Date: 6/19/08
Contact: Lynne Foster
Phone: (775) 688-1997

WILDLIFE DIVERSITY BIOLOGISTS WORK TO KEEP WILDLIFE AND THEIR HABITATS HEALTHY

Climbing rocky slopes to abandoned mines. Slogging through wet meadows and marshes. Trekking across arid stretches of desert. All in search of Nevada’s wildlife, like spotted bats, mountain beaver, or pika. This is the job of Nevada Department of wildlife diversity biologists. You can find out more about what they do and why in the recently released Wildlife Diversity annual report on Nevada Department of Wildlife’s website at www.ndow.org.

This report highlights the significant progress NDOW is making to keep wildlife and their habitats healthy and to prevent species from becoming endangered. That includes installing bat-friendly closures to abandoned mines, enclosing marshy thickets to preserve habitat for southwestern willow flycatchers, and gathering distribution information on Gila monsters. Other conservation reports highlighted in this report include the rehabilitation of sagebrush habitats following wildfire in eastern Nevada, the enhancement of aspen and riparian habitats in the Carson Range of western Nevada and the Jarbidge Mountains of eastern Nevada, and the restoration of willow and marsh habitats in southern Nevada.

Dozens of species benefit from recent conservation projects, such as greater sage-grouse, mule deer, pygmy rabbit and Lahontan cutthroat trout.
“By working with species that are indicative of the diversity and health of the state’s ecosystems, we are working to avoid additional formal protections,” explained Laura Richards, the diversity division’s chief.

Richards heads the 17-person division, created in 2002 with an influx of federal funding from the newly created State Wildlife Grants Program. This division also administers the department’s Question 1 Bond Program, the Geographical Information System section and the Landowner Incentive Program. An NDOW staffer also is the wildlife representative for Nevada’s Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.

NDOW shares the accomplishments highlighted in the report with many partners, from conservation organizations to sportsmen’s groups to private citizens. A prime example is a project to re-vegetate large tracks of sagebrush habitat burned in wildfires. A sportsmen’s group funded the construction of a greenhouse for sagebrush and bitterbrush seedling propagation at a local high school. Students learned not only to nurture the plants, but of the importance of stewardship of our wild lands. NDOW provided technical assistance and coordinated planting with local volunteers. Sagebrush is growing, as so are the community and educational links established by this program.

“Not only is proactive conservation the smartest and most efficient way to preserve species,” explained Richards, “it is critical to Nevada’s economy. Should additional species require federal protection, energy development, agriculture, general land development and a host of other economic engines that drive Nevada’s economy could be affected,” Richards continued.

To learn more about NDOW’s Widllife Diversity program, view the colorful 12-page synopsis and the detailed biological report that appears on http://www.ndow.org/about/divisions/wildlife.shtm

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.