U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The writer Wallace Stegner, who served as Assistant Secre­ tary of the Interior in the Kennedy Administration, once called national parks “the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, abso­ lutely democratic, they reflect January/February 2002 Vol. XXVII No. 1 us at our best....” Since Yellow- stone National Park was established in 1872, the Na­ tional Park System has grown to encompass 83 million acres (34 million hectares) in 385 areas within 49 States, the District of Columbia, Ameri­ can Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its mission is “to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural re- sources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.” Conserving endangered species is an important part of that mission. U.S.U.S. FishFish && WWildlifildlifee SerServicevice

Corel Corp. photo

WASHINGTON D.C. OFFICE Washington, D.C. 20240

Marshall Jones, Acting Director Ren Lohoefener, Chief, Division of Consultation, HCPs, and Recovery (703)358-2106 Gary Frazer, Assistant Director for Endangered Species Chris L. Nolin, Chief, Division of Conservation and Classification (703)358-2105 Kathy Walker, Chief, Office of Program Support (703)358-2079

REGION ONE Eastside Federal Complex, 911 N.E. 11th Ave, Portland OR 97232

California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Anne Badgley, Regional Director (503)231-6118 Washington, American Samoa, Commonwealth http://pacific.fws.gov/ of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and the Pacific Trust Territories

REGION TWO P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103

Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas H. Dale Hall, Acting Regional Director (505)248-6282 http://southwest.fws.gov/

REGION THREE Federal Bldg., Ft. Snelling, Twin Cities MN 55111

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

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

Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, Kentucky, Sam Hamilton, Regional Director (404)679-7086 Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, http://southeast.fws.gov/ Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

REGION FIVE 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035

Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Mamie Parker, Acting Regional Director (413)253-8300 Massachusetts, New Hampshire, http://northeast.fws.gov/ New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia

REGION SIX P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver CO 80225

Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Ralph O. Morgenweck, Regional Director (303)236-7920 Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming http://www.r6.fws.gov/

REGION SEVEN 1011 E. Tudor Rd., Anchorage, AK 99503

Alaska Dave Allen, Regional Director (907)786-3542 http://alaska.fws.gov/ IN THIS ISSUE

4 Endangered Species and the National Park Service

8 Endemic Amphipods in our Nation’s Capital

Telephone: (703)358-2390 Contributors 10 Endangered Species in Fax: (703)358-1735 Loyal A. Mehrhoff Midwestern Parks Internet: Peter A. Dratch http://endangered.fws.gov Diane Pavek Dan Licht Editor Terry D. DeBruyn Michael Bender Laura Hudson Deborah Jansen 12 Alaska: A Great Life for Wildlife Associate Editor Tom Logan Susan D. Jewell Jonathan Bayless Chris Lea Editorial assistance provided by Shanda H. King Ann Haas Darrell Echols 14 Diverse Challenges in the LaRee Brosseau Intermountain Region Art Director Tyler Sykes David Yeargin Mark Clough Susan Jewell

16 Improving Prospects for the Florida Panther

On the Cover A visitor to Grand Canyon National Park thrills to the sight of a California 18 Endangered Species in Pacific and condor. This rare bird is being reintroduced into Western Parks the wild just north of the park. Photo by Elaine Leslie/NPS

Opposite page: 20 Restoring an Atlantic Barrier Island Rocky Mountain National Endemic Park, Colorado

22 Turtle Patrol on Padre Island The Endangered Species Bulletin welcomes manuscripts on a wide range of topics related to endangered species. We are particularly interested in news about recovery, habitat conserva­ tion plans, and cooperative ventures. Please contact the Editor before preparing a manuscript. We cannot guarantee publication. Departments The Fish and Wildlife Service distributes the Bulletin primarily to Federal and State agencies, and official contacts of the Endangered Species Program. It also is reprinted by the University of Michigan as part of its own publication, the Endangered Species UPDATE. To subscribe, write 24 Regional News and the Endangered Species UPDATE, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Recovery Updates Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1115; or call (734) 763-3243. 26 Listing Acts Printed with vegetable-based ink on recycled and recyclable paper. If you do not keep back issues, please recycle the paper, pass them along to an interested person, or donate them to a local school or library. 32 Box Score Endangered Species and by Loyal A. Mehrhoff and Peter A. Dratch the National Park Service

Like all federal agencies, the National Park Service is required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to pro- tect endangered and threatened species, and to avoid any actions that might jeopardize their survival or ad- versely modify their critical habitats. In addition, the

The National Park System (in red) National Park Service recognizes that the ESA goes represents ecosystems throughout further by requiring federal agencies to actively pro- the United States. For details, visit its website at www.nps.gov mote the conservation of listed species. The National Park Service extends these responsibilities to protecting state-listed as well as federal candidate species. Currently, we know of 398 federally technical and fiscal challenges. The listed species of plants and animals that issues are diverse, ranging from remov- occur on lands managed by the National ing nonnative zebra mussels (Dreissena Park Service. This represents about 30 polymorpha) from a river to reestablish- percent of the 1,244 federally listed ing populations of extirpated bird species within the United States and its species such as the California condor territories (as of June 1, 2001). Plants (Gymnogyps californianus). In the year comprise the greatest number of listed 2000, the National Park Service spent species in areas managed by the Na- $13.8 million on the recovery of feder- tional Park Service, but there are a large ally listed species, compared to $3.3 number of mammals and birds as well million in 1993. These figures show that (Table 1 on page 6). These species are recovering listed species has become an found throughout the National Park important activity in the National Park System from the Virgin Islands to Maine, System*, but there is still much to do. Alaska, and American Samoa. In all, over How does the National Park Service 187 parks provide habitat for at least one protect and restore endangered species? listed species. Parks in Hawaii, Califor- First, we rely on highly capable park nia, and Florida contain the greatest personnel who work hard to conserve number of listed species, although parks rare animals and plants and to enforce in other biodiversity hot spots, such as laws for their protection. It is at the the southern Appalachian Mountains, individual park unit level that much of also have significant numbers (Table 2 the work is accomplished. Second, a on page 6). regional and national level organization Recovery plans approved by the U.S. prepares policies, administers programs, Fish and Wildlife Service and National and provides expertise to committed Marine Fisheries Service recommend thousands of tasks for the National Park *The areas managed by the National Park (Opposite page) California condor Service to undertake. Implementing Service include National Parks, National Preserves, Photo by Scott Frier/Nikon, Inc. National Recreation Areas, National Seashores, these tasks continues to pose enormous National Historic Parks, and many others.

4 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 5 Park Service employees. Some of the management, and inventory and moni­ conservation projects underway within toring. Currently, we are focusing our the National Park System are described efforts in six key areas: in the following articles. 1. Information. We will soon Beginning in 2000, Congress funded complete an endangered species the first year of a 5-year initiative called database that tracks the status of listed the Natural Resource Challenge. The species in the National Park System. This Challenge seeks to protect native and database, developed in cooperation with endangered species, aggressively control nonnative species, accelerate natural Taxonomic Group Species resource inventories, and expand monitoring activities. The Biological Plants 193 Resource Management Division was formed in Fort Collins, Colorado, as part Nonnative zebra mussels attach to Invertebrates 43 of this effort. Our Endangered Species native mussels and can cause their death. Program, one part of the Division, is Fish 40 USFWS photo charged with administering the Park Service’s nationwide endangered species Amphibians 4 effort, reviewing policies, and providing One Threat, Many scientific expertise to parks and senior Reptiles 19 Names management. To be successful, our Many words have been used program must directly benefit the units Birds 53 to label the plants, animals, of the National Park System and their and other organisms from Mammals 46 elsewhere that overrun our efforts to recover endangered species. That means working closely with park natural areas. Alien, exotic, Total 398 introduced, invasive, personnel, the regional Endangered nonnative, nonindigenous, and Species Coordinators, and other pro- weed (for plants) are the grams, such as alien weed control, fire Table 1. Endangered, threatened, proposed, and primary ones and are candidate species found in units of the National Park generally synonymous. In this Service. issue, the National Park Service authors use several of these terms to describe the National Park Plants Animals Total litany of species that are infesting our national parks. Haleakala National Park, Hawai‘ i 35 12 47

Editor’s note: The Fish and Wildlife Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawai‘ i 27 15 42 Service recognizes that a nonnative species may not necessarily take Channel Islands National Park, California 15 18 33 over and cause a problem. Some agricultural crops won’t reproduce Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 14 15 29 without human help. Conversely, California native species have invaded their own habitats when one or more Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation 10 13 23 natural factors were altered. For Area, California example, although cattails are native Kalaupapa National Historic Park, Hawai‘ i 15 7 22 to the Everglades, fertilizer in irrigation runoff has caused the normally small cattail patches to Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi 8 12 20 spread densely over thousands of acres. According to Presidential Everglades National Park, Florida 7 12 19 Executive Order 13112 (President Gr eat Smoky Mountains National Park, 4 12 16 Clinton’s 1999 directive), an invasive species is “an alien species whose Te nnessee introduction does or is likely to cause Table 2. Areas in the National Park System with the largest numbers of endangered, threatened, proposed, and economic or environmental harm or candidate species. harm to human health.”

6 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 the National Park Service’s Inventory and 4. Training. It is important to ensure Monitoring Program, the Association for that natural resource professionals have Biodiversity Information, and the access to training on new conservation Colorado State Heritage Program, will theories, technological advances, and provide the distribution of listed species regulatory processes. We plan to provide in our parks, the status of these species expanded training opportunities through in each park, identify needed recovery National Park Service training courses, actions, and track our successes in increased use of web-based information, implementing those actions. and training at facilities run by partners 2. Making the Units of the National such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Park System Ecologically Whole. Many Service’s National Conservation Training people think of national parks as pristine Center. areas where plants and animals thrive 5. Research. Recovery for many relatively undisturbed. Although some listed species will be difficult without are indeed in good condition ecologi­ research focused on their biology or on cally, many are not. Moreover, many of the threats facing them. We need to NPS photo our parks are rapidly becoming islands encourage scientists to work in the units of native habitat within a sea of dis­ of the National Park System. To this end, A Message from National turbed lands. We know that past human the National Park Service will continue Park Service Director Fran Mainella activities have eliminated many endan­ to promote key research in cooperation "There are no better places to recover gered, threatened, proposed, and with other government agencies and our endangered species than our national candidate species on National Park academic partners. parks. Our challenge is to ensure that Service lands. The list of species now 6. Funding. The National Park these special places—places we go missing from at least one national park Service, like other federal agencies, lacks to for inspiration and solace—are unit includes 41 plants, 18 birds, 14 the funds to accomplish all or even most also functional for the rarest plants mammals, 6 fish, 4 invertebrates, 2 of the restoration actions identified in and animals. While the National Park Service should be a leader in amphibians, and 1 reptile. Our ultimate species recovery plans. We need to find restoring species, many park units goal is to reestablish and maintain all ways to continue funding for those are not big enough for us to succeed species native to the National Park species that show signs of stabilization alone. We must work closely in this System, provided that this can be done or recovery while expanding our efforts vital effort with other federal in a safe and ecologically sound manner. for species that are still in decline. While agencies, with states, and with We cannot accomplish this goal without this may require new funding sources, it private citizens." the help of other federal agencies, the also means working better with partners states, Native American Tribes, and such as the National Park Foundation, NPS Endangered Species partners such as universities, zoos, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Program Contacts other organizations. Partners in Parks, conservation organiza­ Endangered Species Program Manager 3. Genetic Safety Net. The National tions, and corporate sponsors. Loyal A. Mehrhoff (970-225-3521) Park System harbors at least 193 species As stewards of America’s National Endangered Species Specialist of plants that are endangered, threat­ Parks, we must continue to rise to the Peter A. Dratch (970-225-3596) ened, proposed, or candidates for listing. challenge of recovering the threatened National Capital Region Many of these species occur in very low and endangered species that inhabit our Diane Pavek (202-342-1443) numbers or in scattered, vulnerable most cherished wild places. Northeast Region Michele Batcheller (814-863-9414) populations. The Park Service is working Southeast Region with institutions of the Center for Plant Loyal Mehrhoff is the Endangered Sheila Colwell (404-562-3113) Conservation and the U.S. Department of Species Program Manager for the Na­ Midwest Region Agriculture’s National Seed Storage tional Park Service, and Peter Dratch is Julie Stumpf—plants (219-926-7561) Laboratory to collect seed samples from the Endangered Species Specialist for Dan Licht—animals (605-433-5266) listed plant populations and place them animals for the National Park Service. Intermountain Region into long-term storage. These collections Both are with the agency’s Biological Laura Hudson (406-243-5507) Pacific West Region will form a genetic safety net in case a Resources Management Division in Fort Jonathan Bayless—south (510-817-1427) park’s wild population continues to Collins, Colorado. Steve Gibbons—north (206-220-4105) decline or is lost. Alaska Region Terry D. DeBruyn (907-257-2564)

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 7 Endemic Amphipods in by Diane Pavek our Nation’s Capital

Hidden away in shallow, subsurface groundwater communities, the entire known distribution of two tiny species is restricted to only a few springs along Rock Creek in the District of Columbia. Rock Creek Park protects native biodiversity not found elsewhere within the fragmented landscape of the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Legislation in 1890 established the Rock Creek Park as a unit of the National Park Service (NPS). Once the best sources of drinking water during the 1700s and 1800s, nearly all of the District’s original springs outside the parks have disappeared due to the diversion of rain water or direct piping into the sewers. Other springs and streams were entombed in concrete, filled in and paved over, or contaminated. Both of the park’s endemic species analyses, and species identifications. Kenk’s amphipod are amphipods, small shrimp-like While Rock Creek Park does not have a Photo by Irina Sereg freshwater crustaceans. The Hay’s Spring formal management plan for the Hay’s amphipod (Stygobromus hayi) is known Spring amphipod, conservation measures to exist only in five springs, all along in the park include restricting activities Rock Creek. This District endemic was in an area around the springs and in first collected from a spring within the their recharge areas. National Zoological Park in 1938 We know little about Hay’s Spring (Hubricht and Mackin 1940, Holsinger amphipod biology, its population 1967) and was listed federally as endan- dynamics, or the ecological community gered in 1982. In the late 1990s and early in which it lives. This tiny creature grows 2000s, the Hay’s Spring amphipod was to only 0.4 inches (10 millimeters) in confirmed to exist in four other springs length and, because it lives primarily within the borders of Rock Creek Park, below the surface, is colorless and blind. which adjoins the National Zoo. We do not know whether it resides The park is a long-term advocate for primarily in the flooded fractures of the amphipod conservation. Researchers and park’s metamorphic rock or only in the cooperators from universities, the U.S. saturated overburden above the bedrock, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the or both. It appears that the Hay’s Spring Maryland Department of Natural Re- amphipod may spend its life in a shallow sources provide important assistance to groundwater zone, moving in water that Rock Creek Park natural resource percolates among sand grains and gravel managers. These professionals assist with unless large volumes of water flush it up monitoring questions, data gathering and and out of an exit as a spring.

8 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 The unconsolidated sediments in groundwater invertebrates. These cores running water are an important intersti­ allow a more thorough and direct tial habitat; in many cases, the interstitial sampling of the fauna and reduce aquatic genera overlap those found in sampling error (such as artificially low caves (Culver et al. 2000). Subterranean frequencies due to cumulative habitat species are difficult to monitor since they disturbance). This spring, the Maryland appear seasonally and sporadically in Department of Natural Resources seeps and springs or may not appear received funding from the Fish and even during high water flows. Obvious Wildlife Service to con- vulnerability comes from the narrow duct a status survey for distribution in the specialized subterra­ the species outside of na­ nean habitat, and threats come from tional parks. The infor­ potential groundwater pollution. The mation that is gathered urban area surrounding the park poses by these partnerships may potential risks due to toxic spills (such as prevent the need to list oil and gas), nonpoint source inputs Kenk’s amphipod as en­ (such as fertilizers and pesticides), land dangered or threatened. disturbances, sewer leaks, and excessive stormwater flows that might adversely Diane Pavek is a Re­ affect groundwater. Except for parklands, gional Botanist and additional potential habitat where Hay’s Threatened and Endan­ Spring amphipod populations may have gered Species Coordina­ occurred in the District has largely been tor for the National Capi­ lost to development. tal Region, National Park Another vulnerable species, Kenk’s Service, in Washington, D.C. amphipod (Stygobromus kenki), occurs Dr. Florian Malard of the University of in Rock Creek Park in two other springs References Leon, France, and American and may be more rare than the Hay’s Culver, D.C., L. L. Master, M.C. Christman, and H. University graduate student Irina Sereg search for Kenk’s amphipod in Spring amphipod. Kenk’s amphipod was H. Hobbs III. 2000. Obligate cave fauna of the 48 contiguous United States. Conservation Bi- Rock Creek Park. first found in 1967 (Holsinger 1978). Photo by Bill Yeaman/NPS ology 14:386-401. Similar in general appearance to the

Hay’s Spring amphipod but smaller (up Holsinger, J. R. 1978. Systematics of the subterra­ to 0.23 inches or 6 mm), Kenk’s amphi­ nean amphipod genus Stygobromus pod is considered by The Nature (Crangonyctidae), par II: Species of the eastern Conservancy to be highly rare and United States. Smithsonian Contributions to critically imperiled in the District of Zoology, No. 266. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. Columbia. At this time, our highest conservation priority for Kenk’s amphi­ Holsinger, J. R. 1967. Systematics, speciation, and pod is learning more about the distribu­ distribution of the subterranean amphipod tion of this tiny creature. genus Stygonectes (Gammaridae). United States Because of limited funds and compet­ National Museum Bulletin, No. 259. Smithsonian ing needs, Rock Creek Park must be Institution Press, Washington, D.C. creative and persistent in its efforts to Hubricht, L. and J. G. Mackin. 1940. Description of find funding for conservation efforts and nine new species of fresh-water crustaceans outreach. American University zoologist with notes and new localities for other species. Dr. David Culver will conduct a 2-year American Midland Naturalist 23:187-218. study in Rock Creek Park, to determine whether Kenk’s amphipod is more secure than suspected or needs immedi­ ate intervention. In addition to monitor­ ing spring outflows, a small pump attached to a pipe driven into the sediments will be used to search for

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 9 Endangered Species in by Dan Licht Midwestern Parks

Along with such celebrated species land use practices have degraded water as the black-footed ferret (Mustela quality in much of the shiner’s historic nigripes) and the gray wolf (Canis habitat, leaving only a few remnant lupus), a variety of important but lesser populations. The shiner is found at the known endangered and threatened recently established Tallgrass Prairie animals and plants occur within the National Preserve in eastern Kansas. The Midwest Region of the National Park Preserve will improve habitat for the Service. They can be found in a rich Topeka shiner through management assemblage of habitats from rivers to programs that reduce or eliminate caves, savannas, wetlands, prairies, sedimentation, pesticides, and harmful lakeshores, and forests. fish species not native to the site. The Midwest Region, for example, The Buffalo National River in the contains several riverine parks that Arkansas Ozarks has already taken support rare mussels. Sensitive to action to protect caves for the benefit of turbidity and toxic chemicals, these summer and winter colonies of the mollusks act as barometers for the health endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), of the ecosystems upon which our gray bat (Myotis grisescens), and Ozark society and economy depend. Freshwa- big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii ter mussels are the most rapidly declin- ingens). One cave supported an esti- ing animal group in the United States. St. mated 172,500 gray bats in early 2001, Croix National Scenic Riverway, which making it the largest bat hibernation traverses western Wisconsin and the cave in Arkansas. Bat conservation at the Wisconsin/Minnesota border, alone is park also includes the restoration and home to 40 mussel species. It is one of protection of abandoned mines. the most diverse assemblages in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is world and includes one of the few actively restoring habitat for the endan- Black-footed ferret remaining populations of the endan- gered Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides Photo by M. R. Matchett/USFWS gered Higgins’ eye pearlymussel melissa samuelis). The primary food of (Lampsilis higginsi) and the world’s only Karner blue larvae is wild lupine reproducing population of the endan- (Lupinus perennis), which requires open gered winged-mapleleaf mussel to partially shaded areas such as oak (Quadrula fragosa). Threats to these savanna to survive. Decades of fire species are numerous, including the suppression in the heavily populated potential invasion of their habitat by the area of southern Lake Michigan have exotic zebra mussel (Dreissena resulted in succession from oak savanna polymorpha). To respond to this threat, habitat to closed-canopy forest. This has park staff work in cooperation with the caused the decline of the lupine and, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect ultimately, the Karner blue butterfly. The these native “pearls.” park staff has used mechanical controls, Another lesser known aquatic organ- herbicides, and burning to restore natural ism is the endangered Topeka shiner savanna conditions. Because the degrada- (Notropis topeka), a small fish historically tion had been severe over a long period, found in streams in the central and park personnel planted locally collected eastern Great Plains. Decades of harmful lupine seeds to expedite restoration.

10 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 The threatened western prairie plovers gives visitors a fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara) greater appreciation for was documented at Pipestone National this rare species. Monument, Minnesota, in 1985. Intensive Although generally long-term monitoring is a critical compo­ small in size, the Midwest nent of orchid management, since the Region’s national parks plant exists in fire-evolved prairie provide important habi­ habitats that require regular burns. tat for a large number of Nonnative plants threaten the existence endangered and threat­ of the orchid by degrading the native ened species.These parks prairies at Pipestone. The park is using also foster public aware­ well-timed prescribed burns to promote ness and support for the orchid populations and reduce the conservation of regional biodiversity. Higgins’ eye pearlymussel spread of nonnative plants. Following Photo by Tom Strekal these burns, over 125 orchids were Dan Licht is a Regional Wildlife counted flowering during 2000, which Biologist and T&E Coordinator--Animals was well above the previous counts that for the NPS Midwest Region and is never exceeded 55 in other recent years. currently stationed at Badlands National Like the orchid, invasive nonnative Park, South Dakota. plants also threaten the Pitcher’s thistle Western prairie fringed orchid (Cirsium pitcheri). However, instead of Photo by Martin Bowles/USFWS occurring in lush tallgrass prairie vegetation, this species’ habitat is the sandy beaches and dunes of Lake Michigan. Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore in Michigan protects one of the largest remaining populations. The park has initiated a study to determine whether nonnative plants affect the germination and seedling establishment of the thistle. Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore also is home to the endangered population of the piping plover (Charadrius melodus), a small shorebird that nests on Lake Michigan’s sandy beaches. The park provides habitat for 8 of the 30 pairs recorded in the Great Lakes region during 2000. Educating the public is a major component of the park’s manage­ ment program. Park staff, student interns, Student Conservation Association biological assistants, and volunteers are all involved in the education effort. Conservation education takes place at visitor centers, through the media, and in the field. Under the watchful eye of park staff and their assistants, the park allows visitors to view the birds through spotting scopes from a distance that does not disturb the birds or affect their survival and behavior. Being able to view the

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 11 Alaska: A Great Land by Peter A. Dratch and Terry D. DeBruyn for Wildlife

Alaska, the name given our largest are all migratory; they breed in ecosys- state, comes from an Aleut word, tems that are different from where they Alashka, meaning “great land.” Alaska’s overwinter. This not only makes moni- national parks are indeed a great land toring difficult but sometimes requires for wildlife. More than 54 million acres international cooperation for their (21.8 million hectares) support most of recovery. Two of the rarest migratory the state’s native species at incredible species in Alaska’s national parks are the levels of abundance. Alaska contains 65 short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria percent of the National Park System’s albatrus) and the Eskimo curlew total land area but only about one (Numenius borealis), both endangered. percent of the species listed under the While Alaska’s national parks are Endangered Species Act. generally considered remote, they are While many of Alaska’s parks still experiencing significant increases in have not been inventoried for wildlife human visitation. During 1999, recre- and plants, surveys to fill the gaps have ational visits totaled more than two begun under the National Park Service’s million, a seven percent increase over Natural Resource Challenge. (See the previous year. Because wildlife “Endangered Species and the National viewing is predicted to increase even Park Service,” beginning on page 4.) Of faster than the rate of the state’s rapid the 1,244 federally listed species, only 13 population growth, it is likely that the are currently listed as endangered or pressures on wildlife will increase as well. threatened in Alaska, and we expect that In southern coastal Alaska, Glacier all are present in national parks except Bay National Park provides critical the endangered Aleutian shield fern habitat and an important marine sanctu- Steller’s eider hen (Polystichum aleuticum) and leatherback ary for endangered finback whales Photo by Glen Smart/USFWS sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). The (Balaenoptera physalus), endangered listed species in Alaskan national parks humpback whales (Megaptera novaeang- liae), and the threatened population of Steller sea-lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Humpback cows and calves seek refuge and forage within the deep waters of the Kenai Fjords National Park and Preserve (NPP), but a marked increase in tourism within the park has resulted in conflicts between the whales and recreational boats and tour vessels. Two humpback whales have collided with tour boats. In one instance, a 120-foot (36-meter) boat traveling at 20 knots (23 mph) hit a humpback, resulting in considerable damage to the boat. Although there was no visible injury to the whale, this is still considered “take” under the Endangered Species Act. Four other endangered

12 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 whales are also found in Alaska’s park controlling nonnative Arctic foxes waters: the sei (Baleanoptera borealis), (Alopex lagopus) on the nesting islands, blue (Balaenoptera musculus), bowhead the goose has recovered from fewer than (Balaena mysticetus), and sperm 1,000 individuals in 1975 to more than (Physeter catodon) whales. 37,000 today. To prevent similar incidents, Kenai The American peregrine falcon (Falco Fjords NPP works with the U.S. Coast peregrinus anatum) was declared Guard and the National Oceanic and recovered and was delisted in 1999. After Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to delisting, resource agencies are required hold an annual workshop for tour boat to monitor a species’ condition for at owners. The workshop helps to ensure least 5 years to ensure that population that the 60 - 80 attending boat operators declines do not recur. Post-recovery receive a consistent message on adher­ monitoring of the falcon in Alaska is ence to the marine mammal protection being conducted primarily on Yukon- guidelines established by NOAA’s Charley NPP with funding provided by National Marine Fisheries Service. the U.S. Air Force. (See Endangered Furthermore, by following these guide- Species Bulletin Vol. XXVI, No. 1.) The lines, operators learn that this will gray whale, delisted in this part of its Steller sea lions improve the quality of the viewing range in 1994, is not currently the focus Photo © Craig Johnson experience for the park visitors. of monitoring efforts. Katmai and Lake Clark NPP’s may Alaska’s great size and few residents harbor some of the largest known have kept most species off the endan­ wintering populations of threatened gered species list. With the increased Steller’s eiders (Polysticta stelleri). tourism and residential growth, Alaska Steller’s eiders breed in northern Russia will be the best test of our ability to and on the central coastal plain of manage wildlife properly. Alaska, primarily near Barrow. The number of nesting pairs in Alaska is Peter Dratch is the Endangered Species estimated to be only 1,000 out of the Specialist for animals for the National estimated 220,000 birds in the world Park Service, Biological Resources population. However, at least 150,000 of Management Division, in Fort Collins, these eiders winter in Alaska’s shallow Colorado. Terry D. DeBruyn is the near-shore marine waters from the Regional Wildlife Biologist and Regional eastern Aleutian Islands to the Lower Threatened and Endangered Species Humpback whale Cook Inlet. Coordinator with the Park Service in Corel Corp. photo In February 2001, critical habitat in Anchorage, Alaska. western coastal Alaska was designated in four areas for the threatened spectacled eider (Somateria fischeri) and in five areas for the Steller’s eider. Such desig­ nations are intended to ensure that any actions permitted, funded, or conducted by federal agencies will not adversely modify habitat necessary for the conser­ vation of the eiders. An example of the progress in recovery of Alaska’s threatened and endangered species came in March 2001, when the Aleutian Canada goose (Branta canadensis leucopareia) was delisted. With the cooperative efforts of many federal and state agencies and private landowners, particularly in

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 13 Diverse Challenges in the by Laura Hudson Intermountain Region

The California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), rising above one problem after another as it struggles back from near extinction, exemplifies the challenges facing the National Park Service’s Intermountain Re- gion. The Intermountain Region is vast, including di- verse ecosystems in eight states from Texas to Mon- tana, and it contains more than 20 percent of the areas managed by the Park Service. These areas provide habitats for many endangered and threatened species. Conservation activities carried out in the Intermountain Region include genetic research, reducing visitor im- pacts, and participating in national resource inventories. The California condor reintroduction During the past 15 years, Padre Island project in northern Arizona began in National Seashore in southern Texas has 1996 when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife provided protected habitat for the Service and The Peregrine Fund—in endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle cooperation with the National Park (Lepidochelys kempii). (See “Turtle Patrol Service and a number of other federal on Padre Island,” page 22.) Each summer and state agencies, Native American from 1978 to 1988, biologists shipped tribes, and private wildlife conservation approximately 2,000 turtle eggs to Padre organizations—released six captive- Island from the species’ main nesting propagated condor chicks at the Vermil- beach at Rancho Nuevo, Mexico, in an ion Cliffs, just north of Grand Canyon attempt to establish a secondary breed- National Park. By 1999, the project had ing colony. After the hatchlings were succeeded in establishing 26 juvenile released at Padre Island so that they condors. As with previous condor would imprint on the beach, they were reintroduction efforts, however, early sent to the National Marine Fisheries success was followed by setbacks. In Service laboratory in Galveston, Texas, 2000, several birds died from lead for captive rearing and eventual re- poisoning. The remaining birds had to release at Padre Island. be captured for treatment and were The transfer of Kemp’s ridley eggs to eventually released. Now, one of the Padre Island from Rancho Nuevo ended most important tasks in the condor in 1988, and scientists waited for the restoration effort is finding a way to released turtles to mature and nest in discourage the curiosity of young birds southern Texas. In 1996, two turtles towards humans and human activity. experimentally imprinted on Padre Condors that come into close contact Island as hatchlings returned there to with people often become casualties. nest. By 1999, biologists had found 16

14 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 Kemp’s ridley nests on the Texas coast, 13 of them at Padre Island. Efforts to promote recovery in southern Texas include monitoring and protecting nesting sea turtles and their nest sites, and satellite tracking of adult Kemp’s ridleys. In southern Arizona, an endangered fish, the Quitobaquito pupfish (Cyprino­ don macularius eremus), inhabits the springs, stream, and pond at Quitobaquito on Organ Pipe Cactus National Monu­ ment. It also occurs in several isolated pools in the ephemeral Rio Sonoyta in Mexico. Researchers recently found unique mitochondrial DNA markers that differentiate this fish from other desert pupfish in the region. Census results for 2000 were below average compared to previous surveys (1992-1996) and the cause of the decline is not clear. Re- the species’ survival could be affected by California condor searchers found many young fish and water releases from the upstream Photo by Elaine Leslie/NPS the overall reproduction looked good, Flaming Gorge Reservoir, the National and observers did not detect nonnative Park Service iscollaborating with Utah fish or other obvious threats. The park is State University geomorphologists to continuing with its monitoring to learn determine the likely impacts on the plant more about fluctuations in the Quito­ if dam operations change. baquito pupfish population. National parks in the Intermountain Parks in the Intermountain Region Region provide important sanctuary for provide habitat for endangered and listed plants and animals by protecting threatened plants as well. One example particular sites and actively restoring and is the sentry milk-vetch (Astragalus monitoring populations. cremnophylax var. cremnophylax), a plant endemic to the limestone rim rock Laura Hudson, the Threatened and and vertical cliffs of the Kaibab Plateau Endangered Species Coordinator for the in northern Arizona. The Park Service Intermountain Region of the National has monitored the population that grows Park Service, is stationed at the University on the South Rim of Grand Canyon of Montana in Missoula. National Park since 1983. We found that one of the primary causes for the population’s decline was trampling by visitors to the park. To protect the site, Dinosaur National Monument the Park Service constructed a fence in provides important habitat for the 1990. As a result, the population in- Ute ladies’-tresses, a rare orchid. creased steadily during the next decade Photo © Jim Rorabaugh from 240 plants to 510 plants. A threatened orchid species, the Ute ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis), occurs in Dinosaur National Monument, which straddles the Colorado-Utah border. Inventories that were conducted in 1998 and 1999 and funded by the Bureau of Reclamation found this orchid growing along the Green River. Because

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 15 Improving Prospects for by Deborah Jansen and Tom Logan the Florida Panther

the last strongholds where panthers mate with panthers in south Florida (Seal survived. Everglades National Park and 1991). Consequently, in partnership with Big Cypress National Preserve (Big the Florida Panther Interagency Working Cypress) secure more than 2 million Group (formerly the Florida Panther acres (0.8 million hectares) where the Interagency Committee)—whose mem- Florida panther faces relatively few bers are the Florida Department of human impacts. Environmental Protection, the Florida Habitat loss is a major reason why Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commis- many species, including sion, the National Park Service (NPS), the the panther, are endan- South Florida Water Management gered; however, genetic District, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and demographic and the U.S. Forest Service—Everglades consequences of a small National Park and Big Cypress became population size also focus areas for the genetic restoration of have significant effects. the Florida panther. Eight female moun- Surveying and monitor- tain lions of the subspecies P. c . stanley- ing in and around these ana were captured in Texas and brought two parks in the 1970s to southern Florida in 1995. Two were and 1980s revealed the released into Everglades National Park presence of few pan- and four into Big Cypress. The other two thers. Those remaining were compro- were released in Fakahatchee Strand Florida panther cubs mised by inbreeding and consequently State Preserve. Five of the eight females Photo by Deborah Jansen/NPS the loss of genetic variation. A genetic have produced 17 known first-generation bottleneck resulted in a prevalence of progeny sired by male Florida panthers This country’s big wildcat—called a innocuous characteristics such as a and at least 23 second-generation puma or mountain lion or panther “cowlick” or a whorl of hair on the progeny (Darrell Land, Florida Fish and (Puma concolor) in different regions—is animal’s back and a “kink” or fusion of Wildlife Conservation Commission, common in some units of the National bones at the end of the tail. More Naples, Florida, personal communication). Park System west of the Mississippi River. importantly, unhealthy traits, such as However, it was thought to be extinct in heart defects, abnormal sperm, immune the eastern United States and was listed deficiencies, and overall loss of reproduc- Everglades National Park by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as tive vigor, were also present. Panthers Photo by Richard Frear/NPS endangered throughout its eastern range appeared to be hanging on in 1967 under the precursor to the but in poor health, and Endangered Species Act. In the 1970s, their numbers were not successful searches by the Florida Fish increasing despite protec- and Wildlife Conservation Commission tion of the cats and a for the southeastern subspecies, the portion of their remain- Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), ing habitat. gave hope that a viable remnant popula- In 1991, scientists rec- tion remained in southern Florida. ommended improving the Scientific evidence soon confirmed gene pool by releasing that the vast and nearly roadless Florida healthy individuals from Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp were a western subspecies to

16 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 The physical characteristics, vigor, and landowners to conserve productivity of the P. c. coryi x P. c. panther habitat on pri­ stanleyana intercrosses suggest that the vate lands. negative effects of inbreeding in the As a multiple use area, Florida panthers of the 1970s are being Big Cypress allows hunt­ remedied. Few of the intercross offspring ers to harvest white-tailed have had a cowlick or kinked tail. deer (Odocoileus Preliminary analysis of sperm quality and virginianus) and feral female productivity from a small number hogs (Sus scrofa), which of these animals suggests the frequency are the two main prey of harmful traits may be decreasing. items of the panther. The Further, the panther population in Big NPS and the Florida Fish Cypress has shown a recent increase, and Wildlife Conservation likely because of the genetic restoration Commission have regu­ program. Only one male was found in lated the harvest of game the 540,000-acre (216,000-ha) study area through quota restric­ when the NPS initiated work in Big tions, antler length limits, Cypress in 1989, but 21 panthers of both prohibition on dog use, sexes were present during 2000. The and harvest reporting Texas cats now have third-generation compliance since the mid- progeny occupying previously vacant 1980s. The NPS has habitats. Throughout south Florida, removed undeeded between 60 and 70 panthers are now backcountry camps and estimated to occur (McBride 2000). restricted the use of off- The preservation of sufficient suitable road vehicles. It does not habitat for this increasing population is appear that the ability of another critical element of panther panthers to secure ad- recovery. Habitat purchases have equate food has been included the Florida Panther National compromised by the current deer and hog Florida panther (with characteristic kinked tail, inset) Wildlife Refuge, a 26,500-acre (10,700- harvest by hunters. at Big Cypress National Preserve Photo by Deborah Jansen/NPS ha) area, established in 1989. An addi­ Big Cypress has intensified its work tional 146,000 acres (58,400 ha) of prime for the future of the Florida panther by panther habitat came under the jurisdic­ funding a special team to radio-collar tion of Big Cypress in 1996. Another more panthers. The team will comple­ sufficient habitat and prey to ensure 110,000 acres (44,000 ha) are being ment existing study efforts being con­ panther recovery. acquired to enlarge Everglades National ducted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Park, as well as 35,000 acres (14,170 ha) Conservation Commission and the U.S. Deborah Jansen is a Wildlife Biologist to protect the Okaloacoochee Slough. Fish and Wildlife Service. It will also for the National Park Service at Big Previously acquired public land contain­ help to maintain an adequate sample of Cypress National Preserve. Tom Logan is ing panther habitat includes Corkscrew study animals for the continuing assess­ the Endangered Species Coordinator for Swamp Sanctuary (1954) and Fakahatchee ment of natural and human-caused the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conserva­ Strand State Preserve (1974). impacts and to guide further manage­ tion Commission. An estimated one million acres (0.4 ment decisions. million ha) of significant panther habitat Implemented through a collaborative Literature Cited in southern Florida are privately owned. approach to recovery among scientists McBride, R. 2000. Current panther distribution and Urban and agricultural demands for and agencies, gene flow between the habitat use: A review of field notes. Fall 1999- these lands continue to diminish the Texas and Florida subspecies improves Winter 2000. Report to Florida Panther Subteam of MERIT, USFWS, Vero Beach, Fl. 25 pp. acreage usable by the panther. Conse­ the prospects for long-term survival of Seal, U. S. (editor). 1991. Genetic management quently, the key to the long-term survival the Florida panther. While genetic considerations for threatened species with a of the Florida panther depends on the restoration has been instrumental in detailed analysis of the Florida panther. Work- proper management of public conserva­ increasing panther numbers and improv­ shop report, Washington, D.C. tion lands coupled with effective ing their health, cooperative manage­ methods to work cooperatively with ment efforts are now vital to maintaining

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 17 Endangered Species in by Loyal A. Mehrhoff and Jonathan Bayless Pacific and Western Parks

The Pacific West Region of the issued in 1984. Last fall, the Preserve National Park System encompasses our began improving the habitat of Lake western coast and Pacific island national Tuenedae by removing aquatic vegeta- parks. With this vast area of states and tion and deepening the lake. This territories comes a complex set of expensive maintenance needs to be endangered species issues, ranging from completed every 10 years or the lake will old-growth forests to desert springs to become increasingly unsuitable habitat sea turtle nesting beaches and Samoan for this chub. With these actions, the rain forests. Here are a few examples of Preserve is maintaining the population our many activities that benefit endan- until suitable natural habitat is restored. gered and threatened species: Mission Blue Butterfly (Icaricia Mohave Tui Chub (Gila bicolor icarioides missionensis) This endan- mohavensis) This fish originally oc- gered butterfly is restricted to four small curred in Nevada’s Mojave River and its areas in the greater San Francisco Bay, adjacent natural lakes. During the late California, region, two of which are Pleistocene Epoch about 10,000 years within Golden Gate National Recreation ago, the climate became drier and these Area. The butterfly’s host plant, the interconnected lakes disappeared. The silver-leafed lupine (Lupinus albifrons tui chub survived by adapting to life in var. collinus), is threatened by nonnative deep pools and slow-moving portions of plants, particularly thoroughwort the Mojave River. (Agertina adenophora). Golden Gate’s Mission blue butterfly In the 1930s, anglers introduced staff are restoring the habitat by remov- Photo by Dr. Edward S. Ross/USFWS nonnative fish into the headwaters of the ing thoroughwort and replanting these Mojave River when they used arroyo areas with local lupine seeds. They will chub (Gila orcutti) for live bait. Hybrid- continue to monitor the butterfly, its host ization and competition with the arroyo plant, and the invading plants. chub caused populations of the tui chub Restoration of Hawaiian Ecosys- to decline dramatically. By 1968, geneti- tems. The Hawaiian Islands are among Mojave tui chub habitat cally pure tui chub had been virtually the world’s most imperiled ecosystems. A NPS photo eliminated from the Mojave River system. quarter of all the listed species in the Today, pure tui chub are United States (312 of 1,244) occur in found in only four Hawaii, and 101 listed, proposed, or locations. The largest candidate plants and animals occur on population is at the National Park Service lands in Hawaii. artificial Lake Tuenedae These species and their unique ecosys- in California’s Mojave tems are threatened by wildfires, devel- National Preserve. This opment, and nonnative species. The lake holds a population recovery strategy for Hawaiian parks has of approximately 3,500 primarily focused on controlling nonna- chubs—over half of all tive goats, pigs, deer, sheep, and key known individuals. ecosystem-altering plants. If left un- The Mohave tui chub checked, these species will eventually is listed as endangered, eliminate native ecosystems. Monitoring and a recovery plan was indicates that controlling these nonna-

18 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 tives has benefitted some rare plant controlling them before species such as the Haleakala silversword they become serious (Argyroxiphium sandwicense ssp. threats to the parks or macrocephalum), a Maui endemic that other natural areas. This now numbers in the tens of thousands. team and other park ef­ Because the Hawaiian parks face forts also target long-es­ many of the same challenges, they have tablished nonnatives such often shared resources and expertise. as grasses, gingers Together, these parks are coordinating (Hedychium spp.), new efforts to: miconia (Miconia • Inventory and monitor vital natural calvescens), and fire tree resources, such as endangered (Myrica faya) that can species, to improve the management overrun and replace na­ of park ecosystems. tive ecosystems. The • Propagate, reestablish, and stabilize parks are beginning to extremely endangered plants. The actively restore invaded parks have identified 50 endangered areas through the use of plant species for special conservation prescribed fire or herbi­ efforts. Thirty of these species cides and then planting a new community Ground-nesting birds such as the currently have fewer than 25 individu­ of native species. dark-rumped petrel are especially als remaining in the wild. This project Conservation of unique island and vulnerable to nonnative predators. will propagate and reestablish these inland ecosystems with their endemic Photo by Robert Shallenberger/USFWS species in Hawaiian national parks species are priorities in the Pacific West with significant native habitat. The Region. We are able to provide protec­ goal is to stabilize populations of tion for many populations of federally This critically endangered Cyanea glabra is being smothered by the these species so that we have a base listed species that are otherwise threat- invasive weed kahili ginger upon which to reestablish species as ened by habitat loss due to development, (Hedychium gardnerianum). other ecosystem restoration projects disturbance from recreation, and invasion NPS photo mature in the future. by nonnative species. • Control nonnative animals. The parks are continuing their efforts to reduce Loyal Mehrhoff is the the effects of feral goats, pigs, sheep, Endangered Species Pro- and deer and to expand efforts to gram Manager for the Na­ control rats, mongooses, and feral tional Park Service and is cats. Rats, cats, and mongooses can located with the Biological decimate resident bird populations. Resources Management Ground-nesting birds such as the Division in Fort Collins, endangered nene or Hawaiian goose Colorado. Jonathan (Branta sandvicensis) and Hawaiian Bayless is an Endangered dark-rumped petrel (Pterodroma Species Coordinator for phaeopygia sandwichensis) are the Pacific West Region in particularly vulnerable. Both Hawaii San Francisco, California. Volcanoes National Park and Haleakala National Park are expanding efforts to protect remote areas of the park that harbor key habitat for native endan­ gered birds. • Protect and restore plant communi­ ties. The Hawaiian National Parks have teamed together to host a multipark Exotic Plant Management Team that focuses on finding new infestations of nonnative plants and

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 19 Restoring an Atlantic by Chris Lea and Shanda H. King Barrier Island Endemic

In 1967, graduate student Elizabeth Higgins conducted a floristic survey of Assateague Island, a barrier island straddling the Maryland-Virginia state line, found seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) growing on several wash flats. In 1993, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) found that this plant had declined to the point that it was vulnerable to extinction and warranted listing as a threatened species. By that time, its range was reduced to isolated population clus- ters on Long Island, New York, and on barrier islands of North and South Carolina. This plant is endemic to Atlantic barrier island beaches and was believed to be extirpated from six of the nine states in its historic range, which extended along the coast from Massachusetts to South Carolina. Seabeach amaranth The National Park Service (NPS) Photo by Helen Hamilton/NPS Northeast Region, the Maryland Depart- ments of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Agriculture (MDA), The Nature Conser- vancy, and the FWS teamed up to plant seabeach amaranth on the beaches of Assateague Island National Seashore in 2000. This planting is one part of a multiyear restoration study by the NPS. Evaluating environmental and genetic factors is critical in the ongoing study to improve overall restoration efforts. The seabeach amaranth seems to be well adapted to the harsh and windy habitat of the upper parts of barrier island beaches and wash flats where storm surges scour competing vegeta- tion. It is a low-growing annual with somewhat succulent leaves. The plant’s decline is primarily attributed to habitat alteration or loss caused by shoreline development and stabilization projects. A fecund seed producer, the seabeach amaranth may rely on seed banks and prolific dispersal to maintain populations when conditions for the growing plants are poor. Such a strategy is not success- ful when there is insufficient habitat.

20 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 Maintenance of seabeach amaranth threaten the maintenance of viable urbanization pressures. Results of the populations requires a balance between seabeach amaranth populations if natural restoration may be useful at other sites the processes of creation and stabiliza­ disturbances do not create new areas of where seabeach amaranth exists now or tion: new habitat is created when beaches habitat. Because the nonnative occupies was extirpated, including these units of are scraped clean by storms, and existing the same habitat as seabeach amaranth, the NPS: Fire Island National Seashore, habitat is lost when an absence of natural efforts are planned to map Asiatic sand Gateway National Recreation Area, Cape disturbances allows the succession of sedge colonies, identify appropriate Hatteras National Seashore, and Cape more competitive species. control treatments, and monitor results. Lookout National Seashore. Assateague Island changed greatly in Early results of the the decades since the last sighting of the restoration project on seabeach amaranth in 1967. Both the Assateague were seen in NPS at Assateague National Seashore June 2001. Eight hundred and the FWS at Chincoteague National seedlings have been Wildlife Refuge had built high dunes on found at the previous the island to protect park facilities and year’s restoration sites, habitat for wildlife. Extensive sand flats and small numbers had been overgrown by vegetation or continue to germinate. converted to impoundments for water- Perhaps equally as fowl, preventing the ongoing creation of significant for restoration appropriate habitat for the amaranth. of seabeach amaranth as Changes in shoreline management initial “in situ” reproduc­ policy by the NPS and significant storm tion is the ability of the events during the 1990s restored some new population to seabeach amaranth habitat to Assateague. disperse to new habitat. While monitoring the piping plover Additional threats come from herbi­ Some of these new seedlings have (Charadrius melodus) in August 1998, vore damage. Nonnative Sika deer appeared up to a mile from the nearest NPS biological technician Shanna Ramsey (Cervus nippon) and native white-tailed known sites for plants in 2000. One day, found a single seabeach amaranth plant deer (Odocoileus virginianus) caused success might be defined as the time on the north end of Assateague Island. some seabeach amaranth transplant when we, like Elizabeth Higgins back in This and a nearby plant were the first deaths during 2000. Subsequently, marker 1967, can call seabeach amaranth “just seabeach amaranth seen on Assateague flags were bent into a protective triangle another plant” among many. in more than 30 years. over the plants to prevent browsing. Storm surges from Hurricane Bonnie Caterpillars of various moth species Chris Lea is an ecologist and Shanda threatened both plants in late August (webworms) also are known to cause H. King is a botanist at Assateague Island 1998. The NPS, MDNR, and the FWS significant seabeach amaranth mortality. National Seashore. conferred on emergency measures. We will monitor for insect damage (Above) Seabeach amaranths form small dunes that Because these were the only known weekly during the growing seasons. appear to protect the stems from moisture loss and plants along 300 miles of coast, we Quantifying the amount of genetic allow growth of additional branches that in turn removed one plant to a greenhouse for variation present in the populations is produce more flowers. breeding; the other plant perished in the another facet of the restoration effort. Photo by Helen Hamilton/NPS storm. The rescued plant was tended by Despite reduced genetic diversity due to (Below) A volunteer plants a seabeach amaranth MDA horticulturist Shelley Hicks and the fact that one plant was the progeni­ seedling at Assateague Island National Seashore. produced 20,000 seeds. Using the tor of 20,000 seeds, we believe that Photo by Alex Almaria/NPS species-specific germination methods variability could be restored by reintro­ pioneered by Jerry and Carol Baskin at ducing large numbers of individual the University of Kentucky, Hicks grew plants. In this case, we transplanted 800 1,000 seedlings for transplanting. of the 1,000 germinated seedlings, and Current threats to seabeach amaranth we will follow up with assessments of restoration may be competing plants genetic diversity. such as the nonnative Asiatic sand sedge Work on recovery of the seabeach (Carex kobomugi) and the native amaranth contributes to the ecology of a American beachgrass (Ammophila mid-Atlantic barrier island ecosystem breviligulata). These species may beleaguered by land use changes and

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 21 Turtle Patrol on by Darrell Echols Padre Island

A frantic radio call came into the covered the evidence by using her Padre Island National Seashore Ranger flippers to sling sand over them. Mean- Station on April 29, 1991: a park visitor while, she rocked back and forth to reported that a sea turtle was crawling tamp down the sand. Even though she ashore! In a flash, we loaded a 4-wheel- weighed only about 80 pounds (36 drive truck with all the necessities for kilograms), I could feel the vibrations excavating sea turtle eggs and drove the from her tamping nearly 20 feet (6 mile (1.6 kilometer) of beach to the nest meters) away. Finally she finished, site. In that 20-minute drive, I realized lumbered back across the beach to the that I was about to witness a nesting sea water, and swam away. turtle for the first time in my life. At Padre Island National Seashore, we Ordinarily, National Seashore staff have the distinction of being the only patrolled about 110 location in the United States where all miles (177 km) of beach five protected species of sea turtles along the south Texas occurring in the Gulf of Mexico have coast daily from March nested. The rarest of these species is the through June to locate Kemp’s ridley, listed as endangered in the nesting sea turtles 1970. In 1978, Mexico and the U.S. or their nests, and have initiated a 10-year project that brought done so since 1990. Kemp’s ridley eggs from the species’ That day, we had main nesting beach in Mexico to Padre reluctantly decided to Island as a means of reestablishing the cancel the patrol population in Texas. Now, each spring because tides were these released turtles nest sporadically higher than normal, along the southern Texas coast. which limited our As a continuing part of the recovery driving ability. Luckily, a effort, Kemp’s ridley eggs from southern visitor had noticed the signs placed Texas nests are carefully removed and Darell Echols and NPS staff with nesting Kemp’s ridley turtle along the beach asking that they contact placed into artificial incubators for NPS photo us if a sea turtle was seen. increased hatching success. When left to Despite my training on the character- hatch in the wild, most eggs are lost to istics of nesting sea turtles, I was awed predation, poaching, inundation by high by the sight before me. The turtle was a tides, or crushing from beach traffic. Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), the Among sea turtles, Kemp’s ridleys hide most endangered of the world’s sea their nests the best. Besides being turtles, and she was in the process of relatively lightweight and not leaving digging a nest cavity to lay her eggs. large, noticeable tracks, they nest on About five minutes after we arrived, she windy days, which helps erase any settled down and began laying the first traces. Sometimes patrollers spend an of about 100 white, leathery eggs. I was hour finding a nest after seeing a turtle amazed and curious how she could carry or its tracks in the sand. so many eggs inside of her, especially Once the nest is located, it generally since each one was the size of a ping- takes about 15 minutes to pack the eggs pong ball. Once the eggs were laid, she gently into styrofoam coolers, insert a

22 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 probe for monitoring their temperatures, Padre Island National Seashore staff and cover them with a plastic screen and will continue to do what we can to help sand. Eggs can safely be transported for increase the numbers of nesting Kemp’s the first 24 hours after laying; after that, ridleys. In addition to our partnership the embryo attaches itself to the top of with the Geological Survey’s Biological the egg, and it can suffocate if the egg is Resources Division, we also work with rotated after attachment. A passenger the National Marine Fisheries Service, holds the cooler during transport to the U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Fish and incubators to avoid scrambling the Wildlife Service to increase patrols fragile contents. outside the park, provide data for law Hatching success can be less than 40 enforcement in state and federal waters, percent in the wild but up to 90 percent and standardize egg collection methods. in the incubation facility. Dr. Donna It has been more than 10 years since I Shaver, formerly with the National Park saw my first sea turtle as a patroller. I Service at Padre Island, leads the sea knew then that it was a rare treat. Not turtle research in her current position another sea turtle nested at Padre Island with the U.S. Geological Survey’s for three more years, and in 2000, there Biological Resources Division. This were still only 18 nests. I am now a research extends beyond the boundaries manager and supervisor of the National of Padre Island National Seashore. Dr. Park Service sea turtle monitoring Shaver developed the standardized egg program at Padre Island National collection and incubation methods. After Seashore and have been seven weeks of incubating, the eggs fortunate to remain in­ hatch, and the hatchlings are released volved in this program. It onto the beach where the eggs were is truly a rewarding expe­ collected to begin the cycle again. rience to know that your After 10 years at Padre Island, I have efforts are helping pro­ not lost that special feeling I get from tect this turtle species and doing the right thing for an animal bring it back from the needing help, but it has been difficult at edge of extinction. To all times. It is hard to see what might be the the biologists caring for fruits of our labor destroyed after we’ve endangered species, I put forth such a tremendous effort. I am would like to offer the referring here to the dead turtles that following quote from The periodically wash ashore along the Texas Lorax by Dr. Seuss: “Un­ coast. The cause of death for some of less someone like you these animals is obvious, but for most it cares a whole awful lot, is not. nothing is going to get In addition to the presence of dead better. It’s not!” turtles, patrol efforts are sometimes Keep up the great work! Nesting Kemp’s ridley turtle hampered by events that are beyond our Photo by Stuart Porter/USFWS control. Twice each year, during the Darrell Echols is a Biologist for the spring and fall, ocean currents change National Park Service and is located at along the coast of Texas and cause Padre Island National Seashore in seaweed (Sargassum spp.) mats to come Corpus Christi, Texas. ashore in large masses. This seaweed provides nutrients and food to shore- birds and helps to stabilize sand and build dunes. Although the seaweed doesn’t affect the turtles, their tracks are concealed by it, increasing the possibility that our patrollers will miss a nest.

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 23 REGIONAL NEWS & RECOVERY UPDATES

Region 4 Spring Creek Bladderpod (Lesquerella perforata) The FWS Cookeville, Tennessee, Field Office, state of Tennessee, and city of Leba­ non have signed a cooperative management agree­ ment for the protection of a Spring Creek bladderpod population occurring on property re­ cently acquired by the city. The city purchased approximately 3.5 acres (1.4 hectares) adjacent to a road construction project for the perpetual Regional endangered species staffers have protection of Spring Creek bladderpods occurring reported the following news: on the property. This site is one of only 17 known

locations harboring this endangered species and American burying beetle Region 1 is the first to receive this level of protection. Photo by Andrea Kozol

By providing for the perpetual protection of this This effort is probably one of the largest reintro­ species while allowing for the road construction, ductions ever undertaken for an endangered in- this agreement represents a cooperative approach sect species. to resolving issues between development and habi­ tat protection. We have been able to secure simi­ Present to document the work was a film crew lar management agreements for the Spring Creek from the TV program, Wild Moments, and the bladderpod with two Lebanon-based corporations, Providence Journal newspaper. Partners in the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., and TRW work include the Rhode Island Division of Fisher­ Automotive. All 17 occurrences of this plant are ies and Wildlife, Massachusetts Division of Fisher­ located on private property and efforts are under- ies and Wildlife, Roger Williams Park Zoo, Massa­ way to encourage the other landowners to follow chusetts Audubon Society, University of Massa­ the city’s lead. chusetts’ Boston Field Station, University of Rhode Island, Maria Mitchell Natural History Museum, Reported by Tyler Sykes of the FWS Cookeville and Nantucket Conservation Foundation. Field Office. Contra Costa wallflower Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) As a result of a Photo by Paul Opler multi-agency partnership, endangered Indiana Rare Plant Propagation The Fish and Wild- Region 5 bats have been documented to migrate to the Lake life Service’s San Francisco Bay National Wildlife American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus Champlain Valley in Vermont from a hibernacu­ Refuge (NWR) Complex has completed a new americanus) The largest American burying lum in New York. Biologists tagged five Indiana greenhouse facility next to the refuge’s existing beetle reintroduction effort in the 12-year history bats (four females and one male) with radio trans­ native plant nursery. The new greenhouse is dedi­ of the species’ recovery program took place re­ mitters as the bats left their hibernaculum (hi­ cated to the propagation of endangered plants of cently on Nantucket Island off the Massachusetts bernation site) in early May. Three females were Antioch Dunes NWR, the Antioch Dunes evening coast. The Roger Williams Park Zoo in Provi­ located by air and subsequently by land in Ver­ primrose (Oenothera deltoides ssp. howellii) and dence, Rhode Island, raised well over 300 of the mont within one to six days after release. Multiple Contra Costa wallflower (Ersimum capitatum endangered beetles for release on Nantucket Is- roost trees for two of the females were identified; var. angustatum). With its increased capacity, land, a historic locality for the species. On June 11 most of the roost trees were shagbark hickories. the refuge will be able to meet its endangered and 12, 320 American burying beetles (160 pairs) Evening counts of bats leaving the roosts ranged plant restoration needs in-house. were given dead quail for food (the beetles require from 4 to 120 bats (probably more than one spe­ carrion to reproduce) and released at the Massa­ cies roosted together). All of the Indiana bats were Reported by LaRee Brosseau of the FWS Port- chusetts Audubon Society’s Sesachacha Wildlife found on private land and all landowners granted land Regional Office. Sanctuary. With each pair of beetles capable of permission for field staff to locate the bats. raising 10-20 larvae, the 2001 release may result in thousands of beetles on the island by late fall.

24 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 REGIONAL NEWS & RECOVERY UPDATES

The success of this study was due to a substantial Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii dougallii) cooperative effort by state and federal agencies Roseate tern productivity in Long Island may get National Office and concerned citizens. Staff and equipment were a boost from the combined efforts of private orga­ International Outreach The Canadian Wild- provided by our New England and New York Field nizations and state, county, and federal govern­ life Service and the FWS Endangered Species Pro- Offices, the New York State Department of Envi­ ment agencies to restore Warner’s Island in Long gram have completed a 28-page joint publica­ ronmental Conservation (which also provided the Island’s Shinnecock Bay. Warner’s Island histori­ tion, “Conserving Borderline Species—A Part­ airplane and pilot), the Green and White Moun­ cally provided habitat for the endangered roseate nership Between the United States and Canada.” tain national forests, and the Vermont Agency of tern, which prefers nesting on small islands un­ Natural Resources. The West Virginia Department der or adjacent to objects that provide cover. Ero­ of Natural Resources loaned additional equip­ sion has gradually reduced the elevation of the ment. High school and college students also vol­ island to the point where it is being overwashed unteered their time. and inundated. This has resulted in a decrease in the number of nesting pairs from 30 pairs several Karner Blue Butterfly (Lycaeides melissa years ago to three pairs last year. samuelis) In early May, Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) staff from our New York Field The island has been restored using sand barged to Office restored 24 acres (9.7 ha) of habitat at the the site and off-loaded with an amphibious exca­ Albany Pine Bush, an unusual pine barrens eco­ vator purchased by the FWS Long Island Refuge system located in Albany, New York. This property Complex and our New York Field Office’s Partners will provide valuable habitat for the endangered for Fish and Wildlife program. Other cooperators Karner blue butterfly. A PFW Biological Science included the New York State Department of Envi­ Technician operated a Hydro-Ax to remove un­ ronmental Conservation, Southampton Town wanted vegetation on approximately 20 acres (8 Trustees, National Audubon Society, New York Fish ha). Additionally, 4 acres (1.7 ha) degraded by an Trade Tackle Association, Long Island Beach Buggy invasive stand of black locust (Robina pseudo- Association, and Suffolk County Department of The booklet highlights 10 species considered at acacia) were restored to native grasslands. After Parks, Labor, and Public Works. The restoration risk that range or migrate between the two coun­ the locust were removed, the site was prepared team, using sandbags and sandfill, raised the tries and for which both countries have cooper­ and seeded with a mixture of warm season grasses/ profile of the island to protect tern nests from ated on recovery efforts. These species are the forbs. A PFW Biological Science Technician pro­ disturbance and inundation. The team was suc­ black-footed ferret, swift fox, woodland caribou, vided technical assistance to Albany Pine Bush cessful in its cooperative efforts and the island is grizzly bear, whooping crane, piping plover, staff who seeded the site. Prescribed fire will be being monitored to assess nesting success. Volun­ marbled murrelet, Lake Erie water snake, Karner used regularly to maintain the 20-acre Hydro-Ax teers are planning to make decoys and place them blue butterfly, and western prairie fringed orchid. site, as well as the 4-acre seeded site. The two on the island to attract roseate terns in time for The publication may be obtained by calling 703- restored sites will provide habitat for the Karner next year’s nesting season. 358-2390 or by going to this website: http:// blue butterfly and furnish educational opportu­ www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/species/sar/ nities for the Albany Pine Bush Commission. Reported by Mark Clough of the FWS New York publications/cbs/index_e.htm Field Office. Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) Four Reported by Susan Jewell of the Endangered students from the Ross School in East Hampton, Species Program in the FWS Arlington, Virginia, New York, are involved in a plover protection headquarters office. effort on the town’s beaches. They will be using two video surveillance cameras to monitor nest­ ing sites plagued by chick mortality. This study is a continuation of a prior school project that dem­ onstrated fencing off nesting sites provided al­ most total protection from predators and boosted productivity. East Hampton beaches have been the preferred nesting location for about 22 pairs of threatened piping plovers in the last several years, Roseate tern but chick mortality has been around 60 percent. Photo by Michael Bender

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 125 LISTING ACTIONS

From November 2000 through August 2001, As many as 1,000 species of Hawaiian picture- Dolly Varden would only be treated as a listed the Fish and Wildlife Service published the wings may exist, each one adapted not only to a species where its range overlaps with that of the following proposed and final Endangered particular island but also to a specific habitat Coastal-Puget Sound population of bull trout in Species Act (ESA) rules in the Federal Reg­ type. Individual species have adapted to a wide Washington state. In the Coastal-Puget Sound ister. The full text of each action can be diversity of ecosystems ranging from desert-like areas, Dolly Varden occupy the same habitat as accessed through our website: habitats to rain forests and swamplands. In many bull trout and are so similar that the two species http://endangered.fws.gov. cases, a species requires a specific native plant cannot easily be told apart in the field. We are host during portions of its breeding cycle. proposing protection for Dolly Varden to increase Proposed Listing Rules the chances that bull trout will be able to recover.

Smalltooth Sawfish (Pristis pectinata) Under the proposal, Dolly Varden would be cov­ The National Marine Fisheries Service, which has ered by the existing special rule for bull trout, ESA jurisdiction for most marine species, has com­ which exempts certain activities from the ESA’s pleted a comprehensive status review of the prohibition on take. These exemptions include smalltooth sawfish and found that North Ameri­ fishing activities authorized under state, National can populations are in danger of extinction. On Park Service, or Native American tribal laws. Fish­ April 16, NMFS proposed to list the distinct popu­ ing for Dolly Varden in other areas, outside of the lation segment (DPS) of smalltooth sawfish in Coastal-Puget Sound area covered by the bull Picture-wing fly waters of the southeastern coastal United States trout listing, would not be affected. USFWS photo as endangered. Extensive degradation or loss of coastal habitats, water pollution, and incidental Each of the 12 Hawaiian picture-wing species Dolly Varden have light-colored spots on a darker capture during commercial fishing in coastal and proposed as endangered is found only on a single background, just the opposite of the pattern on estuarine areas are believed to be responsible for island, and each breeds only on a single or a few salmon and most trout, which have dark spots on the population’s decline. related species of plants, some of which are also a light background. Creamy to pale yellow spots listed as threatened or endangered species. Threats cover the back, and red or orange spots cover the to the survival of the picture wings include habi­ sides. The fins have white or cream-colored mar- tat degradation caused by feral animals and alien gins. This unique coloration is particularly strik­ plants, habitat loss from fire, biological pest con­ ing in the male during spawning and led to the trol, and predation from alien ants and wasps. common name Dolly Varden, in reference to a colorfully clothed character in the Charles Dickens Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) On novel Barnaby Rudge. January 9, we proposed to protect the fish known Smalltooth sawfish as the Dolly Varden in the Coastal-Puget Sound Scotts Valley Polygonum (Polygonum Photo by Colin Simpfendorfer/Mote Marine Laboratory region of Washington under the “similarity of hickmanii) The Scotts Valley polygonum, a appearance” provision of the ESA, because the small annual in the buckwheat family Twelve Hawaiian Insects Twelve species, Dolly Varden so closely resembles the bull trout (Polygonaceae), has linear-shaped leaves and from what biologists believe is one of most re­ (Salvelinus confluentus), which is listed as a produces white flowers. As its name indicates, this markable cases of habitat-specific evolution in threatened species. plant species is endemic to Scotts Valley, which any group of animals, were proposed on January falls within Santa Cruz County, California. Its 17 for listing as endangered. Known as Hawaiian Under the ESA, a species may be treated as if it known distribution is restricted to two sites. picture-wings, these insects are part of the in- were endangered or threatened when it so closely Threats to the survival of this species include tensely studied Drosophilidae family, which is resembles a protected species that law enforce­ habitat loss resulting from urbanization and dis­ found throughout the main islands of the Hawai­ ment personnel would have substantial difficulty placement by nonnative grasses. On November 9, ian archipelago. in distinguishing between the two species. If the we proposed to list the Scotts Valley polygonum as proposal is finalized, it will help eliminate situa­ an endangered species. Hawaiian picture-wings are known for the elabo­ tions where people mistakenly “take” bull trout rate markings on their otherwise clear wings. when they believe they are taking Dolly Varden. Final Listing Rules They also have been called the “birds of paradise” Take is defined in the ESA as killing or harming a of the insect world because of their spectacular protected species or destroying or substantially Ventura Marsh Milk-vetch (Astragalus courtship displays and defense of their territories. altering its habitat. pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus) The

26 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 LISTING ACTIONS

Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) The Fish At the time of its listing, Robbins’ cinquefoil was and Wildlife Service and the National Marine threatened by plant collectors and disturbance Fisheries Service, which share ESA responsibility from hikers along the Appalachian Trail. In 1983, for most rare anadromous fishes, jointly listed the the White Mountain National Forest and the Ap­ Gulf of Maine DPS of the Atlantic salmon as en­ palachian Mountain Club helped reroute the trail dangered on November 17. The listing covers na­ away from the species’ critical habitat and built tive Atlantic salmon found in the Dennys, East an enclosure to protect the primary population. Machias, Machias, Pleasant, Narraguagus, Signs alerted hikers that no admittance was al­ Ducktrap, and Sheepscot rivers and Cove Brook. lowed without a permit. Biologists also success- Although the state of Maine’s salmon conserva­ fully reintroduced two additional populations to

Ventura Marsh milk-vetch tion plan has made some progress, threats such as suitable habitat in the national forest. USFWS photo disease and the escape of farm-raised salmon of other strains from Maine’s aquaculture industry Although a final determination to delist Robbins’ Ventura Marsh milk-vetch, a plant once thought imperil the native Atlantic salmon stocks. cinquefoil would remove it from ESA protection, to be extinct, was listed on May 21 as endangered. an agreement between the Fish and Wildlife Ser­ Until its rediscovery by a Fish and Wildlife Service Proposed Delisting Rules vice and the White Mountain National Forest biologist in 1997, the species had not been seen would protect this species in perpetuity. since 1967. This plant is a perennial in the pea Robbins’ Cinquefoil (Potentilla robbin­ family (Fabaceae) with silvery-haired leaves and siana) A partnership between the Fish and clusters of yellowish or cream-colored flowers. Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and Appalachian The only known population is located on less Mountain Club has restored the Robbins’ cinque- than one acre (0.4 hectare) of privately owned foil, an endangered plant native to the White beach dune in Ventura County that has histori­ Mountains of New Hampshire, to a secure status. cally been used for oil field waste disposal. When As a result, we proposed on June 8 to remove this the species was rediscovered in 1997, 374 plants wildflower from the federal list of threatened and were counted at the site. In 1998, the population endangered species. declined to fewer than 200 plants and it has con­ tinued downward. A member of the rose family (Rosaceae), Robbins’ cinquefoil only occurs in the alpine zone of the White Abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) The White Mountain National Forest. It is a small, National Marine Fisheries Service listed the white almost stemless perennial that bears a yellow abalone on May 29 as an endangered species. This flower. Prior to its listing, a census revealed that Hoover’s woolly-star USFWS photo mollusk historically occurred along the west coast the species’ main population numbered 3,700 of North America from Point Conception, Califor­ plants. Today, the population totals more than Hoover’s Woolly-star (Eriastrum nia, south to Punta Abreojos in Baja California, 14,000 plants. hooveri) This California plant, listed in 1990 Mexico. Over-harvesting of the white abalone for as a threatened species, was proposed March 6, human consumption caused a decline of approxi­ 2001, for delisting. Surveys conducted since 1990 mately 99 percent. have expanded its known range to Fresno, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Benito, Nine Texas Cave Invertebrates Nine spe­ and San Luis Obispo counties. Biologists have cies of invertebrates endemic to caves in northern found that the plant is more resilient to certain Bexar County, Texas, were listed on December 26 activities than once thought, and changes in fed­ as endangered. Threats to the survival of these eral land management have given additional pro­ invertebrates include destruction or degradation tection to the species’ habitat. Hoover’s woolly- of their habitat due to construction; filling of star is an annual herb in the phlox family caves and loss of permeable cover on the surface; (Polemoniaceae). groundwater contamination resulting from sep­ tic effluent, sewer leaks, and chemical runoff; predation by, and competition with, nonnative Robbins’ cinquefoil fire ants; and vandalism. Photo by Susi von Oettingen/USFWS

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 27 LISTING ACTIONS

Final Delisting Rule Our action was taken at the request of the Ala­ bama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisher­ Aleutian Canada Goose (Branta ies. This designation will be applied to species canadensis leucopareia) Highlighting a released in the free-flowing reach of the Tennes­ successful 35-year conservation effort involving see River between Wilson Dam and the backwaters federal and state agencies, conservation organi­ of Pickwick Reservoir. The designation will also zations, and private landowners, we officially rec­ extend five miles (8 kilometers) upstream of all ognized the recovery of the Aleutian Canada goose tributaries that enter the Wilson Dam tailwaters. on March 20 by removing this bird from the list of The Tennessee Valley Authority, operator of the threatened and endangered species. USFWS photo Wilson Dam, supports the proposed experimental population designation and has offered to assist A subspecies of the Canada goose, the Aleutian natural resource managers a greater degree of in reintroduction efforts. Canada goose nests only on a few of Alaska’s flexibility. remote, windswept Aleutian Islands. It winters in Four Southeastern Fish As part of a broad California, stopping along the migration at points Biologists will train a flock of about 10 young partnership to recover threatened and endangered on the Oregon coast. The population numbered whooping cranes to follow an ultralight aircraft wildlife in the Tennessee River system, we pro- only in the hundreds in the mid-1970s, but today across seven states from Necedah National Wild- posed on June 8 to reintroduce four native fish the estimated population has grown to 37,000 life Refuge (NWR) in Wisconsin to Chassahowitska species into the Tellico River in Monroe County, and the threat of extinction has passed. NWR in Florida. If all goes as planned, the birds Tennessee. They would be designated as a non- will learn the migration route and return from essential experimental population. Since 1967, biologists have worked hard to elimi­ Florida to Wisconsin on their own next spring, nate nonnative foxes from former nesting islands thereby establishing a second migratory whoop­ Biologists believe the four fish—the endangered and to reintroduce geese. The removal of these ing crane flock in North America. duskytail darter (Etheostoma percnurum), the predators has benefitted many other bird species endangered smoky madtom (Noturus baileyi), on the islands, including puffins, murres, and The experiment will be conducted by the Whoop­ the threatened yellowfin madtom (Noturus auklets. Besides removing foxes, the federal and ing Crane Eastern Partnership, a consortium that flavipinnis), and the threatened spotfin chub state wildlife agencies closed Aleutian Canada includes the Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, (Cyprinella [=Hybopsis] monacha)—likely goose hunting in wintering and migration areas, state agencies, conservation organizations, and inhabited the Tellico River in the past. The Tellico banded birds on the breeding grounds to identify private citizens. Private donors are contributing River is a Little Tennessee River tributary that is important wintering and migrations areas, and more than half of the $1.3 million needed to just downstream from the mouths of Abrams and released families of wild geese on fox-free islands complete the project. More than 40 private land- Citico Creeks, and all four fishes were found in in the Aleutians. In California’s Sacramento and owners have offered the use of their property as these creeks. Before the construction of reservoirs San Joaquin valleys, and along the northern Cali­ overnight sites for the migrating birds. on the main stem of the Little Tennessee River, no fornia coast, many private landowners have helped physical barriers prevented the movement of these by managing their lands to provide wintering The whooping crane, named for its loud and pen­ fish between Abrams Creek, Citico Creek, and the habitat for Aleutian Canada geese. etrating mating call, is one of America’s best Tellico River. known and rarest endangered species. Cranes live and breed in extensive wetlands, where they feed Experimental Populations upon crabs, clams, frogs, and other aquatic or­ Whooping Crane (Grus americana) ganisms. Whooping cranes stand 5 feet (1.5 Whooping cranes will migrate across the skies of meters) tall and are white in color with black eastern North America this fall for the first time in wing tips and a red crown. more than a century as part of a bold experiment conducted by a partnership of federal and state Seventeen Freshwater Mollusks In an ef­ wildlife agencies, conservation groups, and other fort to restore populations of a number of endan­ private organizations led by the Fish and Wildlife gered Alabama freshwater mollusks, we desig­ Service. The project will be facilitated by a June nated nonessential experimental population sta­ 26 rule classifying the eastern migratory flock as tus on June 14 for reintroduced populations of 16 a “nonessential experimental population.” Such mussels and one aquatic snail in the Tennessee Duskytail darter a designation protects the birds while giving River below Wilson Dam. Photo by Richard Biggins/USFWS

28 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 LISTING ACTIONS

/endangered.fws.gov/listing/index.html) Also on February 15, 310 acres (125 ha) in Santa and click on “About Critical Habitat.” Cruz County were proposed as critical habitat for the Scotts Valley spineflower (Chorizanthe ro­ Carolina Heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata) busta var. hartwegii) and the Scotts Valley Portions of nine rivers and creeks in western North polygonum (Polygonum hickmanii). These two and South Carolina were proposed on July 11 as plants exist only in small ecologically unique critical habitat for an endangered freshwater “wildflower fields” on private property in north- mollusk, the Carolina heelsplitter. This mussel ern Scotts Valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Smoky madtom survives only in scattered pockets of suitable habi­ Photo by Richard Biggins/USFWS tat remaining in portions of three small streams in North Carolina and six small creeks and one The reintroduction is part of a major initiative by river in South Carolina. federal and state agencies and private conserva­ tion groups to recover native species in the Ten­ Otay Tarplant (Deinandra conjugens) On nessee River system. Since the mid-1980s, Conser­ June 13, we published a proposal to designate vation Fisheries, Inc., a nonprofit fish conserva­ critical habitat for the Otay tarplant, a threatened tion organization located in Knoxville, Tennes­ annual in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), on see, has been successfully reintroducing these approximately 6,630 acres (2,680 ha) in San Di­ four species into Abrams Creek with support from ego County, California. the Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, National Park Service, U.S. Appalachian elktoe Photo by Richard Biggins/USFWS Forest Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Tennessee Aquarium. The proposed native fish Appalachian Elktoe (Alasmidonta reintroduction effort into the Tellico River was raveneliana) Critical habitat for this endan­ developed at the request of the Tennessee Wildlife gered freshwater mussel was proposed on Febru­ Resources Agency. ary 8. The Appalachian elktoe has been elimi­ nated from much of its range and survives only in Proposed Critical Habitat Rules scattered pockets of suitable habitat in portions ‘Elepaio of the Little Tennessee River system, Pigeon River Critical Habitat Critical habitat, as defined Photo by Eric VanderWerf/USFWS system, and Little River in North Carolina, and in the ESA, is a term for a geographic area that is the Nolichucky River system in North Carolina essential for the conservation of a listed species. O‘ahu ‘Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwhichensis and Tennessee. Critical habitat designations do not a establish a ibidis) We proposed on June 6 to designate wildlife refuge, wilderness area, or any other type approximately 66,350 acres (26,850 ha) of criti­ of conservation reserve, nor do they affect actions cal habitat on the Hawaiian island of O‘ahu for of a purely private nature. They are intended to the endangered O‘ahu ‘elepaio, a forest bird once delineate areas in which federal agencies must considered the most common native land bird on consult with the Service to ensure that actions the island. The five areas proposed for critical these agencies authorize, fund, or carry out do habitat are concentrated in the Wai‘anae and not adversely modify the designated critical habi­ Ko‘olau mountain ranges. tat. Within designated critical habitat boundaries, federal agencies are required to consult except in Four Central California Coast Plants About areas that are specifically excluded, such as de­ 25,800 acres (10,440 ha) of critical habitat were veloped areas within the boundaries that no longer proposed on February 15 for the Monterey contain suitable habitat. Maps and more specific spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens) Quino checkerspot butterfly information on critical habitats are contained in and 1,640 acres (665 ha) for the robust spineflower Photo by Paul Opler the specific Federal Register notice designating (Chorizanthe robusta var. robusta). Both spe­ each area. For more information on critical habi­ cies are found in southern Santa Cruz and north- Quino Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas tat designations in general, go to the website for ern Monterey counties. editha quino) We proposed on February 7 to our Endangered Species Listing Program (http:/ designate critical habitat on approximately

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 29 LISTING ACTIONS

301,010 acres (121,820 ha) of land in Riverside Hawaiian Plants During November and De­ Spruce-fir Moss Spider (Microhexura and San Diego counties, California, for the en­ cember 2000, we published the following propos­ montivaga) Portions of Avery, Caldwell, dangered Quino checkerspot butterfly. als to designate critical habitat for endangered or Mitchell, Swain, and Watauga counties in western threatened plants in the Hawaiian Islands: North Carolina and Sevier and Carter counties in • 76 plant species found on the islands of Kaua‘i eastern Tennessee were designated on July 6 as and Ni‘ihau (November 7), critical habitat for the spruce-fir moss spider. • 38 plants found on the islands of Maui and This tiny relative of the tarantula has been devas­ Kaho‘olawe (December 18), tated by an invasion of nonnative insects, which • 18 plants found on the island of Lana‘i (De­ have killed many of the trees in the spider’s cember 27), and mountaintop habitat. The resulting increased • 32 plants found on the island of Moloka‘i light and temperature and decreased moisture on (December 29). the forest floor causes the moss mats on which the spider depends to dry up and become unsuitable Lists of these plant species and other information habitat for the spider. are contained in the Federal Register notices. Riverside Fairy Shrimp (Streptocephalus Final Critical Habitat Rules woottoni) A May 30 rule designated approxi­ mately 6,870 acres (2,780 ha) of land in San Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) On Diego, Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, and Ventura July 10, we designated 165,211 acres (66,860 ha) counties as critical habitat for the endangered Wenatchee Mountains checker-mallow along 1,798 miles (2,892 km) of coastline in Riverside fairy shrimp, a small aquatic crusta­ Photo by Ted Thomas/USFWS eight southern states as critical habitat for the cean unique to vernal or temporary spring pools Wenatchee Mountains Checker-mallow wintering population of the piping plover, a shore- in southern California. (Sidalcea oregana var. calva) On Janu­ bird listed as threatened (except the Great Lakes ary 18, we proposed to designate 6,137 acres (2,483 breeding population, which is listed as endan­ Great Lakes Population of Piping Plover On ha) of seasonal wetlands on state, federal, and gered). The designation includes shoreline habi­ May 7, we designated approximately 201 miles private lands in central Washington as proposed tat in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, (323 km) of mainland and island shoreline in critical habitat for the Wenatchee Mountains Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. eight Great Lakes states as critical habitat for the checker-mallow, an endangered plant native to endangered breeding population of the piping the Wenatchee Mountains of Chelan County. Most plover. The designation applies to mainland and of the plants are found on the state’s Camas Mead­ island shoreline in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, ows Natural Area Preserve. Others are scattered on Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and adjacent U.S. Forest Service land and on a small New York. parcel of private property.

Kootenai River White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) A designation of critical habitat for the endangered Kootenai River popu­ lation of the white sturgeon was proposed on December 21 for a total of about 11.2 river miles (18 river km) of the Kootenai River in Idaho.

San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys merriami parvus) On December 8, we pro- posed designating approximately 55,410 acres Bay checkerspot butterfly (22,425 ha) of alluvial sage scrub in San Bernar­ Photo by Paul Opler dino and Riverside counties, California, as criti­ cal habitat for this endangered mammal. Spruce-fir moss spider (greatly enlarged) Bay Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydras Photo by Joel Harp/USFWS editha bayensis) On April 30, we designated 23,903 acres (9,673 ha) of critical habitat for the

30 ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 LISTING ACTIONS threatened bay checkerspot butterfly in habitat on the Y-K Delta and four units in the California’s San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. marine waters of southwest Alaska, including the Critical habitat for the bay checkerspot includes Kuskokwim Shoals in northern Kuskokwim Bay, grasslands with stands of native plantain (Plan­ and Seal Islands, Nelson Lagoon, and Izembek tago erecta), as well as areas that provide corri­ Lagoon on the north side of the Alaska Peninsula dors for the butterfly to travel between habitats. totaling approximately 1.8 million acres (733,300 Serpentine soils, unusual soils high in magne­ ha) and 852 miles (1,363 km) of shoreline. sium and low in calcium, are a strong indicator of potential habitat for the butterfly.

Arkansas River Shiner (Notropis girardi) A Arroyo toad total of approximately 1,148 river miles (1,846 Photo © Jim Rorabaugh km) and 300 feet (91 meters) of adjacent riparian zones were designated as critical habitat on April Morro Shoulderband Snail (Helmin­ 4 for the Arkansas River shiner. This small fish thoglypta walkeriana) Also on February 7, occurs not only in stretches of the Arkansas River about 2,566 acres (1,038 ha) of mostly state- in Kansas but also in parts of the Cimarron River owned land in western San Luis Obispo County, Female (left) and male spectacled eiders Photo by Glen Smart/USFWS in Kansas and Oklahoma, the Beaver/North Ca­ California, were designated as critical habitat for nadian River in Oklahoma, and the Canadian/ the endangered Morro shoulderband snail, a spe­ Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis South Canadian River in Oklahoma, Texas, and cies also known as the banded dune snail. lucida) Approximately 4.6 million acres (1.8 New Mexico. million ha) of federal lands in four southwestern Zayante Band-winged Grasshopper states were designated as critical habitat for the (Trimerotropis infantilis) A final Febru­ threatened Mexican spotted owl on February 1. ary 7 rule designated about 10,560 acres (4,270 The designation includes 830,000 acres (335,900 ha) in Santa Cruz County, California, as critical ha) in Arizona, 525,000 acres (212,465 ha) in habitat for a rare insect, the endangered Zayante Colorado, 54,000 acres (21,850 ha) in New Mexico, band-winged grasshopper. and 3.2 million acres (1.3 million ha) in Utah. No private, state, or tribal lands are included in Two Alaskan Sea Ducks On February 6, we the designation. designated critical habitat in Alaska for two threat­ California red-legged frog Photo by Mark R. Jennings/USFWS ened species of sea ducks, the spectacled eider Peninsular Bighorn Sheep (Ovis (Somateria fischeri) and Steller’s eider canadensis) We announced on February 1 California Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora (Polysticta stelleri). Critical habitat for the spec­ the designation of 844,897 acres (341,929 ha) in draytonii) On March 13, we designated 4.1 tacled eider includes areas on the Yukon- San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside counties, Cali­ million acres (1.7 million ha) in 28 California Kuskokwim Delta (Y-K Delta), Norton Sound, fornia, as critical habitat for the endangered Pen- counties as critical habitat for the threatened Ledyard Bay, and Bering Sea between St. Lawrence insular Ranges population of bighorn sheep. More California red-legged frog. This native amphib­ and St. Matthew Islands totaling approximately than half of the acreage is under state jurisdic­ ian is widely believed to have inspired Mark 24.9 million acres (10.1 million ha). Critical tion and includes portions of the Anza-Borrego Twain’s fabled short story, “The Celebrated Jump­ habitat for the Steller’s eider includes breeding Desert State Park. Much of the rest of the land is ing Frog of Calaveras County.” managed by federal agencies, including the Bu­ reau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) On Feb­ Service, or by local agencies. ruary 7, we designated about 182,360 acres (73,800 ha) as critical habitat for the endangered Zapata Bladderpod (Lesquerella thamno­ arroyo toad. These lands encompass portions of phila) We published a final rule on December Monterey, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, 22, 2000, designating 5,158 acres (2,088 ha) in San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside and San Diego the lower Rio Grande Valley of Starr County, Texas, counties in California. as critical habitat for this endangered plant, a Male (left) and female Steller’s eiders herbaceous perennial in the mustard family Photo by Glen Smart/USFWS (Brassicaceae).

ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 VOLUME XXVII NO. 1 31 BOX SCORE Listings and Recovery Plans as of December 31, 2001 ENDANGERED THREATENED TOTAL U.S. SPECIES GROUP U.S. FOREIGN U.S. FOREIGN LISTINGS W/ PLANS** MAMMALS 64 251 9 17 341 50

BIRDS 78 175 14 6 273 75

REPTILES 14 64 22 15 115 31

AMPHIBIANS 11 8 8 1 28 12

FISHES 71 11 44 0 126 95

SNAILS 21 1 11 0 33 27

CLAMS 62 2 8 0 72 56

CRUSTACEANS 18 0 3 0 21 12

INSECTS 35 4 9 0 48 29

ARACHNIDS 12 0 0 0 12 5

ANIMAL SUBTOTAL 386 516 128 39 1,069 392

FLOWERING PLANTS 567 1 142 0 710 555

CONIFERS 2 0 1 2 5 2

FERNS AND OTHERS 26 0 2 0 28 28

PLANT SUBTOTAL 595 1 145 2 743 585

GRAND TOTAL 981 517 273 41 1,812* 977

TOTAL U.S. ENDANGERED: 981 (386 animals, 595 plants) purposes of the Endangered Species Act, the term “species” can mean TOTAL U.S. THREATENED: 273 (128 animals, 145 plants) a species, subspecies, or distinct vertebrate population. Several TOTAL U.S. LISTED: 1,254 (514 animals***, 740 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 United States. tern, green sea turtle, saltwater crocodile, and olive ridley sea turtle. For the ***Nine animal species have dual status in the U.S.

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