Upload
others
View
4
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services 463 West Street Amherst, MA 01002 Toll free 866-4USDA WS Phone 413-253-2403 Fax 413-253-7577
Janurary 27, 2017 Jorge J. Ayub Coastal Ecologist MA Department of Conservation and Recreation 251 Causeway Street, Suite 700 Boston, MA 02114-2119 Mr. Ayub, This proposal is in regard to the management of beach predators at Sandy Point State Reservation in Ipswich, MA during the 2017 shorebird nesting season. The context of this proposal will be a comprehensive outline of Wildlife Services (WS) projected activities that should be conducted to reduce predation on shorebird populations. During previous nesting seasons, WS has deemed four (4) wildlife species as “major predators”. These species are American crow, red fox, Eastern coyotes and raccoons. These species have been labelled major predators because of confirmed predation. Each species has been responsible for shorebird predation at various times of the year and will require different management practices. During the 2016 nesting season, WS has documentation of great horned owls frequenting Sandy Point State Reservation during the shorebird nesting season but there has not been documentation of predation from this species. In 2017, WS proposes the use of mock piping plover exclusions baited with hard-boiled chicken eggs monitored by infrared cameras to monitor for avian predation. If American crows are observed WS recommends using DRC-1339 COR to control these predators that may “key in” on piping plover exclusions. Pre-baiting and mock exclusion setup will be conducted by WS staff. WS suggests constructing three (3) mock exclusions in similar locations as 2016. When WS staff observes 100% pre-bait uptake, WS will conduct a DRC-1339 application. WS recommends the MA DCR maintain their USFWS migratory bird depredation permit for the removal of great horned owls, because they pose a threat to nesting of least terns and piping plovers. The permit should list employees of USDA WS as subpermitees. WS can then conduct night operations for the removal of great horned owls through the use of live traps or by sharpshooting. It is very important that DCR staff or other monitoring staff take notes on predator activity while working on the beach. Dates, times, weather conditions and pictures of unknown tracks are all important data that should be recorded and relayed to WS during the nesting season. In 2016 and in years prior, Eastern coyotes and red fox were responsible for a portion of the overall predation on Sandy Point State Reservation and on bordering properties and need to be managed to alleviate predation. WS will conduct all site visits to conduct shooting activities with the use of suppressed rifles and/or shotguns with non-toxic shot. Attempts to remove red fox and Eastern coyotes should be conducted prior to nesting and should continue through the nesting season. WS will also assist MA DCR in renewing or modifying their USFWS and MA DFW depredation permits in order to conduct all listed activities in 2017. All of the above activities listed are what WS believes need to be done to show a positive impact to nesting success of shorebirds on Sandy Point State Reservation. Every year brings different weather patterns, habitat changes and predator activity and activities that need to be conducted to alleviate predation can change. This work plan is written to have flexibility to allow changes during the nesting season. At your request, our office has developed this proposal for a program to conduct direct control of both avian and mammalian predators at Sandy Point State Reservation. The cost for a Cooperative Service Agreement (CSA) providing six months of control, consisting of a minimum of six (6) control visits will be for a total of $5,800. These visits can be used for any of the activities; trapping, shooting or DRC-1339
Safeguarding American Agriculture APHIS is an agency of USDA’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
COR applications. Wildlife Services will schedule control visits and may increase or decrease visits during the agreement depending on predator presence and activity. Wildlife Services will also provide MA DCR with a report of all activities conducted within the 2017 nesting season to include a qualitative assessment of how effective the effort was, unanticipated challenges that were encountered during the 2017 nesting season and preliminary recommendations for future efforts. The start date for the proposed CSA drafted is 1 March, 2017 until 31 August, 2017. This date can be changed to any date agreed upon by both WS and MA DCR. Thank you, Erik S. Shaffer, Wildlife Specialist USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services 463 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002 866-487-3297 toll free in MA, CT & RI 413-253-7577 fax 413-658-4446 cell
Federal Relay Service (Voice/TTY/ASCII/Spanish) 1-800-877-8339
United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services 463 West Street Amherst, MA
01002 T: 413-253-2403 F: 413-253-7577
December 26, 2017
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Field Headquarters
One Rabbit Hill Road
Westborough, MA 01581
Push = Push/Walking Spot = Spotlight/FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared)/Survey
Call = Calling Trap = Trapping
Subject: Permit#:047.17LP Report for Horseneck Beach State Reservation Predators
Date
Method(s) Used &
Approximate Man Hours
Number
of hours
for crow
work
Species Observed Number
Taken
Number
Dispersed Push Spot Call Trap
3/29/17 0 6 4 0 0 Eastern Coyote 0 1
4/05/17 0 2 0 0 4 n/a n/a n/a
4/17/17 0 4 4 0 4 n/a n/a n/a
4/24/17 0 4 0 0 4 AMCR 5 0
5/02/17 0 1 0 0 4 n/a n/a n/a
5/09/17 0 6 2 0 4 GHOW 1 0
5/24/17 0 6 4 0 0 n/a n/a n/a
6/08/17 0 6 6 0 0 Eastern Coyote 0 1
6/20/17 0 6 6 0 0 Eastern Coyote 0 1
7/05/17 0 8 8 0 0 Eastern Coyote 0 1
8/02/17 0 4 0 0 6 n/a n/a n/a
Totals
11 site
visits
0
hours
53
hours
34
hours 0 hours
26
hours
AMCR 5 0
Eastern Coyote 0 4
GHOW 1 0
On March 29 2017, WS began predator management activities to include after dark mammal
surveys and the use of mock piping plover exclosures in an effort to alleviate American crow
predation. An estimated five (5) American crows were taken with DRC-1339 COR. One (1)
GHOW was removed through the use of firearms.
Subject: Permit#: 047.17LP Report for South Cape Beach State Park Beach Predators
Date
Method(s) Used &
Approximate Man Hours Number of
hours for
crow work
Species Observed Number
Taken
Number
Dispersed Push Spot Call Trap
4/12/17 0 2 0 0 4 AMCR 0 4
4/27/17 0 2 0 0 4 AMCR 7 2
5/04/17 0 2 0 0 8 AMCR 6 0
5/11/17 0 2 0 0 4 AMCR 6 0
5/18/17 0 2 0 0 4 AMCR 4 0
5/25/17 0 2 0 0 4 AMCR 2 0
6/01/17 0 2 0 0 4 n/a n/a n/a
8/07/17 0 2 0 0 8 n/a n/a n/a
Totals
8 site
visits
0
hours
16
hours
0
hours
0
hours
40
hours AMCR 25 6
On 4/12/17 WS started to monitor pre-bait uptake in mock PIPL exclosures for AMCR predation.
An estimated 25 American crows were removed from South Cape Beach using DRC-1339 COR.
Subject Permit#: 047.17LP Sandy Point State Reservation Beach Predators
Date
Method(s) Used &
Approximate Man Hours Number of
hours for
crow work
Species Observed Number
Taken
Number
Dispersed Push Spot Call Trap
4/18/17 0 2 0 0 8 n/a n/a n/a
5/08/17 0 1 3 0 4 n/a n/a n/a
5/12/17 0 2 4 0 6 n/a n/a n/a
6/13/17 0 3 3 0 2 n/a n/a n/a
7/05/17 0 7 7 0 2 n/a n/a n/a
7/25/17 0 2 0 0 6 n/a n/a n/a
Totals
6 site
visits
0
hours
17
hours
17
hours
0
hours
20
hours n/a n/a n/a
On April 18, 2017 WS began activities to remove avian and mammalian predators with the use of
baited mock exclosures to remove American crows and night surveys to remove mammalian
predators. There were no predators removed 2017 nesting season.
Subject Permit#: 047.17LP Demarest Lloyd State Park Beach Predators
Date
Method(s) Used &
Approximate Man Hours Number of
hours for
crow work
Species Observed Number
Taken
Number
Dispersed Push Spot Call Trap
3/29/17 0 2 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a
4/05/17 0 0 0 0 6 n/a n/a n/a
4/17/17 0 4 4 0 2 GHOW 0 1
4/24/17 0 0 0 0 6 AMCR 6 0
5/02/17 0 0 0 0 4 AMCR 6 0
5/11/17 0 3 0 0 6 n/a n/a 1
5/15/17 0 1 0 6 3 n/a n/a n/a
5/16/17 0 1 0 3 1 n/a n/a n/a
5/17/17 0 1 0 3 1 n/a n/a n/a
5/18/17 0 1 0 3 1 n/a n/a n/a
8/02/17 0 2 0 0 6 n/a n/a n/a
Totals
11 site
visits
0
hours
15
hours
4
hours
15
hours
36
hours
AMCR
12
0
GHOW 0 1
On March 29, 2017 WS began activities to remove avian and mammalian predators with the use
of baited mock exclosures to remove American crows and night surveys to remove mammalian
predators. WS estimates removing twelve (12) American crow from Demarest Lloyd State Park
Beach using DRC-1339 COR.
Subject Permit#: 047.17LP Lovell’s Island State Park Beach Predators
Date
Method(s) Used &
Approximate Man Hours
Number of
hours of work Species
Observed
Number
Taken
Number
Dispersed Push Spot Call Trap Crow Rat
3/06/17 0 12 10 4 4 0 n/a n/a n/a
3/07/17 0 4 4 4 4 0 n/a n/a n/a
3/30/17 0 12 10 4 4 0 n/a n/a n/a
3/31/17 0 4 4 4 4 0 GHOW 0 1
4/27/17 0 6 6 2 4 10 AMCR 2 1
4/28/17 0 4 4 2 4 2 n/a n/a n/a
5/11/17 0 2 0 0 3 3 n/a n/a n/a
5/18/17 0 3 3 0 3 3 n/a n/a n/a
5/19/17 0 3 3 0 3 3 n/a n/a n/a
6/1/17 0 2 0 0 3 3 n/a n/a n/a
6/14/17 0 2 0 0 4 4 AMCR 2 0
6/20/17 0 2 0 0 4 4 n/a n/a n/a
Totals
12 site
visits
0
hours
56
hours
44
hours
20
hours
44
hours
32
hours
GHOW 0 1
AMCR 4 1
Norway Rat 104 oz consumed
On March 6, March 30 and April 27, 2017 WS conducted overnight surveys of Lovell’s Island to
observe for Great-horned owl activity. No nesting activity was observed on these surveys but one
(1) owl was observed on March 31, 2017.
On May 11, 2017, WS constructed mock piping plover nests to target American crow and placed
out 46 enclosed bait stations to target Norway rats using Diphacinone-50. There is current no
methodology to determine the number of Norway rats killed by Diphacinone-50. A total of 104
ounces of Diphacinone-50 was consumed by Norway rats during the 2017 nesting season.
Two (2) AMCR were removed by the use of firearms and two (2) AMCR were removed by the
use of DRC-1339 COR during the 2017 nesting season.
Subject Permit#: 047.17LP West Island State Reservation Beach Predators
Date
Method(s) Used &
Approximate Man Hours Number of
hours for
crow work
Species Observed Number
Taken
Number
Dispersed Push Spot Call Trap
3/29/17 0 4 4 0 0 n/a n/a n/a
4/05/17 0 2 0 0 4 AMCR 0 1
4/24/17 0 4 4 0 2 Raccoon 1 6
5/10/17 0 6 4 0 2 n/a n/a n/a
5/15/17 0 0 0 10 2 n/a n/a n/a
5/16/17 0 0 0 6 1 Raccoon 3 0
5/17/17 0 0 0 6 1 Raccoon 0 0
5/18/17 0 0 0 6 1 Raccoon 2 0
5/19/17 0 0 0 6 1 Raccoon 1 0
8/02/17 0 2 0 0 8 n/a 0 0
Totals
10 site
visits
0
hours
18
hours
12
hours
34
hours
22
hours
AMCR 0 1
Raccoon 7 6
Safeguarding American Agriculture APHIS is an agency of USDA’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
On March 29, 2017 WS started control work for mammalian and avian predators on West Island
State Park. In total, WS removed seven (7) Raccoons, six (6) by the use of box traps and one (1)
through the use of firearms. No avian predators were removed in 2017.
WS surveyed all DCR beaches except South Cape Beach with infrared game cameras throughout
the 2017 nesting season. All migratory bird removal efforts was conducted under a USFWS
migratory bird depredation permit issued to The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and
Recreation.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate in contacting our office.
Thank You,
Erik S. Shaffer
Wildlife Specialist
USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services
MA, CT, RI
Federal Relay Service (Voice/TTY/ASCII/Spanish) 1-800-877-8339