Department of the Army Permit State Programmatic General Permit (SPGP V-R1) Attachment 19 Beach Mice Habitat. Southeastern Beach Mouse Map shows County boundaries (downloaded from http://ecos.fws.gov) Anastasia Beach Mouse Map shows County boundaries (downloaded from http://ecos.fws.gov) Anastasia Beach Mouse and Southeastern Beach Mouse Habitat Description 20598 Federal Register / Vol. 54, No. 91 / Friday, May 12, 1989 / Rules and Regulations may also be affecting survival. This rule locality is Point Romo, Anastasia Island. implements the protection and recovery St. Johns County. Florida [Hall 1981). provisions afforded by the Act for these The southeastern beach mouse two beach mice. (Peromyscus polionotus niveirnntris) EFFECTIVE DATE: June 12, 1989. was named by Chapman as Hesperomys ADDRESSES: The complete file for this niveiventris in 1889. Bangs placed it in rule is available for inspection, by the genus Peromyscus in 1898, and appointment, during normal business Osgood (1909) relegated it to subspecies hours at the Jacksonville Field Office, rank under Peromyscus polionotus. This U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3100 is the largest of the beach mice, with 10 University Boulevard South, Suite 120, adults averaging 139 mm. in total length Jacksonville, Florida 32216. and 52 mm. in tail length [Osgood 190&). FOR FURTHER INFORMAnON CONTACT: It is slightly darker and more huffy than Mr. David J. Wesley, Field Supervisor, at Peromyscus polionotus phasma, but still the above address (904/791-2580 or FTS considerably paler than most inland 946-2580). subspecies (it is similar in coloration to inland P. p. rhoadsi, but is much larger SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION in size) (Howell, unpubl. ms., circa Background 1940). The type locality is Oak Lodge, Beach mice are pale-colored coastal east peninsula opposite Micco, Brevard subspecies of the oldfield mouse Count , Florida Hall 1981 . (Peromyscus polionotus), a wide-ranging Bot Peromyscus po ionotus p 10sma species in the southeastern United and P. p. niveiventris are restricted to States. Beach mice occur only along the sand dunes mainly vegetated by sea Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida and oats (Uniola paniculata) and dune panic the Gulf coast of Alabama. Three grass (Paspalum amarulum), and to the subspecies of Gulf coast beach mice, the adjoining scrub, characterized by oaks Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus (Quercus sp.) and sand pine (Pinus polionotus ammobates), Perdido Key clausa) or palmetto [Serenoa repens) beach mouse (P. p. trissyllepsis), and the [Humphrey and Barbour 1981, Choctawhatchee beach mouse (P. p. Humphrey 1987). Extine and Stout (1987) allophrys), have already been listed as studied dispersion and movements of endangered species pursuant to the Act Peromyscus pofionotus niveiventris on (June 6, 1985; 50 FR 23872). The present Merritt Island. The habitat of the mice rule lists two of the Atlantic coast consisted of three contiguous zones of subspecies. One of these, the Anastasia vegetation running parallel with the Island beach mouse (P. p. phasma), is beach and dune lines. Zone 1 was listed as an endangered species; the seaward and supported sea oats; Zone 2 other, the southeastern beach mouse (P. was characterized by clumps of DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR p. nfreiventris), is listed as threatened. palmetto and sea grape [Coccoloba Both occur only in Florida. The uv1fera], and expanses of open sand: Fish and Wildlife Service Anastasia Island beach mouse was Zone 3 was interior and consisted of known historically from the mouth of dense scrub dominated by palmetto, sea 50 CFR Part 17 the St.'Johns River, Duval County, south grape, and wax myrtle (Myrica to Matanzas Inlet, St. Johns County. The cerifera). Zones 2 and 3 were found to· Endangered and Threatened Wildlife be the preferred habitats of the beach and Plants; Endangered Status for the southeastern beach mouse formerly occ•1rred from Ponce (Mosquito) Inlet, mice, whereas Zone 1 was marginal. Anastasia Island Beach Mouse and e o owmg m ormahon pertams Threatened Status for the Volusia County, south to Hollywood mostly to Gulf coast beach mice, but Southeastern Beach Mouse Beach, Broward County (Humphrey 1987). probably applies to subspecies along the AGENCY: Fish and Wil<llifo Service, The Anastasia Island beach mouse Atlantic coast. since all beach mice are l!1 terior. (Peromyscus polionotus phosma) was morphologically similar and live in ACTION: Final rule. named by Bangs in 1898 as a full similar habitats. species, Peromyscus phasma. Oggood Blair [1951) found that food plants SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (1909) relegated it to subspecific rank most utilized by beach mice are various hereby determines the Anastasia Island under the species Peromyscus beach grasses and sea oats. The fruits of beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus polionotus. It is one of the largest of the beach grass are readily available to the phasma) to be an endangered species beach mice, with ten adults from the mice, but those of sea oats are usually and the southeastern beach mouse type locality averaging 138.5 mm. in obtainable only after they have been (Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris} to total length with an average tail length blown down by heavy winds. These be a threatened species pursuant to the of 53 mm. (Osgood 1909). Like all beach foods are often found stored in mouse Endangered Species Act of 1973, as mice, it is considerably paler than burrows. Beach mice also probably eat amend"J. (Act). These mice occur only inland races of P. polionotus. The im·ertehrates from time to time, on the Atlantic coast of Florida and coloration is light ochraceous buff on the especially in late spring and early have declined primarily due to the back, with pure white underparts, a summer when seeds are scarce [Ehrhart alteration and destruction of their unicolor tail, and rather indistinct white in Layne, 1978). habitat. In some areas competition from markings on the nose and fa ce [Howell, Beach mice are burrow-inhabiting house mice and predation by house cats unpubl. ms., circa 1940). The type animals. Ehrhart (in Layne 1978), writing Perdido Key Beach Mouse Map shows County boundaries (downloaded from http://ecos.fws.gov) Perdido Key Beach Mouse Critical Habitat Description Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 197 / Thursday, October 12, 2006 / Rules and Regulations 60305 Perdido Key Beach Mouse (Peromyscus temporary impacts and reconfiguration mice, necessary for normal behavior, polionotus trissyllepsis) from tropical storms and hurricanes, growth, and viability of all life stages. (1) Critical habitat units are depicted provide abundant food resources, (3) Critical habitat does not include for Escambia County, Florida, and burrow sites, and protection from man-made structures existing on the Baldwin County, Alabama, on the maps predators; effective date of this rule and not below. (iii) Scrub dunes, generally dominated containing one or more of the primary (2) The primary constituent elements by scrub oaks (Quercus spp.), that constituent elements, such as buildings, of critical habitat for the Perdido Key provide food resources and burrow aqueducts, airports, driveways, and beach mouse are the habitat components sites, and provide elevated refugia roads, and the land on which such that provide: during and after intense flooding due to structures are located. (i) A contiguous mosaic of primary, rainfall and/or hurricane-induced storm (4) Critical Habitat Map Units. Data secondary, and scrub vegetation and surge; layers defining map units were created dune structure, with a balanced level of by delineating habitats that contained (iv) Functional, unobstructed habitat competition and predation and few or one or more of the primary constituent connections that facilitate genetic no competitive or predaceous nonnative elements defined in paragraph (2) of this species present, that collectively exchange, dispersal, natural exploratory entry over 1999 and 2004 digital ortho provide foraging opportunities, cover, movements, and re-colonization of photography at a scale of at least 1:4000. and burrow sites; locally extirpated areas; and (5) Note: Map 1 Index of Critical (ii) Primary and secondary dunes, (v) A natural light regime within the Habitat Units for the Perdido Key beach generally dominated by sea oats (Uniola coastal dune ecosystem, compatible mouse, follows: paniculata), that despite occasional with the nocturnal activity of beach BILLING CODE 4310–55–P Perdido Key Beach Mouse Critical Habitat Description 60306 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 197 / Thursday, October 12, 2006 / Rules and Regulations BILLING CODE 4310–55–C (6) PKBM—Unit 1: Gulf State Park (i) General Description: This unit Unit, Baldwin County, Alabama. encompasses essential features of beach Perdido Key Beach Mouse Critical Habitat Description 60316 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 197 / Thursday, October 12, 2006 / Rules and Regulations BILLING CODE 4310–55–C (9) PKBM—Unit 4: Gulf Beach Unit, (i) General Description: This unit Escambia County, Florida. includes essential features of beach Map 3. Critical Habitat (Gulf Beach and Gulf Islands National Seashore Units) for the Perdido Kev Beach Mouse, Escambia Co., Florida Federal Register I ~~ .. Rules andRegulations / Thursday, October12,2006 / Vol. 71,No.197 / ~~ / ~v __...,,,.,.,--"""' PERDIDOBAY Perdido KeyBeachMouse Critical HabitatDescription BIG PKBM-5 Gulf Islands National Seashore Unit PKBM-4 Gulf Beach Unit I 0 E X J c ~ M 0 F U L F G ~\ N 0 0.5 l 2 Km \ . 0 0.5 l 2 Miles + 60325 Chotowatchee Beach Mouse Map shows County boundaries (downloaded from http://ecos.fws.gov) Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse Critical Habitat Description 60264 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 197 / Thursday, October 12, 2006 / Rules and Regulations approval by OMB under the Paperwork with Native American Tribal Author(s) Reduction Act. This rule will not Governments’’ (59 FR 22951), Executive The primary author of this package is impose recordkeeping or reporting Order 13175, and the Department of the Panama City Fish and Wildlife requirements on State or local Interior’s manual at 512 DM 2, we Office. governments, individuals, businesses, or readily acknowledge our responsibility organizations.