Invasive Species Program 2009
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Invasive Species Program National Wildlife Refuge System Fiscal Year 2009 Update Invasive Species Management in the U.S. Government National Wildlife Refuge System Accountability Invasive species continue to alter habitat Office(GAO) on refuge lands and challenge biologists report that and managers in the National Wildlife showed that when Refuge System (NWRS). The number refuge managers of acres reported to be infested with were asked, “what invasive plants rose from 2.3 million management acres in FY2008 to just under 2.5 million actions had acres in FY2009, according to the Refuge increased the Annual Performance Planning database most in cost,” (RAPP). While the NWRS is committed invasive plant to eradicating and controlling these management invaders, in FY2009 we treated slightly was the number less than we did in FY2008, dropping one reported from 15 percent to 13 percent treatment action (“Wildlife of lands infested with invasive plants. Refuges: Changes On a positive note, fewer invasive animal in Funding, populations (3,894) were reported on Staffing and Costs of Invasive Species Management on National Wildlife refuge lands in FY2009 than in previous Other Factors Refuges from 2004-2009. Data Source: ABC years. Create Concerns about Future surveyed 162 acres of habitat suspected Sustainability,” 2008). of containing houndstongue. In addition to houndstongue, they hand pulled and ARRA Funding sprayed Scotch thistle, musk thistle, The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and mullein. These weeds outcompete (FWS) received $280 million from the natives for sunlight, nutrients, water, and American Recovery and Reinvestment space and reduce the amount of foraging Act (ARRA). Numerous invasive habitat for wildlife. species projects were supported with these funds. Additionally, many youth- oriented projects that focused on invasive species removal were funded. A list of ARRA projects is available on the www. Number of Acres Infested and Treated recovery.doi.gov website. In Alaska, on NWR’s 2001-2009. Data Source: where many invasive plants are in their RMIS and RAPP. earliest stages of establishment, FWS partnered with the Alaska Association of Increasing Costs of Management Conservation Districts and other state As in previous years, the costs associated groups to employ an early detection/rapid with invasive species management in response strategy to locate and control the NWRS continue to climb. These new invasive plant infestations, such as costs are tracked using an Activity- common tansy, white sweetclover, and Based Costing (ABC) system that spotted knapweed. In other states, such records all transactions, including as Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, and salaries. In FY2009, the NWRS reported Utah, youth groups were hired to assist refuges with invasive plant removal. For USFWS $18.4 million spent on invasive species management activities. This amount is up example, at Rocky Mountain Arsenal MHYC invasive weed removal crew from $6 million in 2004. These data are NWR, the Mile High Youth Corps removing houndstongue using consistent with the findings of the recent (MHYC) invasive weed removal crew sharpshooter shovels. NEW! Large Invasive Species Eradication with the removal of invasive woody winds are favorable for foliar herbicide Projects vegetation. Invasive plants, such as applications. However, improvements Additional funding has been made buckthorn, degrade grassland and oak in herbicides and equipment, combined available for large invasive species savanna habitat for migratory birds that with persistent control efforts and follow eradication projects on refuge lands. In depend on these habitat types. Using up monitoring, have paid off in habitat FY2009, these funds were awarded to loppers and handsaws, Scouts cut back improvements, benefiting shorebirds, Palmyra Atoll NWR for a rat eradication invasive plants and staff members treat waterfowl, sandhill cranes, and prairie project. Palmyra Atoll is home to 29 the stumps with herbicide. After removal chickens. Paul’s Lake used to dry up species of birds, including one of the of the vegetation, more than 50 species every summer, but with the removal largest red-footed booby colonies in the of native plants are seeded and planted. of salt cedar, the spring-fed playa now world. As the only suitable nesting site in Over 800 hours of volunteer service have provides open water habitat all year 450,000 square miles of the central Pacific been provided by the Scouts on 115 acres long. In conjunction with this effort, a Ocean, it is critical foraging and breeding since 2007. Partners for Fish & Wildlife program habitat for thousands of seabirds. Rats has been working to control salt cedar on islands are known to have had a Updates from Around the Refuge System on neighboring private lands, thereby significant impact on seabird populations removing seed sources from the local and are thought to be responsible for Early Detection and Rapid Response: playa lake watershed. numerous extirpations and population Ridding the Florida Keys of the declines. At Palmyra, rats have been Gambian Pouched Rat observed preying on seabird eggs, chicks, In partnership with USDA-Wildlife and adults. They also directly compete Services, the NWRS has supported the with the birds and other native wildlife eradication of the giant Gambian pouched by eating insects and other terrestrial rat from the Florida Keys since 2007. invertebrates. Native to Africa, the Gambian pouched rat is one of the largest rodents in the Invasives & Volunteers Program Update world weighing an average of three The NWRS’s Invasives & Volunteers pounds and measuring 20-35 inches from Program continues to engage large head to tail. The rats are omnivorous and numbers of volunteers in invasive species could cause hundreds of thousands of USFWS management activities on refuge lands dollars in agricultural damage if allowed across the country. Beginning in FY2010, to proliferate. The eradication effort has Treating salt cedar with herbicide at management of this program will shift been a progression of accomplishments, Muleshoe NWR from the national office to the NWRS including the ongoing post-bait regional offices. Since 2005, more than monitoring phase, which employs motion- Restoring Montezuma NWR with 5,600 volunteers have contributed 86,800 activated cameras, live traps and data Biocontrol hours to the treatment, inventory, and gathered from residents via a rat hotline In 1951 there were sparse stands of restoration of over 415,000 acres of (a phone number set up for residents to purple loosestrife on the Montezuma refuge land. As one successful example report rat sightings). NWR. By 1980, this invasive plant of volunteer partnerships, funding from covered 1,500 acres (of 3,200 acres of the program has enabled Boy Scout refuge wetlands) completely preventing Troop 224 of Willmar, MN to assist staff refuge staff from lowering water levels at Weber Waterfowl Production Area to expose mudflats and provide crucial habitat to migratory shorebirds. In 1996, a biological control program was initiated on the refuge, and beetles and weevils were released to combat the purple loosestrife. Today, purple loosestrife exists on less than 10 percent of refuge wetlands, and refuge staff can manage USFWS wetlands for migratory birds and other The Gambian pouched rat is one of the wildlife. world’s largest rodents. Liberating Paul’s Lake with the removal Contact: of salt cedar at Muleshoe NWR Jenny Ericson USFWS National Invasives Program Since 2003, staff at Muleshoe NWR in western Texas have been treating salt Coordinator (Acting) Boy Scouts with a pile of buckthorn they cedar. The greatest challenge has been U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pulled out by the roots gaining access to the shoreline when the (703)358-2063 [email protected] U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov May 2010 .