Predator Management Status Report Fiscal Year 2017 NRS 502.253 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Nevada Department of Wildlife Predator Management Status Report Fiscal Year 2017

NRS 502.253 (predator fee) • ~$600,000 generated annually • $14,000 admin support Dept of Agriculture • Predator plan projects • Staff salary • Reserve remains available for future years

Changes in uses of NRS 502.253 1. Management of predatory wildlife 2. Research on lethal control techniques of predatory wildlife 3. Protection of sensitive species

Budget Summary • $574,312 revenues from FY 2015 • $574,312 x 0.8 = $459,450 (80% mandate) • $650,013 spent on lethal removal (113.2%) • $1,273,503 spent total

Project 21: Greater Sage-Grouse Protection (Common Raven Removal) • Protect greater sage-grouse populations • Lethally remove common ravens

Project 21: Greater Sage-Grouse Protection (Common Raven Removal) • 2,381 common ravens removed by Wildlife Services Area Ravens Removed MA 3 139 MA 6 71 MA 7 272 MA 8 36 MA 10 79 MA 11 75 MA 14 364 MA 15 273 MA 20 89 MA 22 583 MA 23 400 Total Ravens 2,381

Project 21: Greater Sage-Grouse Protection (Common Raven Removal) • Lethal raven removal imperative to maintain and improve Greater sage-grouse populations • Continue Project 21 while common ravens are believed to be limiting factor of Greater sage- grouse $3 Planned P-R Planned Wildlife Services NDOW Lethal NDOW Non-Lethal NDOW Salary, Travel, and Total Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Office $78,000 N/A $44,432 $0 $37,170 $11,998 $93,600

Project 21-02: Common Raven Removal to Enhance Greater Sage- Grouse Nest Success

Project 21-02: Common Raven Removal to Enhance Greater Sage- Grouse Nest Success • 83 common ravens removed • Due to an unexpected fire, NDOW supports continuing project through FY2019 $3 Planned P-R Planned Wildlife Services NDOW Lethal NDOW Non-Lethal NDOW Salary, Travel, and Total Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Office $37,240 $25,000 N/A $25,242 $0 $0 $11,998

Project 22-01: Mountain Lion Removal to Protect California Bighorn Sheep • Bighorn sheep populations in Units 011 and 013 under performing • Wildlife Services and private contractors used to remove mountain lions in proximity to bighorn sheep populations • 5 GPS collars for bighorn sheep purchased

Project 22-01: Mountain Lion Removal to Protect California Bighorn Sheep • Wildlife Services removed 3 mountain lions in in 013 • Private contractor removed no lions in 011 • No mountain lion predation on marked sheep • NDOW supports project until population viability is reached $3 Planned P-R Planned Wildlife Services NDOW Lethal NDOW Non-Lethal NDOW Salary, Travel, and Total Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Office $107,803 $90,000 N/A $84,927 $1,800 $9,078 $11,998

Project 22-074: Monitor Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep for Mountain Lion Protection • Wildlife Services did not conduct work • No work from private contractors • Population estimated at 15-20 animals, no known predation events in FY2017

Project 22-074: Monitor Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep for Mountain Lion Protection • NDOW supports Project 22-074 until population reaches viability as defined in the annual Predator Plan $3 Planned P-R Planned Wildlife Services NDOW Lethal NDOW Non-Lethal NDOW Salary, Travel, and Total Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Office $16,555 $90,000 N/A $0 $0 $4,557 $11,998

Project 32: Mountain Lion, Black Bear, and Mule Deer Interactions • Project cancelled • NDOW technicians collected kill site data for 6 lion (192 sites) • WCS will provide final report in FY2018 • NDOW recommends replacing this project $3 Planned P-R Planned Wildlife Services NDOW Lethal NDOW Non-Lethal NDOW Salary, Travel, and Total Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Office $193,344 $40,000 $120,000 $0 $0 $181,346 $11,998

Project 37 Big Game Protection- Mountain Lions • Area game biologists are contacted about potential mountain lion issues in their areas • Contractors and Wildlife Services are deployed to remove mountain lions

Project 37 Big Game Protection- Mountain Lions • WS unsuccessfully attempted to remove mountain lions in Unit 115 • Private contractor removed 3 mountain lions in the Ruby Mountains • Private contractor removed 7 mountain lions in the Snowstorms, 2 in the East Humboldts • Private contractor removed 5 mountain lions in the Jackson Mountains, 2 in the Delamar Range

Project 37 Big Game Protection- Mountain Lions • NDOW supports continuing this project that allows for removal of mountain lions in quick response to identified needs $3 Planned P-R Planned Wildlife Services NDOW Lethal NDOW Non-Lethal NDOW Salary, Travel, and Total Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Office $125,000 N/A $28,261 $164,166 $15,748 $11,998 $220,173

Project 38 Big Game Protection- Coyotes • Area biologists identified underperforming pronghorn herds • Wildlife Services uses aerial and ground effort to reduce local coyote populations

Project 38 Big Game Protection- Coyotes • 310 coyotes removed Area Coyotes Removed MA 1 34 MA 6 27 • NDOW supports con- MA 7 64 MA 10 76 MA 16 75 tinuing this project that MA 20 10 MA 22 4 MA 23 15 allows for removal of MA 24 2 MA 29 3 Total 310 coyotes in quick response to identified needs $3 Planned P-R Planned Wildlife Services NDOW Lethal NDOW Non-Lethal NDOW Salary, Travel, and Total Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Office $147,505 $125,000 N/A $135,507 $0 $0 $11,998

Project 40 Coyote Removal to Complement Multi-faceted Management in Eureka County • Underperforming mule deer herd in unit 144 • 10 mule deer does collared in January 2017, 3 killed by mountain lions

Project 40 Coyote Removal to Complement Multi-faceted Management in Eureka County • Wildlife Services conducts coyote removal to benefit mule deer • 593 coyotes, 1 mountain lion removed • Mule deer fawn:adult ratios have been improving since 2009 $3 Planned P-R Planned Wildlife Services NDOW Lethal NDOW Non-Lethal NDOW Salary, Travel, Total Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures and Office $100,000 N/A $109,432 $0 $0 $11,998 $121,430

Project 41: Increasing Understanding of Common Raven Densities and Space Use in Nevada • 25 ARGOS transmitters deployed, private contractor deployed 6 transmitters, NDOW technicians deployed an additional 20 transmitters • NDOW technicians conducted 616 raven and raptor point count surveys • NDOW technicians conducted 110 miles of transmission line surveys, counted 48 nests

Project 41: Increasing Understanding of Common Raven Densities and Space Use in Nevada • Multiyear project, has resulted in two scientific presentations and 1 manuscript for publication to date • NDOW supports continuing Project 41 $3 Planned P-R Planned Wildlife Services NDOW Lethal NDOW Non-Lethal NDOW Salary, Travel, and Total Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Office $100,000 $300,000 $0 $0 $255,611 $11,998 $267,609

Project 42: Assessing Mountain Lion Harvest in Nevada • No work performed during FY2017 $3 Planned P-R Planned Wildlife Services NDOW Lethal NDOW Non-Lethal NDOW Salary, Travel, and Total Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Office $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Project 43: Mesopredator Removal to Protect Waterfowl, Turkeys, and Pheasants on Wildlife Management Areas • Primarily waterfowl and turkeys underperforming on some WMAs • Wildlife Services deployed ground efforts to remove mesopredators • NDOW supports continuing project 43

Project 43: Mesopredator Removal to Protect Waterfowl, Turkeys, and Pheasants on Wildlife Management Areas Species Mason Valley Overton Badger 0 2 Raven 198* 0 Coyote 22 10 Feral Cat 2 4 Mink 1 0 Raccoon 0 14 Stripped Stunk 1 1 $3 Planned P-R Planned Wildlife Services NDOW Lethal NDOW Non-Lethal NDOW Salary, Travel, and Total Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Expenditures Office $50,000 N/A $42,246 $0 $0 $11,998 $54,244

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