Region 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Brief Article

Endangered Species Bulletin, July, 2000 by LaRee Brosseau

Aleutian Canada Goose (Branta canadensis leupareia) An interesting development at Humboldt Bay (California) NWR may help in planning future habitat management. More Aleutian Canada geese are using the refuges's Salmon Creek Unit than at any time since the Fish and Wildlife Service acquired it in 1988. This may be due to the fact that this is the first time in recent years there has been no winter/ spring grazing on the unit. The numbers of Aleutians rose from 700 in late January to 1,800 by mid-February, and to a mid-summer total of approximately 3,000. Along with the lack of disturbance, an additional benefit from no grazing was the fact that the refuge could hold on to more water than ever before. The grazing permit has been retired but the previous permit holder is being allowed to make hay on the land in order to help manage the growth of non-native plants.

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Epiodomax trailii extimus) Surveys and banding studies by Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) biologist David St. George and staff from the U.S. Geological Survey's Biological Research Division (BRD) and Nevada Division of Wildlife have documented the presence of southwestern willow flycatchers at Ash Meadows since 1993. Recent DNA analysis by the BRD has separated these breeding pairs from the two other subspecies known to occur in Nevada.

Some exceptional information on southwestern willow flycatcher seasonal migrations has also turned up. A male banded at Ash Meadows in July 1998 was subsequently recaptured and color banded in San Jose, Costa Rica, in January 1999. He returned to breed at Ash Meadows in June 1999 but was not observed there this summer. Out of four southwestern willow flycatchers color-banded at Ash Meadows in July 1998, only one was observed at the refuge in 2000.

Public Outreach The fourth "Living With Carnivores" workshop made it to the Spokane REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) store on May 25, when more than 50 people participated in a 2-hour educational session. Five workshops were held across Washington in May and June to help residents understand how to avoid conflicts with grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), black bears (Ursus americanus), gray wolves (Canis lupus), cougars (Fells concolor), and coyotes (Canis latrans). The workshops are a cooperative effort of the Service's Western Washington Office, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Defenders of Wildlife, Wolfhaven International, U.S.D.A.'s Wildlife Services agency, Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, Insight Wildlife Management, and CounterAssault Bear Deterrent Spray. There were slide show presentations on each of the carnivores followed by a lively question-and-answer session. The workshop was well received and was repeated in Bellingham on June 22. A private donor from Bellingham, Washington, contributed $1,000 for the costs of conducting the June 22 workshop. A special fund was set up through Defenders of Wildlife to handle additional contributions. Other contributors have included the Seatac Rotary Club and REI Outfitters.

LaRee Brosseau of the Portland Regional Office.