three populations ;

EN'DANCiKRED SPECIES RUI.I.ETIN MARCH/AI'RII. 1999 \'(JI.rME XXI\" NO. i 11 Does the Steller's Eider by Lori Qiiakenbush and Robert Suvclam Depend on Lemmings?

L.giniqauqtuq IS the Inupiat Eskimo The reasons for the decline of name for the little-known seaduck most nesting Steller's eiders in Alaska are not people call the Steller's eider (Polysticta clear. Habitat loss, overharvest, or stelleri). The Eskimo name, meaning disturbance do not seem to be the "the bird that sat in the campfire," culprits. Evidence mounts that the comes from the male's distinctive decline of another eider, the spectacled plumage. The male's breast and belly eider (Somateria fischeri), may have are burnt-orange in color, as the Eskimo been due at lea.st in part to poisoning name implies. The dark belly contrasts from lead shot. Lead may have affected with white sides and a boldly patterned Steller's eiders on the Yukon- black and white back. As with other Kuskokwim Delta, too, but because so ducks, the female is mottled brown, in few Steller's eiders remain there, the this case to blend with the arctic tundra possibility is difficult to address. Large- while she incubates her eggs in a nest scale changes in the Bering Sea may be lined with lichen, sedges, and down affecting molting and wintering areas of Male Steller's eider

Photo by Robert Suydam from her breast. Steller's eiders in ways that we do not In 1997, the North American breed- yet understand. Other possibilities ing population of Steller's eiders was include increased predation by gulls, listed as threatened. The Steller's eider foxes, ravens, and other animals. historically nested in the Yukon- Some of the known immediate risks Kuskokwim Delta of southwestern to the Steller's eider have been elimi- Alaska, but it was thought to have been nated or greatly reduced. Sport and lost as a breeding species there after no subsistence hunting of this species are nests were fcjund for almost 20 years. no longer legal. No large development Recently, however, several nests have projects are planned within the habitats been found, leaving researchers to that Steller's eiders require. Small wonder if small numbers of nests went housing developments to support the undetected for two decades or if birds growing human population at Barrow from other breeding areas are beginning pose a threat to .some nesting habitat, to nest on the delta. The large.st number but consultations under section 7 of the of Steller's eiders nesting in Alaska are Endangered Species Act are addressing found near Barrow, the State's northern- these threats with cooperation from the most city. Steller's eiders also nest in local government and developers. Other very low densities across the Arctic risks that will be evaluated by the Coastal Plain of Alaska as far east as Steller's Eider Recovery Team include Prudhoe Bay. Most of the world's predation during the breeding season, population of Steller's eiders nest in vulnerability to oil spills, and distur- arctic Russia, where their status is bance in molting and wintering areas.

unknown. The Alaska breeding popula- The breeding biology of Steller's tion and many of the Russian breeders eiders is pooriy understood. The U.S. appear to molt and winter in large, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the dense flocks along the Alaska Penin- North Slope Borough (a local munici- sula, many in the Izembek National pality equivalent to a county govern- •Wildlife Refuge. ment) have been studying Steller's

12 ENDA.NC.EKEI) SPECIES BliU.KTIN .MARCH APRIL 1999 VOLl'.ME XXIV NO. 2 eiders near Barrow since 1991. Al- current population size, and population though Steller's eiders were present in trends. Recovery will be difficult due to all years of the study except one (1992), the poor understanding of the causes of they nested in only 4 years (1991. 1993, the decline, and recovery will be slow 1995, and 1996). Interestingly, all due to the fact that Steller's eiders do nesting years corresponded with years not nest every year. of high lemming numbers. Lemmings go As part of the recovery process, the through dramatic population fluctua- F"WS will develop partnerships with tions, as many of us remember from local municipalities, Alaska Native filmed scenes in which hordes of organizations, and the State of Alaska. lemmings ran off a cliff. Lemmings are Managers, biologists, Alaska Natives, prey for many arctic species, including and other local residents need to work arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus), pomarine together to further understand the jaegers (Stercomriuspomarinus), and biology of Steller's eiders, the causes of snowy owls (Nyctea scandiaca), the decline, ob.stacles to recovery, and especially in years with lemming ways to recover this "bird that sat in the population highs. Pomarine jaegers and campfire." Cooperation among people snowy owls depend cjn lemmings to and organizations should pay important feed their young, and these two species dividends for Steller's eiders and It is possible that abundant lemming nest only in years and locations where perhaps other species in the future. Lots populations reduce Arctic fox lemmings are plentiful. Both bird of lemmings could be helpful, too. (above) predation on Steller's eiders. Corel Corp. photo species are aggressive and defend the areas around their nests from predators, Lori Qiiakenbush is with the School especially foxes. of fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the Steller's eiders nest on the ground University of Alaska in Fairbanks. and, aside from camouflage, have little Robert Siiydam is a Wildlife Biologist defense against arctic foxes. In Barrow, with the North Slope Borough Depart- Steller's eiders appear to nest near ment of Wildlife Management in pomarine jaegers, and possibly snowy Barrow. Alaska. owls, to take advantage of the vigorous nest defense provided by these birds. Perhaps without the protection prcjvided by jaegers and owls, it is not worth- Female Steller's eider on nest. while, in an evolutionary sense, for Photo by Kim Fluetsch Steller's eiders to attempt nesting. On the other hand, Steller's eiders must also weigh the risks of nesting near jaegers and owls because both bird species can be predators of eider eggs, chicks, and (in some cases) adults. It is possible that abundant lemmings provide an alter- nate food source for predators, thus gready reducing the risk of Steller's eiders losing their eggs or chicks to predators. Regardless of why, Steller's eiders appear to nest near Barrow only in years when the area's lemming numbers are high.

The Steller's Eider Recovery Team has begun the process of recovery- planning. The challenges include developing recovery criteria without quantitative data on historical numbers,

END.ii.N'GERED SPECIES BULLETIN .MARCH/APRIL 1999 VOLUME XXIV NO. 2 13 The Brown Bears of Kenai: by John W. Schoen A Population at Risk

TJ.OL o nmos t people, Alaska symbolizes Brown bears have the lowest the very essence of wilderness and the reproductive rate of any land mammal last stronghold for species like wolves in North America. For example, most ((.'anis lupits) and brown bears (Ursus females don't breed until they are 5 or 6 arctos). Unfortunately, like the rest of years old, their average litter is 2 cubs, the world, Alaska's wilderness is the interval between litters is 3 to 4 showing signs of stress. For example, years, and half the cubs may die during brown bears on Alaska's Kenai Penin- their first year. Consequently, brown sula have become a "population at bear populations cannot sustain high risk." A variety of factors have contrib- mortality pressures. Expanding human uted to this growing problem, prompt- activities across the Kenai will increase ing scienti.sts to raise a warning flag for bear-human contact, inevitably resulting brown bears within the Kenai eco.sys- in the direct mortality of bears through tem. Clearly there is cau.se for concern, legal hunting, kills in defense of life but there are also reasonable solutions and property, and illegal killing. Kills in to this problem if we act swiftly and defense of life and property have responsibly. already doubled on the Kenai over the Photo by John Schoen/Alaska National Audubon Society The brown bear population on the past decade, and the fall hunting season Kenai Peninsula is estimated at 250-300 has been closed for the last 4 years bears. This small population is geo- because further losses would not be graphically isolated from the rest of sustainable. Alaska. This "island" population is not The Kenai Peninsula is one of unlike that in the Yellowstone Eco.sys- Alaska's most developed and fa.stest tem, where grizzlies have been listed ft)r growing regions. For example, the decades as threatened. Although the human population has more than Kenai is about 9,000 square miles doubled in the past two decades. (23,000 square kilometers) in size, Connected by road to Anchorage, the brown bears are regularly distributed largest city in Alaska, the Kenai is the over less than half the area. The Kenai focal area for many of the State's Peninsula is connected to the Alaska outdoor recreationists and an important mainland by a narrow 9-mile (l4-km) visitor destination for a growing tourism wide isthmus between Cook Inlet and industiy. Logging, mining, oil and gas Prince William Sound. Human activity development, land subdivision, and in this narrow corridor likely restricts other developments also are increasing movements of bears between the Kenai throughout the Kenai Peninsula. The and mainland Alaska. A research spruce bark beetle infestation and the model developed for the Chugach call for extensive salvage logging (and National Forest portion of the Kenai road construction) could exacerbate Peninsula estimated that habitat effec- these developments. All these activities tiveness for brown hears has already increase opportunities for bear-human been reduced by approximately 70 encounters, and their cumulative percent due to the cumulative effects of impacts on habitat are of particular human activities. concern to wildlife managers in Alaska,

14 HNIX^NGEREI) Sl'KUK.S Hri.LETIN MARCH .-VHRII, 1999 VOU.'ME XXIV NO. 2 Roads and habitat Fragmentation preventative consen'ation now to (iireaking habitats into smaller, more forestall a serious crisis in the future. isolated blocks) are the most significant Securing a future for the Kenai threats to the conservation of bears brown bear will become more difficult because they increase human access as de\'elopment pressures intensify. and bear mortality. Expanded road However, by taking positive actions construction in the back country, along now, we have reason for optimism. It with all of the other developments and will not be easy, but with a committed activity on the Kenai, will significantly effort, sound science, and collaborative increase the vulnerability of this small, isolated population. A single, isolated development may not be a significant impact, but it would be an incremental step toward a declining bear population.

Alaska's Kenai Peninsula is clearly showing signs of ecosystem stress, and the brown bear is a key indicator of that stress. Rather than managing in a piecemeal fashion one project at a time, we must take a comprehensive view of this population, beyond agency bound- aries, and establish realistic guidelines for resource and recreational develop- ment projects. In the mid-198()'s, the Alaska Department of Fish and Ciame, Fish and Wildlife Ser\'ice, Forest Service, and National Park Service convened an Interagency Brown Bear Study Team An aerial view of the Kenai river.

(IBBS'F) to monitor and research brown partnerships, we can make con.servation Photo by John Schoen/Alaska National bears on the Kenai Peninsula. Last year, work for everyone. Alaska's biological Audubon Society as a result of concerns over increased resources represent our greate.st su.stain- salvage logging and road building, the able wealth, and conserving brown Governor recjuested tiie agencies to bears while maintaining the Kenai's develop a comprehensive conservation ecological integrity is a sound economic strategy for Kenai brown bears. This and environmental investment. Our Two radio collars from plan will include a closer assessment of ability to bring people together to solve collared brown bears were found tossed into local the Kenai bear population and address the Kenai brown bear problem will also water bodies. Unreported the long-term cumulative effects on serve as a positive model for solving shootings of Kenai brown habitat from continued development. other conservation problems elsewhere bears in addition to reported The time to address the Kenai brown in Alaska. mortalities increase human bear problem with a proactive, cost- impacts, but the biggest effective conservation strategy is now. If Dr. John W. School is the Rxeciitive threat to Kenai brown bears is piecemeal destruction of we wait until later, we may be forced Director of the Alaska Office of the their habitat. into costly, reactive management to National Aiuluhon Society. Formerly, he restore a healthy population. To this worked for 20 years for the Alaska end. the IBBST and several Alaska Department of Fish and Game, includ- conservation groups requested that the ing 10years as a brown hear research I^epartment of Fish and Game designate biologist. He also serves as an Affiliate the Kenai brown bear population an Professor of Wildlife Biology at the Alaska Species of Special Concern. The L 'niversity of Alaska. Department announced that designation in November 1998, with the objective of

KND.WGKRKI) .SPECIES IH UETIN .M.^RCH AI'RII. 1999 VOU MK XXIV NO. 2 15 An Alaska Native's Iiy Fred Armstrong. Jr. Persoective

Ho.ow doe. s the Endangered from 44 million acres (18 million •Spede.s Act (ESA) affect tribes in Alaska? hectares). This land, along with a cash What are the benefits of tribal involve- settlement, would be used to pursue ment in the ESA? Will the ESA impact economic development ventures to subsistence activities in Alaska? Will it sustain and suppcjrt their shareholders. impede the cultural and traditional Congress also increased the number lifestyle Alaska Natives cherish? The.se and size of national parks, preserves, are some of the questions that came to and refuges in Alaska, and the Secretary me when I first heard of the ESA. To of the Interior selected a total of 227 answer some of these questions, one million acres (92 million ha) for the.se must first understand the unique laws purposes. The authority for this was the that affect the livelihoods of Alaska Alaska National Intere.st Lands Conser- Natives and determine the course that vation Act (ANILCA). ANTLCA also resource managers must take to imple- provided for the protection of subsi.s- ment wildlife conservation regulations. tence hunting and fishing activities by

When oil was discovered on the rural residents of Alaska. Title VIII of North Slope, the State of Alaska needed ANILCA gives authority for the Federal to settle a land claims issue with Alaska Government to implement a subsistence Natives in order for the trans-Alaska hunting and fishing program for rural A Native Alaskan makes a pipeline to be built. It looked to residents on Federal lands. traditional basket for gathering wild Congress to settle the issue. In hopes of One important aspect of ANILCA for berries during the brief Alaska changing the way the Federal Govern- tribes in Alaska was the extinguishment growing season. ment worked with Native Americans, of aboriginal hunting and fishing rights. USFWS photo Congre.ss wanted an alternate .solution This action paved the way for the State to creating reservations throughout of Alaska to manage fish and wildlife Alaska. At the same time. Congress re.sources throughout Alaska. The wanted Alaska Natives to forge their passage of ANCSA also revoked the own dc\stiny and become self-reliant. Alaska Native Allotment Act and all Hearings were conducted and legisla- reserves for Native purposes, except for tion acceptable to both Alaska Natives one at Annette Island (Metlakada). and the State of Alaska slowly devel- Tribes within reservations were given oped. In 1971, Congress pa.ssed the the option of receiving title to their land, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act but without reservation status. The 44 (ANCSA). This law provided for the million acres that the regional corpora- creation of 13 Native regional, for-profit tions selected were based on traditional corporations. The corporation bound- use and occupancy patterns within each aries were created along cultural geographic area. These 12 regional diversity lines, with the exception of corporations represent the diverse one corporation that represents Alaska cultures within the three ethnic races: Natives living outside of Alaska. (That Indian. Eskimo, and Aleut.

corporation did not receive a land In 1993, Ada Deer, then Assistant entitlement but instead received a cash Secretary of the Interior for Indian settlement.) Congress authorized the 12 Affairs, announced the recognition of remaining corporations to select land 226 Alaskan tribes bv the Federal

16 KNDA.N'GERED Sl'KCIES BI LLKTIN .MARCH .APRIL IW VOLI ME XXIV NO. 2 Government. However, an important management guided strictly by research distinction is that they are tribes without and scientific analy.ses. a sovereign land base. This is signifi- In order for truly cooperative cantly different from the situation in the management to succeed in Alaska, a lower 48 States, where Native Americans blending of the two different styles of have reservations with sovereign powers resource management is needed. The to govern their people and land. Within scientific community must be able to the 226 Alaska tribes are 15 language incorporate traditional environmental groups. The Eskimo dialects are Inupiaq, Yupik, Siberian Yupik, Jupik, Cupik, and Central Yupik. The Indian languages consists of Athabascan, Eyak, Haida, Tsimshian, and Tlingit. Finally, the Aleuts consists of Aleut, Alutiiq and a mixture group from the St. Matthew and Middleton Islands.

The existence of many languages within ethnic groups suggests that there are significant differences among the indigenous peoples in Alaska. The lifestyle of Alaska Natives is patterned around subsistence activities within their geographic areas. Cultural and tradi- tional ways differ somewhat; however, the spirituality that is involved in hunting and gathering remains the same. Many people do not understand the connection that Alaska Natives have with the environment in which they The return of spawning salmon is a live. Alaska Natives have a strong knowledge that Alaska Natives provide. much-anticipated event Many respect for the animals that provide Likewise, the Native community must Native Alaslanimal patterns, density or involvement of Alaska Natives grows. scarcity, and general health were passed Outreach efforts need to increase so that along to other tribal members. This Alaska Natives remain informed and information usually determined whether become more active partners in endan- or not to hunt for certain species. In gered species recovery. other words, the Alaska Native commu- nity has had its own method of practic- Fred Armstrong, Jr, is the FWS Alaska ing resource management that can be Native Issues Advisor just as effective, if not more so, than

END.ii.N'GERED SPECIES BULLETIN .MARCH/APRIL 1999 VOLUME XXIV NO. 2 17 The Exxon Valdez Spill: by Catherine Berg 10 Years Later

'hortly after midnight on March factors as a reduction in critical food 24, 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez sources caused by the spill and persis- ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince tent oil in the intertidal areas. William Sound. Alaska, spilling almost Biological resources were considered 11 million gallons of North Slope crude injured by the Exxon Valdez oil spill oil. It was the largest tanker spill in only if scientific research demonstrated United States histoiy. That spring, the oil a population-level injury or continuing moved southward along the Alaskan chronic effects. Such injured biological coast, oiling more than 1,500 miles resources included bald eagles (2,415 kilometers) of shoreline in Prince Phoca shorelines nearly 600 miles (965 km) vitiilina). Kittlitz's murrelets southwest of where the spill occurred. (Bmchymmphus hrevirostris). marbled

The body of an oil-soaked sea otter The Exxon Valdez ran aground just murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus recovered from Prince William before the most biologically active marmoratus), killer whales (Orciniis Sound after the Exxon Valdez spill. season of the year. The resulting oil spill orcaj. mussels (Mytilus ediilis), Pacific USFWS photo occurred during the seaward migration herring (Clupea harengtis). river otters of salmon fiy, major migrations of birds, (Lutra canadensis), pigeon guillemots Restoration research and the primary breeding season of (Cepphiis colnniha). pink salmon projects yielding valuable most species of birds, mammals, fish, (Oncorhynchiis gorbuscha), rockfish knowledge include: and marine invertebrates in the spill's (Sebastessp.), sea otters (Enhydra path. Marine birds and sea otters were lutris). and sockeye salmon The Sound Ecosystem killed by direct oiling on open water. (Oncorhynchiis nerka). Assessment is a S21.4 million, 7-year project Birds and mammals that were covered Wildlife was not the only resource studying the productivity of with oil may have ingested toxic injured by the spill. Some archaeologi- Pacific herring and pink quantities as they tried to clean them- cal sites were damaged directly by oil salmon in Prince William selves and may have died of cold stress and others were subject to looting and Sound. The research is after the oil damaged the insulation vandalism during and after the clean providing new insights into provided by their feathers or fur. up. Oil was deposited high above the ocean currents, nutrients, Shoreline oiling had devastating impacts mixing, salinity, and tide line in designated wilderness areas. temperatures and how these on the upper intertidal zone and The massive intrusion of people and physical factors influence intertidal communities, both frcjm direct equipment associated with the clean up plant and animal plankton, oiling and from beach cleaning, resulted in an unprecedented di.stur- prey, and predators in the particularly high-pressure, hot-water bance of undeveloped and normally food web. washing. "Injuries" to natural resources uninhabited areas, and some visible did not always occur immediately. impacts of this disturbance still linger. Alaska Predator Experiment Delayed injuries were caused by such Sediments were also considered an concentrates on the

18 EXDA.NGKRKD .SPECIES lit LLETIX .MARCH. Al'RIl. 1999 VOLUME XXIV NO. 2 injured resource. Oil penetrated deeply been used to acquire title or conser- into the subsurface of coblile and vation easements on land important boulder beaches, especially in sheltered for the restoration of injured re- habitats, and oil persists in many tidal sources and services. To date, more |locations. Commercial fishing, subsis- than 635,000 acres (257,000 hectares) tence uses (hunting, fishing, and have been acquired (including gathering), passive use, recreation, and pending purchases) for a total of tourism also suffered harm. approximately $339-4 million. This To remedy the effects of the spill, a includes U419 coastal miles (2,283 settlement among Exxon, the United km) and more than 280 salmon States government, and the State of streams. Almost 275,000 acres Alaska was approved by the U.S. (442,475 ha) have been added to District Court on October 9, 199U The refuges, much of that within the settlement resolved criminal charges and Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. civil claims for recovery of natural • Restoration Reserve The restoration resource damages resulting from the oil reserve was established in recogni- spill. Most of the $900 million civil tion that full recovery from the oil settlement, paid out in annua] payments spill would not occur for decades. over a 10-year period, is dedicated to The reserve fund will support long- implementation of a restoration plan term restoration activities after the that was developed by the Trustee final payment is received from Exxon Council agencies: the National Marine in 2001. The re.serve is expected to Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife be worth approximately S140 million, A 5-year Nearshore Vertebrate Predator Project is studying sea Service, U.S. Forest Service, Alaska most of which will be dedicated to a otters (above) and tbree otber long-term science program in the Department of Fish and Game, Alaska species (river otters, harlequin northern Gulf of Alaska. Department of Environmental Contami- ducl

ENDANGERED .SPECIES Hi:iLETIN MARCH/.'M'RIL 1999 VOLU.ME XXIV NO. 2 19 Alaska's Internationa. by staff of the Alaska Regional Office Affairs Program

A^laska' s geographic location organizations to promote cooperative between Russia and Canada places it in international conservation efforts. a center of international ecological Current lA efforts focus on several importance with its shared borders, seas, specific functions. A top priority is to and populations of many different coordinate F'WS involvement in the species of flora and fauna. It is the work of the international Arctic Council, primary northern staging area for birds especially through its 'Working Group

This team of Russian and American following the great North American for the Conservation of Arctic Flora and scientists is studying polar bears in flyway—the avian migratory highway Fauna. International collaboration of the wild. linking the Arctic and Latin America. this sort ser\'es to strengthen collective Photo by Scott Schliebe Economically important fish populations scientific understanding of arctic and marine mammals move among ecosystems. Programs for joint manage- Russian, Canadian, and U.S. regions. ment of shared resources are develop- The significance of international ing through international treaties and conservation is rapidly growing through- agreements such as the U.S.- Russia out the world as countries recognize the Conservation Agreement for Polar Bears mutual need to conserve shared natural of the Chukchi/Bering Sea Region. resources, habitats, and indigenous Another focus of the lA Office is to cultures. For Alaska, international provide opportunities for technology conservation requires coordination transfer and technical assistance.

among the United States, Russia, The ability of the F'WS to succeed in Canada. Mexico, Japan, and other using an ecosystem approach to foreign countries as v»-ell as cooperative resource management rests greatly on working relationships with the State of our ability to develop effective working Alaska and the Native community. relationships with our international and Because of the growing need to indigenous partners. A short list of increase coordination on an interna- Regional Office contributions to interna- tional level for the conservation of arctic tional conservation includes: habitats, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife • serving as the National Representa- Service's (FWS) Alaska Regional Office tive to the Arctic Council's interna- established its own Office of Interna- tional working group on the Conser- tional Affairs (lA) in January 1998. The vation of Arctic Flora and Fauna, mission of the lA program is to • Bilateral U.S.—Russia Conservation strengthen cooperation, promote Agreement for Polar bears of the communication, and provide leadership Chukchi/Bering Sea Region, in Alaska for international conservation • Circumpolar Murre Conservation of fish, wildlife, and plants. The lA Strategy, Office manages, advocates, and • Circumpolar Spectacled Eider executes priority international issues and Conservation Strategy, programs, and coordinates regional • Atlas of Rare Endemic 'Vascular activities. In addition. lA works with Plants of the Arctic, and State and Federal scientists and manag- • participating in wildlife management ers, universities, non-governmental with Far Eastern Russia. organizations, and indigenous peoples'

20 ENDANGERED SI'ECIES BIXLETIN .\1ARCH, AI'RIL 1999 VOLUME XXIV NO. 2 So... You'd Like to Work l-)y Karen Boylan in Alaska?

hat's that you say? You'd like tremendous noi.se all day to warn bears to work in Alaska? So you can see for of your progre.ss through said fore.st. yourself why everyone says it's different Develop creative vocal warning tech- up here? OK, great. But before sending niques beyond "Heyyyyyy, bear!" in your application, please make sure Photo-document wetiands. Keep camera you've examined the following skills in focus while backing away from bear. and abilities needed for the job: Must have a willingness to: Must be able to: 1. Separate innards from seabird 1. Carry 50 pounds of gear through carca.sses that are slightly past their shoulder-high wet grass up a 60-degree prime for ti.ssue analysis. slope on a remote island to chase and 2. Perform above task in shipboard

capture 82 flightle.ss Aleutian Canada lab that is rolling in heavy seas. Corel Corp. photo geese, place them in transport boxes, 3. Listen to Captain say, "Just another But seriously.... Although and haul them back to the ship. Tube- day on the Bering Sea" while watching Alaska Is a land of feed said geese with extremely slimy anemometer hit 94 knots. extraordinary scenic beauty, and smelly liquid every 2 hours aboard 4. Stay up all "day" (never mind that working here requires ship in close quarters amid large, rolling in summer, "night" never comes and SDecialized, often expensive kocean swells until you reach the "day" la.sts for four months). equipment, extensive safety translocation island. Condition of own 5. Spend inordinate amounts of time training, and the ability to adapt to an ever-changing stomach has no bearing on tube waiting for airplanes in bad weather. environment where feeding schedule. 6. Spend a lot of money for travel conditions can be extreme. It that lasts longer than you thought it 2. Land inflatable boat on beach often requires extraordinary through heavy, cold surf while wearing would. Sometimes, much longer. measures to accomplish mustang suit and .seaboots. Avoid Helpful to have immunity to: tasks that might elsewhere dumping self and cargo of Aleutian 1. Seasickness be considered ordinary. Canada geese in said surf. 2. Biting flies Much of remote Alaska is still unsurveyed for wildlife .3. Stand all day on ship's flying 3. Fl6-sized mosquitoes and plants, and there is bridge, counting and identifying every 4. Sleep comparatively little living thing that comes within 150 Helpful to have indifference to: knowledge available on meters of ship. Identify at a glance and 1. Thousand-pound brown bears Arctic and subarctic count thousands of "USDAs" (unidenti- 2. 'White-knuckle landings in bush species. Some species are fied small dark alcids) in flocks flying, aircraft found in very isolated areas, and it can be hard to track sitting on the water, or diving. Differen- 3. 'Wet (very wet) beach landings their problems and progress. tiate between crested and whiskered through ice-cold Aleutian surf Safety for our employees is auklets, murres and murrelets, Laysan Helpful to pay attention to: paramount. Extreme weather and black-footed albatrosses, horned 1. 5,000-volt electrical fence around conditions and frequent and tufted puffins, many others. Do this your camp tent work in or near frigid waters in dense fog. 2. Rustling noises in the bushes requires special training and 4. Navigate through dense, wet 3. The weather equipment. Virtually all of Alaska is bear country, and .Katmai forests using bear trails and Ready? this fact requires all 'aerial photographs to find wetlands to employees working in the delineate. Nimbly dive into trailside Karen Boylan is the Congressional field to have bear and bushes to allow oncoming 1,000-pound Liaison and Deputy ARD for External firearm safety training for brown bear the right-of-way. Make Affairs for the Alaska Regional Office. protection.

ENOANGERKD .SPECIES HI ^LLETIN MARCH/AI'RII. 1999 VOLl'ME XXIV NO. 2 21 Canada and U.S. Save by Martha Balis-Larsen, Chuck Dauphine, and Susan Jewell Shared Species at Risk

Lmong the many challenges (Centrocercus urophasianus facing wildlife managers in North urophasia^uis). northern bobwhite America is the fact that political and {Colinus Virginian us), burrowing owl biogeographical boundaries rarely (Speatyto cunicularia). eastern Massa.s- coincide. For example, the border auga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus separating the United States and Canada catenatus), and spiny softshell turde intersects nine major ecological regions, (Apalone spinifera). including Arctic tundra, many forest Both nations currently consider such types, several mountain ranges, two shared species as the right and bow- coastal plains, the vast interior plains, head whales (Balaena glacialis and B. and the Great Lakes. These regions mysticetus), whooping crane (Grus feature a great diversity of plants and americana), Eskimo curlew (Numenius animals, many of which either migrate boreal is). Kirtland's warbler (Dendroica Summering in Canada's Northwest or range across the borders between the kirtlandii). leatherback turde Territories and wintering in southern Texas, the whooping crane has two countries. Some of these shared (Dermocbelys coriacea). and Furbish been the subject of binational species are at risk and need urgent loiisewort {Pedicularis furhishiae) as conservation efforts for thirty years. attention in both coimtries to save them endangered. A number of other species USFWS photo from extinction. are considered threatened in one Many North American species that cormtry- and either threatened or are widely distributed in the continental endangered in the other, including the United States extend only a short sea (Jtter (Enbydra lutris nereis), distance into Canada or migrate humpback whale (Megaptera seasonally from Canadian breeding tiovaeangliaea), marbled murrelet areas to spend the winter farther south. (Brachyramphus marmoratus). northern All of the 25 bird species considered spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina). threatened or endangered in Canada roseate tern {Sterna dougallii also occur in the United States, Of the douglallii), western prairie white fringed 161 species of animals and plants on orchid {Plantantbera praeclara), and Canada's national threatened and golden paintbrush {Castilleja levisecta). endangered lists, about 70 percent are Several additi(5nal species are endan- also found in the United States. gered in one countiy and extirpated in According to a review of Federal and the other, like the black-footed ferret State listed species in the U.S., there are {Mu.'itela nigripes). Atlantic gray whale more than 800 endangered, threatened, {Escbricbtius robustus), and blackfin or rare species that occur in bcjth cisco {Coregonus nigripinnis). nations. Some species considered at risk Although the benefit of close in the U.S. are found in sizable numbers cooperation in the management of in Canada, such as the woodland shared species has long been recog- caribou {Rangifer tarmidus caribou), nized by both countries, it has tradition- wolf (Cauis lupus), grizzly { Ursus ally been directed at species of high arctos). and lynx {Lynx canadensis). economic value, such as migratoiy Other species are considered at risk in game and fisheries. The whooping C^anada but are found more commonly crane and several other endangered in the lis., such as the sage grouse species with high public profiles have

22 ENDANGERKD SPKCIES BrUHTIX M.\RCH .^I'RIL 1999 VOUIME XXIV NO, 2 been the subject of joint con.sei-vation the Canadian and U.S. wildlife sen.'ices efforts, but they were few and were have been assembling three lists of handled as ad hoc projects. Attention is species of mutual concern. One com- now broadening to consider all species, prises wildlife and plants listed in both I especially those believed to be headed Canada and the U.S., and another for extinction. The American and includes species listed only in one Canadian governments have created a country- but whose range historically formal agreement to cooperate in included both countries. The third list is identifying and, where feasible, recover- made up of species of

ing shared wildlife at risk. special concern that are National Federal Status, Status, Common Name Scientific Name In April 1997, Secretary of the U.S. experiencing rapid popti- Canada US [COSEWIC] [FWSl Department of the Interior Bruce Babbitt latk)n declines or require Mammal and former Minister of Canada's more studies to deter- Bear, grizzly Ursus arctos V Caribou, woodland Rangifer tarandus caribou T Department of the Environment Sergio mine their status. By Ferret, black-footed Muslela nigripes EX pursuing the needs re- Otter, southern sea Enhydra lutri^ nereis T Marchi signed a document entitled Whale, blue Balaenoptera musculus V vealed by these lists, the Whale, bowhead (E. & W, Arctic "Framework for Cooperation Between Bakmia mysticetus E pop.) the U.S. Department of the Interior and working group hopes to Whale, finback Balaenoptera physaliis V E encourage communica- Whale, gray (Atlantic pop.) Eschrichtius robustus EX E Em-ironment Canada in the Protecticjn Whale, hurapack (W. N. Atlantic Megaptera novaeangliae V E and Recovery of Wild Species at Risk. " tion and cooperative re- pop.) Whale, humpback (N. Pacific pop.) Megaptera novaeangliae T E The framework supports exchanging coveiy efforts. These re- Whale, right Balaena gladalv; find auslralis) E E sults will also be shared Bird technical expertise; identifying species Crane, whooping Grus americana E E that would benefit from bilateral with the working groups Curlew. Eskimo Numeniw; borealis E E Falcon, American peregrine that are coordinating re- Falco peregrinus anatum T E attention; implementing joint recovery Bracbyramphus marmoratm Murrelet. marbled T T cover)' efforts for spe- marmoratm plans; recruiting partnerships between Owl, northem spotted Strix occidentalis caurina E T State. Provincial, and private agencies cies shared by the three Plover, piping Charadrius melodm E E, T Tern, roseate Sterna dougallii dougallii countries. E E. T and individuals; and creating greater Warbler, Kirtland's Dendroica kirtlandii E E ^ public awareness. Reptile Interagency meetings Turtle, leatherback sea Dermochelys coriami E E Perhaps the agreement's most have already led to closer Clam/Mussel Riffleshell, northem Epioblasrna torulosa rajigiiina E E important achievement, however, will working relationships at Wedgemussel, dwarf Alasmidonta heterodon EX E Fbl) be to encourage more inclusive and the headquarters level, Cisco, blackfin Coregonus nigripinnis T EX flexible cooperative arrangements. For and this is expected to Sturgeon, shortnose ,\dpemer breiirostrum V E Sturgeon, white (Kootenai River Acipenser transmmtanm V E example, any interested party, whether benefit regional and lo- pop.) ItLKect government or private, may seek the cal offices as well. Each Butterfly, Kamer blue Lycaeides melissa samuelis EX E assistance of the two Federal wildlife country's endangered Plant Lousewort, Furbish's Pedicularis furbishiae E E agencies in establishing cooperative species management Orchid, eastern prairie white fringed Platanthera leucophaea V T programs with its coimterpart in the procedures, from listing Otchid, western prairie white fringed Plalanthera praeclara E T Paintbrush, golden Caslilleja lei'isecla T T other country. Moreover, action may be to consultation to recov- Pogonia, small whorlcd Isotria medeoloides E T directed at any shared species, regard- ery to outreach efforts, Thistle, Pitcher's or dune Cirnium Inlcberi E T

less of jurisdiction, including species will progress from the strengths of the Codes: EX= Extinct or Extirpated, considered at risk in only one of the other as we work together to identify f= Endangered. T-Threatened. V=Vuinerable, C= Candidate two countries. The burrowing owl, and save species at risk that occur on Sources: U.S. List 150 CFR 17.11 17.121, which has become increasingly endan- both sides of the world's longest COSEWiC list 119391, and information from The Nature Conservancy gered in Canada but is not considered national border.

at risk in the U.S., is a good example. In (Above) Some wildlife and plants late 1998, a .symposium was held in Martha Balis-Larsen, outreach listed in both Canada and the U.S. Utah to examine the owls' overall status specialist, and Susan Jewell, biologist, whose ranges historically included both countries. and to .seek more information on the are with the Division of Endangered poor survival of owls that nest in Species. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Sert'ice, Canada and winter in the southern U.S. Arlington. Virginia. Chuck Dauphine is and northern Mexico. the Scientific Advisor for the Biodiversity To determine which other species Protection Branch, Canadian Wildlife need cooperative efforts, or in some Service, Ottawa, Canada. cases additional effort, personnel from

ENDAN'GEKED SI>F.CIE.S lilIU.ETIN MARCH/APRIL 1999 VOLUME XXIV NO. 2 23 Top 10 Reasons to Support by Susan Bury and Hank Fischer Rancher Comoensation

n uring the past decade, a l<5t of reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone Association, told a reporter that reintro- people have had a lot to say about gray and central Idaho, Defenders paid a duced wolves are a reality "...so the wolves (Canis lupus) in the American total of about 516,000 for wolf losses. question becomes how can we live with West. Wolf advocates have petitioned. Then, reintroduction and subsequent them and make it as tolerable as Scientists have testified. Ranchers have reproduction bolstered wolf populations possible. The reimbursement is certainly protested, newspapers have editorial- at a much faster rate than most experts a step in that direction." ized, and legislators have debated. expected. Unfortunately, not all wolves 2. It's the way of the future. The Through the ebb and flow of 10 restricted their diet to natural prey and compensation concept fits well with the years of controversy, there's been one livestock depredations increased. growing trend toward collaboration on constant: When a rancher has lost The Wolf Compensation Trust is a environment and conservation projects. livestock to wolves, an independent permanent fund that Defenders prcjm- A feature on new approaches to conservation organization—Defenders ised to maintain at $100,000 for at least conservation in the October 11, 1998, of Wildlife—has directly reimbursed the as long as the wolf remains on the the Washington Post identified locally rancher for the market value. endangered species list. For us to honor based solutions, economic incentives, This straightforward economic our future commitments, the fund and and collaboration as important trends. transaction is widely credited with the promise need to grow. Our goal is 3. It reduces illegal killing. Defend- bringing resolution to the struggle over to build the fund to $200,000 and ers' program has almost certainly reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone thereafter promise to maintain it at that reduced illegal killing of predators, and central Idaho—one of the longest, level. Here are nine reasons why which is a boon to wildlife advocates most expensive, and hardest fought wildlife professionals should care about and a relief to wildlife law enforcement battles in wildlife conser\'ation history. Defenders' compensation program: agents. Curt Mack is Wolf Recovery "In returning the wolf to the Greater 1. Defenders' compensation program Coordinator for the Nez Perce Tribe, Yellowstone Ecosystem, several accom- addresses the basic problem. The late which has the Federal contract to modations were vital so as not to William Penn Mott, Jr, set the stage in manage wolf recovery in Idaho. "There negatively affect Yellowstone's neigh- 1985. Then the director of the National was real concern in the rural ranching bors," wrote Yellowstone Superinten- Park Service, he said, "The single most communities of Idaho that the wolves dent Michael V. Finley. "An absolutely important action conservation groups would eat them out of house and crucial accommodation was Defenders' could take to advance Yellowstone wolf home," Mack says. "The Defenders' wolf-livestock compensation program." recovery would be to develop a fund to compensation program has caused these More than anything else, the com- compensate ranchers for any livestock communities to have more understand- pensation program has built public losses caused by wolves." ing and patience, to give the project a tolerance for the wolves. Probably two Defenders' compensation program chance. In 3 years. Defenders has out of three ranchers we speak to respects the legitimate financial con- compensated all confirmed losses, concerning compensation claims tell us cerns of those people most directly batting a thousand. This makes our job they don't mind having the wolf around affected by the presence of predators: of trying to establish relationships with as long as they don't experience the livestock producers. Ed Bangs, U.S. ranchers that much easier." He contin- economic loss. As one Red Lodge, Fish and Wildlife Service gray wolf ues, "There's no doubt that wolves are Montana, rancher told a reporter, "I'm recovery coordinator, says, "The saved by this compensation. The point I really in favor of the wolves. I just don't livestock compensation program make with ranchers is that every illegal want to feed them with a $10,000 mare." certainly made wolves much more take of a wolf sets back the schedule to tolerable to livestock producers ... and recovery, particularly now when every It's Time to Double the Promise has made wolf recover^' more easily wolf is so important, and that's not in From the time of the first compensa- attainable." Jim Peterson, executive vice anybody's best interest." tion payment in 1987 until the 1995 president of the Montana Stockgrowers

24 ENDANC,EKEI5 ,SPtX;iE,S HI LLETIN- M/\RCH .^PRIL 1999 VOU'ME XXIV NO, 2 is an important step that shows environ- 9. It puts the risk on the people who mentalists are willing to work with seek to impose the risk. From 1987 to ranchers to make the wolf reintroduc- 1998, wolves killed about 9 livestock a tion succeed." year in Montana, accounting for one in 6. It's a great opportunity for people 20,000 live.stock deatlis, according to who care. "Visitors to natural areas often agency livestock stati.stics. So woK'es' ask, "What can I do to help wildlife?" impact on the industry' is small—but try Defenders' compensation program is a telling that to the Eureka, Montana, wonderful answer for conservation rancher who lost l6 lambs and 12 ewes donors who want to support practical in one extraordinary depredation in programs that achieve direct results. Augu.st 1997. Defenders paid him S3,942 Defenders takes no overhead—ever>' and contributed S250 for him to hire a dime is used to buy tolerance for the backhoe to bury the dead livestock .so wolves. As Director Clark comments, they would not attract more predators. "Individuals who supported wolf Through Defenders' compensation restoration and contributed to the program, wolf supporters insure ranchers Defenders compensation program against the risk of economic kxss.

should l)e proLid that they can .see and If you want a Letterman-style lOth hear the results of their efforts in the reason to support compensation, here it form of living, breathing wolves is: the Defenders' compensatio)! pro- roaming the two most intact ecosystems gram works. in the lower 48 States." Corel Corp^ photo 7. It 's simple. In an era when large- Integrated into the Landscape 4. It's iron approval from respected scale programs of any kind are regularh- Jtist as the reintroduced wolves so people in the field. Defenders' program strangled by bureaucracy—re.sented as adeptly integrated themselves into the lias won tlie endorsement of leading much by those who must enforce the landscape of Yellow.stone, so Defend- kwildlife professionals. Fish and Wildlife rules as tho.se who must abide by ers' compensation program is now 'service Director Jamie Clark has noted them—the Defenders' compensation integrated into the landscape of wildlife that Defenders' compensation program program is refreshingly simple. A management, A few years ago, some has been "critical to the success of the rancher who believes a wolf has killed people argued that it would never wolf recovery program.... Despite the livestock contacts the appropriate State work. Now, some folks tell us that we rapid increase in the wolf population, or Federal agency. A biologi.st visits the need to make it even stronger to meet livestock are rarely attacked. But when site, usually within 48 hours, to confirm the potential demand. With the active losses do occur, the few ranchers or refute that wolves were responsible. support of the wildlife conservation affected are aware of the Service's wolf When wolf predation is verified, the community, the compensation program depredation control effort and Defend- biologist sends a report to Defenders. can continue to serve as a model of ers' compensation fund, thus enabling We contact the rancher, explain our success for other important endeavors. them to accept coexistence with the program, discuss the incident, and Defenders of Wildlife welcomes wolf..." In 1990. the National Environ- determine a compensation payment contributions of all shapes and sizes for mental Awards Council gave Defenders based on fair market value. The rancher wolf and grizzly bear compensation, an Environmental Achievement Award usually receives a check within 2 weeks and would like your suggestions for for the fund. after Defenders receives verification individuals, foundations, or corporations from the wildlife agency. 5. It's won local acceptance. In that might help us build our compensa- Missoula, Montana, the Missoulian 8. A pemianent, ivell-fimdedprogram tion fund. Write Hank Fischer, Defend- editorialized, "By .stepping forward, has greater credibility. Some critics say ers of Wildlife, Northern Rockies checkbook in hand. Defenders has that $100,000 is not sufficient as prom- Regional Office, at 1534 Mansfield gone a long way toward diffusing the i.sed compensation. We recognize that Avenue, Mi.ssoula, Montana S9801 or loudest and most emotional critics of decision-makers need to be confident call at (406) 549-0761, k^iestoration of free-ranging wolves." The that the fund will continue. While we Bozeman (Montana) Daily Chronicle know we can meet our commitments Ha)ik Fischer is Defenders' Northern commented, "The program shows that for the short term, it's important to Rockies representative. Susan Buiy is a the Defenders aren't being pie-in-the- ck)uble the guaranteed size of the fund consultant to Defenders and a long- sky about the wolf recovery efforts.... it to prepare for the longer term. time supporter

ENDANGERED SPECIES lillLLETIN MARCH. APRIL 1999 VOLUME XXI\- NO. 1 25 LISTING ACTIONS

During December 1998 andjanuan-1999. the Fish and exilis and Rhadine infernalis (no common name), part of Big Tujunga Creek in the Los Angeles River Wildlife Service (FWS) published the following pro- are essentially eyeless ground beetles. Another, the basin, and a lowland stretch of the Santa Ana River iiij posed and final Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing Helotes mold beetle (Batrisodes venyivi), is com- Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino^ actions in the Federal Register: pletely eyeless. The Robber Baron Cave harvestman counties. Because of the danger of continuing habitat (Texella cokendolpheri) is an eyeless form of "daddy- loss, the FWS proposed on January 26 to list the Santa Listing Proposals longlegs." The remaining five species—the Robber Ana sucker as threatened. A non-native population Desert Yellowhead (Yermo xanthocephalus) As Baron Cave spider (Cicurina baroniaj, Madia's cave introduced into the Santa Clara River system in its name suggests, the desert yellowhead is a plant that spider (Cicurina madlaj, Cicurina venii. vesper Ventura and Los Angeles counties is not included in grows in an arid environment and produces heads of cave spider (Cicurina vesperaj, and Government the listing proposal. numerous yellow flowers. It is a member of the aster Canyon cave spider (Neoleptoneta microps)—are eye- family (Asteraceae). This species is known from only less, or essentially eyeless, spiders. The Santa Ana sucker, typical of the sucker family, has a 5-acre (2-hectare) site in the Beaver Rim area of large, thick lips and asmall mouth used to "vacuum" southern Fremont County, Wyoming, administered by These creatures are known from karst features (lime- algae and invertebrates from stream beds. It is about the Bureau of Land Management. The desert yellowhead stone formations containing caves, sinks, and fis- 6 inches {15 centimeters) long and has a dark, blotchy was not discovered until 1990. and surveys conducted sures) in north and northwest Bexar County. The back and silvery underside. The sucker inhabits small, over past the 8 years have not located any additional health of karst environments depends in large part on shallow streams and appears to be most abundant populations. the health of the surface environment within their where the water is cool, clean, and clear, although the recharge zone. Karst areas are known to have complex species can tolerate seasonally turbid water groundwater flow paths that are very sensitive to pollution. Contaminants that enter the aquifer can The sucker's decline was related to environmental quickly degrade underground ecosystems. impacts from the region's intense urban development. Water diversions, channelization, and concrete lining Threats to the habitats of these species include both of streams, as well as erosion, debris torrents, and the direct and indirect effects of urbanization in this pollution, have destroyed or degraded the fish's habi-| rapidly growing region. Caves and karst features are tat. Dams also have isolated and fragmented the often filled in, and the aquatic cave environment can remaining sucker populations. Impoundments pro- be degraded by septic effluents, sewer leaks, and pesti- vide habitat for introduced non-native fishes that prey cide runoff. Predation of the cave invertebrates by the on suckers or compete with them for habitat, which non-native fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) is another biologists believe also contributed to the species' serious threat. Some caves also have been vandalized decline. Approximately 35 percent of the current range or filled with trash. of the Santa Ana sucker is on Angeles National Forest lands, including a small portion within the San

TWenty-eight caves known to harbor one or more of the Gabriel Wilderness. native invertebrates are on private lands, 21 are on Department of Defense lands, six are on State-owned Critical Habitat The FWS published proposals on Photo by Chuck D.wis/USFWS land, and one is on a county right-of-way The Defense December 30 to designate critical habitat in southern Department is taking the conservation of occupied Arizona for two listed species, the cactus ferruginous The area occupied by the desert yellowhead is poten- caves on its property into consideration, and some of pygmy owl (Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum) tially vulnerable to surface disturbances from such the private landowners have already expressed a will- and a plant, the Huachuca water umbel (Lilaeopsis actions as oil and gas development, compaction by ingness to work with the FWS to develop land manage- schaffneriana ssp. recurraj. vehicles, and trampling by livestock. To ensure that ment practices that conserve karst habitats. this plant and its habitat are conserved, the FWS In southern Arizona, the pygmy owl nests within tree proposed on December 22 to list the desert yellowhead Santa Ana Sucker (Catostomus santaanae) and cactus cavities. It is endangered by the loss or as a threatened species. Historically one of the most common fish in southern modification of habitat due to dams, water diversions, California, the Santa Ana sucker has a historic range and urbanization. The proposed critical habitat for Nine Texas Invertebrates On December 30, the FWS that coincides with the Los Angeles metropolitan area. this species includes specific river flood plains andj proposed to list nine species of small, cave-dwelling The Santa Ana sucker once occurred widely in the Los Sonoran desert scrub communities in Pima, Cochise," invertebrates native to a few sites in Bexar County, Angeles, San Gabriel, and Santa Ana River drainages Pinal, and Maricopa counties. The Huachuca water Texas, as endangered. All nine species are adapted to an of southern California. It is now restricted to the umbel, a semi-aquatic plant, occurs in cienegas (desert environment without light. T\vo of the species, Rhadine headwaters of the San Gabriel River system, the lower marshes), springs, streams, and rivers. Threats to this

26 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN .MARCH/APRIL 1999 VOLU.ME XXIV NO. 2 LISTING ACTIONS ON THE WEB

species include competition with non-native species, and Missouri river basins. The vulnerability of this To learn more about Alaska and efforts to conserve, ^Iroughts, destructive floods, and habitat degradation small fish led the FWS to list the Topeka shiner on protect and enhance Arctic fish, wildlife and plants, ' caused by livestock overgrazing, water diversions, dredg- December 15 as endangered. start with a visit to these web sites: ing, groundwater pumping, and certain recreational activities. Proposed critical habitat for the water umbel St. Andrew Beach Mouse (Peromyscus U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region includes specific stream courses and adj acent riparian polionotus peninsularis) k, theircommon name http://www.r7.fws.gov areas in Santa Cruz and Cochise counties. indicates, beach mice inhabit not houses and other This site is your gateway to Service programs in Alaska. structures but coastal sand dunes, where they exca- Supporting pages include information about conser- Critical habitat designations do not affect private vate burrows and feed on plant seeds and insects. The vation for endangered species, fisheries, marine mam- activities unless there is some Federal involvement. St. Andrew beach mouse once lived along nearly 54 mals, migratory birds, and other efforts to protect Federal agencies, however, must ensure that any ac- miles (87 km) of Florida's panhandle beaches from Alaska's wilderness. You can also learn about, and link tions they authorize, fund, or carry out do not adversely Gulf County to Crooked Island in Bay County Over to, a wide variety of international programs through modifydesignated critical habitats. The required maps time, its habitat has been reduced by storms, non- which the Service is working with other Arctic nations and detailed descriptions of the proposed critical habi- storm related shoreline erosion, and coastal develop- to strengthen conservation of Arctic species. tats for the pygmy owl and water umbel were published ment. Other threats include predation by domestic

in the December 30 Federal Register. When these cats and competition from house mice, both of which U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canada/U.S. Frame- species were originally given ESA protection, the FWS are associated with beachside development. An esti- work for Cooperation between DOI and Canada decided that taking the additional step of designating mated 500 St. Andrew beach mice remain. On Decem- http://www.fws.gov/r9endspp/canada/canada.htm critical habitats would not be prudent because pub- ber 18, the FWS listed this subspecies as endangered. From this site, you can view or print the signed April lishing specific locations could attract plant collec- 1997 accord initiating this joint effort. Also available tors and lead to harassment of the owl. However, on Withdrawals is the "Questions & Answers" related to the signed November 25,1998, a district court judge ordered the Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) In 1993, framework, and two species examples of the benefits FWS to issue proposed critical habitat designations the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which of cooperation (the piping plover and the whooping ^vith 30 days. has primary ESA jurisdiction over most marine spe- crane). You can also link to the Canadian Wildlife cies, proposed to list the Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy Service's endangered species web page at http:// Final Listing Rules population of the harbor porpoise as threatened due to www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/es/endan_e.html. Topeka Shiner (Notropis topekaj Historically, the rate of porpoise bycatch in the area's gillnet Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) the Topeka shiner was a common fish in small prairie fishery. Since that time, however, NMFS has received http://www.grida.no/caff/ streams throughout Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Mis- information regarding the population's status and Under the Arctic Council, CAFF focuses on a range of souri, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Currently, how- fishery management actions that reduce bycatch. Arctic environmental issues such as biodiversity, habi- ever, it occurs in only about 20 percent of its former Because NMFS has determined that ESA protection for tat protection, and species conservation within an range due to widespread habitat modification and the Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy population is not ecosystem approach. CAFF is also working with indig- water quality degradation. Sedimentation, water di- warranted, it published a withdrawal of the listing enous peoples to integrate their knowledge into Arctic proposal in the January 5, 1999, Federal Register. environmental conservation.

Alaska Public Lands Information Center (APLIC) http://www.nps.gov/aplic/center/index.html Through this web site, APLIC offers a wealth of infor- mation for planning a visit to Alaska's State and Federal public lands. APLIC is a central point of contact for information on lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Photo by Garold Sneegus Division of Tourism, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game. ^versions, and the loss of riparian buffers damaged the 'aquatic habitat, and dam construction fragmented some of the remaining populations, restricting ge- netic interchange. The Topeka shiner is now restricted primarily to a few tributaries within the Mississippi

ENDANGERED SPECIES IHILLETIX .MARCH APRIL 1999 VOLU.ME XXIV NO. 2 27 REGIONAL NEWS & RECOVERY UPDATES

Sacramento NWR Complex California's Sacramento habitat for the endangered Sanjoaquin kit fox fVulpes NWR Complex did not escape what appears to have macrotis mutica) to the FWS as mitigation foi| been a statewide outbreak of avian cholera in winter- improvements to State Route 33. which runs through" ing waterfowl. During the abbreviated work week the refuge. a between Christmas and New Year Day over 3,000 birds were picked up at Butte Sink NWR. All other refuges in the complex experienced varying degrees of mortality Disease severity may have been the result of cold temperatures and ice the previous week, which con- centrated birds on the remaining open water and restricted refuge staff's ability to complete routine Regional endangered species contacts have reported airboat disease patrols. the following news: Salmon In an effort to reduce avian predation on Region 1 listed salmon smolts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) Aleutian Canada Goose (Branta canadensis designed to relocate Caspian terns (Sterna caspia) leucopareia) Avian cholera losses were significant nesting on Rice Island in the Columbia River estuary this winter at Merced, San Luis, and San Joaquin to a different site. East Sand Island. Caspian terns San Joaquin kit fox

River National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) in California. currently breed on 8 acres (3.2 hectares) of habitat on Corel Corp^ photo Until temperatures warmed up in late January; biolo- Rice Island. Limited research indicates that the 10,000 Lewis and Clark Commemoration Nearly 200 years gists at San Luis NWR collected to 400 dead birds pair colony is consuming between 6 and 25 million ago, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark per day of various species. At San Joaquin River NWR, salmon smolts per year Hatchery fish account for opened a new frontier for the fledgling United States the endangered Aleutian Canada goose was the spe- approximately 90 percent of the smolts taken. We hope with their historic journey from St. Louis. .Missouri, t(J cies most commonly killed by cholera, with approxi- that the relocation of terns to East Sand Island will the Pacific Ocean and back. In a way they were western mately 800 lost this winter .Merced XWR biologists reduce theirpredation of salmon smoltsdue to a larger America's first wildlife biologists, and described 178 found moderate numbers of white geese (Anser variety of prey in this area. The EA calls for the creation plants and 122 animals not previously recorded. albifrons) and large numbers of coots (Fulica of approximately l6 acres (6.5 ha) of tern habitat on americana). Refuge staff worked 7 days per week to East Sand Island near the mouth of the Columbia A 4-year-long bicentennial commemoration will be- keep wetland units as clean as possible in order to River, deployment of a sound system and decoys on gin in 2003, with 10 million visitors expected to visit reduce the spread of the disea.se. East Sand Island to attract nesting terns, vegetation of at least one point on the Lewis and Clark National Rice and Miller Sands Islands to discourage tern Historic Trail during that time. They will place heavy- nesting, and potential harassment of terns on Rice demands on refuges and hatcheries along the route as and Miller Sands to encourage them to move to East they seek information and access to Lewis and Clark Sand Island. One acre (0.4 ha) of tern nesting habitat sites. At the same time, this event will offer an unprec- will remain on Rice Island. Although small, this site edented opportunity for the FWS to reach a new audi- is estimated to support 1,000 pairs. ence by reflecting on the past and future of the country's natural resources, including howplants and Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR Complex A section of aniinals identified by Lewis and Clark are faring today the refuge near Bruchard Bay burned recently The wildfire was extinguished by a U.S. Forest Service fire The FWS has formed a national Lewis and Clark crew from the Cleveland National Forest. Approxi- Bicentennial Team, which met for the first time in mately 7 to 10 acres (2.8 to 4 ha) were burned, with January in Portland, Oregon. Potential projects asso- substantial loss of habitat for the endangered Yuma ciated with the bicentennial include heritage protec- clapper rail (Rallus longirostris yumanensis). tion measures such as land acquisition and habitat restoration. For more information, contact Susan^ Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge The deci- Saul, the Region I Lewis and Clark Bicentennial' sion document for an addition to Bitter Creek NWR Coordinator, at 503/231-2728. was approved on December 28, 1998. CalTrans will USFWS photo donate the 40-acre (l6-ha) Wilson tract containing

ENDANGERED .SI'KCIKS BrUETI.X .\URCH .M'RII. VOLl .ME XXIV NO. 2 REGIOKAL NEWS & RECOVERY UPDATES

Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) A comprehensive Other Jobs-1n-The-Woods personnel completed the small tracts of public land. Altogether, the status purvey by FWS, Forest Service, and Wildlife Conserva- final inspection of the FY 1998 Nelson's Checker- review concluded that an estimated 1,600-3,000 bears tion Society biologists in the area covered by the mallow Habitat Enhancement Project on lands owned occur in Florida and along the coastal plain of Geor- Northwest Forest Plan confirmed the presence of by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in Polk gia and southern Alabama. Past land clearing and Canada lynx in the Oregon Cascades. On July 8,1998, County, Oregon. The site is one of four areas protected development have reduced the distribution of the the FWS proposed to list the U.S. population of this by a conservation easement between the Tribes and Florida black bear to 25 percent of its historic range. elusive cat as threatened. FWS for the management of Nelson's checker-mallow (Sidalcea nelsoniana). a plant listed as threatened. Reported by Elsie Davis. Southeast Regional Office Approximately 10 acres (4 ha) of upland and wetland in Atlanta. Georgia. habitat dominated by invasive vegetative species were chemically and mechanically cleared, then seeded Region Five with native grass species. The Tribes also transplanted

90 checker-mallow plants, salvaged from another Swamp Pink (Helonias bullata)lhe FWS New location, into an existing population. A new gate and Jersey Field Office contracted a biological consultant cattle guard were installed to prevent cattle access to initiate a pilot program that involved contacting from an adjoining landowner. At the same time, the lOprivate landowners whoseproperty contained popu- Tribes also carried out a wetland mitigation project on lations ofthe swamppink, athreatenedwildflower In an area adjacent to the enhancement/transplant loca- cooperation with the FWS, the biological consultant tion. This project required close coordination between also developed a habitat protection agreement that FWS Oregon State Office contaminants, endangered provides an opportunity for private landowners to species, andJobs-In-The-Woods personnel. Nine part- voluntarily agree to protect and conserve swamp pink ners contributed funds or technical assistance, or and its habitat on private property Such agreements participated in the planning process to ensure success- may significantly contribute to the recovery of swamp ful implementation of this project. The FWS contrib- pink since many populations of this species occur on uted $7,815 of the $18,382 project cost. private land. As the Swamp Pink Recovery Plan states, "Cooperation from landowners is an extremely impor-

Reported by LaRee Brosseau of the FWS Portland tant facet of protection for sites located on private Canada lynx Regional Office. lands.... Individual landowners will be contacted re- Corel Corp. photo garding the presence of Helonias on their property and Jobs-in-the-Woods Participants in the "Jobs-in- Region 4 the significance of this species. Management agree- the-Woods" program, which provides training and ments and deed covenants will be established when employment in environmental restoration to dislo- Florida Black Bear (Ursus americanus cated timber workers in Oregon, completed the final jloridanus) The FICS has removed the Florida black inspection of the FY 1998 West Fork Agency Creek bear from the list of candidates for Endangered Species Culvert Replacement Project on lands owned by the Act (ESA) protection because four healthy populations Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in Yamhill Count}', remain on protected lands in Florida and Georgia. Oregon. Failing, undersized, and poorly placed cul- Collectively these four publicly-owned areas support verts at two locations were replaced by oversized bot- 1,000 to 2,200 black bears over 3 million acres (1.2 tomless arch culverts. The new culverts restored fish million ha). According to a 1998 status review, which passage to 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) of suitable habi- led to the decision, Apalachicola National Forest and tat for anadromous steelhead fOncorhynchus mykiss) adjacent lands support an estimated 400 bears; and coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). This Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Osceola Na- project is featured on the Tribes' website, which can be tional Forest, and adj acent lands together contain an accessed at www.grandronde.org (click on: natural estimated 1,200 bears; Ocala National Forest and resources, fish and wildlife, culvert project). The FWS adjacent lands are estimated to have over 200 bears; contributed one-third of the $88,574 project cost. This and Big Cypress National Preserve and adj acent lands fs the second successful fish passage collaboration have about 400 bears. In addition, a stable population between Jobs-In-The-Woods and the Tribe, which have of 60 to 200 black bears exists on Eglin Air Force Base reopened 18 miles (29 km) of suitable habitat. and its surrounding area in the Florida Panhandle.

Isolated populations are also found on private lands or Photo by Judy Jacobs/USFWS

KNDANC.KRHD SPt-XIES lil'LLETIN .\L'\.RCH.-APRIL 1999 VOLl :.ME XXIV NO. 2 29 REGIONAL NEWS & RECOVERY UPDATES

ever possible to protect the natural attributes of the County; The Nature Conservancy; and other groups to National Wildlife Refuge, the FWS prepared for the property from disturbance." Many landowners re- restore early successional beach habitat at sites used project by providing construction material (steelj sponded positively during the pilot program and are by the threatened piping plover and New York State- acetylene, oxygen, welding rods, etc.). The project was"" expected to enter into habitat protection agreements listed least {em (Sterna antillarum). Due to years of accomplished through a cave gating workshop put following further coordination with FWS biologists. shoreline management efforts, including beach "nour- on by the American Cave Conservation Association and ishment," dune construction, dune grass plantings, sponsored by the FWS Asheville, North Carolina, Field The first habitat protection agreement was signed in and fencing, early successional beach habitat is de- Office, with funding from the FWS Southern Appala- January 1999 by Richard and Mary Blake of Cape May graded or in short supply on Long Island. Plans are chian Ecosystem and the Chesapeake Bay/Susquehanna County, New Jersey They contacted the FWS after being developed to ensure post-restoration monitor- River Ecosystem offices. Participants in the project reading an article about the swamp pink in their local ing surveys. included the FWS (West Virginia Field Office, Canaan newspaper Biologists from the New Jersey Field Office Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and Asheville Field met with Mrs. Blake and discussed swamp pink protec- The Long Island Office also has been working with Office), West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, tion strategies, including entering into a voluntary New York State Department of Environmental Conser- American Cave Conservation Association, U.S. Forest agreement with the FWS to protect and conserve the vation and The Nature Conser\'ancy to educate stew- Service Qefferson and George Washington National swamp pink site and a surrounding buffer area on ards and land managers about piping plover biology, Forests and Mount St. Helens National Monument), their property Additional private landowners have ecology, behavior, and management. Participants National Speleological Society, National Park Service also expressed interest in protecting the swamp pink include Federal, State, county, and town representa- (Mammoth Cave National Park), West Virginia Chap- and are expected to sign habitat protection agree- tives, as well as representatives from several not-for- ter of The Nature Conservancy, and Bat Conservation ments in the near future. Each landownerwill receive profit organizations such as the National Audubon International. a framed certificate in recognition of the agreement. Society, Krusos Foundation, and Long Island Beach Buggy Association. Although this program was initi- The Sinnitt/Thorn Cave system is designated critical Indiana Bat (MyoHs sodalis) Biologists in the ated by The Nature Conservancy several years ago, the habitat for the endangered Virginia big-eared bat and FWS New England Field Office in Concord, New Hamp- FWS and the State have since assumed planning and supports both summer and winter colonies. The large shire, are conducting ESA-section 7 consultations coordination for the training program. summer maternity colony is considered critical to th| with the U.S. Forest Service on 20 active timber sales species' survival. The old-style round bar gate at thi^ in the Green Mountain National Forest for potential Sinnitt entrance enabled the predation of bats leaving impacts on the endangered Indiana bat. The FWS is the small cave opening by local cats and (probably) also assisting the Forest Service in developing a bio- raccoons. Bats also had difficulty negotiating the logical evaluation of forest activities on a program- Thorn entrance gate, which requires the bats to enter matic level. In the White Mountains National Forest, and exit vertically. These problems should be corrected all timber sales that have received FWS review resulted by the new gates. in findings that the sales are "not likely to adversely affect" the Indiana bat. With the help of the West Virginia Non-Game Wildlife and Natural Heritage Program, the West Virginia Indiana bats are considered to be at the northeastern Field Office also delivered construction steel last fall edge of their range in New England. New Hampshire to Schoolhouse Cave in West Virginia's Germany Val- was not considered to be within the species' range ley Schoolhouse Cave provides habitat for a large until 1992, when a roosting bat was discovered during summer and winter colony of Virginia big-eared bats. The fence that controls human access to the cave had a summer research project in the White Mountain Virginia big-eared bats

National Forest. New England has only three known Photo by Craig Stihler been vandalized several times in the past few years. active Indiana bat hibernacula (two in Vermont and Construction of a state-of-the-art angle iron gate at one in Connecticut), and they harbor fewer than 10 Virginia Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus the cave entrance should preclude human disturbance individuals combined. toumsendii virginianus) In the fall of 1998, the of the bats and allow the population to flourish. FWS West Virginia Field Office assisted in the con- Construction is scheduled for August 1999- Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) The FWS struction of state-of-the-art angle iron gates in the two Long Island Field Office has been building partner- entrances of the Sinnitt/Thorn Cave system in Reported by Lisa A rroyo of the FWS New Jersey Fiela ships with New York State Department of Environ- Pendleton County, West Virginia, to prevent the distur- Office, Linda Morse of the FWS New England FielS mental Conservation: New York State Office of Parks, bance of endangered Virginia big-eared bats. With the Office, and Andy Moser of the Annapolis, Mary- Recreation, and Historical Preservation; Citizens Cam- assistance of the West Virginia Non-Game Wildlife land. Field Office. paign for the Environment; Suffolk County; Nassau and Natural Heritage Program and the Canaan Valley

30 ENDANGERED .SPECIES HI LLKTIX .MARCH/APRIl, 1999 VOLUME XXIV NO. 2 THE ESA AT TWENTY-FIVE

bv Karen Bovlan

L. n the quarter century since goose has proceeded so well that its distribution has also contracted on the passage of the Endangered Species Act status was upgraded in 1990 from North Slope. (ESA) Alaskan wildlife has undergone endangered to the less critical category Ten years after the Exxon "Valdez i")oth tremendous gains and perplexing of threatened, and it may soon be spilled eleven million gallons of crude losses. One one hand, some animals delisted altogether. oil into Prince William Sound, substan- that were on the endangered species But not all wildlife news from Alaska tive progress is being made toward list in 1973 have fared well. On the over the past 25 years has been good. recovery objectives. The amount of other hand, declining seabird. marine Even as some endangered and threat- progress and time needed to achieve mammal and some fish species in the ened species were recovering, others, objectives varies widely, however; Bering Sea ecosystem are an increas- such as spectacled and Steller's eiders recovery for thirteen species is either not ingly widespread public concern. The (Somateria fischeri and Polysticta happening or data are inconclusive. cause and effects of these ecosystem stelleri. respectively), were added to the On the botanical front, the Aleutian declines are complex and poorly threatened and endangered list. shield fern (Polystichum aleuticum) understood. The Service and many Spectacled eiders were listed as became Alaska's first, and so far only, partners are working to unravel the threatened in May, 1993 following a listed plant in 1988. Although this small myster>', but it is a huge task. For 95% decline of the Yukon-Kuskokwim plant has probably long been rare, the example. Steller's sea lions, which were Delta (Y-K Delta) breeding population introduction of grazing animals (rein- the primary prey of killer whales, have in the previous two decades. But then deer and caribou) onto Adak Island, the virtually disappeared from the Aleu- came the spectacular discovery of the only place where it occurs, has taken a tians. Is it possible that the decline of spectacled eider wintering grounds toll on fragile alpine habitat near where |>ne species can cause predator pres- within the pack ice of the Bering Sea the fern is found. The Fish and Wildlife sure to shift to another species? In south of St. Lawrence Island. The global Service is working with the Navy, which observed areas of the Aleutian Islands, population estimate was revised up manages part of the habitat, to fence sea otters are declining precipitously; from 50,000 to more than 350,000 birds the remaining ferns. Scientists have tried evidence and observations point to (presumably, mostly Russian breeders). but so far failed to develop cultivation predation iiy killer whales. Except for The spectacled eider recovery plan techniques for use in the propagation of the Aleutians, sea otter populations are .states that a population can be consid- Aleutian shield ferns for eventual stable or growing elsewhere in Alaska. ered for delisting if a single survey reintroduction into native habitat.

On the positive side, the arctic yields a minimum population estimate Like the state itself, endangered peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus of more than 25,000 breeding pairs. The species issues here are unique. While tundrius) recovered thanks to the 1972 Arctic Russian population satisfies this the Service manages relatively few listed ban on DDT, protection of its habitat, delisting criterion, but spectacled eider species here compared tcj most other and prohibitions on taking birds out of populations on the Y-K Delta and North states, the challenges to managing and the wild for falconry. The Aleutian Slope remain threatened. recovering them are often greater Canada goose (Branta canadensis We don't know how many Steller's because of unusual factors that occur leucopareia) also falls into the good eiders exist, but there are at least Alaska. (Discussed in this issue.) news category'. It was down to about 150,000, with nearly all of the breeding Figuring out the complex reasons for 500 individuals in 1973, due to preda- population in Arctic Russia. A few eco.sy.stem-scale declines such as the tion by non-native foxes (Alopex dozen pairs nest some years near Bering Sea is going to require continued lagopiis) which were introduced to its Barrow, Alaska, but their status on the effort by Federal, State, private, corpo- nesting islands by fur farmers. After North Slope is unclear. "We don't have rate, and international partners. pa.ssage of the ESA. the foxes were enough information available to tfL'moved, geese were captive-bred in adequately document either local or lie Aleutians and reintroduced to fox- global population trends for Steller's free islands, and wintering habitat in eiders, but they have nearly disap- Oregon and California was protected. peared as a breeder from the Y-K Delta, Restoration of the Aleutian Canada and it appears that their breeding

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN MARCH, Al'RIl 1999 VOLLJ.ME XXIV NO, 2 31 BOX S Listings and Recover}' Plans as of April 30,1999 ENDANGERED THREATENED TOTAL U.S. SPECIES GROUP U.S. FOREIGN U.S. FOREIGN LISTINGS W/ PLANS*

MAMMALS 61 251 8 16 336 49

^^IT^ BIRDS 75 178 15 6 274 77

REPTILES 14 65 21 14 114 30

l^pr AMPHIBIANS 9 8 8 1 26 11

^^ FISHES 69 11 41 0 121 88

SNAILS 18 1 10 0 29 20

^^ CLAMS 61 2 8 0 71 45

CRUSTACEANS 17 0 3 0 20 12

INSECTS 28 4 9 0 41 27

ARACHNIDS 5 0 0 0 5 5

ANIMAL SUBTOTAL 357 520 123 37 1,037 364

FLOWERING PLANTS 540 1 132 0 673 494

^ CONIFERS 2 0 1 2 5 2 (

FERNS AND OTHERS 26 0 2 0 28 26

PLANT SUBTOTAL 568 1 135 2 706 522

GRAND TOTAL 925 521 258 39 1,743* 886

TOTAL U.S. ENDANGERED: 924 (357 animals, 567 plants) purposes of the Endangered Species Act, the term "species" can mean TOTAL U.S. THREATENED: 256 (121 animals, 135 plants) a species, subspecies, or distinct vertebrate population. Several entries also represent entire genera or even families. TOTAL U.S. LISTED: 1180 (478 animals***, 702 plants) ••There are S17 approved recovery plans. Some recover}' plans cover •Separate populations of a species listed both as Endangered and Tlireatened more than one species, and a few species have separate plans are tallied once, for the endangered population only. Those species are the covering different parts of their ranges. Recovery plans are drawn up argali, chimpanzee, leopard. Stellar sea lion, gray wolf, piping plover, roseate only for listed species that occur in the United States. tern, green sea turtle, saltwater crocodile, and olive ridley sea turtle. For the "•Nine animal species have dual status in the U.S.

FIRST CLASS POSTAGE AND FEES PAID E DANGERED U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PERMIT NO. G-77

BULLETIN

U.S. Department of the Interior Fish ai2d Wildlife Service Washington, D.C. 20240