HomeMy WebLinkAbout20092641United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Ecological Services
Colorado Field Office
P.O. Box 25486, DFC (65412)
Denver, Colorado 80225-0486
IN REPLY REFER To.
ES/CO: T&E / Ferret Block Clearance
TAILS: 65412 -2009 -TA -0577
September 22, 2009
Weld County Commissioners' Office
PO Box 758
Greeley, Colorado 80632
ft.;
Dear Sir or Madam,
D
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) Colorado Field Office has been atvelycgnga
in discussions with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) to revise our block clearaned'7
guidance for all future activities in black -tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) habt&at
within Colorado. Previous guidance was provided by the Service's Block Clearance Process
Document Memorandum dated January 28, 1992, and subsequent updates through 2008. This
guidance has specifically served the needs and circumstances of Colorado.
The black -footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is a federally listed endangered species that depends
upon prairie dogs as a source of food and uses their burrows for shelter. Any actions that kill
prairie dogs or reduce their habitat could prove detrimental to black -footed ferrets (ferrets)
occupying the affected prairie dog towns. However, some activities are also likely to be
inconsequential to ferrets even if ferrets were to exist on a given prairie dog colony, while other
actions such as prairie dog control could result in Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 9
violations.
C
In the late 1980s, the Service recognized that loss of ferret habitat through activities such as
poisoning programs could equate to "take" and thus ESA section 9 violations. The Service's
"Black -footed Ferret Survey Guidelines for Compliance with the Endangered Species Act"
(Guidelines), which were revised in 1989, were developed to accomplish two main goals: 1)
detect a wild ferret population if one still existed; and 2) develop a systematic method for
assessing remaining prairie dog habitat to ascertain the potential for ferret reintroduction. It was
presumed that adherence to the Guidelines should detect an extant ferret population and allow
action agencies adequate opportunity to become engaged and therefore prevent a possible ESA
violation. Finding an extant ferret population could also have been valuable to the ferret
recovery program by expanding the genetic makeup of the captive ferret population. This effort
could also assist federal agencies in meeting their ESA section 7(a)(1) responsibilities to
undertake actions to further the conservation of listed species, if ferret habitat was located on
federal lands. Knowing whether ferret habitat existed would also provide federal land managers
the ability to make informed decisions about prairie dog populations and whether to undertake
actions that could preclude ferret recovery.
2009-2641
ID o s-o6r
It is important to recognize that in the late 1980s when the Guidelines were revised, Service
biologists had the recent memory of discovering the last known wild ferret population near
Meeteetse, Wyoming in 1981, and had accomplished captive breeding of ferrets by 1987. Also,
at that time it was not fully understood how susceptible ferrets are to contracting sylvatic plague,
although it was well known that ferrets' main prey, the various prairie dog species, were highly
susceptible to this exotic disease. More recent studies and experiences have shown that ferrets
are extremely vulnerable to plague as well. They can contract this disease from consuming
infected prey and die rapidly thereafter, typically within 1-3 days.
Since development of the Guidelines, the Service has had two additional decades of experience
searching for ferrets, reintroducing ferrets, and learning about plague. We have also received
prairie dog information from States and Tribes when various prairie dog species have been
petitioned for listing under ESA. The Guidelines have not resulted in discovery of any extant
wild ferret populations since their development and implementation. It is believed this is due to
the extremely low chance that wild ferrets still remain as the survey concepts in the Guidelines
(minimum of 3 nights of surveys on quality habitat) do regularly detect ferret populations at
various ferret reintroduction sites.
Therefore the Service, in coordination with the CDOW, has block -cleared all black -tailed prairie
dog habitat in eastern Colorado after determining that these areas no longer contain any wild
free -ranging black -footed ferrets (see enclosed map). Block clearance means that activities
within these areas that result in the removal of black -tailed prairie dogs and/or their habitat will
no longer be required to meet the Service's survey guidelines for black -footed ferrets, or undergo
consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. This clearance does not include
white-tailed and Gunnison's prairie dog habitats that may occur within the mapped block -
cleared area.
The Service will continue to collect data on black -tailed prairie dog populations, including
information about planned control activities; consequently, we have prepared the enclosed
Reporting Form for planned federal actions affecting areas of more than 1,000 acres of black -
tailed prairie dog habitat, which we request that federal agencies fill out and submit to the
Service.
If you have any questions on information provided in this letter and the Service's decision to
block -clear all black -tailed prairie dog habitat in eastern Colorado, please contact the Service's
Colorado Field Office at (303) 236-4773.
Sincerely,
Susan C. Linner
Colorado Field Supervisor
2
Enclosures: 1) Statewide Block Clearance Map, 2) Reporting Form
ec: FWSR6/EA, L. Edgar (Enclosures)
FWSR6/ES/GJ, A. Pfister (Enclosures)
FWSR6/ES/LK, S. Vana-Miller (Enclosures)
FWSR6/ES/MT, L. Hanebury (Enclosures)
FWSR6/ES/SD, P. Gober, S. Larson (Enclosures)
FWSR6/ES/WY, B. Kelly (Enclosures)
USGS, D. Biggins (Enclosures)
CDOW, S. McClean, E. Odell, F. Pusateri (Enclosures)
REPORTING FORM
FOR FEDERAL ACTIONS AFFECTING AREAS OF MORE THEN 1,000 ACRES
OF BLACK -TAILED PRAIRIE DOG HABITAT IN COLORADO
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continues to collect data on black -tailed prairie dog
populations, including information about planned control activities or other federal actions
affecting areas of more than 1,000 acres of black -tailed prairie dog habitat. Accordingly, we
have prepared this form for federal agencies to complete and submit to the Service.
Questionnaire
Please provide the following information when planning activities that will affect more than
1,000 acres of black -tailed prairie dog (BTPD) habitat:
1. Date: Phone:
2. Name of Agency:
3. Address:
4. Location of BTPDs that will be affected by the federal action:
5a. Describe the current land use(s) at the location of the planned activity:
5b. What are the adjacent/surrounding land uses?
6. How many acres of BTPD's or BTPD holes will be affected?
7. If applicable, what control method is planned (gas, aluminum phosphide, etc.)? Have
alternatives been considered (e.g., shooting or zinc phosphide)?
8. When will activity/control treatment occur?
9. Has this area ever been disturbed/treated before? When?
How?
10. How long have the BTPD's been at this location; forever or only recently?
11. Where is the nearest BTPD population to the project area?
12. Estimate how many acres of BTPD's are within 1.5 kilometers (— 1 mile) of the project
area.
Additional Comments:
Please submit this form, along with a map of the BTPD habitat affected by the planned federal
action, to the Service at the following address:
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Ecological Services
Colorado Field Office
P.O. Box 25486, DFC (65412)
Denver, Colorado 80225-0486
303-236-4773, fax 303-236-4005
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