• Local youth on the wild side of summer
• The Farallon Islands Celebrate 100 Years as Wildlife Refuge
• Idaho F&G plan to kill pelicans hits obstacles
• Tagging projects help track fish migration
• Whooping crane chicks arrive at Necedah NWR
• Cape May gains open space for wildlife
• Minnesota Valley Refuge: Haven of herons

On January 7 and March 20, 2008, this blog reported on an initial agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Doyon corporation regarding a land exchange at the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has now reached a decision on this land swap.

From the National Wildlife Refuge Association and the Friends of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuges:

The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) and the Friends of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuges announced their support today for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) decision to choose the “no action alternative” as the preferred alternative in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange.
“The Fish and Wildlife Service made the right decision by choosing the ‘no action’ alternative,” said David Raskin, President of the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges. “It was a sound decision based on science, practical implications, and massive public comments and opposition by Native villages that illustrated how debilitating this exchange could be to the third largest unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System.”

The proposed land exchange would transfer 110,000 acres of land from the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge to Doyon, Limited, along with 97,000 acres of land adjacent to the National Wildlife Refuge. The land would be exchanged for 150,000 acres of land currently owned by Doyon to the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. In addition, Doyon would have reallocated 56,500 acres of Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act land entitlements within the Refuge to lands outside the Refuge.

The NWRA and Friends of Alaska refuge has opposed the exchange for the following reasons:

• Current refuge lands that protect wildlife would be traded away and converted to an oil field;
• While the proposed development was to occur on lands traded to Doyon, it would require infrastructure and pipeline crossing refuge lands and create major “beyond the boundary” problems for the refuge;
• The land exchange would bisect the refuge, put wildlife at risk by restricting movement, and increase fire protection activities that could change the ecotype and reduce the natural diversity of the area.

“This decision demonstrates Fish and Wildlife Service’s commitment to ensuring Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuges is managed first and foremost for the conservation of wildlife,” said Evan Hirsche, President of the NWRA. Although the FWS has announced their ‘no action’ alternative, the final EIS on the proposed land exchange will likely be released in late 2009, with a Record of Decision in early 2010.

Tags:
National Wildlife Refuge System, Yukon Flats NWR, Alaska

As this blog reported last week, the new 2009-2010 Duck Stamp — or Migratory Bird Stamp — went on sale June 26. As the number of hunters in America declines, it’s more important than ever that other types of conservationists chip in and buy a Duck Stamp. This includes birders, anglers, photographers, hikers, and anyone who enjoys the outdoors.

Nearly 98 cents out of every dollar collected from the sale of Duck Stamps (and Duck Stamp merchandise) goes directly into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to purchase wetlands and wildlife habitat for inclusion into the National Wildlife Refuge System — the only federal lands where wildlife comes first.

Here is just a sampling of the many national wildlife refuges that have directly benefited from Duck Stamp funding. Percentage is amount of total acres acquired through Migratory Bird Conservation Fund money as of June 5, 2009:

California:
Merced - 100%
Humboldt Bay - 80.4%
Sacramento - 99.6%

Delaware:
Bombay Hook - 95.1%
Prime Hook - 82.5%

Florida:
Chassahowitzka - 73.1%
Lake Woodruff - 85.4%
St. Vincent - 98.9%

Georgia:
Okefenokee - 86.4%

Maryland:
Blackwater - 77.6%
Eastern Neck - 100%

Massachusetts:
Great Meadows - 75.4%
Monomoy - 97.8%
Parker River - 99.3%

New Jersey:
Edwin B. Forsythe - 84.3%
Supawna Meadows - 83.8%

North Carolina:
Cedar Island - 86.2%
Mackay Island - 86.2%
Pea Island - 99.2%
Pee Dee - 99.7%

North Dakota:
Chase Lake - 100%
Half-Way Lake - 100%
Hiddenwood - 100%
White Lake - 100%

Texas:
Little Sandy - 100%
McFaddin - 100%
Moody - 100%
Texas Point - 100%

Washington:
Conboy Lake - 94.5%
Ridgefield - 89.5%
Toppenish - 89.1%

(see full listing of refuges)

So buy a $15 Duck Stamp today — it’s the best conservation protection that money can buy.

Tags:
wildlife refuge, duck stamp, migratory bird stamp, National Wildlife Refuge System

From June 19-21, more than 60 volunteers and approximately 10 personnel of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (from Sheldon and Hart Mountain refuges) teamed up to improve habitat for pronghorn antelope and other wildlife, as well as enhance the boundary of the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in northern Nevada.

Volunteers removed 10 miles of unnecessary barbed-wire fence that threatened wildlife (an ongoing project) and also placed signs along 15 miles of newly constructed boundary. Volunteers also repaired an exclosure fence that will help plants and water quality recover for the benefit of wildlife.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness coordinated the event and reported the following:

Volunteers travelled from as far away as Seattle and Southern California, and many parts in between, to help with the projects. Many volunteers were affiliated with the new Sheldon Refuge Network, a diverse alliance of sportsmen, wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists to support the US Fish & Wildlife Service in managing the Sheldon Refuge. Participants ranged in age from 3 to 83…Kids at the project worked hard pulling invasive weeds at the campground, then they learned about wildlife and history on a hike into nearby Kinney Creek Gorge.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness (FNW) coordinated this first annual Sheldon Rendezvous, and we look forward to a continuation of this as an annual event. It is a logical continuation of annual work projects that were formerly sponsored by the Sierra Club and by the Audubon Society…

The rendezvous coincided with the birthday of Jim Yoakum, the leading expert on antelope in the US. Jim, now retired, traveled up to the rendezvous and offered his insights on the Sheldon Refuge from many years of being involved. A large birthday cake was enjoyed by all, especially Jim himself.

Around the campfire, Paul Steblein (Hart Mountain and Sheldon Refuges supervisor) reported on the state of the Sheldon Refuge, the challenges to its management, and plans for its future. Other people volunteered their insights on the Sheldon Refuge, garnered from years of visits to the place and dedicated watchdog activities. Clearly many people in our network care passionately about the Sheldon Refuge and support its management goals.

The FNW also reports that Sheldon NWR is currently updating its Comprehensive Conservation Plan, which will be released this summer for comment. Keep an eye on the Sheldon NWR website for further information.

Tags:
wildlife refuge, Sheldon NWR, Nevada

The National Wildlife Refuge Association has started a new feature called “Refuge TV.” In one of the first videos offered, the NWRA takes a look at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex in southern Nevada and its many interesting species.

Tags:
National Wildlife Refuge System, Desert NWR, Nevada

• Teens find summer work at wildlife refuge in gov’t stimulus package
• Wildlife refuge gets grant to control invasive species
• Cherry Valley refuge moves closer to funding
• Hornets Believe: Hornets Plant 1,900 Trees at Wildlife Refuge
• One-Third Of Wildlife Refuges Use GM Crops In Southeast
• Tiny plover chicks protected by volunteers
• Don Hultman, river guardian, retires after 30 years of public service
• Wine tasters also get chance to experience wildlife refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking comments until June 30, 2009 regarding the creation of El Toro National Wildlife Refuge in Orange County, California. But not all is smooth with the creation of the refuge. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council:

In 2001, a portion of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Orange County was turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration on the condition that a federal habitat reserve would be established and no new development would be allowed on the property. The proposed reserve, the El Toro National Wildlife Refuge, represents a unique California ecosystem and would be home to the highest regional concentrations of the threatened coastal California gnatcatcher and coastal cactus wren.

Under the agreement, certain existing uses of the property, including a small FBI pistol range, are allowed to continue. But the FBI is ignoring the agreement not to develop beyond the current training facilities by seeking to expand the size of the firing range. The expansion would threaten nearly 1,000 acres of endangered species habitat and public space within the proposed refuge.

Expanding the rifle range facilities would present terrible safety hazards to both humans and wildlife. The danger of stray bullets to nearby neighborhoods, parks and roads is unconscionable and would be an effective death knell for any public, educational or research uses of El Toro.

The FBI and the FAA are nevertheless proceeding with development plans for the new rifle range as if all prior agreements and the conditions of transfer did not exist. To add insult to injury, plans are also underway to develop a state-of-the-art rifle range at the nearby Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base, which effectively renders the proposed El Toro facility redundant and wasteful of taxpayer dollars.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting public comments on the proposed El Toro reserve and development plan through June 30th.

You can submit your comments in support of the refuge on the NRDC site or you can find information on submitting comments (along with more background information) on the Sea and Sage Audubon Society website, which is based in Orange County.

If you’d like to see the planning information (including maps) for the proposed El Toro NWR, visit the San Diego NWR Complex website.

Please submit your comments now as the comment period has almost ended. And thanks for your support.

Tags:
National Wildlife Refuge System, El Toro NWR, California

According to the Winona Daily News in Minnesota, vandals have destroyed beetle cages at the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin, causing thousands of dollars in damage and destroying an annual project in which students and volunteers devote hundreds of labor hours.

From the News:

For the past seven years, the refuge has raised Galerucella beetles, which feed exclusively on purple loosestrife, in an effort to fight the invasive plant, which covers more than 1,000 acres of the refuge’s wetlands.

Volunteers collect adult beetles and introduce them to potted loosestrife plants in room-size cages. Later, the soil, laden with bug larvae, is put into the infested wetlands.

“After all that work. That’s so sad,” said La Crescent Montessori Academy teacher Tami Holtslander, whose students spent two days this spring putting the beetles into the soil as part of a community service learning project. “What kind of jerk would do that?”

The refuge believes the vandalism occurred the night of June 19. Anyone with information should contact the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department at (715) 538-4351.

Tags:
wildlife refuge, Trempealeau NWR, Wisconsin

Designed by South Dakota artist Joshua Spies, the 2009-2010 Federal Duck Stamp (or Migratory Bird Stamp) features a long-tailed duck and decoy. The stamp goes on sale today, June 26.

Nearly 98 cents out of every dollar collected from the sale of Duck Stamps (and Duck Stamp merchandise) goes directly into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to purchase wetlands and wildlife habitat for inclusion into the National Wildlife Refuge System — the only federal lands where wildlife comes first.

Since the stamp program was created, it has generated over $700 million and protected over 5.2 million acres of waterfowl habitat in America. And in this age where federal budgets for conservation are dwindling, federal Duck Stamps serve as a vital source of funds for protecting wetlands, wildlife refuges, and endangered species.

In the past, hunters in America have been the primary buyers of Duck Stamps, but this is changing since the number of hunters is decreasing. Now conservationists, birders, photographers and other nature-oriented groups are pitching in and purchasing Duck Stamps as well.

The $15 federal Duck Stamp can be purchased online at the Postal Store.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association has posted a profile page featuring the new leaders brought in at the Department of Interior by President Barack Obama’s administration. Take a moment to check out who is running DOI and who will have a hand in management of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Tags:
National Wildlife Refuge System, National Wildlife Refuge Association