Fading to Black Footed Ferret -- Hayden Heacox

Fading to White: The Black Footed Ferret
Hayden Heacox

U.S. Fish & WildLife Services

This little one is known as a Mustela nigripes, otherwise called the "Black Footed Ferret". Unfortunately, through the destruction of habitat and prey, the number of these little critters has dropped so low that they are considered to be one of the most endangered mammal species in the entire world. 

At a size of just 19 to 24 inches long, and 1.4 to 2.5 pounds(1), their lives seem so minuscule to us- but, as people, our lives play a large role in their survival. Other characteristics are the black paws, tail tip, and "mask" across the face, and body color "yellowish buff" (1).

   

Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team

In the image above, the area highlighted in green is the "historic range" of the Black Footed Ferret.

                                                                                                                  Home

National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center.

This particular species of ferret depends                            
 heavily on the life of its food source- the prairie dog. Typically, the three types of prairie dogs are the black-tailed prairie dog (C. ludovicianus), Gunnison’s prairie dog (C. gunnisoni), and the white-tailed prairie dog (C. leucurus)(1).
 Through the expansion of agriculture into

the Great Plains and the like, the habitat has been reduced and altered, along with the systematic poisoning of prairie dogs affecting their main food and shelter source, and exotic

 disease; reducing population.

The map above shows the spread of prairie dog populations, which matches that of the historic range of the Black Footed Ferret.

Over time, approximately 112 million acres of their historic range has been converted into agricultural land and 3.3 million lost to urbanization.(1) The effect of this land alteration has caused the fragmentation and loss of prairie dog and ferret habitat. Vast spends of agricultural land now separate "dog-towns" and the range of Black Footed Ferret territory is down to less than 2% of its historic value. Naturally, the location(s) of ferret population(s) is directly related to that of the prairie dog, which is their primary source of food and shelter- they take the burrows from prairie dogs as their own domain.

Since the early 1900's, prairie dogs have met the fate of poisoning by farmers in their homeland. By cutting down the population of this vital food source of the Black Footed Ferret, in order to reduce competition for food/foraging between prairie dogs and live-stock (1), the ferrets numbers began to reduce as the food supply fell.

                      

Disease such as sylvatic plague is the final major factor to the ferrets decline. The Canine distemper virus was believed to have affected the final wild population of ferrets in Meeteetse, Wyoming in the 80's, and also proved to be a hurdle for the initial reintroduction of the species in certain areas more recently.

Recovery Plan

The Black Footed Ferret has been listed as an endengered species since 1967, prior to the "Endangered Species Act" of 1973, where it was later added (1).

Black Footed Ferret.org

Current efforts are focused on captive breeding to repopulate the wild. The Black Footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team says that the "SSP" (Species Survival Plan) consists of 6 facilities.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center (Colorado), National Zoo’s Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (VA), Louisville Zoological Garden (KY), Toronto Zoo(Ontario, Canada), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CO) and Phoenix Zoo (AZ). Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo participated in the Black Footed Ferret SSP® until the late 1990s.(Taken directly from their website). These facilities help to breed Black Footed Ferrets, in respect to their natural breeding times, and try to keep as much genetic diversity as possible when dealing with a closed community of animals.(2)

Number of BFF kits born at all captive breeding facilities from the beginning of the program through 2010. Taken from BlackFootedFerret.org

Reintroduction sites for the Black Footed Ferret taken from BlackFootedFerret.org

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has bred over 7,000 "kits" (baby ferrets) in captivity, and more than 2,600 have been reintroduced into their natural habitat (1) It has been considered that there are certain areas within the historical range that may be able to re-sustain populations of The Black Footed Ferret through repopulation of prairie dogs. These reintroduction sites span across the historic range, and attempt to seed the land for continued, natural population growth.



If you would like to find further information on this issue, please visit and take advantage of these websites devoted to the survival of the Black Footed Ferret:

INFO:
http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/blackfootedferret/

PLANS:
1) http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/blackfootedferret/BFF%20FO%20Fnl%20SHA%20102313.pdf

FACT SHEETS:

1) http://blackfootedferret.org/recovery-efforts/captive-breeding
2) http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/factsheets/Black-Footed-Ferret.pdf

FULL INFO AND RECOVERY PLANS:

1)http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/20131108%20BFF%202nd%20Rev.%20Final%20Recovery%20Plan.pdf




CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW TO HELP!

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(1) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services
(2) Black Footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team

Not the Fire-Inhabiting Mythical Creature: The Sonora Tiger Salamander

Not the Fire-Inhabiting Mythical Creature:

The Sonora Tiger Salamander

By: Ricardo Gustavson

http://www.joanannlansberry.com/journal/arch2012/tl120913.html

Species: The Sonora tiger salamanders begin their life as jelly-coated eggs laid from January to April, which hatch into aquatic larvae with gills. These larvae either grow into branchiates or terrestrial salamanders. Branchiate salamanders are gilled aquatic adults with a crest running down their backs, they grow up to 15 inches long, and are an olive-gray color. 

http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Turtle-Amphibs-Subpages/h-a-mavortium.html

Terrestrial salamanders rid themselves of their gills and crest through mutation and develop lungs, but they do not lose their ability to live in water. They can grow up to 13 inches long and are black with yellow spots and stripes, closely resembling the Arizona and barred tiger salamanders. Terrestrial salamanders can live in places like crevices and rotted logs during the dry season or stay in the pond. During the rainy season they leave the pond at night and return to breed at the pond. A majority of Sonora tiger salamanders are paedomorphic, meaning they reach sexual maturity and breed while in larval form. Mutated salamanders are the only form of the salamander that can migrate ponds to avoid drying or disease outbreaks that kill most branchiates and larvae.

http://www.kingsnake.com/hudspeth/amphibianpics.htm

Habitat: Sonora tiger salamanders only inhabit the grasslands and woodlands of the San Rafael Valley in Santa Cruz, the Cochise counties in southeastern Arizona, and the most northern parts of Sonora, Mexico. Above all else, these salamanders require a habitat with access to standing water year round for breeding, growth, and development. This much needed habitat quality can prove to be a good habitat for introduced non-native fish, bullfrogs, and crayfish that prey on the salamander eggs and larvae. Sonora tiger salamanders once called spring-fed marshes their home, but these habitats, along with natural standing water habitats, within the San Rafael Valley dried up and disappeared due to severe and rapid erosion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most of the only good breeding grounds the Sonora tiger salamanders have left are artificial ponds created by farmers for watering livestock.

http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/sonoran_tiger_salamander.shtml

The Sonora Tiger Salamander is currently listed as endangered without critical habitat. The subspecies has been found in 53 ponds throughout San Rafael Valley. These salamanders are threatened by restricted distribution, loss of habitat, predation by non-native fish, bullfrogs, and crayfish, genetic swamping (reducing the Sonora tiger salamander's genetic diversity) by non-native barred tiger salamanders, disease, low genetic diversity, and collection for use as bait. 

http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/sonoran_tiger_salamander.shtml

Recovery Plan: The recovery plan for the Sonora tiger salamander seeks to reclassify the subspecies' statues from threatened to endangered, and to eventually delist it. In order for this to happen, all recovery criteria must be met.

Recovery Criteria: The salamander will be reclassified as threatened when approximately 90% of its currently-occupied range and 90% of current breeding ponds are under protection and care to prevent habitat loss and degradation, predator introductions, barred tiger salamander introductions, and collection of salamanders for use as bait. The population must be monitored over a five year period through scientifically credible methods, and results must convey that the population is not in decline and that there are no new threats to the subspecies. Delisting the subspecies will be considered once criteria, based on research and continued monitoring, for number of breeding populations, amount, range occupied, and available habitat are defined and met. In order to ensure long-term protection of the subspecies, implementation of regulations and land management commitments that revolve around habitat maintenance and protection, controlling non-native predators, spread of disease, interbreeding with non-native salamanders, collection of salamanders, and public education are key.

Salamanders have been around since the times before dinosaurs walked this earth, if we can follow the recovery plan these little guys will surely stick around long after we're gone.

http://featuredcreature.com/smile-mon-happy-barred-tiger-salamander/

Works Cited

http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/020924.pdf

http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/sonoran_tiger_salamander.shtml

Images in Order of Appearance

http://www.joanannlansberry.com/journal/arch2012/tl120913.html

http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Turtle-Amphibs-Subpages/h-a-mavortium.html

http://www.kingsnake.com/hudspeth/amphibianpics.htm

http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/sonoran_tiger_salamander.shtml

http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/sonoran_tiger_salamander.shtml

The Last of the Prairie Ghosts

THE SONORAN PRONGHORN

by Austin Gerety


Sonoran Pronghorns, Antilocapra american sonoriensis, or what are locally called"prairie ghosts" are  large-bodied and slender-legged antelope that roam the flat desert plains of Southern Arizona and Sonora Mexico.  Pronghorns are a genetically and geographically unique subspecies that have found their niche in the perpetually harsh and dry lands of the Sonoran Desert.  Limited food availability from drought forces the pronghorns to relish in a diet of herbs, roots and cacti.  Amazingly though, these same conditions are also responsible for its ability to erect its bristle-like hair in patches on its body to release body heat, and its recognition as the fastest land mammal in North America

Since human settlement, 75% of pronghorn habitat has been continually threatened and diminished by urban development, agriculture, livestock grazing and military activities. after evolving in the prairies of North America 20 million year, pronghorns now only inhabit small parts of southern Arizona and Sonora Mexico.  Populations in Arizona are estimated to be less then 300, and in mexico less then 500.

The endangerment of the Sonoran Pronghorn was brought about by the conditions that many other endangered species know too well.  urban sprawl, agriculture, livestock grazing, coupled with the already devastating affects of severe drought from climate change have diminished pronghorn numbers greatly.  military aviation activities, and the splitting affects of national borders are other specific threats destroying and fragmenting pronghorn habitat

The Pronghorn has been on the Endangered Species Lists since March 11 1987, with its Recovery Plan not being implemented until December 3 1998.  The goal is simple, get the Sonoran Pronghorn off the Endangered Species List.  To do this Fish and Wildlife is starting small by supplementing current populations with forage and water, and focusing on evaluating habitat and reproductive needs through further research. Experimenting with captive breeding and emphasis on the preservation of core herds in case of catastrophe are other main pints of the recovery plan. After that Fish and wildlife hopes to establish and maintain a population of at least 300 individuals for 5 years in the US and assist Mexico in any way it can with its population.  if the right measures are taken it is very likely that our "Prairie Ghosts" will be here to stay.

Works Cited:
http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/981203.pdf

http://www.wmicentral.com/sports/recreation/the-epic-journey-of-sonoran-pronghorn/article

http://www.defenders.org/sonoran-pronghorn/basic-facts

Conservancy Fairy Shrimp (Branchinecta conservatio)

Fairys are no longer just in fairy tales, and it is time to do more than just read about them. 

By: Cara House

When listed: 9/19/1994

Where listed: Wherever found

Listing status: Endangered

When a person thinks of California, they think of our golden coasts and spectacular mountain ridges. There is so much life, it is hard to keep track of it all. The variation in landscape allows for innumerable forms of life to exist. Most people know of at least a few species that are in peril, one in particular being the California condor. However, often times the animal that needs saving is no bigger than dime. The Conservancy fairy shrimp is a prime example of this. Everything about the shrimp is very small, its body as well as its habitat. This soft shelled shrimp is endemic to vernal pools in California (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

 

 What is a vernal pool? Vernal pools are ephemeral bodies of water, meaning they are short lived and only around for part of the year. They are wet during the rainy seasons of winter and spring and dry up during the summer. Below is a picture of the same body of water during different times of the year. Many different types of animals are dependent on these bodies of water, especially for reproduction and continuation of the next generation.

What does this mean for the fairy shrimp? Because vernal pools are ephemeral, fairy shrimp have evolved in such a way that allows them to have an almost completely aquatic lifecycle in an environment that is dry half of the year (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).  

How do they do it? Even though the mature fairy shrimp is so delicate and soft shelled, the eggs they lay are quite the opposite! They lay eggs in tough structures called cysts that persist in the dry environment until the first rain of the year. After the first rain, they hatch and complete their entire lifecycle before the pool dries up again for the next summer (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

 

What is required for vernal pools and the life they support to exist? The soil and sediment that lies underneath is one of the most important aspects of the structure of vernal pools. The hardpan layer, represented in the photo to the left, is a hard layer of earth that has been deposited over millions of years and is impermeable to water (UC Merced). This prevents water from completely soaking into the soil and instead is only removed through evaporation.

 

The biggest threats to these communities are agriculture and urban development. Already, over 90 percent of vernal pools have been depleted. Many of the vernal pools that still exist today are located in agricultural hotspots due to the fertility of the soil (UC Merced). The 10 places that Conservancy fairy shrimp were reported to exist in the last 5-year review by U.S. Fish and Wildlife are: Vina Plains, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Mariner Ranch, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, Jepson Prairie, Mapes Ranch, UC Merced, Sandy Mush Road, Highway 165, and Los Padres National Forest.

Currently the recovery priority of the fairy shrimp is an 8 out of a 1-18 ranking scale with 1 being the highest priority. This number means that the species faces a moderate level of threat and has high potential for recovery (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). The recovery plan they are listed under is the Recovery Plan for Vernal Pool Ecosystems of California and Southern Oregon. It was issued in 2015 and is expected to last at least 60 years. The primary initial action is monitoring of all of the animals supported by the vernal pools and obtaining more data on these organisms as well as animals that may be detrimental to them such as cattle. Conservationists are working hard to keep what is left of California’s landscape as it stands, and hopefully one day getting it to a state that is even better than we see it today.

And here is a laugh for the road:

References:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc4012.pdf>

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plans/2006/060307_docs/doc536.pdf >

UC Merced <http://vpr.campuscms.ucmerced.edu/education/what-is-a-vernal-pool>

Pictures references in order of appearance:

1) https://www.pinterest.com/bellie04/btr-more/ 
2) https://www.flickr.com/photos/tnc-southwestoregon/5454182600/
3) http://www.wesmitigation.com/blog/post.cfm/approved-dutchman-creek-conservation-bank

4) http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/FieldOffices/Roseburg/VernalPools/

5) https://www.pinterest.com/ministockfm/fairy/

6) http://vpr.campuscms.ucmerced.edu/education/what-is-a-vernal-pool 

7) http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc4012.pdf

8) http://metalab.unc.edu/Dave/drfun.html