LISTING ACTIONS

During April and May 2000, the Fish and velopment it would bring to the area, including as by non-native plants moving into the habitat Wildlife Service and National Marine Fish- highways and a proposed reservoir, could damage because of fire suppression. eries Service (NMFS) published the follow- or destroy the frog’s only remaining habitat. ing Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing Biologists have identified 13 populations of Cook’s actions in the Federal Register. The full Natural fires historically have been essential to lomatium and 10 populations of large-flowered text of each proposed and final rule can be maintaining the frog’s habitat but now are con- woolly meadowfoam in the Agate Desert. Several accessed through our website: trolled. Biologists have used prescribed burns to lomatium populations grow on Bureau of Land http://endangered.fws.gov. maintain the habitat. If development occurs near Management lands, but the meadowfoam grows the breeding pond, however, they may be limited in mostly on private property. Large populations of Proposed Rules the use of this management tool because of con- meadowfoam grow on land owned by The Nature cerns about public safety and smoke. Conservancy, which manages its land to benefit Mississippi Gopher Frog The Service pro- native species. posed on May 23 to list the Mississippi population Only those landowners in the immediate vicinity of the dusky gopher frog (Rana capito sevosa) as of the breeding pond would be affected by the Biologists have discovered the vernal pool fairy endangered. Historically, this distinct population proposed listing. Recreational land use activities shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi), a small freshwa- segment existed in the longleaf pine forests of the such as hunting and fishing would not be affected. ter crustacean already listed as threatened, in lower coastal plain from east of the Mississippi The Service has been working with the U.S. Forest some of the vernal pools that are home to the River in Louisiana to the Mobile River delta in Service since 1988 to protect the last remaining plants. Local government agencies and citizens in . It has not been seen in Louisiana since Mississippi gopher frog population. In addition, southwest Oregon are exploring regional planning 1962 or in Alabama since 1922. Today, only 100 both agencies have joined forces to rehabilitate a options that could lead to the preservation of some adult frogs remain, all in one pond in Harrison nearby pond as a future breeding site for the rare vernal pools. County, Mississippi. Biologists believe loss and frog. The Service, in conjunction with researchers degradation of habitat is the primary reason the at Southeastern Louisiana University, has devel- Two Southwestern Plants On April 12, the species has declined. oped a strategy to introduce egg masses into this Service proposed to list two plant species native to pond and to determine if the eggs can successfully the southwestern Utah/northeastern Arizona bor- The Mississippi gopher frog is a mid-sized stocky develop into juvenile frogs at the site. der area as endangered. The Holmgren milk-vetch frog that reaches 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) in (Astragalus holmgreniorum) is restricted to length. It ranges in color from black to brown to Two Oregon Plants On May 15, the Service Washington County, Utah, and an adjacent part of gray. The frog’s habitat includes both longleaf proposed to protect two rare plants in southwestern Mojave County, Arizona. The Shivwits milk-vetch pine forest and isolated, temporary breeding sites Oregon, Cook’s lomatium (Lomatium cookii) (Astragalas ampullariodes) occurs only in Wash- in forested landscapes. Adult frogs spend most of and the large-flowered wooly meadowfoam ington County. Both plants are herbaceous peren- their lives underground in forests with an open (Limnanthes floccosa ssp. grandiflora), as en- nials in the pea family (Fabaceae). canopy and abundant ground cover. They use ac- dangered. Cook’s lomatium, a member of the car- tive and abandoned gopher tortoise (Gopherus rot family (Apiaceae), is a small perennial with The numbers of both plants are rapidly decreasing polyphemus) burrows, abandoned mammal bur- pale yellow flowers. The meadowfoam,which be- due primarily to rapid urban expansion and popu- rows, and holes in and under old stumps as their longs to the false mermaid family lation growth in the St. George, Utah, area. Much underground retreats. (Limnanthaceae), is a small annual with whitish of the plants’ habitat has been destroyed or de- petals and fuzzy leaves. graded by the construction of new roads, power Because of the small number of remaining Missis- lines, and other development. Off-road recreational sippi gopher frogs, the species is extremely vulner- Both plants grow in a type of seasonal wetland vehicle use, the spread of noxious weeds, overgraz- able to even natural processes such as drought and known as a “vernal pool” in the Agate Desert in ing, and mineral development also threaten the floods, and to further loss, damage, and fragmen- Jackson County, Oregon. Urbanization, residen- plants’ survival. tation of its habitat. These threats, singly or com- tial and industrial development, road construc- bined, could cause the frog’s extinction. tion and maintenance, livestock grazing, agricul- The Holmgren milk-vetch grows low to the ground, tural development, unauthorized off-road vehicle spreading in a circle of compound leaves, each The single breeding pond used by the frogs is use, and changes in water usage have contributed with tiny oval-shaped leaflets. Found in shallow, located at the edge of Mississippi’s DeSoto Na- to the decline of these plants and their habitat. sparsely vegetated soil, it produces small purple tional Forest, just 656 feet (200 meters) from a Cook’s lomatium sites to the west in Josephine flowers in the spring and pods up to 2 inches (5 cm) proposed 4,600-acre (1,860 hectare) residential County are also threatened by habitat alteration long. The Shivwits milk-vetch, by contrast, grows development. This project and the associated de- associated with and logging, as well up 20 (50 cm) inches tall, with flowering stems

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JULY/AUGUST 2000 VOLUME XXV NO. 4 23 LISTING ACTIONS that reach 40 inches (1 meter) in height. This Alabama River Alliance and Alabama Environ- sturgeon’s habitat and negative economic impacts plant, found only in clay soils, sports large leaflets mental Council to promote watershed stewardship have not occurred due to their protection. Current and numerous cream-colored flowers. Unfortu- within Turkey Creek. activities, such as navigation channel dredging, nately, it is palatable to most wild and domestic hydroelectric power production, agriculture, and grazing animals. White Abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) On silviculture, will not be stopped by the listing of May 5, NMFS (which has ESA jurisdiction for most the sturgeon. Vermilion Darter (Etheostoma chermocki) marine species) proposed to list the white abalone, The small, brilliantly colored vermilion darter, a a marine gastropod native to the waters off Cali- O‘ahu ‘Elepaio (Chasiempis fish found only in a single tributary in Alabama, fornia and Baja , Mexico, as endan- sandwhichensis ibidis) This songbird en- is nearing extinction because of habitat destruc- gered. Excessive take for commercial and recre- demic to the Hawaiian island of O‘ahu was listed tion and a decline in water quality. As a result, the ational purposes has seriously depleted the white on April 18 as endangered. Only seven populations Service proposed on April 18 to list this native abalone throughout its range. Low population totaling 1,500 birds are thought to remain on the species as endangered. density due to overexploitation has reduced the island. The O‘ahu ‘elepaio was once widespread in species’ reproductive success, thus exacerbating forested areas throughout the island at all eleva- The vermilion darter occurs only in the Turkey the decline. NMFS does not believe that predation tions. Currently, however, it is found only in mid- Creek drainage, a tributary of the Locust Fork of by southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) has elevation forests in portions of the Ko’olau and the Black Warrior River in Jefferson County. It been a significant factor. Wai’anae mountains, where it is thought to oc- needs free-flowing streams with clear rock surfaces cupy less than four percent of its original range. to survive and reproduce. Vermilion darters face In 1996, the California Fish and Game Commis- many threats, including earthen dams and im- sion closed the white abalone fishery in the United The primary threats to the O‘ahu ‘elepaio are poundments that have altered stream dynamics States to protect the surviving adults, but it is introduced diseases, including avian pox and and reduced the species’ range significantly, ex- unknown whether or not Mexico has limited or malaria, and predation by non-native mammals, cessive sedimentation that has made its tributary closed the fishery along the Baja Peninsula. A especially rats. Other known threats include storms unsuitable for feeding and reproduction, and other consortium of scientists, fishing interests, conser- with high winds that destroy nests, and habitat pollutants, such as excess nutrients, pesticides and vation organizations, government agencies, and degradation and loss caused by human impacts other agricultural runoff, that wash into the Tur- mariculturists have joined in an effort to restore and feral pigs. key Creek drainage. white abalone populations. Its activities will likely include collecting broodstock for propagation and Santa Ana Sucker (Catostomus establishing refugia for outplanted stocks. santaanae) The Santa Ana sucker, once one of the most common fish in southern California, was listed as threatened on April 12. This fish Image Omitted Final Rules historically inhabited small, shallow streams and Alabama Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus tributaries throughout the Los Angeles basin. It is suttkusi) The Service published a final rule now restricted to small reaches of Big Tujunga on May 5 to list the Alabama sturgeon, a rare fish Creek (a tributary of the Los Angeles River), the of prehistoric origins, as an endangered species. headwaters of the San Gabriel River, and the Santa The decision was based on the species’ small popu- Ana River in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and lation size and inability to sustain a viable popu- San Bernardino counties. The Santa Clara River lation. The Alabama sturgeon has disappeared population that exists in portions of Los Angeles Vermillion darters from approximately 85 percent of its historic range and Ventura counties was not listed because biolo- Illustrations © Joe Tomelleri in the Mobile River basin of Alabama and Missis- gists believe it is an introduced population. A local conservation group, the Society to Advance sippi. Only 5 have been captured in the last 4 years the Resources of Turkey Creek (START), recently despite intensive efforts by federal and state biolo- Biologists considered the sucker a common fish received funding through the Service’s Partners for gists. This species was once so abundant it was only 30 years ago, but it has experienced a sharp Fish and Wildlife Program to minimize non-point caught and sold commercially. Biologists attribute decline and now is absent from 75 percent of its source pollution of Turkey Creek. The Jefferson its decline to over-fishing, loss and fragmentation historic range. Because the species reproduces abun- County Commission and START also have worked of its habitat due to navigation-related develop- dantly and tolerates a broad range of habitats, its together to plan a nature preserve encompassing ment, and a degradation of water quality. decline is an indication of how badly the streams approximately 730 acres (295 ha) of the water- and tributaries of the Los Angeles Basin have been shed. In addition, the Service has worked with the Four listed aquatic species share the Alabama degraded from their historical conditions.

24 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JULY/AUGUST 2000 VOLUME XXV NO. 4 LISTING ACTIONS ON T HE WEB

Threats to the species include water diversions, The northern Idaho ground squirrel lives in dry, For more information on our Habitat Conserva- channelization and concrete lining of streams, rocky meadows surrounded by forests of ponderosa tion Plan program, please visit our website. Just go erosion, pollution, recreational gold-mining with pine or Douglas fir. It eats mainly grass seeds and to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Spe- suction dredges, and the introduction of non- other green leafy vegetation. The squirrels need cies Homepage (http://endangered.fws.gov) and click native species that prey upon the fish or compete large quantities of these food sources to store body on the button at the left marked “HCPs.” At this with it for food or other resources. energy for the 8 months they spends dormant website, you can examine the regulations and underground from August through March. policies shaping the HCP approach to reducing the All of the streams known to support the Santa Ana affects of the Endangered Species Act while ad- sucker have dams that isolate and fragment the As recently as 1985, biologists estimated there were dressing the habitat needs of listed species. remaining populations. Reservoirs have provided 5,000 northern Idaho ground squirrels in Adams habitat for recently introduced non-native fishes and Valley counties. By 1998, fewer than 1,000 Among other topics, the site explains how and why that prey on and compete with Santa Ana suckers. squirrels were found on private property, lands HCPs are developed, the issuance of Incidental Approximately 15 percent of the current range of administered by the State of Idaho, and the Payette Take Permits, and the “No Surprises” policy. “The the Santa Ana sucker is on U.S. Forest Service lands, National Forest. Population sites range from 3 Quiet Revolution,” a 1997 publication posted on including small portions within the San Gabriel acres to 40 acres (1.2 to 16 ha). the website, features examples of HCPs throughout Wilderness Area and the Sheep Mountain Wilder- the nation. A 1995 article first published in the ness Area of Angeles National Forest. The Payette National Forest signed a conservation Endangered Species Bulletin, “The Nation’s First agreement with the Fish and Wildlife Service in Multi-species HCP for a Forested Landscape,” il- Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel 1996 to protect and enhance habitat for the spe- lustrates an example from the state of Washington (Spermophilus brunneus brunneus) cies. The Forest Service is taking action to improve of the Service’s trend towards landscape-scale plans Found only in Idaho, this animal has the smallest squirrel habitat, including thinning stands of that address the habitat needs of a number of listed geographic range of any squirrel species and one of timber to open more meadow habitat and con- and candidate species. the smallest ranges of all North American main- trolled burning of shrubby meadows to create ad- land mammals. Its entire range covers an area ditional grassland and leafy vegetation. For details on how to develop an HCP, you can about 18 by 20 miles (29 by 32 kilometers) on download the Habitat Conservation Planning public and private lands north of Council, Idaho, A major portion of the northern Idaho ground Handbook (and its recent addendum), which was although historically the range may have been squirrel population occurs on a single ranch. The published jointly by the Fish and Wildlife Service much larger. owner of the ranch has been cooperating with the and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Service in efforts to study the squirrels and relocate them to Forest Service land. As mentioned on page 13, additional information on Wisconsin’s statewide HCP is available at this Critical Habitat for Johnson’s Seagrass website: (Halophila johnsonii) A marine plant clas- http://midwest.fws.gov/eco_serv/endangrd/ sified as threatened, Johnson’s seagrass grows along insects/kbbhcp.html. the east coast of Florida in scattered locations from Sebastian Inlet to Biscayne Bay. On April 25, Region 1 has its own HCP website, containing NMFS designated 10 areas within this range as information on: 1) the International Paper HCP critical habitat (see the April 25 Federal Register in Washington, 2) the Washington Department of for details) for the species. This designation alerts Fish and Wildlife’s Hydraulic Project Approval federal agencies to consult with NMFS to avoid any Project (relating to reviews of activities that may

USFWS Snake River Basin Office photo actions that are likely to adversely modify the affect state waters), and 3) a log showing the status critical habitat. of the numerous HCPs being developed or imple- In recent years, habitat loss has caused a sharp mented in western Washington. This site can be population decline in northern Idaho ground squir- found at: rels. Fire suppression has allowed forests to en- http://pacific.fws.gov/hcp/ croach into the meadows where the species lives. Other threats include land conversion for agricul- tural and residential development and loss of open corridors between remaining populations.

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JULY/AUGUST 2000 VOLUME XXV NO. 4 25 REGIONAL NEWS & RECOVERY UPDATES

bance, an additional benefit from no grazing was the fact that the refuge could hold on to more water than ever before. The grazing permit has been retired but the previous permit holder is being allowed to make hay on the land in order to help manage the growth of non-native plants.

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Epiodomax trailii extimus) Surveys and banding studies by Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) biologist David St. George and staff Fish and Wildlife Service regional endan- from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Biological Re- gered species staffers have reported the search Division (BRD) and Nevada Division of following news: Wildlife have documented the presence of south- Grizzly bear western willow flycatchers at Ash Meadows since Corel Corp. photo Region 1 1993. Recent DNA analysis by the BRD has sepa- rated these breeding pairs from the two other in Bellingham on June 22. A private donor from Aleutian Canada Goose (Branta subspecies known to occur in Nevada. Bellingham, Washington, contributed $1,000 for canadensis leupareia) An interesting de- the costs of conducting the June 22 workshop. A velopment at Humboldt Bay (California) NWR Some exceptional information on southwestern special fund was set up through Defenders of Wild- may help in planning future habitat manage- willow flycatcher seasonal migrations has also life to handle additional contributions. Other ment. More Aleutian Canada geese are using the turned up. A male banded at Ash Meadows in July contributors have included the Seatac Rotary Club refuges’s Salmon Creek Unit than at any time 1998 was subsequently recaptured and color banded and REI Outfitters. since the Fish and Wildlife Service acquired it in in San Jose, Costa Rica, in January 1999. He re- 1988. This may be due to the fact that this is the turned to breed at Ash Meadows in June 1999 but Reported by LaRee Brosseau of the Portland first time in recent years there has been no winter/ was not observed there this summer. Out of four Regional Office. spring grazing on the unit. The numbers of Aleu- southwestern willow flycatchers color-banded at tians rose from 700 in late January to 1,800 by Ash Meadows in July 1998, only one was observed Region 4 mid-February, and to a mid-summer total of ap- at the refuge in 2000. proximately 3,000. Along with the lack of distur- Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) The Public Outreach The fourth “Living With Car- Service, in cooperation with several other state, nivores” workshop made it to the Spokane REI federal, and private organizations, hopes to con- (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) store on May 25, duct surveys during the upcoming nesting season, when more than 50 people participated in a 2-hour beginning in October, to determine the current educational session. Five workshops were held status of the endangered wood stork. At present, across Washington in May and June to help resi- wood stork nesting colonies are found in South dents understand how to avoid conflicts with griz- Carolina, and Florida. Post-breeding storks zly bears (Ursus arctos), black bears (Ursus disperse as far north as and as far americanus), gray wolves (Canis lupus), cou- west as Mississippi and Alabama. gars (Felis concolor), and coyotes (Canis latrans). The workshops are a cooperative effort of the In the early 1930s, wood stork populations totaled Service’s Western Washington Office, the Washing- 75,000 birds. By the early 1980s, however, the ton Department of Fish and Wildlife, Defenders of stork’s population had declined to 5,000 nesting Wildlife, Wolfhaven International, U.S.D.A.’s pairs in 52 active colonies. The generally accepted Wildlife Services agency, Northwest Ecosystem Al- explanation for the decline was the reduction in liance, Insight Wildlife Management, and the food base available to support breeding colo- CounterAssault Bear Deterrent Spray. There were nies. This reduction was caused by a reduction in slide show presentations on each of the carnivores wetland habitat, accompanied by a change in followed by a lively question-and-answer session. hydroperiods resulting from the intensive water Aleutian Canada geese Photo by George Gee The workshop was well received and was repeated management in south Florida.

26 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JULY/AUGUST 2000 VOLUME XXV NO. 4 REGIONAL NEWS & RECOVERY UPDATES

During the 1990s, the stork’s total population 100 parrots to provide stock for future releases. The increased to 6,000 nesting pairs in 59 active colo- June 27 release included a formal ceremony and nies in Florida, Georgia, and . provided opportunities for media coverage. Historically, the largest populations have been in the Big Cypress National Preserve and the Ever- Nine of the 10 released parrots were still alive and glades. Recently, the population appears to be healthy as of early August and were adapting to growing in northern Florida, South Carolina, and their new environment. One bird was lost on July Georgia. However, biologists are not yet certain 1; its cause of death remains unknown. The birds whether the stork’s population is actually increas- are no longer using supplemental feeding, and Plymouth redbelly turtle ing in the northern areas or is just moving north they all survived an attack near the release site by a Photo by T. E. Graham because of habitat changes in the Everglades. This red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) on July 19. will be an important determination to make be- Plymouth Redbelly Turtle (Pseudemys fore a proposal to reclassify the stork from endan- Reported by Elsie Davis of the Atlanta Regional rubriventris bangsi) More than 120 en- gered to threatened can be issued; the species’ Office. dangered Plymouth redbelly turtles were released recovery plan stipulates that there must be at least in early June as part of an intensive recovery 2,500 nesting pairs remaining within the species’ Region 5 project. The turtles were originally collected as historic south Florida area. quarter-sized hatchlings and distributed to muse- ums, science centers, aquariums, and schools across Reported by Bill Brooks of the Jacksonville, the state where they were “headstarted” over the Florida, Field Office. winter. Headstarting involves feeding and main- taining the turtles in warm waters to accelerate Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata) their growth at a time of year when they would Ten captive-reared Puerto Rican parrots were re- normally be inactive. The young turtles benefit by leased into the Caribbean National Forest on June avoiding predation when they emerge from their 27, joining the 40 birds already in the wild. This nest in the fall, and they are less vulnerable to release highlighted a 32-year cooperative effort predation in the spring because of their larger size. between the Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest To date, more than 220 redbelly hatchlings have

Service, and Puerto Rico Department of Natural Corel Corp. photo been headstarted and returned to their natural and Environmental Resources to help save the habitats in the ponds and rivers of Plymouth parrot, one of the most endangered birds in the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) County. The headstarting effort is designed to U.S., from extinction. Two aviaries sustain about Two bald eagle chicks grew rapidly in a wild nest bolster the redbelly turtle population, currently located on an island in the Connecticut River in estimated at 300 adults, and to serve as an environ- western Massachusetts. What made this nest unique mental education tool for the participating insti- was the placement of a video camera above the nest tutions, schools, and organizations. that transmitted images to a nearby mainland receiver. Residents in the immediate area had Reported by Mark W. Clough of the Service’s access to the video signal via their local cable TV Cortland, New York, Field Office. network, while folks around the world checked on the eagles’ progress via the internet. Single video frames were captured by computer at the Silvio Conte NWR office and transmitted to offices of Northeast Utilities. The company’s webmasters posted the images on the company’s web page and refreshed them every 5 minutes during daylight hours. The web site has been receiving thousands of visits daily. Check out this fascinating wildlife success story by logging on to www.MassWildlife.org and clicking on the “eagle cam 2000” box, or go directly to www.nu.com and click on “Eagles Rais- Puerto Rican parrots Photo by N. Snyder ing Two Chicks.”

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JULY/AUGUST 2000 VOLUME XXV NO. 4 27 BOX SCORE Listings and Recovery Plans as of August 31, 2000 ENDANGERED THREATENED TOTAL U.S. SPECIES GROUP U.S. FOREIGN U.S. FOREIGN LISTINGS W/ PLANS** MAMMALS 63 252 9 16 340 47

BIRDS 78 175 15 6 274 76

REPTILES 14 64 22 15 115 30

AMPHIBIANS 10 8 8 1 27 12

FISHES 69 11 44 0 124 90

SNAILS 20 1 11 0 32 20

CLAMS 61 2 8 0 71 45

CRUSTACEANS 18 0 3 0 21 12

INSECTS 30 4 9 0 43 28

ARACHNIDS 600065

ANIMAL SUBTOTAL 369 517 129 38 1,053 365

FLOWERING PLANTS 565 1 139 0 705 528

CONIFERS 201252

FERNS AND OTHERS 26 0 2 0 28 28

PLANT SUBTOTAL 593 1 142 2 738 558

GRAND TOTAL 962 518 271 40 1,791* 923

TOTAL U.S. ENDANGERED: 962 (369 animals, 593 plants) purposes of the Endangered Species Act, the term “species” can mean TOTAL U.S. THREATENED: 271 (129 animals, 142 plants) a species, subspecies, or distinct vertebrate population. Several TOTAL U.S. LISTED: 1,233 (498 animals***, 735 plants) entries also represent entire genera or even families. **There are 530 approved recovery plans. Some recovery plans cover *Separate populations of a species listed both as Endangered and Threatened more than one species, and a few species have separate plans are tallied once, for the endangered population only. Those species are the covering different parts of their ranges. Recovery plans are drawn up argali, chimpanzee, leopard, Stellar sea lion, gray wolf, piping plover, roseate only for listed species that occur in the . tern, green sea turtle, saltwater crocodile, and olive ridley sea turtle. For the ***Nine animal species have dual status in the U.S.

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

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