Wilder Ecological was sub-contracted to provide field leadership, data processing, and GIS for clearance surveys for desert tortoise on approximately 150,000 acres, followed by translocation of resident animals, then continued long-term tracking through radio telemetry and ongoing yearly USFWS health assessments.
- Clearance surveys for all desert tortoises located in proposed Impact Areas
- Surveys of Recipient and Control site locations to generate sufficient recruits for Long-term Impacts study design
- Tagging and telemetry transmitter attachment on all tortoises scheduled for translocation or inclusion in Long-term Impacts study design
- Tracking of all tagged animals, for a period of 5 years post-translocation
- USFWS Health Assessments on every tortoise prior to translocation event(s)
- Long-term studies on tortoise movements, mortality rates, and genetic integration with resident animals to determine the impacts of the land-clearance translocation action
The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) at Twentynine Palms has expanded the footprint of training activities through an acquisition of approximately 150,000 acres of adjacent BLM land. This represents by far the largest land clearance and translocation action in the Mojave desert.
Proposed Impact Areas were surveyed for Desert Tortoise. Radio transmitters were placed on more than 1,100 animals that were encountered during surveys conducted in 2014 and 2015, and these were tracked at regular intervals throughout 2015-2017 using radio telemetry. Prior to translocation in 2017, USFWS Health Status Assessments were conducted on all tortoises to determine their disposition and suitability for translocation. In the spring and fall seasons of 2017 the tortoises were then moved to comparable habitat off base, where a representative sample of 700+ animals is now monitored to determine long term impacts, scheduled to continue through year 2022.
Wilder Ecological Principal Biologists were sub-contracted to effect scientific data collection, mitigation actions, and monitoring requirements.
- Nate Jones: co-lead for radio telemetry tracking activities, providing field training in telemetry techniques and tortoise processing, management of staffing and data collection, and development and implementation of an effective GIS monitoring program that tracks hundreds of animals at regular intervals (1x/week to 1x/month), year-round. He has sampled more than 300 desert tortoises for USFWS protocol Health Assessments.
- Liana Harp: USFWS certified Health Assessment specialist, survey team lead, and participates in radio telemetry tracking field work. She has sampled more than 600 desert tortoises for USFWS protocol Health Assessments.