Fish and Wildlife WHO/WHERE WE ARE

Lakewood, CO: Pam Conservation Office Sponholtz, Project Lead- er; JoAnn Wise, Budget Admin SEPTEMBER 2017 Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, CO: Krystal Phillips, Wildlife Biologist, Dustin Casady, Fish and Species Conservation & Management Wildlife Biologist

Migratory Bird Surveys Clark Peterson, Schriever, Fish Survey Alex Schubert, Taylor Hackemack (SCA), and Jones conducted migratory bird Cheyenne Mtn Air Nicole Ng (DoD) surveyed fish surveys on Pueblo Chemical Force Bases, Colorado populations in North and Depot last month as part of an Springs, CO: Max South Pearson lakes with a effort to document species that Canestorp, Wildlife newly acquired electrofishing use Pueblo Chemical Depot as a Biologist boat. The survey revealed stopover site. The Pueblo large populations of small Chemical Depot contains sever- US Air Force Academy, yellow perch and pumpkinseed al landscape-scale areas of bio- Colorado Springs, CO: sunfish in both lakes. Other logical significance that have been recognized as potential Brian Mihlbachler, Bio- species of interest were young- of-the-year largemouth bass conservation areas (PCAs) by logical Scientist; Melissa present in North Pearson the Colorado Natural Heritage Whittingslow, Wildlife Lake, and a few remaining program. These areas include Biologist; R. Joe Murphy catchable size rainbow trout Chico Creek, Haynes Creek, III, Forester left from previous stockings. Electrofishing crew Nicole Ng and Taylor the Chico Basin Shortgrass Hackemack working up fish on South Pearson Prairie, and the Signal Rock Rocky Mountain Na- Burrowing Owl Survey SCA In- Lake at F. E. Warren AFB Sandhills PCA. These PCAs are tional Park, Estes Park, tern, Taylor Cassidy, complet- host to numerous migratory CO: Chris Kennedy, Fish ed the 2017 Burrowing Owl Services and provides survey data results bird species during both spring and fall report for Buckley AFB under and recommendations to reduce Bird/ migration. This year, sparrow diversity Biologist the supervision of Dustin Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazards. Including has been particularly high with over a Casady and Krystal Phillips. The the Wildlife Hazard Assessment into WMP dozen species documented since Au- Warren Air Force Base, data was collected on the in- is critical to properly manage BAFB wildlife gust. Cheyenne, WY: Alex stallation between April and in ways that also support the base mission. Schubert, Fish and Wild- July, analyzed, and summarized life Biologist in an annual report. Only one pair was spotted on base this Region 6 Priority: Cutthroat Trout McConnell Air Force year, but no juveniles observed. Base, Wichita, KS: This may be due in part to the Recovery Laura Mendenhall, Fish great efforts being put forth by and Wildlife Biologist COFWCO personnel, USDA personnel, and Buckley Pest Man- Pueblo Chemical De- agement to remove prairie dog Gill Net Surveys Chris colonies on base in order to less- pot, Pueblo, CO: Clark Kennedy conducted gill en BASH risks. net surveys at Thunder Jones, Wildlife Biologist and Mills Lakes within Wildlife Management Plan Updates Rocky Mountain National Gunnison, CO: Cole The Buckley Air Force Base Wild- Park (RMNP). A good Brittain, Aquatic Biotech- life Management Plan (WMP) was population of cutthroat nician updated by Dustin Casady to be trout was observed at included as supplemental plan to both lakes. Fish specimens the Integrated Natural Resource were collected in cooper- Plan. Most of the updates made to atively with personnel Bozeman Fish Health Center employees the WMP involved the incorpora- from the FWS Bozeman Rick Cordes and Tammy Weiss collect sam- tion of the recently released Wild- Fish Health Center from ples from fish for disease testing at Mills Lake life Hazard Assessment for BAFB. Mills Lake for disease in Rocky Mountain National Park. The Wildlife Hazard Assessment is testing. conducted and written by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife P A G E 2 ...more Species Conservation & Management

Hunting Program Brian Mihlbachler Infested Tree Removal Natural. briefed the new 10th Mission Support Resources responded to an out- Group and 10th Air Base com- break of beetle infested trees on manders on the upcoming deer, elk, the Carlton House property. Elev- and turkey hunting seasons on the en infected Limber and Ponderosa “Ips Beetles can fly Academy and the safety and security Pines were removed to prevent 2-4 miles and can measures in-place. Changes to the the spread of the Ips Beetle to surrounding trees. A bug trap was produce 2-4 gener- deer hunting program beginning in 2018, pending Colorado Parks and also installed to help draw the ations per year, Wildlife Commission approval, were beetles away from the healthy exponentially in- also discussed. These changes include trees. After investigation, it was fecting surround- extending the hunting season to Oc- concluded that the outbreak was ing trees. There is tober through December, and limiting likely due to forest debris that was no treatment be- hunters to one-day hunts to reduce cut and discarded outside the sides removal after the “trophy” nature of the escorted fence of the Carlton House. Ips Beetle-infested hazard tree removed from a tree has been hunts. Retaining more high-quality Beetles can fly 2-4 miles and can produce 2-4 generations per year, housing area at USAFA. infected. “ deer will help improve overall herd genetics and encourage exciting wild- exponentially infecting surrounding trees. There is no treatment be- life viewing opportunities. sides removal after a tree has been infected. INRMP annual review meeting, she coordinated the BAFB INRMP docu- Region 6 Priority: Recover the ment review with key stakeholders – USFWS Ecological Services and Migra- Black-Footed Ferret tory Birds; and BAFB Judge Advocate; compiled requests for edits and pro- vided written responses to comments Taylor Hackemack (SCA) and submitted by BAFB INRMP reviewers; Alex Schubert continued to care updated the BAFB INRMP and distrib- for black-footed ferrets since uted; coordinated with stakeholders their arrival at the F. E. Warren the BAFB INRMP supplemental plans AFB preconditioning facility. for annual review – Wildlife Manage- The ferrets were live-trapped ment Plan and Wildland Fire Manage- and returned to the National ment Plan; and updated the Wildlife Black-footed Ferret Conserva- Management Plan according to accept- tion Center following the con- ed comments received during docu- clusion of the pre-conditioning. ment review. They will soon be released at Pre-conditioned black-footed one of the Ted Turner ranches ferret named "Valrhona" Small Mammal Surveys Laura Menden- hall and Nicole Brown (SCA) contin- in South Dakota to start a new awaiting a prairie dog breeding population as part of a ued surveying for small mammals in re-introduction program to the riparian buffer areas around recover this endangered species. McConnell AFB.

Fish Stocking In September, Alex Schu- bert coordinated the stocking of Fish Population Assessment Chris Ken- Integrated Natural Resource Manage- rainbow trout into North and South nedy conducted electrofishing surveys ment Plan (INRMP). Per the federal Pearson lakes at F. E. Warren AFB. on the Colorado River at two sites to Sikes Act, Krystal led the FY18 Buck- The stocking of these fish (ranging for evaluate the effectiveness of re- ley AFB (BAFB) INRMP annual review 10-16" in length) will greatly enhance routing the river in 2015 on fish popu- meeting with triparty stakeholders – recreational fisheries at the base. lations. An abundance of fish were Air Force, US Fish and Wildlife Ser- This fishery supports a major recrea- found at both sites. Fish specimens vice (USFWS), and Colorado Parks tional fishing program on the base as were collected in cooperation with and Wildlife; and finalized the FY18 well as special events such as Free personnel from the FWS Bozeman INRMP annual review letter with the Fishing Days for youth and VA free Fish Health Center from one of the 460th Civil Engineering Squadron fishing days for PTSD veterans. sites for disease testing. commander. Prior to the BAFB

COLORADO FISH AND WI LDLIFE CONSERVATION OFFICE P A G E 3 Habitat Conservation & Management

Chainsaw Training Student Conserva- not native to the landscape. The re- tion Association Interns Taylor moval of the trees will enhance Buck- Hackemack and Taylor Cassidy, along ley AFB short grass prairie, reduce with COFWCO personnel, Alex use by large raptors, reduce Bird Schubert, participated in a two day Aircraft Strike Hazards, as well as “The removal of Power saw Operations and Mainte- reduce the need to take migratory the trees will en- nance class at the Air birds as part airfield management. hance Buckley Force Academy. The purpose of the AFB short grass class was to certify personnel to Wildland Fire Defensible Space The prairie, reduce operate chainsaws properly and safely Defensible Space project in Senior use by large rap- at their respective field sites with the Officers Quarters at USAFA has now tors, reduce Bird Fish and Wildlife Service. This certifi- completed eight houses total with cation will help field sites more effi- fourteen left to be completed. The Aircraft Strike ciently control and manage invasive work will slow down in the winter as Hazards, as well species, cut down dead trees, or trees the chemicals used to prevent the as reduce the causing BASH issues. Gambel Oak from sprouting will not need to take mi- be effective after leaf fall as the trees gratory birds as Arbor Day Celebration Alex, Taylor H., Planting Arbor Day tree have prepared for winter by drawing part airfield man- and Nicole Ng prepared for the Ar- at F. E. Warren AFB their reserves into the roots. bor Day celebration at the F. E. War- agement.” Short Grass Prairie Restoration Dustin ren AFB. Alex was one of the fea- Austin Tree Thinning The USAFA Western Casady submitted two work requests tured speakers and presented a Reed, Spruce Budworm Thinning Project to remove large dead or dying trees speech to the crowd on the im- CSU- was awarded in late September. This within Buckley Air Force Base short portance of trees to the base, as well Pueblo project is aimed at reducing the ef- grass prairie. Short grass prairie is in as the benefits trees have to our ownholds a fects of the budworm defoliation at decline along with many grassland personal well-being. Cassin’s Farish. The understory will be re- birds. The trees that need to be re- Sparrow moved and piled to be burned at a moved are introduced species and are captured later date. at Pueblo Chemical Depot. Partnerships & Accountability Coordination with Local Non-Profit Brian world management examples and identified one active homeless camp engaged the audience to think about and numerous abandoned camps of how they could enhance ecosystem Academy property. Though coordi- services in their backyards. SCA In- nation with Keep Colorado Springs tern, Nicole Brown, prepped 140 Beautiful, a non-profit specializing in wildflower seed packets to hand out cleaning up homeless camps, the to the kids after encouraging them to accumulated trash was mitigated. Johnny Darter at FE Warren AFB. plant native. Awareness of the problem and Bird Airstrike Hazard (BASH) Activities. recognition of the need for more common shiners, and 219 johnny The next BASH stakeholder meeting frequent Security Forces patrols in darters. One other benefit of the is TBD. In support of the Buckley Air the area was discussed at the Installa- effort was the capture and documen- Force Base (BAFB) BASH Program, tion Encroachment Management tation of two plains killifish on base. Krystal reviewed and commented on Team meeting. This species had not previously been the draft 460th Space Wing BASH documented to exist at F. E. Warren audit report while supplying key docu- Fish Translocation Alex Schubert and AFB. Taylor Hackemack (SCA Intern) met mentation to support her recommen- dations. The request is still pending Steve Gale (WGFD) and crew to WSU Ecology Days Laura Mendenhall for a copy of the final BASH Plan for assist with a fish collection effort on delivered a presentation to 140 6th incorporation into the BAFB Integrat- Crow Creek on F. E. Warren AFB. grade students at Wichita State Uni- ed Natural Resources Management The fish collected were to be trans- versity’s “Ecology Days” STEM pro- Plan in accordance with Air Force planted to repopulate an area down- gram. The presentation covered tall Instruction 32-7064, Integrated Natural stream that did not currently contain grass prairie ecosystem services in an Resources Management. those species. The fish relocated urban context. Mendenhall used real included 343 central stonerollers, 178

COLORADO FISH AND WI LDLIFE CONSERVATION OFFICE P A G E 4 Leadership in Science & Technology

INRMP Brian Mihlbachler and Joe of this past summer including Bur- age and is showing reduced ill effects Murphy finalized a draft 2018-2022 rowing Owl nest locations, prairie from the salt contamination. Air Force Academy Integrated Natu- dog colony mapping, Lark Bunting ral Resources Management Plan nest and territory locations, and USAFA Grassland Burn Plans Work (INRMP) to comply with Air Force noxious weed locations along Chico continues on developing burn plans and DoD guidance. Significant Creek. Additionally, infrastructure for four grassland units. This plan- changes include new information on updates to the geodatabase were ning is being done in conjunction pollinators, conservation law en- also conducted to assist environ- with the Wildland Fire Center and forcement, noxious weeds, special mental remediation contractors with USAFA Emergency Management status species, forestry, and wildland navigating to remediation sites and who will assist in conducting the fire. The document is currently accessing gates. burns. These should take place in undergoing a 30-day internal review, the winter of ’17-’18. with approval by USFWS, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Academy “The data indicate that Bat Logger Alex coordinated with expected by fall 2017. bats are using the bat Amanda Thimmayya (Wyoming condo [on FE Warren Army National Guard Natural Re- Trail Mapping Brian Mihlbachler and AFB]...” sources Manager). Amanda volun- Cabel Patterson mapped the active teered the use of a bat data logger and inactive ATV and UTV trails in Stressed Tree Care Early in the year, that was then placed in front of the the Jacks Valley Training Area for one of the Ponderosa Pines in the bat condo to record bat activity use the Cadet Training Wing. In consul- USAFA NR front yard was starting around the structure near Pearson tation with the military trainers, to show signs of declining health. It Lakes at F. E. Warren AFB. The bat unnecessary trails will be identified was determined that the tree was logger was retrieved and the data for closure and rehabilitation to stressed because of salt contamina- was downloaded to the computer. protect vegetation, soils, and wildlife, tion from the Magnesium Chloride The data indicate that bats are using as well as to promote a sustainable, that is used to clear the roads in the bat condo. Amanda ran the data realistic training environment. winter. This can be seen by the black through a species identification bands on the needles. NR spent the program found that the likely species GIS Management Clark Jones updat- summer caring for the tree by wa- using the condo is the little brown ed Pueblo Chemical Depot GIS to tering frequently. This tree has al- bat (Myotis lucifugus). reflect recent natural resource sur- most fully rebounded from its dam- veys that took place over the course

Austin Reed, Region 6CSU Priority:- Reverse the Declining Trend of Pueblo holds a MonarchCassin’s Butterflies & Other Endemic Pollinators Sparrow captured at Pueblo Bee Houses Laura Mendenhall con- Chemicaltrunks. The hive left several years ago helping in the Monarch tagging effort. structed three mason bee block Depot.while the bee signage and fencing With her newfound butterfly tagging houses and one bamboo shoot remained. The addition of the native skills, Brown was able to capture and house to revamp the bee tree area bee houses will hopefully educate tag one Monarch butterfly at as part of the creation of a pollina- passersby on native bee life history. McConnell AFB and will continue to tor education complex on Mendenhall is coordinating with a capture and tag migrating Monarchs McConnell AFB. These houses are local Boy Scout Troop to construct during early October. designed to provide nesting habitat and install more houses this winter. for native bees and are co-located with the 3 pollinator gardens in the Monarch Mania Nicole Brown worked Fam Camp. The bee tree area was at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge’s formerly home to a honeybee hive “Monarch Mania” program. Brown that colonized 3 Cottonwood tree interacted with numerous families

COLORADO FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION OFFICE