Beneficial Management Practices for Saskatchewan Species at Risk: Ferruginous Hawk Threatened

Beneficial Management Practices for Saskatchewan

Species at Risk:

Ferruginous Hawk Threatened

• Large hawk with long broad wings and broad, gray, rusty or white tail

• Pale head, neck and underparts

• Rusty on the upperparts, on the underwing and legs

• In flight look for a “rusty diaper”

Randy McCulloch

• Nest in isolated trees or on rocky edges in large, open native prairie or uncultivated pastureland

• Will nest on ground if trees are scarce

• Eats mainly Richardson’s ground squirrels and other small mammals as well as voles, mice and rabbits

• Located in the southern portion of the province

• Status: Threatened

• Declined due habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, disturbance from human activities and poisoning from small mammal control

• Estimated 500 of pairs in Saskatchewan

Beneficial Management Practices

Habitat Size

• Maintain at least 640 acres (259 ha) or one section of native prairie

Grazing

• Avoid grazing on native prairie between march to late May or even July 15th if possible

• Create a variability of grass heights and litter in pastures

• Restrict grazing in woody and riparian areas by fencing off or using salt blocks and watering sites

Woody Vegetation

• Maintain woody areas including dead trees, shelterbelts and lone trees

• Replace dead trees with native species

Management of Burrowing Mammals

• Tolerate Richardson’s ground squirrels if not causing excessive damage

• If poisoning ground squirrels, delay until November through March

Human Activity

• Do not approach a nest between March 15 and July 15 within the following setback distances:

• 500m for low activity

• 750m for medium activity

• 1,000m for high activity