July 1979, Vol. IV, No. 7 ENDANGERED SPECIES f TECHNICAL BULLETIN Department of the Interior • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • Endangered Species Program, Washington, D.C. 20240 ALLIGATOR RECLASSIFIED IN NINE PARISHES The American alligator (Alligator This action increases from 3 to 12 mississippiensis) has been reclassified the number of parishes from w^hich under the Endangered Species Act of alligators may be lawfully taken under 1973 in nine Louisiana parishes (F.R. controlled harvest. Controlled taking 6/25/79). These alligators, previously The American alligator in Louisiana is in accordance with Louisiana State classified as Threatened, have been currently Endangered in Area 1, Threat- law has been allowed in three addi- reclassified to the less restrictive ened in Area 2, Threatened by Similari- tional parishes; Cameron, Calcasieu, status under the Act, Threatened by ty of Appearance in Areas 3 and 4. and Vermillion, where the species is Similarity of Appearance. The parishes also classified as Threatened by Sim- Area 4 consists of 9 parishes which affected by the final rulemaking are as ilarity of Appearance. were recently reclassified from Threat- follows: Iberia, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Reclassification to the less restric- ened to less restrictive category, Lafourche, St. Charles, Jefferson, Pla- tive category indicates that the alliga- Threatened by Similarity of Ap- quemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tam- tor is no longer likely to become pearance. many. Continued on page 3 photo by Steve Hillebrand WOLF SKULL FOUND IN WISCONSIN An expert on wolves In the Office of Endangered Species recently identified the skull of an animal, shot and killed In Douglas County, Wisconsin in June, as that of an adult gray wolf {Canis lupus). This finding confirms earlier track and sight records kept by the Wis- consin State Office of Endan- gered and Nongame Species which indicate the presence of two packs in Douglas County (see April 1979 BULLETIN). The recently found skull, prob- ably that of a female, is the first confirmed specimen from Three of four peregrine chicks are held in a cardboard box before placement Wisconsin In 20 years. in a man-made nest on the Interior Building roof. See Story page 6 with mosquito fish for feeding a Cal- ifornia least tern (Sterna albifrons browni) colony. The success of the project will depend upon the move- ment of marine fish through canals (which connect the temporary marsh to natural waters) to maintain fish pop- ulations in the marsh. The site is owned by the California Department f of Transportation which is leasing it to the county on the condition that it will be returned upon completion of the flood control project. Region 2. The Service met with wild- life officials from Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma to discuss bobcat (Lynx rufus) problems—standardization of tagging, illegal entry from Mexico, import and export, and interstate han- dling and shipment. Endangered Species Program regional of this species exist in the v(/orld. The The Arizona-New Mexico Endan- staffers have reported the following ac- pair w/ill be housed at the Cooperative gered Species Handbook has been tivities for the month of June. State Nene Propagation Station at printed and released. Contact the Re- Region 1. A female Marianas mallard Pohakuloa, Hawaii. gional Office for details on availability. (Anas oustaleti) captured on Saipan, Service consultations on the Santa More than 50,000 Kemp's Ridley sea will be placed with a male captured Ana River flood control project near turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) were earlier in the Marianas. It has been Huntington Beach have resulted in a hatched at Rancho Nuevo in Mexico. suggested that less than 10 individuals newly excavated 17-acre site stocked Two female Kemp's Ridley sea turtles are reported to be nesting at Padre Island, Texas. A report on the second U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 2, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, year of this 10-year project to protect Washington, D.C. 20240 NM 87103 (505-766-2321): W. 0. Nel- the species will be forthcoming iri son, Regional Director, Robert F. Ste- December. Lynn A. Greenwalt, Director phens, Assistant Regional Director; (202-343-4717) Jack B. Woody, Endangered Species Region 3. Our Service met with the Harold J. O'Connor Specialist. Soil Conservation Service to discuss Acting Associate Director and Region 3, Federal BIdg., Fort Snelling, procedures for Section 7 consulta- Endangered Species Program Manager Twin Cities, MNi 55111 (612-725-3500); tions. (202-343-4646) Harvey Nelson, Regional Director', The Service also met with the Min- C. Phillip Agee Delbert H. Rasmussen, Assistant Re- nesota Land Heritage Program of the Acting Deputy Associate Director gional Director, James M. Engel, En- Department of Natural Resources to (202-343-4646) dangered Species Specialist. discuss interaction between the two John Spinks, Chief, Region 4, Richard B. Russell Federal BIdg., Office of Endangered Species 75 Spring St., S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303 agencies. (703/235-2771) (404-221-3583): Kenneth E. Black, Re- The Kirtland's Warbler Recovery Richard Parsons, Chief, gional Director Harold W. Benson, Team met in June. Federal Wildlife Permit Office Assistant Regional Director: Alex B. Region 4. Service and State per- (703/235-1937) Montgomery, Endangered Species Spe- sonnel are continuing their efforts to Clark R, Bavin, Chief, cialist. improve the nesting success of log- Division of Law Enforcement Region 5, Suite 700, One Gateway Cen- gerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) (202-343-9242) ter, Newton Corner, MA 02158 (617- 965-5100): Howard Larsen, Regional on Cape Island, Cape Romain National TECHNICAL BULLETIN STAFF Director, Gordon T. Nightingale, As- Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina. Log- Dona Finnley, Editor sistant Regional Director, Paul Nick- gerheads on the island, which is con- Moray Norkin, Editorial Asst. erson. Endangered Species Specialist. sidered one of the most important (703/235-2407) Region 6, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Fed- nesting beaches for the species, have eral Center, Denver, CO 80225 (303- been suffering from raccoon predation Regional Offices 234-2209): James Gritman, Acting Re- (see May 1979 BULLETIN) and, during gional Director Charles E. Lane, As- the last 10 to 12 months, serious beach Region 1, Suite 1692, Lloyd 500 BIdg., sistant Regional Director Don Rodgers, erosion. The cause of the accelerated 500 N.E. Multnomah St., Portland, OR Endangered Species Specialist. 97232 (503-231-6118): R. Kahler Mar- Alaska Area, 1101 E Tudor Rd., Anchor- erosion is uncertain, but it has re- tinson, Regional Director, Edward B. age, AK 99057 (907-276-3800, ext. 495): sulted in near elimination of nesting Chamberlain, Assistant Regional Di- Keith M. Schreiner, Area Director: beach in some areas. Because of the rector, David B. Marshall, Endangered Dan Benfield, Endangered Species Spe- high erosion rate, many nests are sub- Species Specialist. cialist. ject to being washed away before the eggs can hatch. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regions Service personnel plan to transplant Region 1: California, Hawaii, idalio, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Pacific Trust Territories. Region 2: Arizona, New Mexico, OI<iahoma. and Texas. Region 3: liiinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Region 4: about 500 nests to an area safe from Aiabanna. Arkansas. Florida. Georgia. Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, erosion and provide them with a wire Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Region 5: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Region 6: Colorado, Iowa, Kan- cover to protect them from raccoons sas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Alaska Area: Alaska. as well. About 300 nests have been The ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN is published monthly by the moved so far. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. Region 5. (See Pittston story on page 3.) PITTSTON PROCEEDINGS HALTED AGAIN As this issue of the BULLETIN went sultation, to consider additional infor- premature, since Pittston had not yet to press, the Secretaries of the Interior mation (see March 1979 BULLETIN). exhausted EPA's internal appeals pro- and Commerce and the Pittston Com- However, the new consultation re- cedure. This led to the present agree- pany reached an agreement to stay sulted in the Service reaffirming its ment to again halt the Review Board's the proceedings of the first Endan- earlier conclusion of jeopardy to the action. Unless a subsequent hearing gered Species Review Board. The eagle. indicates that the Review Board proceedings will not be resumed until The Review Board resumed proc- should proceed, no further action will the Environmental Protection Agency's essing of the Pittston application on be taken on the exemption applica- (EPA) internal appeals process June 4, 1979. Four environmental or- tion until EPA's proceedings are com- reaches a final decision on a permit ganizations then brought suit, contend- pleted, which may take several for Pittston's proposed oil refinery at ing that the Review Board's action was months. Eastport, Maine, or until a Federal judge decides that the company's ap- plication for an exemption from Sec- tion 7 of the Endangered Species Act is not premature. CITES Standing Committee Report Pittston was denied a National Pol- lutant Discharge Elimination System The Standing