Western Snowy Plover - Angel Ramirez

Western Snowy Plover - Recovery Plan

(Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus)

Description and Ecology

What do they look like?

The western snowy plover is a threatened small shorebird, approximately the size of a sparrow. This bird is a small shorebird with moderately long legs and a short neck. Their back is pale tan while their underparts are white, and have dark patches on the sides of their neck which reach around onto the top of their chest. Juveniles are similar to non-breeding adults, but have scaly pale edging on their back feathers. Habitat choice and foraging motions often provide identification clues.

Things you need to know about their ecology!

During the breeding season, March through September, plovers can be seen nesting along the shores, peninsulas, offshore islands, bays, estuaries, and rivers of the United States' Pacific Coast. Plover nests usually contain three tiny eggs, which are camouflaged to look like sand and barely visible to even the most well-trained trained eye. Plovers will use almost anything they can find on the beach to make their nests, including kelp, driftwood, shells, rocks, and even human footprints. They are called shore birds because they are frequently found in open shoreline habitats, where they forage on small aquatic prey by picking or probing.

Geographic and Population Changes

To understand the Western Snowy Plover population you must know what factors can alter it. Snowy Plovers have natural predators such as falcons, raccoons, coyotes, and owls. There are lots of things other animals that eat these little shorebirds. There are also predators that humans have introduced or whose populations they have helped to increase, including crows and ravens, red fox, and domestic dogs. I’ve heard from my friend and lab mate who worked as for USFWS that the number one most destructive introduced animal that is hurting the snowy plovers population are ravens. Ravens have voracious appetite and can decimate a population in an area if left unchecked. Not to forget, humans can be thought of as predators too, because people drive vehicles, ride bikes, fly kites and bring their dogs to beaches where the western snowy plover lives and breeds. All of these activities can frighten or harm plovers during their breeding season.

Illustrated above is a chart containing population densities of snowy plovers over the winter when these birds and many other species breed.  

The highest density of the Western Snowy Plover occurs in California along the California coast but they also occur in significant numbers in others areas along the pacific coast. Other places where we find plovers are Oregon and even as far north as Washington. However they do not occur or at least establish colonies future than Copalis Spit in Washington.

Listing Date and Type of Listing

On March 5, 1993, the Pacific coast population of the western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) (western snowy plover) was listed as threatened under provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The Pacific coast population is defined as those individuals that nest within 50 miles of the Pacific Ocean on the mainland coast, peninsulas, offshore islands, bays, estuaries, or rivers of the United States and Baja California, Mexico.

Above is a map of rage map for the Snowy Plover, which illustrates where the birds occur during specific times of the year and also were they occur year-round.  

Cause of Listing and Today’s Threats

Snowy Plovers were listed for a number of reasons but the number one reason for their major decline was due to habitat loss for development. Other threats include:

• Oil spills
• Sea level rise
• Predators (natural and introduced)
• Invasion of non-native plant species into nesting habitat
• Human activity (today’s major threat)

Energy is very important to this small bird. Every time humans, dogs, or other predators cause the birds to take flight or run away, they lose precious energy that is needed to maintain their nests. Often, when a plover parent is disturbed, it will abandon its nest, which increases the chance of a predator finding the eggs, sand blowing over and covering the nest, or the eggs getting cold. This can decrease the number of chicks that hatch in a particular year. Did you know that a kite flying overhead looks like a predator to a plover? A kite over a nesting area can keep an adult off the nest for long periods of time.

Something special about the plovers is that they have many dense populations near San Luis Obispo. For example, in the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Areas there exists and rather large population of Snowy Plovers. Above is a map nest locations provided by California State Parks.

Description of Recovery Plan

The recovery plan is divided up into three strategic steps:

a. Population increases should be distributed across the western snowy plover’s Pacific coast range.

b. Remove or reduce threats by conducting intensive ongoing management for the species and its habitat, and develop mechanisms to ensure management in perpetuity to prevent a reversal of population increases following delisting under the Endangered Species Act.

c. Annual monitoring of western snowy plover subpopulations and reproductive success, and monitoring of threats and effects of management actions in reducing threats, is essential for adaptive management and to determine the success of recovery efforts.

What can you do?

Volunteer to help protect the Western Snowy Plover. Here is a link to an interactive map to find opportunities at a beach near you! http://audubon.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=5502a94b595847e78beeec8c101f1a5b

References

https://lpfw.org/our-region/wildlife/western-snowy-plover/ - photo by Jenny Erbes

California Department of Parks and Recreation, 2016. Nesting of the California least tern and western snowy plover at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, San Luis Obispo County, California 2016 Season. Unpublished Report, CDPR, Off-Highway Motor Vehicular Recreation Division. - GIS nesting site map

https://lpfw.org/our-region/wildlife/western-snowy-plover/ - range map

Western Snowy Plovers in California. (2015, October 26). Retrieved March 07, 2018, from http://ca.audubon.org/westernsnowyplover

National Audubon Society - information

Black-footed Ferret - Ted Rohner

Black-footed Ferret

(Mustela nigripes)

Description and Ecology

The black-footed ferret is a carnivorous mammal that is native to the North American shortgrass and mixed grass prairie. It has a tan body with a black mask on its face and has black legs and feet with a black tipped tail. They have large front paws for digging and a strong jaw and teeth for eating meat. It has a long slender body, like that of a weasel, so it can crawl through holes and dwellings of its main prey, the prairie dog. Prairie dogs make up about 90% of the ferrets diet and black-footed ferrets even take shelter in abandoned prairie dog dwellings. With the exception of breeding season and females caring for their kits, black-footed ferrets are solitary animals. They are nocturnal (most active at night) and fossorial (live mostly underground) predators.

Geographic and Population Changes 

Black-footed ferrets once numbered in the tens of thousands, but exotic diseases and widespread destructon of their habitat in the 1900s drove them to the brink of extinction. They were found throughout the Great Plains, mountain basins, and semiarid grasslands of west-central North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico, wherever prairie-dogs were found. By 1986, they were thought to be extinct from the wild with only 18 left in captivity.  Today, the ferrets are slowly making a comeback, with wild populations numbering in the hundreds to thousands. However, populations are still highly variable because of their dependence on prairie dog populations. As of 2016, black-footed ferrets have been reintroduced in multiple locations within their former range shown on the map.

Listing Date and Type of Listing

The black-footed ferret was first listed by the United States government as endangered in 1967 under the  Endangered Species Preservation Act and was re-listed as endangered when the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was created in 1973. In 1987, they were taken into captivity and in 1996, they were listed as extinct in the wild. In 2008, they were listed as endangered again.

Click here to see a video of a playful black-footed ferret "dancing" in the wild.

Cause of Listing and Main Threats

Many prairie dog towns became ghost towns as populations underwent a massive decline during the 20th century. Farmers and ranchers, with government assistance, eliminated many prairie dogs because they were considered agricultural pests from their underground tunnels that were destructive to fields. Some species of prairie dogs have had 99% of their habitat taken for agriculture and development. The prairie dog population is at 5% of what it used to be. In the process, the black-footed ferret was nearly wiped out because of their extreme dependence on prairie dog for food. 

 Disease is another big factor in the black footed ferret disappearance. Plague is an exotic disease that didn't exist in North America before the 20th century. It can affect black-footed ferrets directly from infection and and as a result, death. Also they can be affected indirectly through the death of prairie-dogs.

Another major threat is the loss of habitat by conversion of grasslands to agricultural uses. The remaining habitat is now fragmented by cropland and human development. In addition, the gene diversity of the captive population in very low. This decrease in genetic diversity and increase in inbreeding may decrease fitness including immune system dysfunction and reduced reproductive success.

Description of Recovering Plan

The recovery plan was put in action on 12/23/2013. The goal of the recovery plan, along with all recovery plans, is to get the species off the endangered species list and have them become full functioning members of their ecosystems.


The first goal is to have at least 280 breeding adults in captivity throughout the three existing breeding facilities. Then have at least 3000 breeding adults in the wild in at least 6 of the 12 former states where they historically have lived. They will continue doing this and maintaining the populations with at least 100,000 ha of sustainable land for 3 years. This will get them off the endangered species list, but after they get off the list then they still have to protect their habitat.


Today, recovery efforts have helped restore the black-footed ferret population to nearly 300 animals across North America. Although great strides have been made to recover the black-footed ferret, habitat loss and disease remain key threats to this highly endangered species. In addition they have threats from predators like golden eagles, owls, and coyotes. Reintroduced animals also occasionally lack some survival skills so their mortality rate is higher than usual.

What can you do?

Adopt a black-footed ferret. You can buy a black-footed ferret stuffed animal from the WWF and they will donate your money towards the recovery of the ferret. 
Adopt a ferret here.

Focus on philanthropy and either raise money or donate your own money to support the  recovery plan.

Educate people around you about this amazing animal.

Research to learn more about black-footed ferrets and the prairie ecosystem they need to survive.

Reach out and write letters to lawmakers about the importance of this animal.

Eat locally grown foods to reduce the need for agricultural land in the ferrets natural habitat.

Travel to a Wildlife Refuge, National Park or other prairie habitat to experience their ecosystem in person.

Other Resources

“Basic Facts.” Defenders of Wildlife, 7 Dec. 2017, defenders.org/black-footed-ferret/basic-facts.

Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark. “Black-Footed Ferret.” National Geographic, 10 May 2011, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/b/black-footed-ferret/#close

“Black-Footed Ferret.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/species/black-footed-ferret.

Williams, Ted, et al. “Recovery: Hope for Black-Footed Ferrets, One of Our Most Endangered Mammals.” Cool Green Science, 30 Mar. 2016, blog.nature.org/science/2016/01/04/recovery-hope-black-footed-ferrets-most-endangered-mammals/.

“Mustela Nigripes .” Mustela Nigripes (Black-Footed Ferret), www.iucnredlist.org/details/14020/0.

“Black-Footed Ferret: an Endangered Species.” Bagheera, www.bagheera.com/inthewild/van_anim_ferret.htm.

“Population Growth.” Black-Footed Ferret - Home, blackfootedferretanne.weebly.com/population-growth.html.

“How to Help.” Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Program, blackfootedferret.org/how-to-help/.

Whitman, Pamela. “Animals.” Pinterest, 21 Sept. 2012, www.pinterest.co.uk.

“Basic Facts About Prairie Dogs.” Defenders of Wildlife, 19 Sept. 2016, defenders.org/prairie-dog/basic-facts.

“Black-Footed Ferret Program Update.” Black-Footed Ferret Program Update | Lincoln Park Zoo, www.lpzoo.org/blog/black-footed-ferret-program-update.

Grizzly Bear -Jeremiah Rogers

The Grizzly Bear

By Jeremiah Rogers

Description and Ecology of Organism: 

The Ursus arctic horribilis other wise known as the Grizzly Bear are massive animals. An adult female Grizzly weighs in around 200 to 400 pounds while a fully grown adult male can weigh in some where between 200 to 700 pounds. Adults will stand at 3 and a half feet at the shoulder. Grizzly's are one of the largest species of bears and they can be up to twice as large as a black bear. Grizzly's are also exceptionally fast runners; a full grown bear can run up to forty miles an hour.  There prey include trout, elk, insects, rodents, roots, pine nuts, and other large mammals. Grizzly's will mate in the spring but actual impregnation doesn't happen until the fall which makes sure that birth happens in the winter. There is between one to three offspring. These bears are best suited to live in forests and meadows with territories ranging up to 550 miles for females and 2,000 miles for males. These bears are best suited to live in forests and meadows with territories ranging up to 550 miles for females and 2,000 miles for males. Grizzly bears also hibernate in the winter. This is a process in which they don't eat, defecate, urinate, or drink rather surviving on a layer of fat while they sleep through the winter. 

Geographic and Population Changes:

Grizzly bears today can be found in the lower 48 states, and costal regions of Alaska and Eurasia. In the lower 48 states it bear populations where thought to have been around 50,000 individuals but now that has been reduced to a total populations of 1,800 individuals split up into five different groups. Historically Grizzly's where found all over the Western United States, from the high plains to the Pacific Coast, but due to human interaction from the 1800s to the early 1900s 95% of the bear population was wiped out. In the USA bears eliminated from 98% of their historical range within a hundred years. Grizzly's where first removed from the plains areas and slowly removed from their mountain habitats as well.  Grizzly's are making a return in the United States but mostly in the Yellowstone region where populations have reached a stable number and have been removed from the status of threatened. 

Listing Date and Type of Listing:

The first Grizzly Bear was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1975. The National Parks Service plans on releasing the Final Environmental Impact Statement in 2018 for the Grizzly bear recovery plan.

Causes of Listing and Main Threats To continued Existence:

The main threat to Grizzly's was hunting. As European settlers came to the west coast they hunted grizzly bears to near extinction. Bears where viewed as threats to humans because they ate foods valued by humans. In the North Cascades region in Washington nearly 4,000 grizzly bear hides where shipped through trading posts in the region between 1827 to 1859. On top of being hunted persistently grizzly's have one of the lowest reproductive rates out of any mammal. Females don't reproduce until they are between the age of 4 to 7 and usually produce cubs every three years. For these reasons Grizzly bears were forced onto the endangered species list. 

             The main threat that bears face know are interactions with humans, small numbers, and lack of connections of habitat. Interactions with humans and lack of connection of habitat fit together because one causes the other. The grizzly's habitat has been fragmented due to human settlement. Bears need a very large area to live in, as mentioned above, but that habitat is scattered with human settlement which causes instant conflict. Roads pose one of the biggest threats in national parks. The number of animals killed by cars in parks has risen by 205% form 1991 to 2011. In the United States Grizzly populations have been split into five separate groups which creates the issue of genetic diversity.  

Description of Recovery Plan: 

The first Grizzly Bear recover plan was implemented in 1993 by the by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It was estimated to have a cost of 26 million dollars and take between 30 to 40 years to complete. The recovery plan had a sequence of five steps of action to meet its goal. First was to identify Grizzly population goals. Second to set up a population monitoring approach to allow determination of recovered levels. Third was to identify limiting factors to populations and habitat that account for current population levels. Fourth was to identify measures to eliminate the limiting factors and the final step was to establish recovered populations in each region and sustain them. There have been a total of 8 recovery plans that have been written for the Grizzly bear with the most recent one coming from 2017. 

What we can do?

As individuals there are many ways we can do to help out bear populations. One of the simplest ways would be to donate to organizations that either directly help grizzly bears or to wildlife foundations that help support the bears habitat. Another way that we can support bears and probably the most important way would be to get educated and stay up to date. When we are educated on a subject we can make better decisions. We must take action though, it was actions of humans that nearly pushed this species to extinction. The only way for Grizzly Bear populations to recover are for humans to come up with ways to reverse their effects. 

Other Resources:

Defenders of Wildlife(Adopt a Grizzly Bear)
https://defenders.org/grizzly-bear/how-you-can-help
Montana Grizzly Encounter: Save the Grizzlies
http://www.grizzlyencounter.org/save-the-grizzly-bear-inc

Citations for Research:

Natural Resources Conservation Service.” Threatened and Endangered Species Grizzly Bear Fact Sheet | NRCS Montana, 

Hughes, Trevor. “National Park Visitors Leave Roadkill in Their Wake.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 29 July 2013, 

“Grizzly Bears.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior

 “Grizzly Bear (Ursus Arctos Horribilis).” ECOS Environmental Conservation Online System, US Fish and Wildlife Service , ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?

“Grizzly Bear Outreach.” Western Wildlife Outreach, westernwildlife.org/grizzly-bear-outreach-project/history/.

Links to pictures in order of appearance:

https://phys.org/news/2017-09-fierce-debate-roars-life-grizzly.html

http://westernwildlife.org/grizzly-bear-outreach-project/history/

https://ninilchik.com/alaska-hunting/alaska-bear-hunting/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2604212/Motherly-love-Grizzly-bear-shields-triplet-cubs-wind-rain-lets-cuddle-warm-fur.html

http://www.wildnatureimages.com/Grizzly_Bear_Cubs.htm

Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep

(Ovis Canadensis Sierrae)

By: Allyson Reines

(Fig. 1)

Description and Ecology

            The Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep is on of the rarest large mammals in North America. It is a subspecies of bighorn sheep unique to the Sierra Nevada mountains. The sheep are listed as a federally endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep are easily distinguishable due to their large, curled, brown horns that grow throughout their lives. Both rams and ewes grow these horns, but the rams tend to have much larger horns that curve more. The Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep is similar in appearance to other desert associated bighorn sheep. In comparison to other desert bighorn sheep, the horns of the Sierra Nevada Bighorn are smaller in size, but far wider than those of the Desert Bighorn as you can see in Figure 2. As the sheep age, their horns become rough and scarred and will sometimes vary in color from yellowish-brown to dark brown. The Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep feature wide variations in their coat colors which range from white to dark brown with white patches on the belly, rump, back of legs, muzzle, and around the eyes as you can see in Figure 1 above. There is some seasonal change in their coat coloration due to the molting of the thick winter layer. On average, adult male sheep measure about 3 feet tall and weigh between 120-220 pounds while females weigh between 100-155 pounds.

            The Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep are equipped with special hooves that allow them to navigate the rocky terrain in the Sierra Nevadas. Their habitat ranges from the eastern base to the peaks of the Sierra Nevadas. Sierra Bighorns live in open areas where the land is rocky, has little vegetation, and has steep slopes and canyons. The sheep prefer this landscape because it provides them with great visibility and escape terrain, making it easier to avoid predators. Sierra Bighorns are herbivores that mainly consumer grasses, forbs, and shrubs.

Geographic and population changes

            In the past, Sierra Bighorns were spread out along peaks in the Sierra Nevadas from Sonora Pass in the north to Olancha Peak in the south. Before European settlers, there was believed to be more than 1,000 of these sheep in the Sierra Nevadas. By the beginning of the 20^th century, the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep population had declined to approximately nine herds. This decline was mostly attributed to diseases contracted from domestic sheep, competition for forage with domestic livestock, predation, changes in habitat, and market hunting. By the late 1970s, Mt. Baxter and Mt. Williamson were the only two geographic areas where a total of 250 sheep could be found. From 1979 to 1988 bighorn were transported to other areas so that herds could reestablish in historic ranges. During the 1990s, the Sierra Bighorns experienced another population decline caused by 

                (Figure 3)                 mountain lion predation and drought, leaving only about 100 bighorns.

                                                                                                                        

Listing date and type of listing

            Sierra Bighorns have been listed under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) since 1974, but were uplisted from endangered to threatened in 1999. In the same year, Sierra Bighorns were temporarily listed as endangered. Since 2000, the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep has been listed as an endangered species.

Cause of listing and main threats to continued existence

            The Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep achieved its status as federally endangered because of a critically low population size and inefficient regulatory measures. The two main concerns were the negative effects of mountain lion predation and a major respiratory disease epidemic that was caused by contact with domestic sheep. Other factors that put Sierra Bighorns at risk are forest succession, genetic diversity, severe weather, climate change, and reduced geographic distribution. Issues involved with management of this species include losses to predation, environmental factors that limit use of lower elevation ranges, domestic sheep grazing, and unoccupied herd units.                                                               

Description of recovery plan

            The current Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program holds biannual population surveys of all herds and assesses nutritional status. The program also observes survival rates and patterns in habitat use in randomly selected individuals, compiles important data from GPS collars, and evaluates resource selection patterns. In addition, the program studies genetic variation across subspecies, approximates risk of disease transmission spread by domestic sheep and goats, looks at the effects of fire on bighorn habitat use, follows mountain lion movements, predation rates, and population size, carries out translocations, and models the effects of future management                (Figure 4)                    actions on bighorns. Since the implementation of the Recovery Program, the Sierra Bighorn population has grown from about 125 in 1999 to more than 600 in 2016. Thirteen out of sixteen herd units classified as satisfactory habitat are occupied with an additional unidentified herd unit occupied in the Cathedral Range.

What you can do

            The Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program benefits the most from public involvement and funding. Tracking these sheep throughout the rugged, large-scale Sierra Nevada terrain is a difficult job for the small amount of people that do it. Any time hikers see a group of sheep, they are encouraged to report their observations to the program. In the past, public sightings have discovered herds that the program didn’t even know were there. These hikers are a valuable resource for the program. Another option to help the Sierra Bighorn is to donate to their recovery program.

Related Articles and Resources

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/snbs/SheepFacts.html

http://sierrabighorn.org

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/04/150415-bighorn-sheep-sierra-nevada-reintroduction-endangered-species-california/

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/Sierra-bighorns-on-ledge-of-breakthrough-11119446.php

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=27634

Sources

Figure 1. Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Foundation. sierrabighorn.org, http://sierrabighorn.org/natural-            history/. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Figure 2. California Department of Fish and Wildlife. CA.gov, http://www.dfg.ca.gov/snbs/SheepFacts.html. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Figure 3. California Department of Fish and Wildlife. CA.gov, http://www.dfg.ca.gov/SNBS/RecoveryHome.html. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Figure 4. High Country News. Hcn.org, https://www.hcn.org/issues/49.9/Wildlife-Services-  mountain-lion-killing. Accessed March 7, 2018.