What species occur on Fort Riley? Federally– and State-listed species and other rare species that occur or could occur on Fort The installation lies within the historical Riley range of twelve federal and state listed species. Six of those occur on Fort Riley. Species Federal State ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISI ON Nineteen other rare species have been documented on Fort Riley. Rare species are Eskimo Curlew E E Public Works, Environmental Division Least Tern E E those designated by the Kansas Depart- Piping Plover T T ment of Wildlife and Parks as “Species in Whooping Crane E E Need of Conservation” (SINC) or the US Topeka Shiner E T Army designated “Species at Risk” (SAR). American Burying Beetle E E Western Prairie Fringed Orchid T - FORT RILEY The Topeka Shiner is the only federal listed Snowy Plover - T Endangered Species that is a year-round Eastern Spotted Skunk - T Threatened & resident of Fort Riley. Topeka Shiners in- Plains Minnow - T habit small-to-medium-sized streams with Silver Chub - E high water quality and shallow to medium Sturgeon Chub - T Endangered Henslow’s Sparrow SAR SINC depth pools. Topeka Shiners have been Rusty Blackbird SAR - found in six streams on Fort Riley. To pro- Texas Horned Lizard SAR - Species tect Topeka Shiner populations, it is illegal Regal Fritillary Butterfly SAR - to take bait fish on Fort Riley. Common Shiner - SINC Southern Redbelly Dace - SINC Johnny Darter - SINC Bobolink - SINC Black Tern - SINC Black Rail - SINC Ferruginous Hawk - SINC Golden Eagle - SINC Short-eared Owl - SINC Whip-poor-will - SINC Yellow-throated Warbler - SINC Long-billed Curlew - SINC Southern Bog Lemming - SINC Franklin’s Ground Squirrel - SINC Eastern Hognose Snake - SINC Henslow’s Sparrow Western Hognose Snake - SINC Timber Rattlesnake - SINC Blue Sucker - SINC Topeka Shiner For questions on Threatened & Endangered Highfin Carpsucker - SINC Species or other wildlife on Fort Riley, con- Prairie Mole Cricket - SINC tact the Public Works Environmental Divi- sion. Species in bold occur on Fort Riley. E = Endangered Contact Information A guide to Threatened, Endangered and other T = Threatened rare species on the Fort Riley Military Reservation SAR = Species at Risk (US Army designation) Environmental Division 239-6211 SINC = Species in Need of Conservation T&E Biologist 239-2537 Fort Riley, Kansas…….. “ Home of the Big Red One” 1st Infantry Division

Fort Riley is known for its excellent training, Finally, there are the legal aspects of Endan- abundant recreational opportunities, rich history, gered Species protection to consider. Viola- and tremendous relations with surrounding tions of the Endangered Species Act can communities. The installation is located in carry fines of up to $50,000 and one year in northeast Kansas between Manhattan and prison. Violations can include killing, harming, Junction City on the northern edge of the Flint or harassing a listed species, or damaging its Hills Region. Its 101,000 acres are also home habitat. to many different plants and animals. These species live within the mosaic of habitat types What is the Army’s responsibility? on the installation, including native and tame grasslands, woodlands, shrublands, wetlands, Fort Riley, according to the federal and state abandoned croplands, and maintained areas. regulations, must protect, evaluate, and moni- tor listed species. Fort Riley has developed a Most of the species that occur on Fort Riley are management plan for each listed species found in several habitat types and encountered known to occur on the installation. This plan frequently. However, a few have either very outlines measures to protect the species and specific habitat needs or live in habitats that are its habitat. Major activities, such as construc- regionally declining in abundance. These spe- Extinction is a natural occurrence, but man’s influ- tion projects, are reviewed in advance to en- cies are therefore, infrequently observed. Be- ence has greatly accelerated this process for some sure compliance with those plans. The plans cause some species are, or have been declin- species. Pollution has altered many aquatic habi- must be approved by the U.S. Fish and Wild- ing throughout most of their range, they have tats. Single species croplands replaced diverse life Service, and the Kansas Department and been designated as Threatened or Endangered. terrestrial habitats. Urban sprawl has destroyed Wildlife and Parks. Fort Riley and the regula- millions of acres that were once home to many tory agencies periodically review and update What are Threatened & Endangered Species? species. These factors have contributed to the these plans. decline of many species and have altered the re- Species listed as Endangered are in danger of maining habitat to favor invading species. Least Tern extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range and Threatened species are likely to Why protect Threatened & Endangered Species? become Endangered within the foreseeable fu- All living things on the earth are part of a complex ture. The federal Endangered Species Act of and delicately balanced system. The loss of a sin- 1973, or the Kansas Nongame and Endangered gle species may not seem significant. However, Species Conservation Act of 1975 affords them most Endangered Species are indicators of habitat legal protection. In addition, Army regulations quality. The diversity of species has for centuries require Fort Riley to protect listed species and provided humans with benefits such as medicines species that are being considered for addition to to treat serious illnesses, increased productivity of the list of Threatened or Endangered species. food products, and safe alternatives to synthetic

chemicals. The diversity of life on earth contrib- Some species are naturally rare due to very utes to our quality of life. All creatures on earth specialized habitat requirements, and some na- today are the products of adaptation to a con- tive species have been displaced by introduced stantly changing environment. Each species is species. Habitat changes have, however, had unique in its own way, and humankind would suffer the greatest impact on Threatened and Endan- for its loss. gered Species.