This cooperative agreement- between the U.S. Fish and wildlife service (service) and pacific rim conservation- INC.(PRC) is being implemented in order to provide technical assistance and personnel…

This cooperative agreement- between the U.S. Fish and wildlife service (service) and pacific rim conservation- INC.(PRC) is being implemented in order to provide technical assistance and personnel to assist with culebra NWR predator fence feasibility and implementation plan. This fieldwork will focus on defining appropriate fence alignments- and providing an implementation plan that gives the refuge all the necessary information from which to begin construction on this project. The island of culebra lies approximately 17 miles to the east of the main island of puerto rico. Culebra NWR- part of the caribbean islands NWR complex- consists of 1-510 acres and includes 22 offshore cays surrounding the main island of culebra with dry forest and mangrove patches on the main island. The flamenco peninsula unit of the refuge is important for sooty tern nesting and is located on the northwestern part of the island of culebra. Unfortunately- the introduction of non-native mammals (cats- dogs- rats- goats- and white-tail deer) has resulted in large scale predation on seabirds and population declines. These invasive species destroy eggs- kill young and adult birds- trample nests- and cause colony abandonment. Eradication of invasive species is identified as a conservation strategy needed to achieve objectives related to migratory seabirds as well as for the restoration of native subtropical dry forest. The purpose of this project is to identify- visit- and assess the potential of installing a predator exclusion fence across the flamenco peninsula and subsequent predator eradication and control within the fence and to provide an implementation plan for this project. The deliverable will be a report identifying the preferred fencing alignment- and assessing the feasibility- cost- and benefits of various fencing strategies for the preferred fencing alignment.