Regional News and Recovery Updates

Region 2

Mexican Gray Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published a proposed rule in the May 1, 1996, Federal Register to establish a "non-essential, experimental" population of Mexican gray wolves in Arizona and New Mexico.

The FWS also has completed an analysis of nearly 18,000 comments received on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the planned wolf reintroduction project. Current plans call for release of the final EIS by mid-summer. Outreach continues to be a major part of this project, which seeks to recover the rarest subspecies of gray wolf by reintroducing it to segments of its former range in Arizona and/or New Mexico. Project staff mail periodic status reports to over 6,000 people, give presentations to a wide variety of interest groups, and participate in panel discussions and media programs. Other outreach activities/materials include: fact sheets, a "Mexican Wolf Education Trunk" for teachers, training for outreach specialists at zoos, training Americorps volunteers to provide classroom presentations, development of an interagency Mexican wolf educational poster and pamphlet, and one-on-one outreach in communities that may be affected by wolf recovery. For more information about these outreach activities, contact Wendy Brown at 505/248-6664.

Whooping Crane (Grus americana) Whooping cranes in the Aransas-Wood Buffalo population experienced record high production and low losses over the past 12 months. One hundred and thirty-three individuals migrated to the crane's breeding grounds at Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada, in spring 1995. Forty-seven pairs made 49 nesting attempts and brought 28 young to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Texas coast in late fall. The previous high number of young brought to the wintering area since early this century was 25 in 1987-88. One hundred and thirty adults also returned to Texas in late fall, bringing the overwintering population to 158 birds. Survival has been excellent. Only three adults died between April 1995 and April 1996, and only one juvenile is known to have died during the winter.

Another 60 whooping cranes now exist in the nonmigratory population being established in Florida. The oldest pair, made up of 4-year-olds, is building a nest and chasing other cranes from the area.

Attwater's Greater Prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) Spring counts of Attwater's greater prairie-chickens indicate that only 42 survive in the wild within 3 widely separated Texas counties. This represents a 38 percent decline in population from 1995. The wild population has been declining since the early 1900's. Seventy-five birds, including 34 females, exist at 3 captive-breeding sites, a 40-bird increase over 1995. The expectation is that over 100 young will be produced in captivity this summer. Experimental releases of captive-bred birds to supplement wild populations on Attwater's Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado County and on the Texas Nature Conservancy's site in Galveston County are planned for late summer. In the meantime, the San Antonio Zoo will receive its first birds and eggs to establish the fourth captive-propagation site this spring.

Continuing efforts to protect and maintain native prairie habitat for the pairie chicken include brush removal, modified grazing, prescribed burning, predator control, and land acquisition. The FWS is providing funds to assist in the cooperative management of habitat on private tracts through the Partners for Wildlife Program and section 6 of the Endangered Species Act.

Region 3

Mitchell's Satyr Butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii) The Mitchell's satyr was listed temporarily as endangered on an emergency basis on June 25, 1991, due to an imminent threat posed by over-collection. The butterfly received long-term protection on May 20, 1992. Habitat loss is another factor in the decline of this butterfly. Of the more than 30 known historical populations, only 12 survive--11 in southwest Michigan and 1 in northern Indiana.

The technical/agency draft recovery plan for the Mitchell's satyr is now available for public comment. A copy can be obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, East Lansing Field Office, 2651 Coolidge Road, East Lansing, Michigan 48823-6316 (telephone 517/351-2555). Comments on the draft plan are welcome, and should be sent to the above address (in care of Mark Hodgkins) by May 28, 1996.

Region 4

Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly (Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus) In a cooperative effort between the FWS and the University of Florida at Gainesville, over 250 individuals of the endangered Schaus swallowtail butterfly were released May 13 on the 400-acre (160 hectare) Deering Estate at Cutler, south of Miami. Another 550 butterflies are expected to be released at the same location by mid-June. The Deering Estate includes the largest original tropical hardwood hammock and pine rockland ecosystem in the mainland United States. It is owned by the State of Florida and Dade County.