Upcoming Public Meetings in Mexican Wolf and Jaguar Conservation Projects

Jaguar Conservation Team Meeting in Lordsburg NM on September 25

Due to an abundance of urgent Mexican wolf issues (e.g. a recent series of unlawful mortalities and possible changes in management guidelines) that require immediate attention, and a shortage of staff and time to work on them, the next Jaguar Conservation Team meeting will not be held until September 25. The meeting will probably be in Lordsburg, New Mexico (depending on meeting room availability). Further information on location, time, and agenda items will be released as soon as the wolf issues are resolved, which should be in early August.

Mexican Wolf AMWG Public Meeting in Morenci AZ on July 30, 2008

Adaptive Management Work Group Public Meeting

Location: Morenci AZ, at the Morenci Club in Morenci Plaza (next to Basha’s Grocery)
Time: AZ Time: 6 pm – 9 pm
Host: Arizona Game and Fish Department
Participants: Public meeting, open to all

Note: agenda may be modified during meeting; meeting will be adjourned early if business has been completed.)

Agenda
6:00 pm Welcome, introductions, ground rules, and agenda review
6:15 pm Interagency Field Team items
· Staffing changes
· 2008 breeding season (results to date)
· Depredation and nuisance responses in 2nd quarter 2008
· Outreach activities in 2nd quarter 2008
· Other IFT items
7:15 pm Break
7:30 pm AMOC items
· Update on NEPA scoping process for possible changes in the 10(j) rule
· Project guidelines and practices for loaning radio telemetry receivers
· Discussion of population objectives for the Reintroduction Project
· Update on Clarification Memo for SOP 11.0 (Depredation Incident Investigation)
· Update on Clarification Memo for SOP 13.0 (Control of Mexican Wolves)
· Update on 2008 unlawful mortalities and possible management responses
· Other AMOC items
8:30 pm Other business
8:50 pm Dates and locations of future AMWG meeting
9:00 pm Adjournment

Notes: (1) Information on the Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project is available on the Internet at http://azgfd.gov/wolf and http://mexicanwolf.fws.gov. (2) Notices for AMWG meetings and other news about issues pertaining to the Reintroduction Project are disseminated electronically through a self-subscription newsletter, the Endangered Species Updates. A self-subscription form is available at: http://azgfd.gov/signup. (3) Send email messages to the Reintroduction Project to: mexwolf@azgfd.gov; this is a passive account, so messages received will be read but individual responses will not be sent. (4) Send postal mail to: Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Project, 5000 West Carefree Highway, Phoenix, Arizona 85086.

Just saw this posted by Tom over at the Black Bear Blog: Judge places gray wolf back on endangered species list.

Tom says this:

Judge Donald Molloy of the U.S. District Court in Missoula, Montana returned the Northern Rockies gray wolf back under the protection of the Endangered Species Act. One report stated that Molloy said he thought the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acted “prematurely” in removing the wolf from protection “despite scientific evidence”.

Once again this ruling shows us that science plays no role in the decisions that drive the Endangered Species Act or any kind of wildlife management programs for that matter. Whichever organization pushing or defending a lawsuit that can present the most emotional case wins, the rest can be put to hell.

Of course those who filed the lawsuit seeking the injunction are happy and stating that removing the wolf from protection will endanger its survival. The scientists, whose job it is to manage wildlife, say that is not true but obviously have little say in these matters anymore.

This is ludicrous. Just when I think nothing will surprise me any more, something does. I wouldn’t want this judge deciding a traffic ticket.

Endangered Species Updates
July 9, 2008

Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Project News

Monthly Status Report: June 1 - 30, 2008

The following is a summary of Mexican wolf reintroduction project activities in Arizona on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNF) and in New Mexico on the Apache National Forest (ANF) and Gila National Forest (GNF), collectively known as the Blue Range Wolf Reintroduction Area (BRWRA). Additional information can be obtained by calling (928) 339-4329 or toll free at 888-459-9653, or by visiting the Arizona Game and Fish Department Web site at http://www.azgfd.gov/wolf or by visiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Web site at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf. Past updates may be viewed on either Web site, or interested parties may sign up to receive this update electronically by visiting http://www.azgfd.gov/signup. This update is a public document and information in it can be used for any purpose. The reintroduction project is a multi-agency cooperative effort among the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD), New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF), USDA Forest Service (USFS), USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (USDA APHIS WS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT) located on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation (FAIR). Other entities cooperate through the Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) that meets quarterly in Arizona and/or New Mexico, including private individuals, organizations and tribes.

To view the weekly wolf telemetry flight location information or the 3-month wolf distribution map, please visit http://www.azgfd.gov/wolf. On the home page, go to the “Wolf Location Information” heading on the right side of the page near the top and scroll to the specific location information you seek.

Please report any wolf sightings or suspected livestock depredations to: (928) 339-4329 or toll free at 888-459-9653. To report incidents of take or harassment of wolves, please call the AGFD 24-hour dispatch (Operation Game Thief) at 800-352-0700.

Numbering System: Mexican wolves are given an identification number recorded in an official studbook that tracks their history. Capital letters (M = Male, F = Female) preceding the number indicate adult animals 24 months or older. Lower case letters (m = male, f = female) indicate wolves younger than 18 months or pups. The capital letter “A” preceding the letter and number indicate alpha wolves.

Definitions: For the purposes of the Monthly Update, a “wolf pack” is defined as two or more wolves that maintain an established home range. The Interagency Field Team (IFT) recognizes that wolves without radio telemetry collars may also form packs. If the IFT confirms that wolves are associating with each other and are resident within the same home range, they will be referenced as a pack.

CURRENT POPULATION STATUS

At the end of June, the collared population consisted of 22 wolves with functional radio collars dispersed among 12 packs and one single wolf. Other uncollared wolves are known to be associating with wolves having radio collars, as well as being separate from known packs.

Seasonal note: Wolf pups are generally born between mid-April and mid-May. The IFT has been actively monitoring wolf packs during the past months to determine if females are denning in order to document wild-born pups and estimate their survival. Based on location information from the last 11 weeks, the IFT has documented denning behavior for the following packs: Hawks Nest, Paradise, Rim, Bacho, Dark Canyon, Middle Fork, Fox Mountain, and possibly San Mateo and Luna.

IN ARIZONA:

Bluestem Pack (collared AF521, AM806 and F1042)
Throughout June, the IFT located the Bluestem pack in their traditional territory on the ASNF and the FAIR.

Hawks Nest Pack (collared M1044 and AF1110)
Throughout June, the IFT located the Hawks Nest pack in their traditional territory on the ASNF. On June 19, the IFT located two possible den sites; one with evidence of recent use. The IFT did not observe pups in June.

Paradise Pack (collared AM795)
On June 7, IFT members found the carcass of an uncollared adult female wolf within the Paradise pack’s territory. On June 8, the IFT found two dead wolf pups in the vicinity of the pack’s den site. Law enforcement investigated both scenes and necropsy results indicate the cause of death to be indeterminate for all. The IFT identified the adult as F758, which was originally released as part of the Bluestem Pack in 2002. Genetic testing is being conducted to determine if F758 was the mother of the pups, as is suspected by the IFT. Throughout the remainder of June, the IFT continued to locate AM795 within the pack’s traditional territory on the ASNF.

Rim Pack (collared AF858 and AM1107)
Throughout June, the IFT located the Rim pack within their traditional home range in the central portion of the ASNF.

M619 (collared)
During June, the IFT located M619 in the central and northern portions of the ASNF and ANF in Arizona and New Mexico and the FAIR.

ON THE FAIR:

Bacho Pack (collared AM990)
Throughout June, the IFT located the Bacho pack on the FAIR.

Lofer Pack (collared AF1056)
Throughout June, the IFT located the Lofer pack on the FAIR.

IN NEW MEXICO:

Dark Canyon (collared AM992 and AF923)
Throughout June, the IFT located the Dark Canyon pack in their traditional territory in the west-central portion of the GNF.

Laredo Pack (collared AF1028 and AM1008)
AF1028 and AM1008 were moved from Sevilleta Wolf Management Facility and transferred into a temporary translocation pen at McKenna Park in the Gila Wilderness on June 17. On June 19, the Laredo pack chewed through the translocation pen, as planned. The IFT located the pack within the Wilderness throughout the remainder of June.

Luna Pack (collared F1118)
During June, the IFT searched the traditional Luna territory for wolf sign and set traps in order to capture and collar any remaining members of the pack. On June 14, the IFT captured, collared and released F1118. F1118 is currently considered to be a member of the Luna pack, pending genetic analysis.

Middle Fork Pack (collared AM871, AF861 and F1115)
The IFT located the Middle Fork pack on and adjacent to the northern portion of the Gila Wilderness and central portion of the GNF throughout June.

San Mateo Pack (collared AF903 and AM1114)
Throughout June, the IFT located the pack in the east-central portion of the ANF. On June 26, the IFT confirmed that the San Mateo pack was involved in a livestock depredation (see “Incidents” below).

Fox Mountain Pack (collared AM1038 and AF1111)
Throughout June, the IFT continued to locate the Fox Mountain pack in the northwestern portion of the ANF. On June 23, the IFT observed three pups with the Fox Mountain pack. On June 24, the IFT located the carcass of AF1111. Necropsy results indicate AF1111 was unlawfully shot.

Elk Mountain Pack (collared AM1045)
Throughout June, the IFT continued to search unsuccessfully for AM1045. The IFT last detected it on March 27, 2008, and it is considered “fate unknown.” It will be dropped from the monthly updates, pending new information.

MORTALITIES

On June 7, the IFT found an uncollared adult female wolf dead within the Paradise pack territory. Law enforcement investigated the scene and collected the carcass. Necropsy results indicate cause of death as indeterminate.

On June 8, the IFT located two dead wolf pups in the vicinity of the Paradise pack den site. Law enforcement investigated the scene and collected the carcasses. Necropsy results indicate cause of death as indeterminate.

On June 24, the IFT located the carcass of AF1111of the Fox Mountain pack. Members of the IFT and law enforcement agents investigated the scene and collected the carcass for necropsy. Results indicate that it was unlawfully shot.

INCIDENTS

In total, the IFT investigated two potential livestock injuries and 11 depredations in June. Of the 11 depredation investigations, the IFT confirmed one as a wolf depredation, two as coyote depredations, five died of natural causes, and the cause of death was unknown in three cases. The IFT confirmed one of the reported livestock injuries as being caused by a black bear and the other to have been caused by a coyote. Summaries of the investigations are as follows:

On June 5, a dead calf in Alpine, AZ, was reported to the IFT. Investigation confirmed the calf as a coyote depredation.

On June 5, the IFT investigated a report of an injured calf near Collins Park, NM. The IFT confirmed the injuries as being caused by a black bear.

On June 8, the IFT investigated a report of a dead calf near Collins Park. There was no evidence of wolves in the area and the IFT observed coyote tracks in the area. The cause of death was considered unknown.

On June 9, the IFT discovered a dead calf near Greer, AZ. Investigation indicated the cause of death as unknown natural causes.

On June 14, the IFT received a report of a dead calf in Alpine. Investigation determined it to be a confirmed coyote depredation.

On June 14, the IFT discovered one dead cow and two dead calves near Greer, AZ. The three investigations revealed that the adult cow died of unknown natural causes; the calf belonging to the deceased cow died of malnutrition; and another calf died of respiratory illness.

On June 18, the IFT discovered a dead cow in Alpine, and investigation revealed the cause of death to be unknown natural causes.

On June 26, the IFT discovered a dead cow in the vicinity of Gallo Canyon, NM. Investigation confirmed the cow as a wolf depredation. The IFT assigned the depredation to San Mateo pack members AF903 and AM1114. This is the second confirmed depredation for these wolves within 365 days; the other having occurred on March 29, 2008.

On June 30, the carcass of a yearling cow was reported in Gallo Canyon. An IFT investigation determined the carcass was greater than two weeks old and that it had been fed on by a black bear, but the cause of death was unknown. The IFT found both wolf and coyote sign in the area.

On June 30, the IFT investigated a dead calf north of Luna, NM, and determined the calf died of unknown causes.

On June 30, the IFT investigated a report of an injured goat near Dragoon, AZ, and confirmed the injuries as being caused by a coyote.

CAPTIVE MANAGEMENT

On June 16, F1028 and M1008 were captured at Sevilleta Wolf Management Facility and transported to a translocation site in the Gila Wilderness on June 17 (see Laredo Pack above).

COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION

The IFT continued to communicate and coordinate with members of the public and livestock operators. The IFT delivered no public programs during June.

PROJECT PERSONNEL

Omission from May: Former USFWS volunteer James Waddell began his internship with NMDGF.

Kenneth Mills left his position as the Mexican Wolf Field Team Leader for the NMDGF on June 24th to take a position in Wyoming. His endeavors and insights are greatly appreciated, and project personnel wish him the best of luck!

Allison Greenleaf accepted a position as a USFWS volunteer.

AGFD Wildlife Specialist Cecilia Schmidt completed her temporary duty assignment on June 25th. Thanks, Cecilia, your assistance was greatly appreciated!

REWARDS OFFERED

The USFWS is offering a reward of up to $10,000; the AGFD Operation Game Thief is offering a reward of up to $1,000; and the NMDGF is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the shooting deaths of Mexican wolves. A variety of non-governmental organizations and private individuals have pledged an additional $40,000 for a total reward amount of up to $52,000, depending on the information provided.

Individuals with information they believe may be helpful are urged to call one of the following agencies: USFWS special agents in Mesa, AZ, at (480) 967-7900, in Alpine, AZ, at (928) 339-4232, or in Albuquerque, NM, at (505) 346-7828; the WMAT at (928) 338-1023 or (928) 338-4385; AGFD Operation Game Thief at 1-800-352-0700; or NMDGF Operation Game Thief at 1-800-432-4263. Killing a Mexican wolf is a violation of the Federal Endangered Species Act, and can result in criminal penalties of up to $50,000 and/or not more than one year in jail, and/or a civil penalty of up to $25,000.

Grant funding available to local sportsmen’s groups
Application deadline is Aug. 18

July 11, 2008

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is making grant dollars available to local sportsmen’s groups in support of wildlife conservation.

The Local Sportsmen’s Group Grant Program will award funding through a competitive application process to eligible local sportsmen’s group projects that promote or facilitate hunter, angler, shooter or trapper recruitment and retention. The deadline to apply is Aug. 18.

The total funding available for this year is $50,000. Multiple awards may be made, and the department may partially fund projects at its discretion.

To be eligible for consideration, a group must:

Be a local Arizona-based sportsmen’s group with a focus on hunting, fishing, shooting or trapping;
Propose a project that promotes or facilitates hunter, angler, shooter or trapper recruitment and retention (examples include small game hunting camps, fishing clinics, beginning shooting programs, or educational outreach);
Complete its project by June 30, 2009.
The deadline for groups to submit grant applications is Monday, Aug. 18, 2008 at 5 p.m. (MST). Applications must be in the department’s possession by the deadline; postmarks don’t count. Applications can be submitted to:

Arizona Game and Fish Department, DOFP
Attn: Grants Administrator
5000 W. Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ 85086

All applicants must use the forms from the grant application packet and include all the documentation listed in the packet’s instructions. Application packets can be downloaded from www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/i_e/applicationFINAL.pdf [PDF, 181kb] or can be obtained by calling Grant Administrator Robyn Beck at (623) 236-7530.

Final awards will be made by the Arizona Game and Fish Department Director. It is anticipated grant awards for the 2008-09 grant year will be announced around the end of October 2008.

For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/i_e/local_sportsmens.shtml

Safari Club International Praises the Green River Valley Land Trust’s New Initiative

Washington, D.C. – Safari Club International today praised the Green River Valley Land Trust’s (GRVLT) new wildlife-friendly fencing initiative, the Corridor Conservation Campaign. The Campaign seeks to connect the working lands and wildlife habitats that make Wyoming special. This “ground up” effort will involve a variety of different groups including landowners, land managers, agencies, sportsmen, industry and conservation groups to develop, fund, and implement a set of voluntary tools that landowners can use to sustain Wyoming’s wildlife migration routes in the face of increasing development. SCIF’s American Wilderness Leadership School will participate in the friendly fencing program as the facility borders the migration corridor in the state.

“SCI is eager to participate in helping to fund this project for big game to make sure that future generations will have the opportunity to enjoy Wyoming’s wildlife population,” said SCI President Merle Shepard.

Lara Ryan, Executive Director of GRVLT thanked SCI for its involvement in this important initiative. “Thanks to the support of sportsmen’s groups like SCI, we are now able to offer the tool of wildlife-friendly fencing to agricultural and other interested landowners. We look forward to providing a tangible, on-the-ground and immediate opportunity to work with landowners to conserve wildlife corridors.”

“I participated in a tour with landowners, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, state agencies, and other parties interested in conservation last week,” said Shepard. “It was an amazing opportunity for a leading sportsmen’s organization with 55,000 members worldwide, to directly impact conservation at such a significant level,” he added.

Shepard went on to say, “It is unfortunate that more conservation and sportsmen groups have not stepped up to offer the financial assistance needed to accomplish this enormous task but rather choose to spend their donation dollars attacking government agencies. This effort will enable migratory species to survive and thrive, that are being impacted by the growth in population and ranchers being forced to sub-divide in Sublette County.”

Contact:

Nelson Freeman
Governmental Affairs
and Public Relations
Safari Club International
(202) 543 – 8733
nfreeman@safariclub.org

Off-highway vehicle bill signed by Governor Janet Napolitano

Long-awaited legislation that will help better manage off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation and protect wildlife habitat has been signed by Governor Janet Napolitano.

SB 1167 will provide long-overdue resources to better manage issues created by the dramatic increase in OHV use in Arizona (347 percent in the last decade). Irresponsible riding has damaged habitat and created the potential for closures of some areas.

With the signing of SB 1167, revenue raised through an estimated $20 annual user fee on off-highway vehicles will help provide funding for additional law enforcement, trail/facility maintenance and reconstruction, rider education and information (including identification of lawful places for operators to ride), and mitigation of resource damage from OHVs.

The bill passed through the Arizona House of Representatives in April by a vote of 42-13 and the Arizona Senate last week by a vote of 16-7 with 7 absent.

The now signed OHV bill will become law on Jan. 1, 2009. For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/ohv.

Well, some said it was too much; others argued not enough. Some were afraid becasue the fees were unspecified. I say “Finally, something!” I hope this starts to change the tide of OHV abuse.

I have mixed feelings about this. First, she did a great job. Second, she was right on a few points. Third, she has been brain-washed by the environmentalists and touchy-feely crowd. My daughter and I just watched it together. My daughter is 10, and thought the speech was wonderful. We then had a talk about the issues raised.

Watch the video and tell me what you think.

To summarize, I admire her effort, but respectfully disagree.

Not sure what I think. As much as I disagree with the way the Feds are handling wolf introductions - I fear that the “3-S” method (shoot, shovel, shut up) just reinforces some peoples’ notions that those opposed are hillbillies and Neanderthals.

Read the full article HERE.

3 Mexican gray wolves killed illegally

15 comments by Kate Nolan - Jul. 3, 2008 04:14 PM
The Arizona Republic

Of nine Mexican gray wolves that died in the Southwest in 2008, at least three were killed illegally, Federal authorities say.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified three female wolves and a possible male illegally shot in Arizona or New Mexico. Each of the dead wolves was an “alpha” or lead member of a pack.

Two other Mexican wolves, protected in the Southwest under the Endangered Species Act, were killed in traffic and another female died of natural causes, leaving behind two pups that did not survive. Fish and Wildlife did not disclose where the wolves were killed.

“I am disturbed that there are suspicious circumstances around their deaths and I want to know what happened to each wolf,” Fish and Wildlife Southwest regional director Benjamin Tuggle said in a prepared statement Thursday.Illegally killing a wolf can result in fines up to $50,000 and a year in prison.

From AZGFD:

Mexican Wolf AMWG Public Meeting in Morenci AZ on July 30, 2008

Adaptive Management Work Group Public Meeting

Location: Morenci AZ, at the Morenci Club in Morenci Plaza (next to Basha’s Grocery)
Time: AZ Time: 6 pm – 9 pm
Host: Arizona Game and Fish Department
Participants: Public meeting, open to all

Note: agenda may be modified during meeting; meeting will be adjourned early if business has been completed.)

Agenda
6:00 pm Welcome, introductions, ground rules, and agenda review
6:15 pm Interagency Field Team items
· Staffing changes
· 2008 breeding season (results to date)
· Depredation and nuisance responses in 2nd quarter 2008
· Outreach activities in 2nd quarter 2008
· Other IFT items
7:15 pm Break
7:30 pm AMOC items
· Update on NEPA scoping process for possible changes in the 10(j) rule
· Project guidelines and practices for loaning radio telemetry receivers
· Discussion of population objectives for the Reintroduction Project
· Update on Lead Agency consideration of Clarification Memos for SOPs 11.0 (Depredation Incident Investigation) and 13.0 (Control of Mexican Wolves)
· Other AMOC items
8:30 pm Other business
8:50 pm Dates and locations of future AMWG meeting
9:00 pm Adjournment

Notes: (1) Information on the Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project is available on the Internet at http://azgfd.gov/wolf and http://mexicanwolf.fws.gov. (2) Notices for AMWG meetings and other news about issues pertaining to the Reintroduction Project are disseminated electronically through a self-subscription newsletter, the Endangered Species Updates. A self-subscription form is available at: http://azgfd.gov/signup. (3) Send email messages to the Reintroduction Project to: mexwolf@azgfd.gov; this is a passive account, so messages received will be read but individual responses will not be sent. (4) Send postal mail to: Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Project, 5000 West Carefree Highway, Phoenix, Arizona 85086.

Registration opens for Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop

The last “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” (BOW) workshop for 2008 will be held Aug. 15-17 at the cool, forested Friendly Pines Camp near Prescott.

The program introduces women to outdoors skills in an enjoyable, non-threatening environment with expert instructors. Classes are held during the day and include horsemanship, outdoor photography, birding, hiking, archery, fly-fishing, shotgun/rifle/pistol shooting, and Dutch oven cooking, among others. Evenings are filled with fun and entertainment, including night hikes, musicians, and motivational speakers.

“One great thing about this camp is that a woman can try a new sport without buying all of the equipment.” says Linda Dightmon, the BOW coordinator for the Arizona Wildlife Federation, which sponsors the program in partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The only thing you need to bring is your personal stuff, a good attitude and a willingness to learn.”

Participants stay in rustic cabins, but there are showers and bathrooms in each cabin, and a central dining hall for meals.

Equipment, materials, food and lodging are all included in the $235 registration fee. The only exception is the outdoor photography class, where participants will need to bring a camera. Enrollment is open to all women 18 and older.

For more information, a schedule of classes, and a registration form, visit www.azwildlife.org or contact the Arizona Wildlife Federation office at (480) 644-0077 or awf@azwildlife.org.

Wow, this story has it all - a rare bird, ATV recklessness, access issues.. you name it.

You can read the full story online HERE

I know the exact spot they are talking about. Saw it on my first-ever javelina hunt, and have been there quite a few times since. Not sure if I saw a southwestern willow flycatcher though. Here is some of the article:

Road war: bird vs. residents
San Pedro River crossing wrecks animal’s habitat, groups say

Article by Lynh Bui - Jun. 3, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Pinal County and environmental groups are at odds over a river crossing near Dudleyville that is home to an endangered songbird.

The Center for Biological Diversity, the Nature Conservancy and the Bureau of Land Management have filed complaints against Pinal, saying the county is illegally maintaining a road near the San Pedro River that allows cars and off-road vehicles to destroy the habitat of the Southwestern willow flycatcher.

But Pinal officials and residents in Dudleyville say the road has been there for decades and closing it would mean commuters and emergency vehicles would have to drive an extra 7 to 10 miles to get to the major highway out of town.

The Southwestern willow flycatcher has been on the federal endangered-species list since 1995.

With about 2,000 of the birds scattered throughout the Southwest and California, the lower San Pedro River is one of the two largest willow flycatcher habitats in the state, said Robin Silver, co-founder and board member of the Center for Biological Diversity.

Arizona is home to about one-third of the flycatcher population, which has dropped by about 50 percent in the past few years.

“The problem is uncontrolled access to off-road vehicles, which are tearing up the river,” Silver said.

Keeping the road open as a “shortcut for the convenience of a few people in Dudleyville” is destroying the birds’ habitat, Silver said.

But the crossing is more than a shortcut, said Olivia Morales, chairman of the board of directors for the Dudleyville Volunteer Fire Department.

“If there is a fire or an accident on the river or anywhere east of the river, we will have to travel approximately 7 extra miles on the highway to even get to a crossing, which increases our response time dramatically and puts lives and property at additional risk,” Morales wrote in a letter asking that the road be maintained.

Paul and Sarah Schwennesen own the Double Check Ranch next to the river crossing.

Last year, the ranch owners piled boulders along the path, frustrated that the same traffic tearing up the river did the same to their land.

The Schwennesens kept a gate open through their property to allow access for emergency vehicles.

The board of supervisors voted to take the Schwennesens’ land using eminent domain and bulldozed the barrier last winter. The couple has filed a separate claim against the county to win back its property.

That bulldozing may have been a mistake, according to the BLM, which has filed a complaint to several federal agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers and two branches of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Tom Dabbs, a district manager for BLM, said the bulldozing may have violated the Clean Water Act and defies a conservation easement designed to “strengthen and protect the Southwestern willow flycatcher.”

Here is my take:
In any other situation, the CBD and their pals would be creating a tempest in a teapot. As the county has alluded to, the road/crossing has been there for decades. In this instance, however - attention had been drawn to the area, and perhaps - environmental concerns legitimized - by ATV abuse. Sound familiar? Then add the folks’ mess with their property, denying access, then having it taken by the county.. this is a “wild” story indeed.

For Immediate Release
May 14, 2008

SCI Condemns U.S. Fish and Wildlife Decision to List Polar Bear as Threatened Under ESA

Washington, D.C. - Safari Club International President Dennis Anderson today condemned the decision of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to list all populations of the polar bear as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). “Because of the uncertainty surrounding the extent of climate change and its impact on the polar bear, the listing was not warranted under ESA standards,” said Anderson.

Currently, polar bear population numbers are at or near all-time highs. Most populations in Canada are either stable or increasing. The FWS is relying on speculative computer modeling and limited professional judgment to conclude nonetheless that the polar bear will be threatened with extinction 45 years in the future.

The listing means that imports into the United States of polar bear trophies legally hunted in Canada will no longer be allowed as of the effective date of the listing, which will be the date that the rule is published in the Federal Register. Before the listing, the law permitted imports from six populations of polar bears in Canada. The FWS previously had determined that the sport hunting programs for each of these six populations is “based on scientifically sound quotas ensuring the maintenance of the affected population stock at a sustainable level.” The new listing rule recognizes the conservation benefits of sport hunting and importation, but claims the Marine Mammal Protection Act bars imports once a species is listed under the ESA.

As SCI demonstrated in comments filed with the FWS, the hunting of these populations supports conservation and sound management in a number of ways, including the payment of $1,000 for each import permit to support research in Alaska and Russia. In addition, the cash supplied to the local native communities by U.S. hunters encourages sound management and conservation by Canadian authorities. With the listing, all these benefits are lost. In addition, the listing will have no effect on polar bear mortality through hunting, as the native communities will simply harvest for subsistence purposes those bears not harvested by U.S. hunters for import. SCI hopes to work with the FWS to reinstate the ability to import trophies under the ESA and Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The listing of populations in the Canadian archipelago, including several from which imports are currently allowed, is particularly unjustified. Even the government’s own speculative computer modeling does not predict a threat of extinction to these populations in the next 45 years.

To allow trophy importation in the future, the FWS will need to make a formal finding that sport hunting enhances the survival of the species. In addition to exploring options for challenging the listing, SCI hopes to work with the FWS to enable the agency to make this finding and to thereby quickly reinstate the ability to import trophies under the ESA and Marine Mammal Protection Act.

“The ESA is ill-suited to address climate change or other perceived threats to the polar bear. The biggest loss brought about by this listing will be to polar bear conservation and management, because the funding provided by U.S. hunters will dry up,” Anderson concluded.

Contact
Nelson Freeman
Government Affairs
and Public Relations
Safari Club International
nfreeman@safariclub.org

–
SCI-First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s 179 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 13 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home page www.safariclub.org or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.