March/April 1994 Vol. XIX No. 2 =~ ~ : zz szs zn s-s zn ^ ^ ^^ = ^^ U.S. Department of the Interior Technical Bulletin Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Protection in the National Parks by Napier Shelton Congress established the National Park Service (NPS) in 1916 to conserve the natural and cultural resources in the na- tional parks and similar areas, and to pro- vide for public enjoyment of these areas in ways that leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. To- day, the 80-million-acre (34-million- hectare) National Park System encompasses more than 360 national parks, monu- ments, preserves, memorials, historic sites, recreational areas, seashores, and other units spread from Alaska to the U.S. Virgin Islands to American Samoa. In addition to preserving habitats that range from arctic tundra to tropical rainforest, the System protects representa- tives of more than half of North Americas plant species and a large pro- portion of the continent's animal species. These red wolf pups were reared at Gulf Islands National Seashore in preparation for The NPS has a long history of giving spe- release at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. cial attendon to species in trouble. In the efforts to inventory and protect Endan- Federal, State, and local agencies to take early decades of this century, Yellowstone gered species in the parks. Like all Federal whatever steps are available to minimize National Park and several other western agencies, the NPS is required by the En- air and water pollution entering parks. parks helped to build up depleted popula- dangered Species Act to conserve Endan- Exotic, or non-native, species that are a tions of such animals as the bison (Bison gered and Threatened species and their clear threat to a parks native species are bison), elk (Cervus elaphus), and pronghom Critical Habitats, and to avoid any ac- removed or suppressed wherever feasible. (Antibcapra americam). Protection of nest- tions that might jeopardize their survival. ing and wintering trumpeter swans (Olor The NPS extends this responsibility to buccinator) at Yellowstone helped bring this Systemwide Inventory protecting Federal listing candidates and species back from the edge of extinction. to State-listed and candidate species. The NPS initially focused its endan- During the 1950s through the 1970s, the gered species efforts on animals of special Endangered species protection fits well focus shifted to protecting and restoring gray interest to the public in the parks, al- with the NPS mission. Native ecosys- wolves (Canis lupus) at Isle Royale National though many of the less conspicuous spe- tems and natural processes in parks are Park, grizzly bears (Umts arms) in Glacier cies, such as plants, clams, and fishes, also preserved to the extent possible. Natural and Yellowstone, and Hawaiian geese came under close scrutiny. However, in areas are managed to control the adverse (Nesochen sandvicensis) at several of the Ha- 1988, the NPS conducted a systemwide effects of human influence, which are a waiian parks. survey of Endangered and Threatened factor in the declines of many listed spe- With passage of the Endangered Spe- cies. The NPS is also working with other cies Act in 1973, the NPS intensified its (continued on page 14) 1 ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN Vol. XIX No. 2 (1994) carcass of a juvenile crane produced the first confirmation of bobcat predation on the species at the refuge. The FWS bi- ologists are continuing air and ground searches for the other young birds, which were reported missing in late November and early December. Within a few days of the first disap- pearance, biologists recovered the remains of a juvenile crane in a pile with a great blue heron {Ardea herodias) and an American widgeon {Anas americand), sur- rounded by bobcat tracks. Necropsies of the crane and duck at the National Wild- Regional endangered species contacts sidering live-trapping and relocating bob- life Health Research Center in Madison, have reported the following news: cats (Felis rufus) from the area where four Wisconsin, identified predation as the Region 2 - Staff at the Aransas Na- whooping crane {Grus americand) chicks cause of death. The Center is investigat- tional Wildlife Refuge in Texas are con- have disappeared. The recendy discovered ing other factors — such as high lead levels, brain cholinesterase, or disease — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 2, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM that may have predisposed the juvenile to Washington, D.C. 20240 87103 (505-766-2321); John G. Rogers, Re- predation. gional Director, James A. Young, Assist- Mollie Beattie ant Regional Director: Susan MacMullin, Director It is unusual to lose so many young Endangered Species Specialist. (202-208-4717) birds. No sick or physically impaired Region 3, Federal BIdg., Fori Snelling, Twin whooping cranes have been noted on Michael J. Spear, Cities, MN 55111 (612-725-3500); Sam aerial surveys. Since the refuge territories Assistant Director for Marler, Reg/ona/ Director: John Blankenship, Ecological Services Assistant Regional Director: Bob Adair, from which the birds disappeared are not (202-208-4646) Endangered Species Specialist. connected, a transmittable disease simul- Jamie Rappaport Clark, Chief, Region 4, 1875 Century Blvd., Suite 200, At- taneously affecting a large number of Division of Endangered Species lanta, GA 30345 (404-679-4000); James W. birds in different locations seems unlikely (703-358-2171) Pulliam, Regional D/rector;Tom Olds, Assis- tant Regional Director: David Flemming, Because juveniles stay with their parents Marshall P. Jones, Chief, Endangered Species Specialist. until the spring migration in April, the Office of !\Aanagement Authority missing birds are probably dead. The ob- (703-358-2093) Region 5, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035 (413-253-8659); Ronald E. jective of relocating bobcats would be to Lambertson, Regional Director: Ralph Pisapia, John J. Doggett, Chief, remove animals experienced in killing Assistant Regional Director: Paul Nickerson, Division of Law Enforcement Endangered Species Specialist. whooping cranes, since juvenile birds are (703-358-1949) naive about predators and depend on the Region 6, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal TECHNICAL BULLETIN Center; Denver, CO 80225 (303-236-7920); alertness of their parents. A factor con- Editor, Michael Bender Ralph O. Morgenweck, Regional Director: tributing to the loss may be that juveniles Assistant Editor. Ann Haas Robert E. Jacobsen, Assistant Regional are ranging farther from parents to find (703-358-2166) Director: Larry Shanks, Endangered Species (FAX 703-358-1827) Specialist. food. The months of drought preceding last December's rains dried up coastal Regional Offices Region 7, 1011 E. Tudor Rd., Anchorage, AK 99503 (907-786-3542); Walter O. Stieglitz, marshes that provide important crane Region 1, Eastside Federal Complex, 911 Regional Director: Janet Hohn, Assistant Re- N.S.I IthAvenue, Portland, OR 97232-4181 staples, including shellfish and other in- gional Director: DaveMcGillivary, Endangered (503-231-6118); Marvin Plenert, Regional Species Specialist. vertebrates. Director: Dale Hall, Assistant Regional Director: Cindy Barry and Jim Bartel, Endan- The peak count of whooping cranes gered Species Specialists. wintering on the refuge this year was U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regions 143, including 16 juveniles. Two families Region 1: California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana that arrived with one chick each had not Islands, Guam, and the PacificTrust Territories. Region 2: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Region 3: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, f^ichigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Region 4: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, been counted during the 1993 spring Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Region 5: Connecticut, Delaware. District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, surveys, when 45 pairs — a record num- Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Region 6: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Region 7: Alaska. ber — nested on the species' Canadian Printed with vegetable-based ink on recycled and recyclable paper. If you do breeding grounds. not keep back issues, please recycle the paper, pass them along to an interested * * * o person, or donate them to a local school or library. (continued on next page) 2 ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN Vol. XIX No. 2 (1994) Progress Toward Recovery Leads to Reclassification Proposal for Unique Virginia Tree The Virginia round-leaf birch (Betula uber), a species of tree endemic to the southwestern part of the State, has been listed since 1978 as an Endangered spe- cies. One natural population is known, and it numbers only 11 trees at last count. They are restricted to a narrow band of forest in the Cressy Creek flood- plain, a site nearly surrounded by agricul- tural land. Since 1978, however, a cooperative recovery effort involving State and Federal agencies, arboreta, and private individuals has established 20 ad- ditional populations in the area. Several thousand seedlings also have been pro- vided to botanical gardens and other institutions. Because the Virginia round-leaf birch is no longer believed to be in imminent danger of extinction, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed De- cember 6, 1993, to reclassify this species tion of these trees. Additionally, the For- birch has brightened considerably. But from Endangered to the less critical cat- est Service provides a public informadon because of remaining threats from flood- egory ofThreatened. exhibit at the site of the largest round-leaf ing, drought, competing vegetation, All 20 of the newly established popula- birch. A ramp allows visitors a close-up browsing animals, and vandalism, the tions, along with a portion of the single view of the tree, which is enclosed within species' future is not yet secure. The re- natural population, are on the Jefferson a protective fence.