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Important Animals
 Protected
or managed animals known to occur on the NTS include the threatened
desert tortoise protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (see
Desert Tortoise Compliance Program); federally protected eagles,
migratory birds, wild horses and burros; a state-protected bat and
several birds; and state managed game birds, game mammals, and
furbearers (see List of Important Animals
[
PDF, 15 MB]).
Sensitive animals known to occur on the NTS include those that occur on
the Nevada Natural Heritage Program (NNHP) Nevada Animal and Plant At-Risk Tracking List and
those bat species with a “high” or “moderate” ranking in the Nevada Bat
Conservation Plan Bat Species Risk Assessment.
Among the sensitive birds on the NTS, the western burrowing owl has
been given the most attention. As its name suggests, this small
owl lives in
burrows. Numerous pairs of owls breed each year on the NTS. Because of
their ground-dwelling habit, they are particularly susceptible to harm
from construction projects. Preactivity surveys are conducted prior to
land-disturbing projects to ensure that these owls and their nest
burrows are not harmed. Active nests of all bird species protected under
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are also protected from harm. Periodic
field surveys to monitor breeding pairs of western burrowing owls,
locate new owl burrows, and locate active nests of other raptors are
conducted. Also, a database of bird mortality observations (for example
road-killed or electrocuted birds) is maintained to assist in
identifying human-caused mortalities and in working towards their
prevention.
Numerous sensitive bat species occur on the NTS. In recent years, annual bat surveys
have been conducted to identify their feeding, roosting, and maternity
sites on the NTS. Preactivity surveys of potential roost sites such as
tunnels and buildings are conducted to ensure bats are protected from
direct harm (for example from re-activating a tunnel or from building
demolition).
Annual wild horse census surveys are conducted and periodic
census surveys of mule deer are conducted.
A presentation of all field surveys and other sensitive biota
monitoring activities performed over the last calendar year can be found
in the most currently published
Ecological Monitoring and Compliance
Program Report [
PDF, 20 MB].
Refer to the following documents for more information:
Distribution of the Chuckwalla, Western Burrowing Owl, and Six Bat
species on the Nevada Test Site (May, 1997) [PDF, 6MB]
Ecology of the
Western Burrowing Owl on the Nevada Test Site
(December, 2003)
[PDF, 21 MB]
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