Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge Valentine, Nebraska Annual Narrative Report Calendar Year 2001 Fort Niobrara-Valentine NWR Complex Valentine, Nebraska Annual Narrative Report Calendar Year 2001 Refuge Manager Date Refuge Supervisor Review Date Regional Office Approval Date 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS B. Climatic Conditions ........................................................................... 8 D. Planning .............................................................................................. 8 D.2. Management Plan ......................................................................................................... 8 2.a. Wilderness Stewardship Plan .................................................................................. 8 D.S. Research and Investigations ........................................................................................ 8 D.5.a. Recreational Impacts on Avian Assemblages in the Niobrara River Corridor, Fort Niobrara NWR ..•.......................................................................................................... 9 D.5.b. Bison Chemical Immobilization Study: Effects of Varying Antagonist Regimens on Recovery from Carfentanil-Xylazine Anesthesia ......................................................... 10 D.5.c. Comparison of Bison Weights for Department of Interior Herds . .................... 10 D.5.d. Genetic Parameters of the Bison Herd on Fort Niobrara NationaJ Wildlife Refuge .....•....••...........•.....................................................................•...... 10 D.5.e. Niobrara National Scenic River Studies: Visitor Survey and Use Estimation .. 10 D.5.f. Location and Identification of Hepaticae in Nebraska ........................................ 11 E. Administration ................................................................................. 11 E.4. Volunteers .................................................................................................•......•........... 11 F. Habitat Management ....................................................................... 11 F.1. General/Ecosystem ...................•....•............................................................................• 11 F.2. Wetlands ...................................................................................................................... 12 F .3. Woodlands ................................................................................................................... 13 F.5. Grasslands ................................................................................................................•... 13 F.7. Grazing... ...................................................................................................................... 14 F.8. Haying .......................................................................................................................... 15 F.9. Fire Management ......................................................................................................•. 15 F.10. Invasive-Noxious Weed Management ....................................................................... 26 F.12. Wilderness and Special Areas ........•......................•.................................................... 26 F.12.a. Fort Niobrara Wilderness ...................................................................................... 26 F.12.b. Niobrara National Scenic River ......................................................................... 27 G. Wildlife ............................................................................................. 27 G.1. Wildlife Diversity ........................................................................................................ 27 G.2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species ................................................................... 27 G .2.a. Bald Eagle ..........•.•••...•...........•......•........•..................................................•....•..•...... 2 7 G.2.b. Whooping Crane, Piping Plover and Least Tern................................................. 28 G.2.c. American Burying Beetle .................................................................................••.... 28 G.3. Waterfowl .................................................................................................................... 28 , G.4. M.arsh and Waterbirds ...............................•..........•................•...............•................... 28 4 G.5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species ............................................................ 28 G.6. Raptors ......................................................................................................................... 29 G.7. Other Migratory Birds •.............................................................................................. 29 G.10. Resident Wildlife ......................................................................................................... 30 G.10.a. Bison ..................................................................................................................... 30 G.1 O.b. Elk•.•• ..................................................................................................................... 33 G.l O.d. Pronghorn antelope ...........•................................................................................ 34 G.10.e. Texas Longhorn Cattle ....................................................................................... 34 G.10.f. Black-tailed Prairie Dog ..................................................................................... 35 G.10.g. Other Mammals ...•.............................................................................................. 35 G.10.h. Prairie Grouse ..................................................................................................... 35 G.10.i. Wild Turkey ........................................................................................................ 35 G.10.j. Reptiles, Amphibians and Others ...................................................................... 36 G.11. Fisheries Re.source .......•.....•.............••......................................•.................................. 36 G.13. Surplus Animal Disposal ...........................................................................................•. 36 G.13.a. Bison ..................................................................................................................... 36 G.13.b. Elk......... ................................................................................................................ 37 G.16. Marking and Banding........ ......................................................................................... 37 G.17. Disease Prevention and Control ................................................................................ 37 H. Public Use ......................................................................................... 37 H.1. General ... ....................................................................................................................... 38 H.2. Environmental Education - Students ........................................................................ 38 H.3. Environmental Education - Teachers ....................................................................... 38 H.4. Interpretive Foot Trails .............................................................................................. 38 H.5. Interpretive Tour Route ............................................................................................. 39 H.6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations ...................................................................... 39 H.8. Hunting .........................•.............................................................................................. 39 H.11. Wildlife ObseITation ................................................................................................... 39 H.12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation .......................................................................... 40 H.14. Picnicltlng. .....................•.............................................................................................. 41 H.17. Law Enforcement ...................................................•................................•................... 41 H.18. Cooperating Associations .....•.....................................................................•.......•.•..... 43 I. Equipment and Facilities .................................................................. 43 1.5. New Construction. ......•.....•.••.......................................................................•............... 43 1.2. Rehabilitation .............................................................................................................. 44 1.2.a. Buildings ................................................................................................................... 44 1.2. b. Residences ................................................................................................................ 44 1.2.c. Structures and Facilities ..•...................................................................................•.. 44 1.3. Major Maintenance .................................................................................................... 44 1.3.a. Buildings .................................................................................................................. 44 1.3.b. Residence.s •...........•..............................•...........................•.•.....•.............••.................