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Recovery Efforts for the Mount Graham Red Squirrel.Pdf RESTORATION Recovery Efforts for the Mount Graham Red Squirrel The Mount Graham Red Squirrel (MGRS), a subspecies of the American red squirrel, resides in old growth conifer, spruce, and fir forests above 2,425 meters (8,000 Mount Graham from the Sonoran Desert Floor/Matt Grabau feet) in the Pinaleño Mountains of southern Arizona. Limited to this KEY ISSUES ADDRESSED “sky island,” the MGRS has been The quality of old growth habitat on Mt. Graham has separated from other red squirrel been degraded due to a combination of wildfires (three populations since the last ice age, large fires since 1996), multiple insect outbreaks threatened and unable to colonize (including a defoliating moth, two species of bark beetle, and the non-native spruce aphid), resource in new habitats. It was thought to competition with Abert's squirrels (which were be extirpated in the 1950s, but a introduced to Mount Graham in the 1940s), and few individuals were rediscovered in prolonged drought conditions. Because of their low the 1960s. The MGRS was added to population size and isolation since the last ice age, the endangered species list in MGRS lack genetic variability and therefore have 1987. The population was reduced limited capacity to respond to disturbances. The Mount to 35 individuals in 2017 following Graham astrophysical observatory, road construction the Frye Fire with 78 individuals and ongoing improvements, along with recreational estimated to be remaining in 2019. developments at high elevations have further decreased habitat availability. PROJECT GOALS • Maintain a self-sustaining MGRS population • Restore and create habitat for species survival • Conduct research on the conservation biology of MGRS to aid in its recovery • Build partnerships to facilitate recovery efforts Project Location • Monitor recovery progress and use results to continuously improve management MONITORING In the fall, biologists count middens, or storage caches, created by MGRS on the forest floor to estimate the red BY MIDDENS squirrel population size. LESSONS LEARNED Supplemental feeding following the Frye Fire appeared successful. Squirrels used the supplied food, and overwinter survival was high. Supplemental feeding is an intensive effort that is only feasible for emergency applications. Cone collection requires identifying trees that will produce a bumper crop in a given year, and then Mount Graham Red Squirrel/Marit Alanen being on the mountain for the two week period in the fall when they are ready to be harvested. PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS Effective communication between biologists and Responding to the Frye Fire: Immediately after the Frye silvicultural contractors, preferably in-person, Fire, biologists were concerned MGRS might not survive increases the efficiency of treatment and recovery through the winter. A supplemental feeding project was efforts. Ideally biologists should be in the field when implemented to provide squirrels with a reliable winter important silvicultural decisions are made. food source. Insect pheromone packets were deployed The impact of Abert’s squirrel removal is difficult to following the Frye Fire in targeted areas within MGRS determine because biologists do not have a control habitat to prevent scorched fir and pine trees from being site. Abert’s squirrels will likely never be eradicated attacked by invasive beetles. from Mount Graham, so managers must weigh long- Cone Collection: Several tree species are unique to the term costs with potential, if not quantified, benefits. Pinaleño Mountains. The Coronado National Forest collects Mt. Graham tree cones during bumper crops to NEXT STEPS grow into seedlings for future revegetation projects. • Develop a FireScape project for the Pinaleño Silviculture and Fuels Treatments: Through the Pinaleño Mountains to reduce high-intensity fire risk Ecosystem Restoration Project, stands of dense trees are • Complete a Species Status Assessment to being thinned and understory brush is being managed to address MGRS’s reduced abundance and inform reduce the risk of high-severity fires. the recovery process Abert’s Squirrel Removal: In 2018, AGFD began removing • Continue working with partners on projects to Abert’s squirrels from areas that overlap with MGRS to benefit MGRS decrease competition for resources. PROJECT RESOURCES Collaborators For more information on this project, contact Marit Alanen: • USDA Forest Service Coronado National Forest [email protected] • Arizona Game and Fish Department For additional project resources and Case Studies, scan the • Arizona Center for Nature Conservation – Phoenix QR code below or visit the CCAST website: Zoo WWW.DESERTLCC.ORG/RESOURCE/CCAST • University of Arizona • USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Lead Authors: Marit Alanen, Sierra Riker, and Caitlyn Aymami, August 2020. Case Study support by US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Bureau of Reclamation Photos courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Mount Graham Red Squirrel/Marit Alanen Service.
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