U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News

s p o t l i g h t Who Is the Fish and Wildlife Service? 12 Conserving Amphibians 24 High-Definition Conservation 28 what’s inside

Departments Features

From the Directorate / 1 s p o t l i g h t News / 2 Field Journal / 30 WHO IS THE FISH Curator’s Corner / 32 AND WILDLIFE Our People / 33 SERVICE? 12 Conserving the Nature of America | by MATT TROTT

Gatherer of Duck A Lamprey Legacy / 16 Operation Warfighter Data / 14 As his dad did, Tim Intern / 18 Satellite technology Sullivan fights the sea Don Wilson lends a hand informs redhead lamprey invasion to protect the beauty conservation on the by JOANNA GILKESON around San Diego

Texas Gulf Coast by LISA COX by CRAIG SPRINGER

a l s o Conserving High-Definition i n t h i s Amphibians / 24 Conservation / 28 i s s u e Why disappearing frogs, The Service and partners are salamanders and toads are working together to conserve important and what’s being imperiled species in the Upper Tennessee River Basin ON THE COVER: A SUB-ADULT KODIAK done about it BROWN BEAR LOOKS FOR SALMON. CREDIT: LISA HUPP/USFWS by VALERIE FELLOWS by GARY PEEPLES and DAVID EISENHAUER from the directorate

Conservation4Youth Builds Connections

veryone tends to think newer is better, but We’re starting to see these dreams become reality. Egrowing up in my day had one major advantage: We played outside a lot. And while we were playing, Several C4Y interns are now actively pursuing we connected with nature. Maybe we saw a bat or an college degrees. One C4Y graduate was selected unusual bird flying overhead. Maybe the tree that from hundreds of nominated students to become served as first base had a unique feel. Maybe we went the recipient of the Joyce and Thomas Moorehead fishing or hunting with an adult. Foundation’s College Scholarship Fund, which provides annual college funding, networking, For many good reasons, this generation has a harder mentoring and community service outreach. Another path to that connection. And for some — like those C4Y graduate was recently hired into a permanent with challenging life situations — a connection with position with the Service. nature can be even harder to make. Developing that sense of wonder takes a backseat to just surviving. You will read in this issue of Fish & Wildlife News profiles of several current Service members. For all That’s why, for the third summer in a row, our of us involved in conservation, though, the future is award-winning Conservation4Youth Program (C4Y) never far from our thoughts. welcomes a new group of interns to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, young people from the Fairfax C4Y is just one way we are actively and County and Washington, DC, foster care systems. enthusiastically developing the next generation of conservation professionals. This program shows the Service as the socially responsible organization it is. But what’s really This summer, we welcome the largest group of important is that we get a chance to help foster a students yet, including a number of returning alumni. connection between nature and young people who Headquarters staff members will again give of their might have never had the opportunity to see the time and talent as they mentor selected teens. wonders nature offers. We do take great pride in C4Y and the rare To date, C4Y has given 20 young people, ages opportunity to make a committed difference in the 15 to 22, the chance to learn about wildlife world around us. But, as I said before, that is nothing conservation — taking part in real on-the-ground compared to helping young people find their science and administrative support — while working connection with nature. in a professional setting. The interns can also gain confidence through on-the job-training, mentoring If we are really lucky, one of the profiles in the opportunities and shadowing assignments. News in 20 years will be about a former C4Y intern.

Local organizations provide mentor training for our participating staff, along with workplace training, DENISE SHEEHAN is the Assistant Director of Budget, Planning transportation and salary funding for the students. and Human Capital.

Many of the program’s participating young people have been victims of abuse, neglect or abandonment, and their aspirations have consisted of little more than the basics of food, shelter and clothing. C4Y has created an opportunity for these youth to learn to set goals beyond these basics, to strive hard to achieve their dreams and to dream big.

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 1 news

Service Crushes More Ivory in Fight Against Wildlife Trafficking

n an effort to crush what ISecretary of the Interior Sally Jewell called the “bloody ivory market,” the Service, with wildlife and conservation partners, destroyed more than one ton of confiscated elephant ivory in early June in New York’s Times Square.

After brief greetings, dignitaries and thousands of onlookers witnessed an industrial rock crusher smash raw ivory as well as carved ivory tusks and statues.

Service Director Dan Ashe said: “Today’s Crush…sends a message to the traffickers whose pernicious greed is at the heart of today’s poaching crisis. This administration, this agency, these partners here, are committed to The event was the latest in a Some may wonder at the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell loads tracking you down, ending your series of actions by the Obama effort, saying other countries are an item onto the crusher. activities, to putting you behind administration designed to crack the major importers of ivory. But bars, to ensuring that you are no down on both the demand and consumers or “middlemen” in the longer a threat to our planet’s supply that feeds international United States drive much of the wildlife.” poaching and wildlife trafficking world’s trade in wild animal and further regulates domestic trade rings. plant species—both legal and of both raw ivory and ivory In two Ivory Crushes, the United illegal. products. Many states, including States has pulverized more than In July 2013, President Barack New York, have also enacted seven tons of seized illegal ivory, Obama signed an executive order In fact, much of the ivory that strong legislation to ban the sale signaling its leadership in the to combat wildlife trafficking. The was crushed in June was of ivory. battle against traffickers and order established an interagency confiscated from the poachers. task force and charged it with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Event attendees included developing a National Strategy store of Victor Gordon, an art Congresswoman Grace Meng Since the first Crush in November for Combatting Wildlife and antiques dealer who, in (NY-6); Congressman Steve Israel 2013, 10 countries have destroyed Trafficking. With input from 2012, pleaded guilty to smuggling (NY-3); U.S. Customs and Border their seized ivory, and Ashe asked an advisory council of experts African elephant ivory into the Protection Commissioner R. for more support. on wildlife trafficking, the United States. All ivory that has Gil Kerlikowske; Executive task force set forth a robust been illegally traded can never Vice President of the Wildlife “We call on all nations to join us government approach that be sold in the U.S. market. Conservation Society John by destroying their confiscated focuses on three key objectives Calvelli; New York State Senator ivory stockpiles, enacting and to stop wildlife trafficking: Although some African elephant Brad Hoylman (Manhattan); enforcing strong regulations strengthening enforcement, ivory (including lawfully hunted Joseph Martens, commissioner, protecting wildlife from illegal reducing demand for illegally trophies and certain other New York State Department of trade, and reducing demand,” traded wildlife and expanding noncommercial items that meet Environmental Conservation; Ashe said in New York. international cooperation. specific requirements) can be and noted celebrities. imported, the United States prohibits commercial imports and

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Frog Slog: Volunteers Work to Protect surveys [with biological staff] since 2009, the number of were enjoyable and interesting egg masses counted hasn’t Oregon Spotted Frog field days, but this felt like gone down.” participating in an event. arch is usually the time Washington to lend a hand… The enthusiasm of all our The refuge has made Mwhen Oregon spotted frogs and an eye! The first egg mass fellow volunteers and the lead many changes to its water lay their eggs in the wetlands locations were documented biologists is infectious!” management, beginning in of south central Washington at in 1997, which led to a more 2013, and those changes Conboy Lake National Wildlife intensive survey effort in 1998. Ten-year-old Maddie Engler, the appear to be paying off. Refuge. It’s also the time daughter of a Service staffer, also volunteers and staff do the These surveys have occurred came to hunt for eggs. She says The counts, and seeing many “frog slog”—walking slooowly annually since that time through what keeps her going when she more juvenile and adult frogs through knee-to-thigh-deep the commitment of dozens of is finding few egg masses and during the egg surveys this year, water, in line with your neighbors volunteers and agency staff. working in cold wet weather raise hope that there will be to count any submerged egg The volunteer contribution is conditions is that she believes future increases in egg masses. masses you see. Depending on essential to providing the data she is helping animals survive. “Females that were eggs in 2013 the day, they can be hard to spot! the Service needs to effectively “I love animals and I often spend should be breeding for the first manage the Oregon spotted lots of time thinking about how time in 2016” Wilson says. “More As one volunteer put it, “The frog into the future. I can help them. I want to be a frogs should equal more eggs.” search for egg masses is long vet when I grow up, just to save and arduous. They are few Gina King, biologist for the animals’ lives. The frog surveys The promise of more frogs is and far between. When you do Yakama Confederated Tribes, are a great way to help.” what keeps everyone coming happen upon one, the experience participated in this year’s slog. back to Conboy Lake; that, is eggs-traordinary!!” Biologists such as Refuge and the great company while “I really enjoyed being part of Manager Lisa Wilson use survey counting them.

BILL TYLAR GREENE/USFWS The Oregon spotted frog, listed as the big, diverse group of people results to help make better threatened under the Endangered coming from all across Oregon management decisions and Species Act, is a species unique and Washington to play a part in evaluate past actions. “This TAYLOR GOFORTH, External Affairs, to the Northwest. Its range conserving these frogs. Past year,” she says, “for the first time Pacific Region stretches from southwestern British Columbia through the Puget Valley of Washington to the Klamath Basin in southern Volunteers perform the frog slog at Oregon. It has disappeared from Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge. as much as 90 percent of this range and is suspected to be extinct in California and Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The species has been heavily impacted by loss and degradation of wetland habitat, introduced non-native species such as bull frogs and changes to hydrology.

The Service , in collaboration with Dr. Marc Hayes, has been studying the Oregon spotted frog at Conboy Lake since 1995. Since then, volunteers have come from all over northern Oregon and BILL GOFORTH

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 3 news

Recovery in Action: Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Return to Yosemite

Forest was reintroducing them to Despite these efforts, threats Yosemite and Sequoia National such as predation by mountain Parks. This release marks lions decreased the population an important milestone for to about 122 animals by 1999. In Sierra bighorn because the 1999, CDFW upgraded the status subspecies now occupies all of Sierra bighorn to state endan- areas considered essential for gered, and the Service listed it recovery. And Sierra bighorn as federally endangered. now occupy a historic portion of their range—Yosemite National In 2007, the Service and CDFW Park — for the first time in more finalized the Recovery Plan than 100 years. for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep. The ultimate goal of At one time, Sierra bighorn could the recovery plan is to attain be found along the crest of the population sizes and geographic Sierra Nevada from the Sonora distribution that assures the Pass area south to Olancha Peak long-term viability of the Sierra and even west of the Kern River. bighorn. The plan also identifies The number of Sierra bighorn the now-occupied areas, before settlement is unknown, but spanning the historic range of there were likely thousands of the subspecies, considered animals. Following immigration of essential for recovery. European settlers to the area, the STEVE BUMGARDNER/YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY population began to drop. This Since listing, recovery efforts decline has been attributed to led by CDFW have increased ighorn sheep capture-and- Releasing Sierra bighorn ewes into unregulated hunting and disease the number of Sierra bighorn Brelease events are always Yosemite National Park’s Cathedral spread by livestock, specifically to more than 600 animals. exciting no matter how many Range. domestic sheep. times you are lucky enough The story of the Sierra bighorn to participate. Before the By the 1970s, the population of highlights the success of the first bighorn sheep arrive at The endangered bighorn Sierra bighorn had dwindled to Endangered Species Act, but it basecamp, almost everyone sheep that arrived at basecamp about 250 animals. These animals also demonstrates how many is quiet — listening for the in Yosemite National Park’s made up three populations in just years it can take to recover a helicopter. The noise signals Cathedral Range in March were a two areas located at the southern listed species. Even now, Sierra the arrival of bighorn sheep, and unique subspecies — the Sierra end of their range. In an effort to bighorn face threats, so the the sight of the helicopter, its Nevada bighorn sheep (or Sierra increase the size and distribution population cannot be considered precious cargo dangling below it, bighorn) — that occur only in the of the population, CDFW began recovered. However, the tireless sends everyone into action. Sierra Nevada. A multiagency a translocation program in 1979 work of dedicated state and effort involving the Service; the where Sierra bighorn from federal employees, researchers, California Department of Fish existing large populations were and nonprofit organizations and Wildlife (CDFW); Yosemite, reintroduced to areas within its ensures the path toward Sequoia and Kings Canyon historic range. recovery. National Parks; and Inyo National ERIN NORDIN, Ecological Services, Pacific Southwest Region

4 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 news

‘No Way to Treat a Bus,’ But Greater Sage-grouse Benefit

n April 7, a bus pulled out of Odowntown Salt Lake City, Utah, loaded with 18 journalists on a field trip through America’s sagebrush country to learn about the greater sage-grouse and the remarkable conservation effort Getting underway to conserve healthy reporters sagebrush ecosystems. out into nature was key in the During the following week, the institute. Sagebrush Country Institute rolled through five western states and 1,826 miles, some of them on dirt tracks so rough that the driver quipped, “This is no way to treat a bus.”

Abused buses are par for the THEO STEIN/USFWS course for the Institute of Journalism and Natural them would have been able litigant against the Service; anti- This was the first time that the Resources (IJNR), a Montana- to put together on their own. public lands grazing activist Service had partnered with IJNR based nonprofit that has hosted Policymakers included Western Watersheds Project; and and the hope is that the increased more than 60 field trips for more Undersecretary of the Big Game Forever, a Utah group accuracy, depth and perspective than 800 journalism “fellows” Department of the Interior Jim generally critical of the Service in news coverage generated representing more than 350 Lyons, Utah Division of Wildlife and federal sage-grouse conser- by these journalists will help different news outlets since 1995. Resources Greg Sheehan and vation efforts. to promote greater public The Sagebrush Country Institute Colorado grouse “czar” John awareness of the species and the followed IJNR’s successful Swartout. Reporters got face The real value of the IJNR model ecosystem, creating a better- model: a diverse set of journalists time with premier sage-grouse is that it gets journalists into the informed civic discourse and embarking on a series of field biologists such as the Service’s outdoors to experience the more informed decision-making. visits, meetings and discussion National Sage-Grouse places where issues are being forums with state and federal Coordinator Pat Deibert, retired played out first-hand. On a chilly One month after the institute’s regulators, scientists, ranchers, Idaho Fish and Game biologist morning, they watched more than conclusion, the Service had industry officials, lawmakers and Jack Connelly and San Stiver of 170 male sage-grouse lekking, tracked more than a dozen good local citizens to provide a the Western Association of Fish or dancing to attract a mate, in stories so far, with several more thorough understanding of and Wildlife Agencies, to name a northwestern Colorado. From in various stages of development. greater sage-grouse conser- few. Tim Griffiths of the Sage Trappers’ Point in Wyoming, they At the very least, a group of vation. The Service was the Grouse Initiative, a partnership of could see how migrating mule talented and diverse reporters largest funder of the Sagebrush ranchers, agencies, universities, deer and pronghorn have to pick now better understand the many Institute. nonprofit groups and businesses their way through development complicated angles of one of the that support conservation through on their long seasonal trek to most important conservation “This really was an epic institute ranching, led a set of private- higher-elevation summering stories of our time — and they in many ways,” says IJNR CEO lands discussions, joined by grounds. Fellows toured the can tell the story to their readers Dave Spratt. “I see a lot of biologists and ranchers from Jonah Field, one of the 10 largest across the country. potential interaction between Colorado, Wyoming and Nevada. natural gas fields in the country, IJNR and FWS in the future.” visited the site of the planned An important aspect of all INJR’s Chokecherry/Sierra Madre THEO STEIN, External Affairs, On the tour, the journalists had field trips is to include speakers Wind farm, and peered down Mountain-Prairie Region access to a speaker list far more from all sides of an issue. Among Newmont’s Emigrant Mine, an comprehensive than any one of the presenters were the Center active gold mine near Elko, for Biological Diversity, a frequent Nevada.

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 5 news

Protecting Sea Turtles with Wildlife-friendly Lighting

ive years ago at the end of That’s because sea turtles Santa Rosa Island Authority and is singing their praises. W.A. FApril, the nation got the devas- typically hatch at night and are Escambia County partnered “Buck” Lee, Santa Rosa Island tating news — BP’s Deepwater drawn to the light of the moon with the trustees to complete Authority executive director, says Horizon oil rig had exploded and and stars as it is reflected off the this project. Twenty-one 35-foot public reaction to the lights so was spewing oil into the Gulf of ocean. The bright white lights of concrete light poles, each far has been positive. “Everyone Mexico. As Service personnel coastal development can cause bearing 250-watt bulbs have been here is turtle-friendly. So we’re were lining up to support the hatchlings to get turned around. replaced with 38 shorter poles, happy these lights will help immense response effort, the Amber-colored LEDs greatly most bearing four 100-watt turtles. We’re also happy that evening news was delivering reduce this effect on sea turtles. LED light fixtures. That makes while the lighting helps turtles, an unending stream of While LEDs have been available the lighting at the beach’s the lighting is actually better gut-wrenching reports. Eleven at home improvement stores for parking lot significantly more for people.” people died and millions of a while, it wasn’t until recently turtle-friendly. barrels of oil poured into the that a manufacturer was able to Gulf of Mexico. produce a commercially appli- While sea turtles have yet to NANCIANN REGALADO, Natural cable amber LED and fixture that express their opinion of the lights, Resource Damage Assessment, The Deepwater Horizon Natural is certified as wildlife friendly. a substantial human fan club Southeast Region Resource Damage Assessment trustees have worked to uncover “Sea turtle eyes are adapted how the Gulf environment and its to see underwater where they wildlife were injured. At the same spend most of their lives,” time, the trustees have been according to Ben Frater, a trying to restore injured Service restoration biologist and resources to their pre-spill the project manager for the turtle condition. lighting project. “They don’t have the ability to see amber or red Sea turtles were one of the wavelengths, so they simply don’t many kinds of wildlife oiled and see the light coming from the New LED light fixtures killed by the Deepwater Horizon LEDs. That’s why these LEDs make Casino Beach on disaster. Two years ago, the don’t attract the sea turtles.” Florida’s Santa Rosa trustees approved an early- Island more restoration project helping Frater adds that the LEDs are turtle-friendly. nesting sea turtles by replacing more efficient than the old land-based white lights with lighting; they will cost a fraction amber light-emitting diodes of traditional lighting to operate (LEDs). The $4.4 million project and maintain, and they’re will change lighting in many expected to last 15 years. nesting locations along the Florida and Alabama coasts. Sea turtles hit the jackpot at Casino Beach Lighting may not seem important One of the first phases of the to tourists and other beach project was completed at the visitors, but it can make all the Casino Beach parking lot, a difference in determining the public beach on Florida’s Santa future of sea turtle hatchlings. Rosa Island. Gulf Power, the USFWS

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20 Years of Safe Harbors

ed-cockaded woodpeckers Since that first SHA, 10 similar Rare just one of many species SHAs for the woodpecker are protected as endangered or now in place from pine stands in threatened under the Endangered southeastern Virginia to the Species Act (ESA) that are helped longleaf forests of east Texas. by Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA), an innovative conservation The success of the red-cockaded tool to encourage voluntary woodpecker SHA program has conservation actions for listed helped spark the development of species by private property 98 active SHAs across 5.2 million owners. The cooperation of acres that maintain and improve property owners is essential existing habitat for 83 other listed to help these species recover species of animals and plants, because more than two-thirds Red-cockaded or restore habitat and facilitate of the habitat for listed species woodpeckers have been reintroduction of a species that in the United States is found big beneficiaries of Safe has been lost. For example, a on privately owned and Harbor Agreements. multi-state black-footed ferret

managed land. ERIC SPADGENSKE/USFWS SHA has facilitated the reintro- duction of this species, thought This year marks the 20th Ten landowners have to be extinct in the wild until anniversary of the program, accepted 260 captive- 1981. Ten landowners have which eases a big concern raised black-footed stepped forward to accept some property owners have ferrets on their property 260 captive-raised ferrets on about supporting or attracting through a Safe Harbor 109,211 acres of ranching land listed species on their properties: Agreement. through this SHA. potential property-use restric- tions related to the ESA SHAs help both to maintain in the future. habitat for a species that currently inhabits private property Under an SHA, participating and to reintroduce species, such property owners can contribute as the Oregon chub and Northern to the recovery of listed species aplomado falcon. And they’re not on non-federal lands without limited to lands managed by fear. They receive formal assur- individuals; county and state ances from the Service that if lands and corporate property RYAN HAGERTY/USFWS RYAN they fulfill the conditions of the can be enrolled, too. Only SHA, the Service will not require federal lands cannot be enrolled any additional or different management, prescribed burning The first SHA was for the in a SHA. management activities by the and control of invasive species. red-cockaded woodpecker participants without their Landowners are also allowed to in the Sandhills region of North Although Safe Harbor is a Service consent. return the property to the Carolina. It was created because program, many partners such baseline conditions that existed of the negative public sentiment as states, cities, other federal An SHA also allows for ‘take’ before the agreement was signed about this endangered species agencies and non-governmental should the species be inadver- once an SHA expires. near Fort Bragg, a 161,000-acre organizations help administer tently harmed by agreed-upon Army installation that has a these voluntary agreements. conservation actions or land significant population of management, such as timber red-cockaded woodpeckers. The success of SHAs across the country is the result of the many creative partnerships that form to help property owners “do good things” for listed species that make use of their lands.

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 7 news

Recovery Efforts Bring Endangered Fox Back from the Brink of Extinction in Record Time

he island fox is known Because bald eagles primarily Tand loved as a symbol prey on fish, smaller birds or DAN RICHARDS/NPS and important member of the carrion, they posed little threat to Channel Islands ecosystem. But island foxes. However, golden in recent history, these 12-inch eagles are terrestrial hunters and tall relatives of the mainland gray prey mainly on small rodents and (Top) A Santa Cruz fox faced extinction. In the late mammals. Island fox roams across 1990s, island fox populations on the terrain of Santa Cruz San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa On Santa Rosa Island, the island Island. (Right) Service Cruz and Santa Catalina — four fox population dropped from staff, in partnership of the six Channel Islands they more than 1,700 in 1994 to only with Institute for Wildlife inhabit — plummeted to near- 15 by 2000. During the same Studies, conduct health catastrophic levels The foxes timeframe, island fox numbers assessment on an island on each island are a separate on Santa Cruz and San Miguel fox pup during annual subspecies. islands dropped from more than monitoring efforts. 1,400 to 55 and 450 to 15, respec- LITTLE/USFWS A. On Santa Catalina Island, the tively. By 2000, these four island island fox population fell from fox populations had declined by more than 1,300 in 1994 to about more than 90 percent and were 100 by 2000. The decline was estimated to have a 50 percent Now, less than two decades later, In March, the Service began likely caused by canine distemper chance of extinction over the these Channel Island fox popula- reviews to determine whether virus, likely transmitted by a next five to 10 years. tions are thriving. any or all of the island fox raccoon that arrived from the subspecies warrant reclassifi- mainland. Conservation partners, including Surveys conducted in 2012 and cation or removal from the the Service, the National Park 2013 estimate about 600 island federal List of Endangered and Foxes on San Miguel, Santa Rosa Service, The Nature Conservancy foxes on San Miguel, nearly 900 Threatened Wildlife. and Santa Cruz — the northern and Catalina Island Conservancy, on Santa Rosa, and more than Channel Islands — faced an immediately came together to 1,000 each on Santa Cruz and The Service also announced the equally daunting threat: predation recommend emergency action. Santa Catalina. publication of the final Recovery by non-native golden eagles. A captive breeding program, Plan for the four subspecies Golden eagles took up residence initiated in 1999, played an “Due to the remarkable success of island fox, which serves as on the northern Channel Islands integral role in recovery efforts. of the Endangered Species a blueprint for conservation after breeding bald eagles disap- Golden eagles and their Act, recovery actions by land partners and land managers peared in the 1950s because of non-native prey bases were managers and conservation to prevent or address threats the effects of the pesticide DDT. removed from the northern partners have brought these to island fox subspecies, and The presence of non-native Channel Islands, and bald eagles endangered island fox ensure the subspecies’ species such as feral pigs, and were re-established to their subspecies back from the brink, long-term viability in the wild. the absence of bald eagles, historic territories. Foxes were in what has the potential to be enabled golden eagles to colonize also vaccinated to prevent the the fastest population rebound “This is not only a story of the islands in the 1990s. spread of canine distemper. And due to recovery actions and ESA recovery, but a story of the power in 2004, the Service designated protections for any mammal in of a dedicated team of conserva- “Island foxes are diurnal, island foxes endemic to San the United States,” said Steve tionists, biologists and scientists,” meaning they are active both day Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz Henry, field supervisor of the McMorran says. “With the and night, so they were easy prey and Santa Catalina islands as Service’s Ventura Fish and unwavering dedication of our for the golden eagles that took up federally endangered under the Wildlife Office, at an island fox partners, near tragedy has residence,” says Service biologist Endangered Species Act (ESA). press conference at Channel become a true recovery success Robert McMorran. Islands National Park this spring. story for the island fox.”

ASHLEY SPRATT, External Affairs, Pacific Southwest Region

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Vandenberg Air Force Base Recognized for Excellence in Natural Resource Conservation

andenberg Air Force Base operated by Air Force Space V(AFB) encompasses 42 miles Command’s 30th Space Wing. of some of the most pristine It is the only military base in central California coastline and the United States from which habitat types from coastal dunes unmanned government and and chaparral to wetlands and commercial satellites are freshwater marshes. Located launched into polar orbit. Built 160 miles northwest of Los on what were once rural ranch Angeles, California, the 99,579- lands, Vandenberg AFB stands as acre base provides habitat for the third largest Air Force base in 18 federally threatened or the United States. endangered species. Vandenberg AFB is committed to Vandenberg AFB’s dedication and conducting its military mission exceptional leadership in conser- while protecting and enhancing vation efforts to protect and the environment. This includes BIERCE/USFWS PAM support species recovery on restoring habitat for species from military land earned the instal- the federally endangered beach federally endangered El Segundo The Vandenberg AFB team with lation recognition as the 2015 layia, an herb belonging to the blue butterflies across more its award. Military Conservation Partner by sunflower family, and protecting than 1, 200 acres on-base and the Service. one of the largest breeding sites extended their monitoring for the Pacific Coast population efforts to include adjacent state- “By supporting threatened and of the federally threatened managed lands. In partnership volunteer opportunities, including endangered species recovery, Western snowy plover. with the California Conservation beach cleanups, summer school actively leading and contributing Corps, Air Force staff planted field trips, fishing days and to habitat restoration activities, Species habitat conservation more than 4,500 native plants docent programs. and building the scientific efforts are guided by the base’s across 16 acres to provide foundation for future conser- Integrated Natural Resources additional habitat for these and During the award ceremony, vation efforts both on and off Management Plan and conducted other pollinators. The base also Colonel Keith Balts, commander base lands, the 30th Space Wing in coordination with the Service, monitors monarch butterfly sites of the 30th Space Wing, empha- at Vandenberg Air Force Base is the National Marine Fisheries and contributes to multi-partner sized the importance of good leading the way for proactive Service and the California efforts to identify and enhance stewardship of the environment. conservation efforts on military Department of Fish and Wildlife. monarch habitat across important lands,” says Pacific Southwest migratory routes. “Whether we are launching Region Deputy Regional Director In 2014, Air Force staff and rockets, doing minor construction Alexandra Pitts. partners successfully restored The base also restored 300 acres projects, cleaning up unexploded 50 acres of coastal beach and of habitat for the federally endan- ordnance, or someday even Nationwide, military installations dune habitat to benefit at-risk gered Lompoc yerba santa plant landing rockets back on our have become important partners coastal species including the and contributed to a Santa Ynez location, we are going to keep the in natural resource conservation, Western snowy plover and River watershed study to help environment in mind,” Balts said. and the Military Conservation California least tern. Already this map floodplains and conduct “We know we are just borrowing Partner award annually honors a year, biologists on base have hydrological analysis to better the land for a short time in its military installation whose efforts documented 17 Western snowy manage water resources. geological history, and we want represent significant conser- plover nests at the restoration to make sure we do that right.” vation accomplishments site where last year there was In addition to on-the-ground achieved in partnership with the none. This coastal restoration restoration activities, research Service and other conservation effort will expand to around and conservation planning, PAM BIERCE and ASHLEY SPRATT, agencies. 300 acres by 2019. the Air Force also engages External Affairs, Pacific Southwest surrounding communities, Region Vandenberg AFB is a space Air Force biologists also imple- including high school students, in launch and landing facility mented surveys to document hands-on outdoor education and

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 9 news

Hunting Tool Leads to Safer Prescribed Burns

ho knew that an American audible alerts if a collar remains Whunting tradition could help still for an extended period of keep wildland firefighters safe? time, indicating a potential problem. Bart Rye, a prescribed fire/fuels technician at St. Marks National The refuge first tested the collars Wildlife Refuge along Florida’s last spring. When a firefighter Gulf Coast, has deer hunted for unfamiliar with the local terrain more than 20 years in nearby inadvertently walked knee-deep national forest using specially into a grass-filled pond while trained hounds that run miles at a igniting a burn, he became time. The way he tracks his seven temporarily disoriented in dogs gave him an idea for better vegetation over his head. The monitoring his co-workers in GPS device showed the super- heavy forest on the 70,000-acre visor his exact location, so he refuge. could be verbally directed out of harm’s way. In February, a In these southeastern longleaf helicopter conducting aerial pine forests, it is easy to ignition of a 3,800-acre burn become disoriented in thickets on the refuge carried both a of sprawling saw palmetto, collar and a receiver, allowing sinkholes and sawgrass up to immediate location of the aircraft 10 feet high while walking or in case of an accident, as well (Top) The wildland fire crew at St. riding an all-terrain vehicle as easy spotting by the pilot of Marks National Wildlife Refuge in (ATV) during a prescribed fire. crews on the ground. southwest Florida equips its ignition Hard-to-spot stumps can cause specialists, ATVs and helicopter with an especially dangerous situation “Bart’s initiative added a level of GPS transmitter collars to track multiple for vehicles such as dozers and safety that wasn’t there before real-time locations on a single hand-held ATVs along an active fireline. and may very well lead to national unit during prescribed fire operations. implementation,” says John Wildland firefighter Travis Pollard has a Rye suggested that his fire crew Segar, Chief of the Service’s red collar on his back. (Right) The GPS carry GPS transmitter collars, like Branch of Fire Management, collars are ready for use. those worn by his hunting dogs, who recently presented Rye so fireline supervisors could more with the Service’s second annual easily locate multiple firefighters, National Fire Safety Award for vehicles and aircraft during his suggestion. “This system is prescribed burns over large off-the-shelf and simple to The refuge is a mecca for bird areas. Rye has used the GPS operate.” watchers, supporting more than system with his dogs in recent 300 resident and migratory bird years, in place of older radio The refuge bought a transmitting species, including the wintering telemetry collars, like those used collar for each prescribed endangered Whooping crane. to tag wildlife. fire crew member, and two It is also home to the historic hand-held receivers for the St. Marks Lighthouse, still in use Current GPS technology allows fireline supervisors. after more than 170 years. a user to visually track up to 20 moving targets with distinct St. Marks conducts 40–50 KAREN MIRANDa, National Wildlife colors and symbols on a single prescribed burns a year, Refuge System, Headquarters hand-held receiver screen. The averaging 300–400 acres in size, GPS data refresh every five to reduce the risk of wildfire seconds, and the receiver lets out and maintain wildlife habitat.

10 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 news

Service Biologist Leroy Koch Talks Mussels The Natural World through the Eyes of a Child with Prince Charles f you’ve been to the National Each child selected letter beads IWildlife Refuges Visitor Center to spell out their names so on Roanoke Island in eastern everyone would know which stick North Carolina any Friday belonged to which child and then morning between 10 and 11, you tried the sticks out on a walk with might have been met by a troupe Visitor Services Specialist Cindy of toddlers making their way from Heffley. the classroom to the nature trail behind the building. The children used the sticks to roll over logs to look for anything The Preschool Young Naturalist that might be moving. Once Program, which combines found, the critters were carefully story time, craft-making and a placed in a “bug box”to be discovery hike, has been meeting viewed through a magnifying for more than two years and has lens. attracted both local children and visitors to the Outer Banks. Many of the children enjoyed

GORDON GARNER, KENTUCKY WATERWAYS ALLIANCE GORDON GARNER, KENTUCKY WATERWAYS Many of the children have been holding the bug box…especially attending since the program’s when it held slugs! here are only six mussel Koch later sent Prince Charles, inception and have continued to Tspecies in the United Kingdom via Brown, a couple of books use the skills learned when they After everyone has had a chance USFWS compared to more than 300 in about mussels that were donated are away from the program. to get a close view of the bug, it is the United States, yet Leroy Koch by their authors: North American carefully placed back in its home (left, with Prince Charles), a Freshwater Mussels: Natural Recently, the children designed and the log rolled back in place. biologist in the Kentucky Field History, Ecology, and walking sticks to be used on Office, and Prince Charles share Conservation by Wendell Haag hikes. Walking sticks were intro- The caregivers and parents common interests in conservation and The Freshwater Mussels of duced to the children more than tell how much the experience has and mussels. Ohio by Thomas Watters, Mike a year ago, and many of the helped the children to appreciate Hoggarth and David Stansbery. children had outgrown their the natural world around them. Koch met Prince Charles at a He also sent Prince Charles a original walking sticks. private reception in March at children’s book Russell the CINDY HEFFLEY, National Wildlife the home of Christina Brown, Mussel by Adele Conover, A casual visitor may have viewed Refuge System, Southeast Region who is involved in the nonprofit Richard Biggins and Richard the classroom as chaotic, but Kentucky Waterways Alliance. Neves. from the chaos came beautiful Prince Charles visited Louisville designs. that day for several events on “It was a real treat to be able to Preschoolers created walking sticks. sustainability. say I shook hands with Prince

Charles and actually had some USFWS Koch told Prince Charles about time, although very brief, to talk the spectacle case mussel, which about mussels,” Koch says. has a British connection. Its “He only was at the reception scientific name is Cumberlandia about 30 minutes, so any time monodonta, and the name at all with him was special. I “Cumberlandia” came from the really appreciate Ms. Brown’s

USFWS Cumberland River and region in thinking of mussels and myself as southeastern Kentucky. An early warranting Prince Charles’ time, explorer, Dr. Thomas Walker, is even if very briefly.” credited with discovering and naming the Cumberland Gap and ELSIE DAVIS, External Affairs, Cumberland River in 1750. He Southeast Region used the name Cumberland after the Duke of Cumberland, who was a son of King Edward II. Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 11 spotlight

Gatherer of Duck Data / 14 A Lamprey Legacy / 16 Operation Warfighter Intern / 18 Satellite technology informs redhead As his dad did, Tim Sullivan fights the sea Don Wilson lends a hand to protect the beauty conservation on the Texas Gulf Coast lamprey invasion around San Diego by CRAIG SPRINGER by JOANNA GILKESON by LISA COX

GEORGE GENTRY/USFWS

12 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 spotlight

When one thinks of people working in the Service, the mind probably goes to the scientists and others out in the field — conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Indeed, several of the profiles in this section WHO feature such scientists. ut the more than 8,500 men and women Brepresenting a diverse range of backgrounds and specialties are united not by similar jobs but || || by a single-minded commitment to keep the wild is the things and wild places of our world around for future generations.

Yes, that requires biologists, hydrologists, refuge managers, rangers and other natural resource specialists. But the Service needs many other FISH AND skills to get the job of conservation done. Fire managers and wildland firefighters protect and enhance Service lands. Outdoor recreation planners educate and engage the community. Special agents and wildlife inspectors enforce wildlife laws throughout the United States. Maintenance workers WILDLIFE and mechanics do everything from creating trails to installing wiring.

In offices nationwide, realty specialists appraise and negotiate for land that the Service acquires. Natural resource economists provide critical analysis. SERVICE? Computer specialists support both the scientific and administrative activities of the Service. External by MATT TROTT Affairs specialists share information about Service activities to the media, Congress, key stakeholders and the public. Administrative employees track The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: budget and expenditures, greet visitors, and more. This is just a small list of the many professions in Conserving the Nature of America the Service. Conservation is a huge job, but the Service — along with its many partners — is ready.

MATT TROTT, External Affairs, Headquarters

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 13 spotlight

GATHERER of DUCK DATA Satellite technology informs redhead conservation on the Texas Gulf Coast by CRAIG SPRINGER USFWS

The redhead is arguably among the handsomest of e’s as much a geographer as he is a wildlife biologist. For HCollins, a scientist in the Service’s Division of Migratory waterfowl. That is of course a matter of opinion. But Birds in Albuquerque, New Mexico, avian fauna are his forte. here’s a fact: Eighty percent of all North American With research into redheads in south Texas, he is waist-deep in remote-sensing—using photovoltaic cells, GPS and Doppler redheads spend their winters concentrated along the radar to find and follow the position of ducks. The technology lower Gulf Coast of Texas in the Laguna Madre. The birds lends an amazing advantage in learning how birds behave and how wildlife managers can make better informed decisions have an affinity for, if not an obligation to, freshwaters for the bird.

near salty shores. They feed on shoalgrass in the Laguna For Collins, who has earned three degrees in wildlife and fly inland to purge excess salts. Redheads, like most management and biology, culminating in a Ph.D. from Stephen F. Austin University in east Texas, birds are a way of life. He birds that feed in saltwater, have a salt gland near the studies them and he hunts them—turkey, waterfowl and upland. eye that excretes excess salts ingested while feeding. A stringer of northern shoveler, and green-wing and blue-wing teal are preserved in a beautiful taxidermy mount on his office It is essential that salt be purged daily in freshwater wall from a memorable hunt years ago. Five steps away, two ponds. And knowing the array of habitats frequented by computer monitors sport spreadsheets and maps with real-time satellite imagery—all duck data. the bird during south Texas winter sojourns is essential for Dan Collins. To the uninitiated, the map is a meager representation of the tip of Texas with blue dots scattered about. Other dots concentrate in clusters. The dots tell a story and inform the future. It’s the

14 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 spotlight

Dan Collins works with Sandhill cranes. A redhead with a transmitter. USFWS

dots — superimposed with waterfowl dive to find food. Each tag isn’t “New, smaller tags are coming online that habitat data: freshwater lagoons, salt cheap — about $3,700 a piece — so birds should allow us to tag more birds,” Collins marshes and fields, some studded with are not tagged en masse, but the quality says. With more data from more birds, wind-energy turbines—that tell the tale. of the information is worth the expense. females included, the picture of habitat Each dot represents a redhead caught in use should become clearer. With what’s a moment in time unknowingly sending Having virtually followed redheads for been acquired via remote-sensing thus far, a signal into the ethereal black of space a season, the data show the birds have wildlife managers are better equipped— to a satellite. The satellite relays the an aversion to wind turbines. “We’ve much more informed—to steer waterfowl information back to the ground for Collins documented turbine avoidance,” says conservation and seek answers to new and collaborating researchers at Texas Collins. “It’s good they don’t fly into them, questions. This much is clear already: A&M University-Kingsville, to see. It’s but there’s more to it. The turbines affect “The data revealed what areas are the time and space in between each data habitat use, they seem to displace birds, important for conservation outside of the point that reveal what ducks do on their and that could lead to birds leaving wind farms,” says Collins, “and where best winter grounds. wintering habitat in poorer condition.” to engage our partners—where habitat enhancement and restoration would be Tiny photo cells charge the small Redheads arriving on their summer most beneficial for the birds going transmitters attached to the ducks. They breeding grounds in Canada, the Dakotas forward.” need four hours of sunlight per week to and Montana less fit could make the bird operate effectively. The tags emit signals less successful on the nest. That remains very much like the GPS function on a an unknown. Only large males were CRAIG SPRINGER, Fish and Aquatic Conservation. smartphone, except these tags have tagged in this present research, says Craig is based in the Southwest Region to endure the rigors of flight and the Collins—birds that could physically pressure of water given that redheads handle the tags.

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 15 spotlight

a LAMPREY LEGACY

As his dad did, Tim Sullivan fights the sea lamprey invasion

by JOANNA GILKESON JOANNA GILKESON/USFWS JOANNA GILKESON/USFWS

A single adult sea lamprey Tim Sullivan, or “Sully,” is no ordinary Service employee. can kill up to 40 pounds of fish each year. Since he can remember, Sullivan’s dream job was to be a biologist with the Service’s Sea Lamprey Control Program and help preserve the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem through controlling this invasive species — the mission of the Sea Lamprey Control Program.

ullivan is a second-generation sea lamprey control employee and has Sa special connection to the program. The program was established in 1956, and Sullivan’s father was part of the original team. Sullivan describes his father as a “pioneer” in the program, working on the front lines developing control and treatment techniques. Tim now holds the same position his father did — treatment supervisor. For him, this is not just a job; it is his legacy, supported by teamwork and a strong sense of mission and passion. Sullivan’s father worked in the Service’s Marquette office and eventually helped to establish and start the Ludington office for sea lamprey control. Sullivan now works out of the Ludington office.

16 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 spotlight

Tim Sullivan, “Sully,” Sea lamprey has been with the latched onto a Sea Lamprey lake trout. Control Program for 29 years.

THE SEA LAMPREY IS A PREDATORY FISH that attaches to host fish and feeds on the blood and body fluids. A single adult sea lamprey can kill up to 40 pounds of fish each year over its 12- to 18-month feeding period. Accidental introduction into the Great Lakes caused great damage to the native fish population, such as lake trout. The Service implemented a massive chemical control effort in the 1950s and by the early 1960s had reduced the abundance of sea lampreys by 90 percent.

While total elimination of sea lamprey populations from the Great Lakes is unlikely, continued chemical treatments along with new technologies and techniques such as mechanical and electrical barriers are leading to increasingly healthier fish populations.

Sullivan got his start studying fisheries in Ludington offices work with Canada’s Sullivan makes a point to end on this note: college. He graduated from Lake Superior Fisheries and Oceans Canada as a “I am very fortunate to be a team member State University in Michigan with a B.S. team. The two countries plan treatment here. No one is more or less important in fisheries and wildlife management, and schedules together and support each other than others on the team. I’m very lucky spent a few years bouncing back and forth during treatments. and we all support each other.” between the public and private sector before he finally ended up in the Sea Sullivan says that during a treatment, you From just one interaction, it is apparent Lamprey Control Program 29 years ago. do whatever it takes to get the job done. A that Sullivan is dedicated to the mission, single sea lamprey treatment is typically his team and the legacy of protecting the Sullivan is as humble as he is experienced. around 10 days in the field. The staff Great Lakes, all while working in his When asked what his favorite part of the conduct pre-treatment assessments and dream career field. job was, he speaks endlessly about the determine treatment logistics specific to a teamwork and partnerships that make single stream and then spend three to five this work possible and successful. “It is a days treating the streams. “I have very JOANNA GILKESON, External Affairs, challenging, yet very rewarding job. It talented people on the team. It takes Midwest Region takes teamwork, and it’s good to know a lot of people to manage, steer and adjust our team is working together to save the treatment as weather conditions the Great Lakes fish from sea lamprey.” are constantly changing,” Sullivan says. Sullivan describes the Sea Lamprey Whether this means working an overnight Control Program as a “border-blind shift or a double shift, the team goes the program” in which the Marquette and extra mile.

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 17 spotlight

OPERATION WARFIGHTER INTERN

Don Wilson lends a hand to protect the beauty around San Diego

story and photos by LISA COX

OPERATION WARFIGHTER Don Wilson: “Teaching Over the past 20 years with the U.S. Navy, veteran is an internship program for the children about the importance of protecting Donald Wilson, a security/anti-terrorism specialist, military service members who are the environment was also has been deployed to the Middle East five times, the convalescing at military treatment the most rewarding thing, facilities throughout the United because hey, it’s up to Mediterranean and Guantanamo Bay, and he has been States. The program offers them after we’re old and stationed at seven permanent duty stations around the recuperating service members gray.” an opportunity to build their United States and overseas. During his time on medical resumes, explore employment limited duty at Balboa Naval Medical Center in San interests, develop job skills and Diego, he was introduced to San Diego National Wildlife gain valuable work experience. Refuge Complex by his case manager for Operation Warfighter.

18 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 spotlight

(Left) Don Wilson helps out at Anza Elementary in El Cajon, California. (Right) He helps maintain a small restoration site at San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters.

was outside. “I absolutely love nature. Growing up in southeastern Minnesota, there were a lot of forests around, and my older sister had always said she saw me being a hermit in the woods when I grew up. I just love the nature aspect part of the jobs here, and maybe the longer I progress in the future I could see myself being a supervisor for others.”

As a child, his grandmother taught him how to grow plants in the garden. One day when the little green “weeds” were popping up, his grandma explained they were the vegetables he had planted. “That has always made me appreciate keeping the environment clean, managing what you put into the ground, and ultimately reaping what you sow at the end of the day.”

Wilson not only had a great experience in his monthlong internship but also learned a lot and found healing after his military service. He also hoped that local roject Leader Andy Yuen kicked off refuges. During his stay in San Diego, it commands would jump in on working as PWilson’s stay there with a tour of surprised him to find Service-managed volunteers at the San Diego refuges to the four national wildlife refuges in the lands. “Right off the interstate, you are help those with post-traumatic stress complex — San Diego, San Diego Bay, nestled right here in a gorgeous complex disorder. “I would highly recommend Seal Beach and Tijuana Slough — of several acres of land set aside for our this for volunteers, interns [and] future and soon after, Wilson got to work. wildlife here in southern California. Just Operation Warfighter interns to come going around to the other three refuges, through here and get their hands dirty, if During the internship, he participated in they were equally as beautiful.” you know what I mean, and learn about projects such as reinstalling fencing for what’s out there, so the next generation threatened and endangered birds, and The most rewarding thing to Wilson was can protect this as much as possible.” helping create trails at a Schoolyard working with the staff because, he says, Habitat at Anza Elementary School in it’s really about the people you work with Wilson returned home after his month to El Cajon. He also worked with biologists that make the job, and he was thankful the Winona, Minnesota, area where he and refuge staff in collecting mole crabs to get to know the staff in San Diego. grew up. He joins his wife and two kids on Tijuana Slough Refuge. The crabs were “Teaching the children about the and toy poodle. He plans to pursue careers to be tested for parasites believed to be importance of protecting the environment in industrial manufacturing, wildlife infecting and killing gull-billed terns. was also the most rewarding thing, conservation, or anything that involves because hey, it’s up to them after we’re being outside or working hard with his Wilson learned a lot about wildlife, old and gray.” hands. protected birds, the importance of keeping a healthy ecosystem and protecting If Wilson were to pick a job with the what’s left of the marshes on San Diego’s Service, it would have to be the one that LISA COX, San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Pacific Southwest Region

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 19 spotlight

ANOTHER CENTURY of LIMITLESS OPPORTUNITIES

In talking about “Who is the Fish and Wildlife Service,” it is impossible not to discuss a key priority: helping develop a new generation of conservation professionals — one that reflects the increasing diversity of America itself. It is emphasizing outreach into urban areas, and a partnership with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., will help the Service engage more Americans in a meaningful way. Dr. Mario Brown, International Coordinator of Sigma Beta Clubs, the fraternity’s youth auxiliary, talks about the partnership, which turned 1 in April.

20 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 spotlight

With a model in place, let’s now challenge the Service will continue to provide for ourselves to put it to good use. years to come. In keeping with the fraternity’s mandate of “securing the The membership of Phi Beta Sigma future of our boys and young men of Fraternity, Inc., a predominately African color,” we are vigorously and vibrantly American organization, spans 10 decades focused on making sure that youth are and four continents, and includes members consistently engaged in outdoor recreation of all races, religions, ethnicities and on public lands. nationalities. More than 150,000 men have become members of Phi Beta Sigma We hope that the combined efforts will Fraternity, Inc., over the past 100 years, continue to promote health through represented in more than 700 chapters physical activity and oversee the pursuit across the world. And we have more than of biological sciences careers through 120 Sigma Beta Clubs across the nation stewardship and STEM. We’re also that have been making manhood training happy that Sigma Betas — as citizen for young boys a priority for more than scientists, land stewards and budding 60 years. biologists — will now be an integral part of the conversation as the Service As we envision another century of continues to develop national, regional service, we have heightened our focus and local conservation. on developing our nation’s most valuable asset, the youth, and encourage the Fish I am grateful for this unique opportunity. and Wildlife Service to help us develop our It will provide some necessary exposure to nation’s young men into people who will allow our boys, who rarely participate in care for the nation’s natural resources. such activities that the Service supports, to experience more of what nature has to Of the overall partnership with the Fish teach us about life. and Wildlife Service, Jonathan Mason, our 34th International President, says: “We It is also a call to action to the Sigma are excited for this amazing opportunity to Brotherhood to prepare the next continue our partnership with USFWS in generations of wildlife conservationists, The Service and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., plant engaging our youth through education and following in the footsteps of American trees to commemorate their partnership at Bayou physical activity. We’ve aligned our focus scientist and Sigma member George Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in New Orleans. with President Barack Obama’s “My Washington Carver. Brother’s Keeper” initiative with Phi Beta Sigma’s response initiative “I Am And it is a call to action to Service staff My Brother’s Keeper,” as we take this to work closely with us in this effort to n May 19, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, opportunity to teach our young men that better both serve and reflect the diversity, OInc., and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife food does not come from the box, but from while continuing to fulfill its mission for Service took an important step in our the ground.” the benefit of the American public. partnership to engage urban youth in outdoor recreation and STEM education, The joined forces of Service staff and It is up to us, though — Sigmas and that is, learning in science, technology, Sigma members have forged an Service members alike — to make it engineering and mathematics. excitement among our Sigma Beta Club happen. Conserving the future depends youth members to become environmental on us all. We established a local relationship at stewards already. These future leaders are Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife looking forward to the engagement that Refuge in New Orleans that will stand as the model for increasing our broader partnership efforts.

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 21 spotlight

MEET YOUR

FISH and

WILDLIFE SERVICE SYDNEY WEST

Throughout the country, Fish and Angela Palacios James, a fish biologist Katrina Mueller, a fisheries outreach with the New Mexico Fish and Wildlife coordinator in Alaska, on working with Wildlife Service workers are Conservation Office, on the need to reach kids: “My favorite part is the unexpected dedicated to both doing their jobs the next generation: “Youth today will be moments of excitement. We took some the ones fighting for the survival of our Anchorage urban youth on a fish-focused and to making sure everyone can plethora of species and all our natural field trip and the highlight of the trip connect with nature. Listen to just a resources in the future. There is no easy happened as we pulled into a parking lot answer to environmental issues; they cross that overlooks a rocky beach. To my few Service “voices”: generations. The youth will inherit the surprise, these Alaska kids had never put issues of today, and we need to ensure they their feet in the ocean. They started are aware, [and] have empathy and the screeching in excitement over the crashing knowledge to take on these challenges.” waves and using bits of dead seaweed as pretend-mustaches. It wasn’t on our agenda and I think they’ll remember it for a long time.”

22 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 spotlight

Tamara Johnson, an energy biologist in the Federal Wildlife Officer Christopher David, Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge Georgia Ecological Services Field Office the Pacific Region 2014 Federal Wildlife Administrative Officer Stacey Pacheco, the in Athens, on urban outreach: “Someone Officer of the Year, on his work: “Because first woman to receive certification as a once told me that ‘wisdom begins with of my love for the outdoors and fish and heavy equipment safety instructor on her wonder.’ When it comes to nature, anyone wildlife, it seemed natural to become a two hats: “I love the policy and procedures who has seen a beautiful sunrise or heard federal wildlife officer. When I can catch a kind of work so I can support the guys on a bird sing has a chance to become an poacher or help an injured bald eagle, I the ground, but also know how happy I am environmental steward…Creating open- know I’m making a difference. Wildlife in the maintenance world. So, why not do ended opportunities for urban youth to go belongs to all of us and needs to be both!” outdoors and explore on their own will protected.” give them an ownership over the natural resources they encounter (both in urban and more natural settings) that sinks deeper than just doing a presentation.”

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 23 c o n s e r v i n g JIM RORABAUGH, USFWS

(Top left) Non-native predators threaten the Chiricahua leopard frog. (Above) The Columbia spotted frog is losing wetlands used for feeding, breeding, hibernating and migrating. (Left) A Saratoga National Fish Hatchery biologist feeds captive Wyoming toads live worms. The hatchery was the first unit in the National Fish Hatchery System to become involved in rearing endangered amphibians.

24 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 USFWS c o n s eamphibians r v i n g Why disappearing frogs, salamanders and toads are important, and what’s being done about it

By VALERIE FELLOWS

Amphibians worldwide, including frogs, toads and salamanders, terrestrial ecosystems. Adult amphibians are in decline. Research from 2004 showed that one third of amphibian eat pest insects, including those that species across the globe were threatened with extinction and approximately damage crops or bite humans and spread disease. Amphibians consume aquatic 43 percent were declining. In addition, amphibians on U.S. public lands algae, as well as invertebrates and other vertebrates. In the absence of fish, disappeared from 3.7 percent of the places where they lived each year amphibians are usually the top predators between 2000 and 2010. If that annual decline continues, the world would in freshwater systems. But amphibians are an important food source for numerous witness the disappearance of amphibians from half the places they live in predators, including snakes, fish, birds, about 30 years. mammals, insects and other amphibians. Consequently, amphibians influence the USFWS populations of other species in their mphibians are an old group of safely travel between these areas. ecosystems. Aanimals, existing before and alongside Therefore if a road or a parking lot gets dinosaurs. As a group, amphibians have in the way, it can spell trouble for frogs What is the Service doing to conserve a 350 million-year track record of being or salamanders. amphibians? Numerous research and fairly resilient to environmental changes. conservation initiatives across the country Thus, recent declines raise serious The combination of these biological and internationally are helping better concerns—not only for amphibians but characteristics make amphibians sensitive understand the declines in amphibians and also for the environment. indicators of water quality and general implement conservation actions to help environmental health. It also makes them them recover. Here are a few: Most amphibians use aquatic habitat for vulnerable to some of the changes humans part of their lifecycle, with eggs and have been making to the landscape, such Researching amphibian abnormalities tadpoles that develop in water. Both as building roads and buildings and In 2013, the Service announced the results amphibian eggs and skin are permeable, polluting water. of an unprecedented 10-year study on allowing water and oxygen to pass and be amphibian abnormalities on national absorbed internally. And unlike birds or Current research shows that habitat loss, wildlife refuges. The Service found that mammals, which develop protected in eggs pollution, disease, climate change, on average, less than 2 percent of frogs or the mother’s body, amphibians develop competition with non-native species, and toads sampled on 152 national wildlife in streams and ponds, exposed to whatever parasites, predation, ultraviolet radiation, refuges had physical abnormalities is in these waters. and combinations of these things are all involving the skeleton and eyes—a contributing to the decline of amphibians. lower rate than experts feared based on But most amphibians also need woods or earlier reports. This indicated that the open areas in the uplands, where adults Amphibians play essential roles, both as severe malformations such as missing or complete their lifecycle, and they need to predators and prey, in both aquatic and extra limbs extensively reported in the

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 25 media during the mid-1990s were rare on national wildlife refuges. However, there were a few hot-spot clusters that had higher rates of abnormalities. One of these hot spots was at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

Following up on the hot spots, the Service worked with researchers from Alaska Pacific University and the University of California at Davis to understand how and why Kenai had higher rates of abnormalities. They found that dragonfly larvae attacked wood frog tadpoles 30 minutes sooner and three times more often in warm, slightly polluted water than in cooler, pollution-free environments. The experiment simulated the effects of degraded water quality due to road runoff and climate change. The tadpoles in the experiment spent more time at the surface of the water making it easier for dragonfly larvae to see and attack them. The increased predation supports previous providing tadpoles with a safe, enclosed (Top) The Service’s Sue Cameron, flanked by employees research and could help explain the environment to grow before releasing of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, scans for prevalence of malformed frogs in other them. To combat the nearly overwhelming Eastern hellbenders. (Bottom) Ozark hellbender. national wildlife refuge hotspots. impacts from non-native species on Chiricahua leopard frogs, biologists are Fighting invasive bullfrogs and fish to save working with numerous partners to inform is also underway to increase the the threatened Chiricahua leopard frog and educate the public about non-native understanding of the species and improve The threatened Chiricahua leopard frog species and how to create habitat that or create new habitat to prevent the frog’s can be found in streams, ciénegas, cattle protects the native frog. further decline. ponds and other wetlands in the high valleys and mountains of southeastern Building safe new marshy homes for the For example, a conservation agreement Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, Columbia spotted frog led to the creation of 36 ponds in central and eastern Sonora and western The Great Basin population of Columbia Nevada for the frogs. All ponds have Chihuahua, Mexico. Its main threat is spotted frogs, a candidate species for spotted frogs, and 77 percent have the predation by non-native, introduced Endangered Species Act protection, is breeding activity. In Idaho, a conservation bullfrogs, fish and crayfish. As more found in eastern Oregon, southwestern agreement aims to improve breeding, southern Arizonans build homes closer to Idaho and the northern drainages of foraging, hibernating habitat and natural wetlands and mountain canyons, Nevada. Spotted frogs live in areas with migration corridors for Columbia spotted these non-native pests are escaping abundant flooded vegetation. The largest frogs at Sam Noble Springs, while from garden ponds and golf course lakes known threat to the Columbia spotted allowing continued livestock use on these and spreading to wild areas. Once these frog is habitat change and loss, specifically state lands. In addition, 41 ponds were animals are established, it is very difficult the loss of wetlands used for feeding, built or enhanced on private lands in Idaho and expensive to remove them from breeding, hibernating and migrating. for the frogs. natural wetlands. These original wetland homes were lost for many reasons, including drought, Researching the breeding ability of The Service has been working with a grazing, human development, even the Ozark hellbender wide variety of private and public partners loss of native beavers. Can old hellbenders make new and stakeholders to implement recovery hellbenders? That’s the question Service actions for Chiricahua leopard frog Service biologists are working with biologists are working with partners to conservation. Great strides have been partners to monitor spotted frog answer. The federally endangered Ozark made through captive breeding and head- populations to assess trends in how many hellbender is a large salamander that lives starting programs. Head-starting means there are and where they live. Research under large rocks or in crevices in clear,

26 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 cool spring-fed streams. Populations of the in fields, which can be filled with vacant has just been shown in recent research. Ozark hellbender have declined drastically burrows, but plowing a field destroys the The best defense against this threat is to since the 1970s, and experts are still burrows. pinpoint and manage sites that can offer working to understand the reasons. the best habitat for the most vulnerable Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge in species even as temperature changes. By One potential factor is the sperm health of southeastern Indiana and its partners are combining climate change projections male hellbenders. Endocrine-disrupting working to understand the habitat with information on the natural history compounds, which have been shown to requirements and breeding preference of and distribution of a number of priority

GARY PEEPLES/USFWS alter normal reproductive development in crawfish frogs, a species that is rapidly reptiles and amphibian species, the various aquatic species, have been declining throughout much of its range. North Atlantic Landscape Conservation detected in streams occupied by Ozark While not federally listed as endangered Cooperative-funded Priority Amphibian hellbenders. Although concentrations or threatened, this species is susceptible to and Reptile Conservation Areas project is of these compounds were lower than drastic population declines due to habitat identifying geographic areas that offer the EPA standards to protect aquatic life, loss and alterations (such as plowing over best opportunity to sustain these species biologists questioned whether the the burrows). This frog requires a now and in the future. The resulting presence of these or other undetected combination of grassland habitat, maps will help guide long-term ecological compounds might interfere with successful ephemeral breeding wetlands and crawfish planning and management to ensure that fertilization of eggs. burrows, which limit the number and the North Atlantic region continues to location of reestablishment sites. offer a home for these species, and others, To address this question, the Service’s even if the climate changes. Columbia, Missouri, Ecological Services In an effort to increase population levels Field Office collaborated with the Missouri at Big Oaks, refuge staff initiated a Conserving frogs without borders JEFF BRIGGLER / USFWS Department of Conservation to assess the number of research projects between The Service also administers Amphibians sperm health of wild Ozark hellbenders. 2004 and 2015. Crawfish frogs can lay in Decline, the only federal government Since 2010, Service biologists have approximately 5,000 eggs per pair of program dedicated to funding research captured Ozark hellbenders during the breeding adults, so the opportunity to and conservation of amphibians around breeding season and assessed the rates of help these frogs make a comeback is the world. Through this fund and other motility (percentage of moving cells), tremendous. Initial modeling identified programs, the Service is actively involved viability (percentage of live cells) and focus areas for breeding-pond construction in a number of projects specifically concentration of sperm samples. where quality grassland habitat existed, targeting amphibians. This includes but populations were absent. Combining research in the United States and overseas Preliminary results indicate that Ozark this with the results from an early pilot into the chytrid fungus, widely recognized hellbenders are producing healthy sperm, project investigating how experimentally as one of the most serious and widespread with viability and motility rates drained ponds increased crawfish frog use threats to frogs globally; protection of approaching 100 percent in some and reduced their predator and competitor key habitat for threatened frog species instances. Although causes behind Ozark communities, staff have been better able such as the golden matilla in Madagascar; hellbender declines remain unclear, these to design and construct breeding wetlands invasive species control for species such as results bode well for the species. to improve the management of this the rough moss frog in South Africa; and species. To date, staff have restored and community education programs. One tool to increase the population of installed water level management devices hellbenders is a captive breeding program in 16 new crawfish frog breeding wetlands In addition, April saw the dedication of the at the St. Louis Zoo. in grassland focus areas. Initial monitoring Smithsonian Gamboa Amphibian Rescue of these breeding wetlands has shown Center in Panama, the largest dedicated Keeping burrow homes safe for dwindling newly established populations, increased facility for amphibian conservation in crawfish frogs in indiana breeding adult use and increased numbers Latin America. The Amphibians in Decline The crawfish frog needs a burrow. of juvenile frogs. Fund has made three grants to support Handily, adult crawfish dig the burrows, Smithsonian’s efforts. The first grant was then leave, passing on a cozy home to the Identifying the best sites for amphibians a catalyst that led to major funding from crawfish frog. Once a crawfish frog finds a There is a strong relationship between other sources. burrow it likes, it really moves in. Recent climate and the distribution of species studies on how to conserve this drastically that depend upon external sources of declining frog show that they spend almost heat for survival, like amphibians. So it is VALERIE FELLOWS, Ecological Services, their whole adult lives within a few feet of reasonable to believe that climate change Headquarters their home burrows, which keep them safe may have especially strong effects on from predators. This species likes to live these animals. Indeed this connection

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 27 high-definition conservation The Service and partners are working together to conserve imperiled species in the Upper Tennessee River Basin

by GARY PEEPLES and DAVID EISENHAUER

(Top) Oyster and asually wading the Clinch River in southwest “Our local rivers and streams in the Upper Tennessee Cumberlandian combshell CVirginia, one can’t help but look down and notice River Basin provide us with drinking water, fishing, mussels are set for mussel after mussel dotting the stream bottom. To the swimming, boating, inspiration, and many other release into the Clinch south, in Tennessee’s Citico River, tens of thousands services and opportunities,” Hylton says. “The health River. (Bottom) Searching of buffalo fish congregate each spring for spawning. and well-being of people living within the UTRB for mussels in the South And in the depths of the Tennessee River itself, lake depend upon water quality, as reflected in the area’s Toe River. sturgeon, a fish largely unchanged since the time of aquatic biodiversity. Working to conserve aquatic the dinosaurs, ply the river depths. biodiversity means we will also be working to protect water quality and the interests of citizens.” When we think of river life, for many of us a handful of animals may come to mind — trout, smallmouth Unfortunately, though the basin has an incredible bass, muskie. But the southeastern United States is diversity of stream life, a disappointing number of a hotbed of species diversity. On that landscape, the stream animals there are imperiled — the result of Upper Tennessee River Basin (UTRB), covering dams, water contamination and sedimentation. much of the southern Appalachians, stands out with Of the 172 fish species historically known from the a whopping 255 species of fish and mussels known basin, 13 are on the federal List of Endangered and from the basin. Threatened Wildlife, as are 32 of the 83 historically known mussel species. That means 45 wildlife People do not live apart from the UTRB ecosystem; species are threatened or endangered in a river basin they are connected to it, says Roberta Hylton of the covering an area about the size of West Virginia. Service’s Southwestern Virginia Field Office.

28 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 This is a land of people who still understand the value of the resources around Megan Bradley of the Virginia establishing new populations, will help Department of Game and Inland Fisheries recover species more effectively and them because they depend Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center says efficiently. Taking it another step, the the aquatic species of the UTRB are beset plan also prioritizes both species and on them for survival.” from all sides. Populations have declined locations within the basin where the — Megan Bradley, Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland for many reasons: historic impacts Service should focus both habitat and Fisheries Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center such as dam construction, pollution and population management activities. development; aquatic habitat has been significantly changed and suitable To maximize recovery efforts in an working document, will be reevaluated at habitat for many species is now patchy efficient and cost-effective manner, least every four years or sooner if needed. at best; populations have become more emphasis will be on implementing disconnected; and water chemistry has population management activities for Architects of the strategy and supporting changed. If a species continues to persist high-priority species in high-priority partners recognize that conservation in the UTRB, Bradley says, it is at streams. Habitat management activities doesn’t just benefit fish and wildlife; it continual risk of a catastrophic event will be included as part of the approach benefits people, too. To that end, they wiping out an entire population. insist it is imperative that the Service To imagine how this might work, consider work cooperatively with a spectrum of “These are varied challenges yet have the collection of globally rare freshwater federal, state and non-governmental roots in the same garden; the failure of mussels that reside in the rivers of the partners, as well as industry. human empathy for our neighbors and basin. Mussels help filter and clean river nature,” she says. “The history of the water, which make them important to But perhaps the most important partner region offers a telling story, with poverty people. Unfortunately, there are many in this effort will be the people who live punctuated by short bursts of resource stretches of river where mussels survive in the UTRB and rely on its resources. development, followed by more poverty. in very low numbers or have been This is a land of people who still extirpated due to past water quality “For conservation to be effective in understand the value of the resources problems that may have since been the Upper Tennessee River Basin, around them because they depend on corrected. By focusing partner resources as elsewhere, it must be initiated and [those resources] for survival.” and collaborating on mussel propagation passionately supported by local people and augmentation programs, says of many stripes over the long term,” For years, the Service and its partners Brad Kreps, Director of The Nature says Paul Angermeier, assistant leader for have worked cooperatively to recover Conservancy’s Clinch Valley Program, Virginia’s Cooperative Fish and Wildlife these rare animals and to conserve partners can restore and expand mussel Research Unit. “Conservation can be GARY PEEPLES/USFWS supporting habitats, employing a variety populations across the river system. informed by scientists and enforced by of strategies. Some efforts have been Partners also can continue to address governments, but without strong, successful, while others have fallen short. water quality problems and habitat issues enduring public support and insistence, In looking at how best to move forward, wherever concerns still exist. it can’t succeed.” the Service decided to consider where and how it could use its limited resources to “This focused strategy, coupled with Well more than 90 percent of the have the greatest impact on these rare continued efforts to improve water quality, land base in the area is under private animals. The result is the Imperiled will have a cascading set of benefits that ownership, and conservation success will Aquatic Species Conservation Strategy will make the river ecosystems healthier, rely on the support of those landowners. for the Upper Tennessee River Basin — more resilient, and more productive,” a flexible tool to help Service biologists Kreps says. “This will be a huge win for and managers decide where to focus people and wildlife.” GARY PEEPLES, External Affairs, Southeast their efforts and identify opportunities in Region, and DAVID EISENHAUER, External Affairs, coordination with partners. Hylton says the strategy outlines specific Northeast Region ways the Service hopes to bring partners Hylton, who helped develop the strategy together to discuss needed conservation with a team of Service scientists and actions and ensure the strategy can be MORE INFORMATION managers, says that while both habitat adapted to consider new information and ? and population management play key conservation goals. Each year, Service roles, the Service found that increasing offices working in the river basin will To read the full strategy, visit augmenting existing populations and projects. The strategy, considered a

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 29 field journal

History repeats itself and I have lived A New Path Forward for long enough to see a few reenactments with my own eyes. As Regional Director Conservation in the Southwest of the Southwest Region I am charged with a large responsibility to steer Region conservation of myriad species in a multitude of ecosystems. The challenge Emphasis Areas will steer future endeavors inspires me daily.

by DR. BENJAMIN TUGGLE The Southwest Region spans landscapes adorned with endemic fishes and salamanders, wintering waterfowl and nesting warblers. Pronghorn skitter over our prairies and rare trout swim in cold mountain streams that pour down sky islands that jut up from the desert floor. The people who have dedicated their lives to conservation are as diverse in talents and character and skills as are the landscapes in my region—lands that ascend from sandy beaches at sea level on the Gulf Coast up to Arctic tundra in the high headlands of the Rio Grande basin on the Colorado border.

As you can imagine, the conservation issues that persist or will arise are also varied and diverse. Our staff members are as likely to engage with urban youth in large metropolitan areas as they are with USFWS Native elders who descend from those who (Top) Albuquerque, New Mexico, students prepare to were here when time started ticking. With release fish they raised during the Native Fish in the history as my guide, I have made an Classroom project. (Left) Dr. Benjamin Tuggle abiding commitment going forward to best serve our fish and wildlife resources and those dedicated to that purpose. trategic Habitat Conservation, Slandscape-level conservation and Through careful consideration by the the idea of surrogate species, using one regional leadership team representing species to represent other species or even every facet of our mission, the Southwest ecosystems, are ways that the Service is Region will concentrate conservation on getting conservation done in an era of geographies where we can most effectively tight budgets. Director Dan Ashe has said achieve our greatest return on investment that the Service will “do the best that we of our limited resources. We have can possibly do with whatever resources identified five geographies or “Emphasis are made available to us.” The Southwest Areas” whereby we can best achieve Region has chosen to take landscape-level meaningful and measurable outcomes for conservation a step further. Southwest fish and wildlife conservation, without Region Regional Director Dr. Benjamin leaving behind our on-going work in areas Tuggle explains. outside these new Emphasis Areas.

30 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 field journal

it, nothing can succeed.” Focusing our work on landscapes where it’s most needed will be like steel sharpening steel, and the natural outcome should be a honed edge of measureable conservation successes that will earn us the informed consent of the public. This is a better business practice—a well- reasoned direction forward. Here’s why: Effective immediately, Southwest Region Over the last three years our regional employees are steering resources to five operating budgets have steadily declined. geographies that encompass much, but not And with that we have lost a fair amount the entire Region. Naturally, that leaves rock. We have to manage it for the future. of our most precious resource—people. some “white space” on the map and Our people have the know-how, the grit We are down some 150 staff over the nagging questions particularly from folks and just plain pluck to perform under four-state region. We simply cannot, if you who work outside Emphasis Areas. Are any circumstances. We own a history of will pardon the bromide, do more with we abandoning national wildlife refuges success, and with this approach I expect less. Species and landscapes continue to in southwest Arizona, imperiled fishes more to come. have conservation needs that demand of the Colorado River or our present our attention, and we must deliver. We conservation endeavors on New Mexico’s To borrow again from Lincoln, “Determine will refine the work. We will put the skills Staked Plains or the Trans-Pecos of Texas? that the thing can and shall be done, and we possess where those skills are most I offer you a resounding and emphatic no! then we shall find the way.” We have — needed in Emphasis Areas. It’s a moral It’s all work worth doing—every bit of it. and we shall. imperative—imperative for fish and But new project resources and endeavors wildlife and for the American public will be steered to Emphasis Areas. that we serve. Public support of sound DR. BENJAMIN TUGGLE writes from Albuquerque, conservation is essential. As Lincoln said, We all manage a household of some size New Mexico “Public sentiment is everything. With for the long horizon. The house that is the public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without Southwest Region has been built on solid

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 31 curator’s corner

MUSEUM The Capitan’s Chair OBJECTS On a tour of the NCTC museum storage area, visitors often comment on a chair COME TO located at the back of the space. It is large, high-backed, and upholstered in brown Naugahyde. It has large arms and lots of metal infrastructure. Inevitably, people snicker and ask if it is from the deck of the Starship LIFE Enterprise. It certainly looks like Captain Kirk controls the ship from that chair. Actually, it is from the Togue, a Service research vessel that was This is a series of decommissioned a few years back. I sometimes expect to see the Historian curiosities of the barking orders from that chair when no one is looking. Beam us up, Scotty! Service’s history from the National Conservation Training Center Museum. As the first and only curator of the museum, Sinking Feeling Jeanne M. Harold says the history surrounding Dave Hall, my great friend and an the objects in the extraordinary Service special agent, museum give them life. often told a story about catching a group of duck hunters who way exceeded their limit. He, of course, cited them and confiscated the ducks. He loaded all the ducks into his pirogue, and then proceeded to fill out the citation. There were so many ducks that he and the pirogue slowly began to sink in front of everyone’s amazed eyes.

Helter Skelter in the Service

Not So Safe A memorandum from the Regional Director in Albuquerque dated September 29, 1975, recounts An interesting vitrine dating to 1896 sits on a shelf off to the side of a phone call the Regional Director had with an FBI agent about the archives. It was confiscated after someone had attempted to members of the Manson family. A roommate of Lynette “Squeaky” bring it into the United States from the United Kingdom in violation of Fromme told the FBI that she represented the International People’s the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These old displays were very popular Court of Retribution to protect wildlife and our natural resources. This in Victorian times in private residences. This one features a fox group listed prominent New Mexicans for “possible assassination,” eating a duck. If you look really closely, there is a little mummified including nine Service supervisors, law enforcement officers, and mouse between the back legs of the fox. I guess it crawled into the refuge and fisheries managers. Those on the list were to be alert vitrine through a crack to find a nice, safe place to live. It evidently “because no one knows what a ‘kook’ may do.” GERALD R. FORD PRESIDENTIAL MUSEUM, GRAND RAPIDS, MI. ate something inside, and succumbed to arsenic poisoning, as those Gun used by Fromme to try to assassinate President Ford. old displays were usually treated with arsenic to discourage insect infestation. It discouraged rodent infestation also!

32 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 our people

Command. With the Army, she and state agencies, non-govern- The Midwest Region includes Transitions worked in public affairs, mental organizations, and eight states in the heart of the command, senior staff, force academic programs that are monarch’s range, including 1.29 management and human working together to support and million acres of national wildlife Southwest resource positions. coordinate efforts to protect the refuge system lands. Melius will monarch migration across the now help rally ongoing Service Beth Britt has been named the lower-48 United States. monarch conservation efforts not Assistant Regional Director for Midwest only in the Midwest but across External Affairs for the Southwest In this role, Melius and other the country. Region, which consists of In addition committee members are Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and to his current responsible for guiding conser- Oklahoma. Beth served in the U.S. duties, vation implementation across Pacific Southwest Army for more than 31 years, and Midwest the country through planning most recently, she was assigned Region habitat conservation, education, Jody as Chief, Army Reserve Public Regional research and monitoring priorities Holzworth Affairs. In this capacity, Beth had Director of the Joint Venture and its has been responsibility for strategic Tom Melius partners. named the communication leadership in has been Assistant support of the Army Reserve’s appointed to serve as the Service “We’re excited to have Tom on Regional operational military force with a representative on the Monarch our team. His leadership as the Director of total of 200,000 soldiers and more Joint Venture Steering regional director of the U.S. Fish External than 12,000 civilians serving Committee. The steering and Wildlife Service Midwest Affairs in worldwide. She has also served committee is made up of repre- Region will be invaluable as we the Pacific Southwest Region. as the command public affairs sentatives from 10 partners who ramp up monarch conservation As ARD, Jody will lead the officer for the Army’s largest serve as the decision-making across the country,” says Dr. External Affairs team as it tells command, U.S. Army Forces body for the Monarch Joint Karen Oberhauser, Monarch Joint the Service’s many stories Venture, a partnership of federal Venture Steering Committee throughout California, Nevada Co-Chair. and the Klamath Basin of Oregon.

Retirees Gather in Texas Jody is new to the Service but has worked in conservation Laura Bonneau, communications for 20-plus visitor services years. manager at Aransas National She most recently worked Wildlife Refuge in as a writer for Point Blue Austwell, Texas, Conservation Science in gives retirees a Petaluma, California. Previously, tour of Aranssas. On the all-day field she served as the director of trip to the refuge, Communications for the Natural the tour saw more Resources Conservation than 90 whooping Service in Washington, DC. Her cranes. Retiree career also includes field- and Phil Morgan, a state-level Public Affairs stints former manager with NRCS and The Nature at Aransas, Conservancy, as well as running remembered that a local watershed council and there were only teaching college writing. 32 cranes on the refuge in 1962. The latest population survey indicates more than 300. The Aransas tour was just one of many delights for the more than 80 Service retirees meeting in Corpus Christi, Texas, at the beginning of March. The FWS Retirees Association Reunion also included discussions on issues dealing with wildlife along the Texas border, a banquet, silent auction, conversations with old and new friends, and much more.

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 33 our people

Cay Goude, Headquarters opment of the Conserving the Nathan is also contributing to assistant Future initiative, the Service’s a study testing a biocide that field super- Cynthia renewed vision for the growth selectively kills invasive zebra visor for the Martinez, and management of the Refuge mussels while not affecting Sacramento a 21-year System, and currently leads native freshwater mussel Fish and veteran of efforts on the Service’s Urban populations. Wildlife the Service, Wildlife Initiative. Office, has been Since arriving at the Genoa retired in chosen as Cynthia began her career as a National Fish Hatchery, Nathan May after a long and distin- Chief of the student trainee in the Service’s has helped produce nearly 15 guished career conserving National Arizona State Office in Phoenix, million mussels of 17 species, endangered species in California Wildlife Refuge System. She had Arizona. including 4.7 million mussels of and influencing the way conser- served as the Service’s Deputy four federally listed species. vation happens across the Chief of the Refuge System since country. 2012. honors Southeast Cay began her federal service As Chief, Cynthia leads the with the Army Corps of management of the world’s Engineers as a GS- 4 park ranger premier system of public lands Midwest on Memorial Day weekend in and waters set aside to conserve 1978 where her first assignment America’s fish, wildlife, and Nathan was directing traffic. After that plants. The Refuge System Eckert, distinguished start, she became comprises more than 150 million a mussel an environmental planner with acres and 563 units. There is a biologist the Sacramento District Corps national wildlife refuge in every at Genoa of Engineers until 1984 when state and U.S. territory. National Fish the Service hired her. She gave Hatchery in up a promotion and permanent “Cynthia is a great fit for this Genoa, In September 1974, as Steve status to work for the Service position,” says Service Director Wisconsin, Gard (pictured at right getting and says it was one of her Dan Ashe. “She possesses a has won the 2014 Rachel Carson his 40-year plaque from David better decisions. diversity of experience working Award for Scientific Excellence. Viker, Southeast Region within the Service and National The award recognizes key scien- Refuges’ Chief) began his Ending her career on a high Wildlife Refuge System. Cynthia tific contributions that achieve Service career, the political and note, Cay championed regional also demonstrates the strong extraordinary results in fish and environmental landscapes of conservation plans and left leadership and innovation the wildlife conservation. Nathan the nation were experiencing the Service with standards Service needs as we continue was recognized for his creativity seismic shifts of such magnitude and practices that honor the to introduce new generations of and tenacity in researching and that there is no 21 century equiv- Endangered Species Act and Americans to conservation.” implementing new techniques alent. Only a few weeks before, the people working on the and rearing systems for the President of the United ground. She believed and acted Cynthia previously managed imperiled freshwater mussels. States had resigned from office on the premise that the Service Desert National Wildlife Refuge for the first time in history. The can administer the ESA with Complex in Nevada—one of It is estimated that 43 percent same president, Richard Nixon, integrity, pride and partnerships the largest wildlife refuge of North America’s 300 fresh- had just signed the Endangered without ever compromising its complexes in the contiguous water mussel species are in Species Act into law nine foundations. And her career United States. She has also danger of extinction. Nathan’s months earlier. In the previous embodies the William James served as an assistant field advances in freshwater mussel two years, Congress had passed quotation: “The great use of a supervisor working on endan- recovery include the discovery the Clean Water Act and the life is to spend it for something gered species issues and as of alternate host fish species for newly created Environmental that will outlast it.” a fish biologist. As Deputy endangered mussels, such as the Protection Agency had banned Chief, she oversaw the devel- sheepnose, and development of the pesticide, DDT, an action that alternative rearing systems that would contribute to the recovery have allowed previously uncul- of many wildlife species on the tured mussels to be successfully brink of extinction. In the midst cultured, such as the fawns foot of this climate, somehow tumul- and pistolgrip mussel. tuous and promising at the same

34 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 our people

time, Steve walked into a field exemplifies the concept of One Mountain-Prairie Alaska office in Mississippi and started Service. After more than 40 work on a distinguished career years of public service, Steve Julian of wildlife conservation that Gard is still leaving a legacy of Fischer, continues today, more than conservation and dedication to project 40 years later. the people and natural resources leader that he serves every day. for the Steve’s first position with the Migratory Service was in Vicksburg, a town JEREME PHILLIPS and RICKY Bird on the banks of the Mississippi INGRAM, National Wildlife Refuge Manage- River that is a strategic center System, Southeast Region ment for ecosystem management. Waterfowl Division in He then spent time in Jackson, The Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Anchorage, Alaska, has won the Mississippi, before heading to Northeast Tourism Commission recognized 2014 Science Leadership Award, Florida. After years on America’s Wayne Stancill, fish passage which recognizes a Service Space Coast and other parts Walt Tegge¸ engineer in the Mountain-Prairie employee’s exemplary practice of Florida, Steve made his way recently Region, for his role in working and support of scientific activ- back to where his career began, retired with county governments to ities that have lasting influence Mississippi. visitor develop road-crossing alterna- on the management of fish and services tives and designs to benefit wildlife resources. As with so many other times manager at county infrastructure as well as in his career, when Steve first Back Bay the aquatic fish communities in Julian was honored for his came to Grenada, Mississippi, National eastern Kansas. In 2014 the outstanding science leadership in 1989, he was blazing new Wildlife Kansas fish passage effort was in managing a diverse team, trails. Steve served as the first Refuge in Virginia Beach, awarded the Service’s National engaging in countless partner- project leader of the Mississippi Virginia, has received the Fish Passage Program Partner ships and collaborations, Wetland Management District, Legends Award for outstanding of the Year Award. Wayne mentoring younger scientists, which became the North contributions in the field of worked closely with Norm and demonstrating a selfless Mississippi Refuge Complex, outdoor recreation. Back Bay Bowers, a technical engineer commitment to his staff and the consisting of Dahomey, Refuge welcomes about 140,000 employed by the Kansas long-term mission of his division Tallahatchie and Coldwater visitors a year. Walt developed a Association of Counties, to and the Service. National Wildlife Refuges. With tram service that brings visitors develop and implement many the assistance of his dedicated through the refuge and to False of the Kansas projects. These Julian’s holistic and long-term staff, Steve oversees the Cape State Park, which is only projects have complemented perspective prioritizes people management of delta forests, accessible through the refuge. the regional effort to identify and their talents, which results moist soils, mudflats, agricul- The tram program has grown and concentrate conservation in a team that successfully tural lands, wetlands and other from 1996 Olympics-surplus, efforts in areas identified as implements complex missions habitats. Steve has established tug-drawn carts to a priorities such as the Flint Hills and contributes invaluable data strong partnerships through 26-passenger open tram and a of eastern Kansas. The efforts to the scientific community on cooperative efforts to conserve 28-passenger closed bus. resulted in 11 road-crossing a wide variety of avian conser- fisheries and wildlife resources and stream restoration projects vation issues. “Julian is the kind in the Delta. Walt also spearheaded collabo- that have benefited native of supervisor every employee ration with the City of Virginia aquatic species, many listed as should be lucky enough to work Perhaps more than anything, Beach to identify how the threatened or endangered, and under at least once in their though, Steve is known as public can get to the refuge have increased the knowledge career,” say team members. someone who is always without using private cars. The about the importance of stream willing to lend a hand. He has ongoing study is considering connectivity to Kansas’ served on numerous details water access by canoe/kayak or fisheries. to the Deepwater Horizon oil water taxi; bicycle trails; and an spill, to assist other refuge expanded tram program. complexes with vacancies, and to the regional office in Atlanta. He worked closely with two Whether it is sharing heavy nonprofit Friends groups equipment, his time or his staff supporting Back Bay Refuge. to assist his colleagues, Steve

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 35 our people

Pacific Southwest Basin in 2012 for the first time through his support to the Junior frequently serves as a social in more than 70 years and in the Duck Stamp Program, Klamath media and web content Truckee Basin in 2014 for the Tribal Youth Program and other instructor for Service programs. first time in 76 years. regional events that connect youth to Service careers. According to the American Recreation Coalition, Lisa is a Ms. Deery was recognized for role model for girls in southern her leadership and innovative California; her activities with approach to advance Service youth groups like the Girl Scouts administrative operations. She and the “Hike with a Ranger” was instrumental in creating program reach numerous under- The Lahontan Cutthroat Trout the Service’s first consolidated served communities in the San Broodstock and Lake budget and finance organization, Diego area. Reintroduction Team has won and later played a significant the2014 Rachel Carson Award role in growing the nine-member for Scientific Excellence, which California Nevada Office to a Service-wide honors key scientific contribu- Ren Lohoefener, Regional full-fledged Regional Office of tions that achieve extraordinary Director of the Pacific more than 100 employees that results in fish and wildlife Southwest Region, and Toni oversee Service operations in conservation. The team consists Deery (pictured with Secretary California, Nevada and Klamath of members from the Lahontan of the Interior Sally Jewell), the Basin of southern Oregon. To National Fish Hatchery in Region’s former Assistant facilitate this growth, Ms. Deery Gardnerville, Nevada (Derek Regional Director for Budget and established a model for admin- Bloomquist, Daniel Boone, Administration, were recognized istrative efficiencies that saved Stephanie Byers, Melissa Conte, by Secretary Jewell with the Service more than $5 million Alvin Duncan, Lisa Heki, Roy Department of the Interior annually. She retired in 2014 Hicks, Thomas Hogan, Erik Distinguished Service Awards after 26 years with the Service Recognizing that current conser- Horgen, Corene Jones, Tim for their outstanding leadership and now resides in southern vation challenges demand an Loux, David Miller, Adam and career contributions to the Oregon. agency that embraces diversity Nanninga, Roger Peka); the Department of the Interior and inclusion, the Service has University of Nevada, Reno during a ceremony May 7 in Lisa Cox made a diverse and inclusive (Mary Peacock); and the Washington, DC. has been workforce a priority. But a vision Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe honored can’t produce results without (Albert John, Denise Shaw, Dr. Lohoefener’s began his with the the support and hard work of all Nancy Vucinich). This team was federal career as an ecologist Beacon employees. That’s why the recognized for their efforts to for the National Marine Fisheries Award for Service honors its “Diversity conserve the Lahontan cutthroat Service. He joined the Fish innovative Champions” annually, people trout, the largest trout species and Wildlife Service in 1989 use of who help create a diverse and on the planet. as a field biologist. Over his technology. inclusive work environment, 26-year Service career, Dr. A park ranger at San Diego Bay people who put the vision into The team’s work includes a Lohoefener has served as National Wildlife Refuge practice. sophisticated mating protocol Texas State Administrator and Complex in California, Lisa in the hatchery designed to Assistant Regional Director manages recreational and Stewart Jacks (pictured maximize genetic diversity of in the Southwest Region; educational programs on four with Service Director Dan the broodstock in order to Assistant Director of the refuges (Tijuana Slough, San Ashe, Southwest Region preserve the species’ unique Endangered Species Program Diego Bay, San Diego, Seal Deputy Regional Director Joy traits. The team’s impressive in Headquarters; and Regional Beach). She built and maintains Nicholopoulos and Southwest work with several partners has Director of the Service’s Pacific websites for each refuge and Region Regional Director Dr. successfully reintroduced the Region and Pacific Southwest recruits volunteers and reaches Ben Tuggle), Assistant Regional species into lake and stream Region. An Army veteran non-traditional audiences Director for Fisheries and habitats where it once existed. and accomplished artist, Dr. through social media, including Aquatic Conservation in the Lahontan cutthroat trout repro- Lohoefener actively encourages Facebook and Twitter. She Southwest Region, and Erin duced naturally in the Tahoe youth involvement in outdoors Holmes, project leader for the

36 / Fish & Wildlife News Summer 2015 our people

Tualatin River National Wildlife Katie Wade-Matthews of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Headquarters Refuge Complex in the Pacific Southwest Region Migratory Holiday and Bring Your Child to Northwest Region, have been Birds Office, who serves as the Work Day. named 2014 Diversity Champions Native American/Alaskan Native in the leadership category. Program coordinator; Nominees for the Diversity Champion awards are also to be Stewart is a passionate mentor, Sandra Coney-James of the commended. They are: a recruiter and a tireless Austin Ecological Services advocate for diversity and Field Office, who serves as Kenton Moos from the Alaska inclusion every day. His work is the African American Program Region; not about reaching numbers. He coordinator; reaches out to targeted schools, Janine Van Norman from veterans, Native American tribes Gary Hutchison of the Office of Headquarters Ecological and urban youth, encouraging Diversity and Civil Rights, the Services Program; Ken Grannemann (pictured with them to explore career oppor- Region’s Sexual Orientation Secretary of the Interior Sally tunities in conservation, and Program coordinator; The Pacific Region Diversity and Jewell), Chief of the Refuge he truly takes great pleasure in Inclusion Workgroup, consisting System Division of Information introducing youth and targeted Stacey Baca-Garcia of the of Barry Stieglitz, Brian Lawler, Technology and Management, groups to a world he has grown Regional Director’s Office, who Casey Risley, Cynthia Barry, received a Department of the to know and love. serves as the Federal Women’s Dave Irving, Emily Teachout, Interior Distinguished Service Program coordinator; Jennifer Waipa, Rebecca Chuck, Award, the Department of the At a refuge just outside Portland, Steve Morey, Vicki Finn, and Interior’s highest honor, during Oregon, Erin exemplifies the Joseph Mojica of the Office of Viola Townsend; the 70th Departmental Honors true spirit of an urban refuge Refuge Law Enforcement, who Awards Convocation on May 7 manager, working with a wide is the Disability Employment The Northeast Region in Washington, DC. array of partners to bring the Program coordinator; and Masonville Cove Partnership excitement of the outdoors to Team, consisting of Genevieve Ken, who is retiring this young people who aren’t always Frank Montoya of the Buenos LaRouche, Brad Knudsen, Chris summer after 42 years of familiar with it. She has reached Aires National Wildlife Guy, Jennifer Hill, Devin Ray, federal government service, out to the Hispanic/Latino Refuge, who serves as the Diana Ogilvie, Ebony Davis, was honored for his dedication community to make members Hispanic Employment Program Pete McGowan, Robbie to and exceptional leadership feel welcome at Tualatin River coordinator. Callahan, Janet Norman and of the Refuge System. In the Refuge Complex. She has also Robert Colona; award citation, Secretary sought to broaden the horizons The committee played a pivotal Jewel praises Ken for “a career of fellow Service members, role in planning and coordinating Sharon Fuller-Barnes of the highlighted by his innovative holding several training opportu- the 2014 Cultural Awareness Southeast Region; vision for the Refuge System’s nities at Tualatin. Forum—an entire day focusing information, maintenance, on diversity and EEO training Elizabeth Pattinson of the and equipment management The 2014 Diversity Champion that was attended by more Alaska Region; and training programs.” The Group Award goes to the than 100 participants. With citation specifically recognizes members of the Southwest a theme of “Inclusive Work Emily Weller of the his leadership role in heavy Region’s Diversity Advisory Environment,” discussion topics Headquarters Ecological equipment and off-road utility Committee, whose seven included Workplace Bullying, Services Program; and vehicle safety training programs; members have a passion for Generations in the Workplace his work in reducing the cross-cultural education and and Disability Awareness. The Cade London of the deferred maintenance backlog communication. committee also coordinated Headquarters International by more than $1 billion; and his multiple other events to Affairs Program. oversight of the implementation Debbie Pike of the Northern promote diversity and inclusion, of the new Refuge System New Mexico National Wildlife including the International content management system, Refuge Complex, who serves Food Expo, Supply Our Schools the Service’s Service Asset as the Asian American/Pacific Campaign, European American Maintenance Management Islander Program coordinator; Heritage Month Observance, System, the Refuge Profiles data system and the Refuge Annual Performance Plan system.

Summer 2015 Fish & Wildlife News / 37 STANDARD PRESORT Division of Marketing POSTAGE AND FEES Communications PAID U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service INTERIOR 5275 Leesburg Pike PERMIT G-77 Falls Church, VA 22041-3803

parting shot

A Good Sign One day in March, Administrative Assistant Cindy Bottero was on her way to work at the Lodi Fish and Wildlife Office in Lodi, California, when she looked up to see this perfect Fish Cloud almost right in the middle of the road. As Cindy says: “See what happens when you think hard about working at Fish and Wildlife, a fish just pops up in front of you.”

BRUCE BARTEL

Fish & Wildlife News Submit articles and photographs to: Submission deadline: Editor: Matthew Trott U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fall 2015: by August 14 Assistant Editor: Jennifer Deschanel EA-Division of Marketing Communications Art director: Jane Pellicciotto, Allegro Design MS: EA 5275 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 703/358-2512 Fax: 703/358 1930 E-mail: [email protected]

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