endangered species | Stories from the Land

Saving the Delmarva Fox Squirrel from Extinction: A Conservation Success Story

Posted on June 10, 2016 by North American Land Trust

While exploring the woods of the Chesapeake Bay region, if you’re lucky you may spot a flash of silvery gray scampering across the forest floor. This shy and elusive creature is known as the Delmarva fox squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus), and today you have a better chance of catching sight of it than if you had visited 30 years ago. Added to the very first Endangered Species List in 1967, this species was on the brink of extinction, but thanks to conservation efforts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, private landowners, and a progressive land trust, this squirrel’s numbers have since rebounded to a current estimated population of 20,000.

Native to the Delmarva Peninsula—areas of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean—the Delmarva fox squirrel population decreased significantly in the early 1900’s due to increased development, timber production, and overhunting. Bigger than most squirrels, it lives on rural forest lands and agricultural fields, preferring to spend more time on the ground than jumping from tree to tree. When its numbers were found to exist in only 3 counties, it was clear that this species would need protection in order to survive extinction.

In stepped Cherry Keller who led the Recovery Team for this species beginning in the 1990’s. Head of the USFWS Endangered Species Program in the Chesapeake Bay Area, she and her team were determined to save the Delmarva fox squirrel from extinction. Conservation work began with moving animals to start new populations within the historic range, which ultimately resulted in 11 new successful populations.

Another important strategy she deployed in her work to save this “fascinating animal and unique species to the Delmarva Peninsula”, was to preserve known Delmarva fox squirrel habitat on private lands. The most effective way to ensure that the vulnerable habitat would be preserved forever was with a conservation easement. However, Cherry soon discovered that finding a qualified land trust partner willing to hold a mitigation easement—an easement that offsets habitat impact by allowing for development to occur elsewhere—was more challenging than expected.

Luckily for both Cherry and the Delmarva fox squirrel, the North American Land Trust (NALT) could provide exactly what they needed. As Cherry explained, “NALT was an important partner in this effort because they were willing to work with landowners and provide easements and conservation benefits that would offset habitat loss.” With this new partnership, Cherry was able to contact landowners who owned land supporting high quality Delmarva fox squirrel habitat, and with NALT’s help, they could place their land into a mitigation easement. As a result, 9 conservation easements totaling 592 acres were conserved in perpetuity with NALT within the 1.7 million acre Delmarva Peninsula.

While this fraction of land makes up a small portion of the entire Delmarva Peninsula, every acre counted in this conservation effort. Saving mature hardwood forests from timber production and creating a contiguous chain of forest tracks for the species to expand is what ultimately saved this fluffy squirrel. Translocating populations, tracking individual squirrels with wildlife cams and ear tags, and the continued monitoring of existing squirrels by Cherry, biologists, and landowners also contributed to the success of this project. One landowner went so far as to assist in capturing and tagging Delmarva fox squirrels, and she set up wildlife cams on her own eased property to track their populations. According to her, conservation was a priority “because I know that the loss of habitat is so critical to these animals, and I therefore wanted to save that habitat.”

Today the range of this animal has expanded to a third of the Delmarva Peninsula. In Cherry’s words, “Knowing that there is land protected from future development has enabled confidence that the future is secure for this species.”

In December of 2015, the Delmarva fox squirrel was officially delisted from the Federal Endangered Species List, so it’s evident that through hard work and dedication to land conservation, this species of squirrel can continue to thrive on forested land that will never be developed within the Delmarva Peninsula. As Steven W. Carter, Stewardship Coordinator at NALT, explained, “With the pace at which development is encroaching upon the land, if there is a way to prevent a loss of a species, then we are always willing to help.” As a result of the tremendous, collaborative conservation effort, maybe now you’ll be able to spot this timid and unique critter the next time you visit the beautiful Delmarva Peninsula.

*Wildlife cam footage provided by a private landowner of the Delmarva Peninsula

Happy World Oceans Day!

Posted on June 8, 2016 by North American Land Trust

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Happy World Oceans Day! The earth’s oceans are a significant aspect of this planet, touching everyone’s lives both directly and indirectly. Covering ¾ of the Earth’s surface, they contain 97% of the Earth’s water, and represent 99% of the living space on the planet with at least 200,000 identified marine species. Most of the ocean has yet to be explored by humans! Billions of people depend on the ocean for their livelihoods, food sources, travel, recreation, and medicine.

This year’s theme is “Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet”, which focuses on the effort to stop plastic pollution, a problem that has drastic consequences for our marine ecosystems. Plastic is produced by the tons and found in nearly all products we purchase, only to be used and discarded within mere minutes before it degrades slowly and pollutes waterways, impacting the health of aquatic animals and making its way up the food chain to humans. Here are some disturbing facts about plastic use and its often unseen costs:

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The US produces 32 million tons of plastic waste per year, but only 9% is recovered for recycling, and most ends up in landfills, often making its way to waterways
Globally we produce 300 million tons of plastic annually, with 8 million tons getting washed into the oceans
There are an estimated 270,000 tons of plastic floating on the ocean’s surface
700 different marine species are directly threatened by the presence of plastic, and many researchers believe that plastic will contribute to rising rates of species extinction
99% of all seabirds have ingested plastic waste
50% of sea turtles have plastics in their stomachs
100,000 marine animals accidentally consume plastics, spreading toxins through the ecosystem
If we continue this trend of mass producing and using plastics, it is estimated that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by the year 2050 (that’s in less than 35 years!)
40 billion plastic bottles end up in oceans every year
Microbeads, which are often found in facewash, exfoliating washes, and tooth paste contain tiny plastic microbeads that travel through water filtration systems and end up in waterways where they are ingested by fish, resulting in toxic leaching and digestive problems, before humans consume the fish
Shoppers worldwide use approximately 500,000,000,000 single-use plastic bags annually, which equates to 1 million bags every second
Petroleum and other harmful chemicals are a key ingredient in plastic production
1/2 the plastic we use is only used once before it is thrown away

Plastic is NOT sustainable, despite its many conveniences. However, there are simple ways that you can reduce your plastic use, and it starts with making smart purchasing decisions.

Replace your disposables—plastic utensils, plastic cups, water bottles, tooth brushes, bags—with reusable and biodegradable items, such as bamboo forks and stainless steel water bottles (check out this site for other reusable products: http://www.reuseit.com/)
Refuse plastic bags at grocery stores by bringing your own grocery bags and reusable cloth bags for fruits and veggies
Avoid products with microbeads; try using coffee grounds as an exfoliant instead
Avoid synthetic fabrics such as rayon, polyester, or nylon. With every wash these fabrics release microfibers that enter into waterways and are digested by marine animals.
Use glass containers rather than plastic tupperware to store food
Avoid makeup in plastic tubes and instead try making your own natural products and using glass containers
Make your own toothpaste instead of going through plastic tube that will get thrown away in a month: mix together 2 tbsp Baking Soda, 2 tbsp Bentonite Clay, ½ tsp sea salt, 10-20 drops peppermint oil
Replace plastic bottles, such as cleaning sprays and bottled condiments, in your home with glass mason jars

The fact of the matter is that all species, homo sapiens included, are directly impacted and reliant upon the oceans in this circle that we call life. Therefore, if we want to continue living healthy and productive lifestyles, avoid witnessing the extinction of hundreds of marine species, and stop the pollution of these highly important marine ecosystems, then we must change our daily habits. By refusing to be consumers of plastic, taxing plastic grocery bags, disallowing the sales of plastic water bottles, and by making smart choices in our personal shopping, we can reduce the plastic that ultimately finds itself in our oceans and into the stomachs of marine wildlife. Our actions have direct consequence on our planet and it is imperative that we do all that we can to ensure the health of our oceans.

Sources:
http://www.onegreenplanet.org
http://www.worldoceansday.org

Yellow-Fringed Orchid (Platanthera ciliaris)

Posted on April 29, 2016 by North American Land Trust

Overview: Listed as threatened or endangered in most states, the Yellow-Fringed Orchid ranges from southern New England west to southern Ontario (historic), southern Michigan, Illinois south along the coastal plain to Florida, and west to Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri. Its flowers are bright yellow to orange in coloring, with distinctive fringed lips, and clustered in racemes. They can reach up 1 meter in height with lower leaves that are 30 cm long and 3 to 6 cm wide, with smaller leaves growing toward the flower. They typically bloom from late June in the North to late September in the South. Historically, the Native Americans—particularly the Cherokee and the Seminoles—used this flower and its roots for medicinal purposes, such as treating digestive problems, headaches and snakebites.

Habitat: P. Ciliaris prefers sunny spots and acidic soils. It can be found in sedge bogs, swamps, marshes, wet sandy barrens, moist woods, wet meadows, prairies, and deep humus of upland Eastern forests. It is dependent on fires to recreate open growing conditions and is pollinated by large butterflies, particularly swallowtails.

Threats and Management: The Yellow-Fringed Orchid has declined as a result of loss of habitat caused by fire suppression, harvesting, and changes in land management practices. One way to manage for them is to maintain open habitats to encourage pollinator access to the species. In addition, sand excavation, ditch clearing, minor draining or flooding activities can create habitat suitable for colonization with their wet, exposed, thinly vegetated sandy soils. Cutting and burning can also result in increased numbers of the P. Ciliari.

This particular Yellow-Fringed Orchid was captured on camera by NALT Conservation Biologist, Peter Smith at the Three Sisters property under easement in Tennessee.

Sources: http://www.newenglandwild.org/docs/pdf/platantheraciliaris.pdf
http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PLCI2
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/platanthera_ciliaris.shtml

Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

Posted on April 12, 2016 by North American Land Trust

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Overview: The smallest of the three bear species found in North America, the American black bear is black, brown or cinnamon. They have short, non-retractable claws that allow them to climb trees easily. This species is found throughout North America, from Canada to Mexico, inhabiting both coniferous and deciduous forests, as well as open alpine habitats. They live in a variety of areas where they can find food, but they typically do not occur on the Great Plains or other open areas.

The American Black Bear is an opportunistic omnivore, meaning it will consume herbaceous vegetation, fruits, nuts, insects, fish, animals, and human-related foods such as garbage and apples. This variety in their diet allows them to inhabit a diversity of habitat types. An important habitat feature for the black bear is a source of fall mast, such as American chestnuts, acorns, beechnuts, hazelnuts, and pine nuts. This available source is eaten during the fall to increase fat reserves in preparation for winter hibernation. American black bears hibernate for up to 7 months in the northern areas of their range, or for shorter periods in the southern portions. Females will typically den and give birth to 2-5 cubs.

Threats & Management: Thanks to effective conservation efforts, the American Black Bear is not currently a species of conservation concern; however, increased conflicts with humans are a threat to the species. As more people encroach on bear habitat, due to urbanization and increasing density of roads, the frequency of interactions between bears and humans has increased. As a result, the leading cause of bear deaths is car accidents. Another threat to the Black Bear is hunters and poachers and the opportunity for illicit commercial trade of bear claws and gallbladders by poachers. In order to maintain successful co-existence between bears and humans, humans must be responsible for the welfare of the bear population by preserving wild areas as important bear habitat.

These bear cubs were caught on NALT’s wildlife cam located on Big Ridge, North Carolina this past September.

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Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Posted on April 6, 2016 by North American Land Trust

Overview: Considered the national emblem of the United States, the bald eagle has flourished under protection. Larger than most other raptors, it possesses a heavy body, large head, and long, hooked bill. Known for its white head that is not actually bald, adult bald eagles also have tails with dark brown bodies and wings. They are incredibly large with wing spans reaching up to 8 feet. They soar high in the sky and are solitary, often traveling far distances across North America.

Habitat: Bald Eagles prefer to live near lakes, reservoirs, rivers, marshes, and coasts. They can also be spotted near fish processing plants and dumpsters during feeding. Fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and small mammals make up their diet. This species of bird will build incredible large nests (typically 5-6 feet in diameter) in trees, cliff faces, or ground sites. They prefer sturdy conifers that protrude above forest canopy. In southern parts of their range, they can be spotted nesting in deciduous trees, mangroves, and cactus.

Threats & Management: The bald eagle’s recovery has been very successful and its numbers have increased between 1966 and 2014. The species became rare during the 1900s when it was popular to trap and shoot them for sport and protection of fishing grounds, and many suffered from pesticide-caused reproductive failures. They were protected in 1978 and since then their recovery has been noteworthy. However, they are still threatened today by lead poisoning from ammunition in their prey, dangerous oil spills, collisions with motor vehicles, and development that is encroaching upon their nesting, perching, roosting, and foraging habitat. Therefore, their nesting habitat along coastlines must be actively protected and conserved.

Can you spot the Bald Eagle found in a tree on Knights Island, MD? NALT Conservation Biologist Matt Stutzman found this guy while on a monitoring trip!

Wood Stork (Mycteria Americana)

Posted on March 11, 2016 by North American Land Trust

This Federally Endangered Wood Stork was captured on camera by NALT Conservation Biologist, Peter Smith, during a Monitoring visit to the property. This long-legged bird was observed practicing his put and strut between holes 13 and 14 on Rose Hill golf course, upon which a Conservation Easement was donated.

Overview: The Wood Stork is large and tall with a white bald head, prominent bill, and long legs. It is a wading bird, preferring to feed on gathered fish in isolated pools created by tides or freshwater levels, using a technique known as grope-feeding. The stork will probe the shallow water with its bill partially open, and when a fish touches its bill, it snaps shut with its incredibly fast reflexes. The stork requires more than 400 pounds of fish during breeding season when it nests with its young.

Habitat: The Wood Stork is found in the southeastern United States, and it is the only stork to breed in the US. Because they are birds of freshwater or estuarine wetlands, they primarily nest in cypress or mangrove swamps. They are attracted to feeding sites such as marshes or swamps with depressions, where fish are concentrated during periods of falling water levels. They build nests in the upper branches of large cypress trees or in mangroves on islands, and there are usually multiple nests found in one tree. They will also nest in man-made structures.

Threats & Management: The Wood Stork has experienced population declines due to the loss of nesting habitat,mostly in cypress swamps, resulting in their nesting in non-native trees. Prolonged drought and flooding, raccoon predation on nests, and human disturbance of rookeries have also resulted in a decline of nesting success. In order to ensure the survival of the Wood Stork in the US, its occupied nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat must be protected from further loss or degradation. In an effort to maintain foraging habitat, this can be as simple as allowing water levels to be controlled by southeastern climatic conditions. During the time of year when the wood storks are present, it is recommended that a wetland or pond be drained so as to lower the water levels and allow prey to be concentrated in smaller volumes of water for the wading bird.

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Posted on March 11, 2016 by North American Land Trust

These American Alligators were spotted by our Conservation Biologist, Peter Smith, on Rosehill golf course in South Carolina, a property on which a conservation easement was donated to NALT

Overview: The American Alligator is considered the largest reptile in North America. Often confused with crocodile species, it is distinguished by its rounded snout, as well as a dark armored body with a muscular flat tail and four short legs. The Alligators possess a long snout, and the young can be distinguished from the adults with the bright yellow stripes found on their juvenile tails. This species is found in a range that stretches from North Carolina to Texas where they inhabit freshwater in slow-moving rivers. They also live in swamps, marshes, and lakes. They are not as tolerant of salt water as crocodiles, due to the fact that the salt glands on their tongues do not function.

Importance: The American alligator plays a key part in ensuring a healthy biodiverse ecosystem by its construction of “alligator holes”, which are dug out by the alligator using its snout and tail to hold water and provide refuge during dry periods. The holes offer a vital source of water for fish, insects, crustaceans, snakes, turtles, and birds. As a result, the preservation of this species is highly important for the maintenance of healthy and diverse ecosystems.

Threats & Management: This species is often considered a rare success story of an endangered species, and today it is thriving thanks to state and federal protections, habitat preservation efforts, and reduced demand for alligator products such as their hides. However, they are still endangered in scattered areas of their range, as they continue to be threatened by habitat loss and encounters with humans. The biggest factor in its endangerment is the destruction of habitat, which includes water management systems and increased levels of mercury and dioxins in the water. In addition, as sea levels rise due to climate change, alligator-inhabited freshwater and brackish marsh may face an increase in saltwater; this in turn can lead to higher water temperatures, which will produce a higher ration of males and alter the male-female ratios. The Fish and Wildlife Service lists the American alligator as threatened, due to the similar appearance it has with endangered species, such as crocodiles and caimans.