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Washington Ground Squirrel Translocation Summary 2018 Sheri Whitfield, Wildlife Biologist

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Washington Ground Squirrel Translocation Summary 2018 Sheri Whitfield, Wildlife Biologist Washington Ground Squirrel Translocation Summary 2018 Sheri Whitfield, Wildlife Biologist This summary includes annual monitoring efforts of Washington ground squirrels at two locations where this species has been released on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) near Othello, Washington (Map 1). The Barton road site was established in 2016 and monitored during 2017 and 2018 for squirrel presence and reproduction. This site was an effort to move Washington ground squirrels from the golf course at Sage Hills north of Othello on Highway 17. The ownership and management had recently changed at the golf course making squirrels more vulnerable in that area, and moving them to the refuge was intended to protect them and establish a population where they would not be persecuted. This report also addresses the construction, translocation and monitoring efforts at the Morgan Lake road WA ground squirrel reintroduction enclosures. This site was created during 2018. The Morgan lake road site was built to hold squirrels that had potential to be displaced by road construction along Washington State Highway 17 north of Othello. The Department of Transportation planned construction along a portion of the highway where Washington ground squirrels were known to be living within the road right of way. The Morgan lake road site was built because of this eminent threat to the squirrels along Highway 17. Again moving them to the refuge was an effort to establish squirrels in a site where they would be less vulnerable. Map 1. Location of Washington ground squirrel enclosures at Columbia NWR. INTRODUCTION The Washington ground squirrel (Urocitellus washingtoni) is a small fossorial mammal endemic to the shrub and grasslands of the Columbia Basin. This ground squirrel species is found in silt loam soils found in high quality shrub-steppe habitat containing a mixture of bunch grasses and forbs. The conversion of habitat for alternative uses (i.e. agriculture) has resulted in considerable habitat loss and fragmentation causing significant population declines (Germaine et al. 2007). The ground squirrel is candidate for listing as a Threatened species in the State of Washington. Records indicate that Washington ground squirrels currently occupy a much narrower estimated range than this species occupied historically. Columbia NWR was identified as a site to attempt a soft release of the ground squirrel to expand their current range, and to provide a habitat where the squirrels would not be persecuted or vulnerable to habitat destruction. Past translocations using a smaller enclosure and without the construction of underground artificial burrows have been unsuccessful. The current release enclosure area encompasses 2.5 acres including six underground burrow structures and predator fence to mitigate for issues identified from previous squirrel releases. The release enclosure at the refuge was selected based on soil depth, soil type and relative shrub cover. Squirrels rapidly adapted to the site within the enclosure, using much of the area within the site and also breached the confines of the fence and dispersed to areas adjacent to the enclosure. Monitoring during 2018 will be the second year of monitoring, monitoring was conducted during 2017 and an annual report was produced for that season. BARTON ROAD (2016) GROUND SQUIRREL ENCLOSURE Monitoring Objectives 2018 Monitor ground squirrel population Investigate ground squirrel reproductive success Monitor predator activity at reintroduction site Determine period of activity and onset of estivation/hibernation On January 24, 2018, USFWS personnel deployed six trail cameras to monitor the activity of the Washington ground squirrel enclosure located on Barton Road at Columbia NWR (Map 2). The cameras are used to monitor ground squirrel activity, reproductive success and predator activity. Map 2. Points on map indicate location of trail camera during monitoring. Weekly visits to the site recorded squirrel vocalizations and signs of squirrel activities including: foraging, trails and fresh digging or tracks. Washington ground squirrels have an annual cycle characterized by a relatively short active period when activities such as foraging, social behavior, and reproduction occur, followed by a relatively long period of estivation/hibernation. Year 2 monitoring efforts in 2018, determined squirrels continued to use the underground structures consistently at the release enclosure. Six trail cameras were set at artificial burrow sites to record activity of adults and potential pup emergence and to ensure adequate viewing and documentation of squirrel activities. Ground squirrels are easily detected by their high-pitched whistle or alarm call. Ground squirrels’ alarm calls were heard on various occasions during monitoring efforts. Trail camera data captured adult ground squirrel emergence on January 25, 2018. USFWS staff stated Columbia NWR experienced a mild winter, compared to the 2016 winter, so it is important to note that ground squirrel emergence may have occurred prior to January 25 (Figure 1). Figure 1. Washington ground squirrel trail camera earliest emergence on January 25, 2018. Excavated natural burrows were located within and outside of the enclosure. These excavated burrows were clear of debris and had fresh diggings and tracks (Figure 2 & 3). Figure 2. WA ground squirrel natural burrow excavated outside the enclosure. Pocket knife for scale. Figure 3. Excavated ground squirrel burrow inside the enclosure. Trailing between the excavated and artificial burrows is evident as well, including fresh tracks and squirrel scat near burrow entrances. The picture (Figure 4) below demonstrate the trailing activity used by ground squirrels inside the enclosure. Figure 4. Ground squirrel trailing is evident inside the enclosure. Ground squirrels captured on trail cameras demonstrate a variety behavioral activities such as standing or sitting in an “alert type posture” when scanning for predators, socializing and foraging as shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7. Figure 5. Alert posture. Figure 6. Foraging. Figure 7. Socializing. Washington Ground Squirrel - Adults In 2016, 34 ground squirrels were tagged and released into the Barton Road enclosure. Trail camera footage captured three ground squirrels with ear tags from the 2016 trapping efforts on camera 2, 3 and 4 (Figure 8, 9, and 10). This indicates that the squirrels have been able to persist in this location for at least two seasons. Figure 8. WA ground squirrel displaying ear tag at camera 2. Figure 9. WA ground squirrel displaying ear tag at camera 3. Figure 10. WA ground squirrel displaying ear tag at camera 4. Washington Ground Squirrel - Pups One of the monitoring objectives is to determine reproductive success within the enclosure. Ground squirrel litter size averages between 4-9 pups with a gestation period of about 4-5 weeks. Trail camera footage captured lactating females (Figure 11, 12, and 13) and pups (Figure 14, 15, and 16) with the earliest pup emergence detection occurring on March 15, 2018. Figure 11. Adult lactating female at artificial burrow. Figure 12. Adult lactating female documented on camera 4. Figure 13. Female ground squirrel shows signs of lactating documented on camera 1. Figure 14. Ground squirrel pups at artificial burrow. Figure 15. Washington ground squirrel adult female and pup. Figure 16. Ground squirrel pups at burrow entrance. Typically, males of most ground squirrel species disperse as juveniles before their first winter and 100% disperse by the end of their yearling summer (Feldhamer et. al 2003). The graph below provides the number of days per camera of at least one squirrel (i.e. adult, juvenile) visible on camera footage between January 24 - July 5, 2018. All six-trail cameras at the enclosure were removed on July 5, 2018. Note: Between June 17 – July 5, 2018 no visible ground squirrel activity occurred on trail camera footage. Graph 1. Number of times a ground squirrel was visible on each of the six trail cameras. There were a total of 162 days when the cameras were active and available to record squirrel activity. Number of times January - July 2018 at least one squirrel was observed on each of the six trail cameras 140 128 117 117 118 120 109 100 100 80 60 40 20 0 Camera 1 Camera 2 Camera 3 Camera 4 Camera 5 Camera 6 Graph 2. Number of ground squirrels observed daily on each of the six cameras. Ground Squirrels Observed Daily Per Camera 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Camera 1 Camera 2 Camera 3 Camera 4 Camera 5 Camera 6 Graph 3. Total number of ground squirrels observed each day. Total of squirrels observed in all 6 cameras within the enclosure. Total # Of Squirrels Observed Each Day 25 20 15 10 5 0 Predator Monitoring In addition, predator activity in and around the enclosures was monitored during weekly visits. Active ground squirrels are highly vulnerable to numerous predators including the American badger (Taxidea taxus) and coyote (Canis latrans). On June 13, two potential badger burrows on the outside perimeter of the squirrel enclosure were photographed and GPS’d. Coyote scat has been observed along the outside perimeter of the enclosure. Trail camera footage did not capture badger or coyote activity occurring inside the enclosure (Figure 17 and 18). Figure 17. Potential badger burrow UTM 5189218N, 321251E Figure 18. Potential badger burrow UTM 5819249N, 321252E Estivation/Hibernation The Washington ground squirrel is diurnal (active during daylight hours), and spends much of the year underground. Trail camera footage captured the majority of ground squirrel activity in the morning and early afternoon, when temperatures were typically cooler. Trail cameras used are light sensitive and do not record data during overnight hours. Usually, adults return to their burrow for estivation by late May to early June and juveniles return a month later (Rickart and Yensen 1991). The final recorded ground squirrel observation occurred on June 16, 2018 (Figure 19). Trail cameras were removed from this release enclosure on July 5, 2018. Figure 19. Last observation of ground squirrel monitoring captured on June 16, 2018.
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