Wildlife_SOW_Rev_A.rtf

Statement of Work

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Office

1. Background Baseline work with our population of the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (EDB) was initially related to the 202K Grow the Force Environmental Assessment in 2008. Almost six years of monitoring have been completed by the same contractors that initiated the work/study in 2008. Results are indicating that our maritime (coastal) rattlesnake population is behaving differently than the inland populations. Additionally with recent timber management activities, there are concerns that human/EDB interactions could increase. Therefore, further monitoring, tracking, population evaluations and translocation/relocation work are necessary to fully understand this species, habitat management actions and recruit training activities so that we can manage it and its habitat more effectively. The current proposal is follow on work to explore translocating/relocating EDB’s off-Depot to determine if this is a viable alternative of reducing the population. Preliminary work of translocating individuals within the Depot indicated that EDB’s exhibited strong homing behavior and returned to their home range. Therefore this next phase of research is concentrating on off-Depot relocation or translocation to determine if this is a feasible alternative to reducing the Depot’s population, increasing an off-Depot site’s population and at the same time ensure that those individuals can survive in the new location.

MCRDPI also seeks to re-establish populations of Southern Fox Squirrel (SFS) and Wild Turkey (WT) as part of a comprehensive restoration plan and stewardship of the Depot’s natural resources. The study design should be focused on two parties as representatives of many potential conservation partnerships in the southeastern U.S. – MCRDPI and an appropriate receiving property with the appropriate wildlife habitat. The study design should be centered on a conservation/mitigation partnership in which two parties are interested in using translocations to increase biological integrity and ecosystem services, but have very different land use requirements. This project will help us to proactively manage these resources around the recruit training mission per the Depot’s Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan and MCO 5090.2a, Chapter 11 – Natural Resources Management. The EDB is a species of concern and is under review for proposed listing under the Endangered Species Act. Therefore, this work may result in information and data that can aid in managing and protecting the EDB, as well as maintain compliance with the ESA.

2. Objectives The utility of translocating in Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus) as a management protocol for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island (MCRDPI) will be examined/tested. The EDB population on the MCRDPI will serve as the donor population from which 10-15 adults will be translocated to a willing property owner with the appropriate wildlife habitat as determined by the contractor. This location/property owner must be willing to accept these animals, allow them to free-range and monitor/track or allow for monitoring and tracking for at least a year. Adult EDB’s will be translocated that have been radio-telemetrically monitored for at least one year prior to translocation. Following translocation, monitoring of snakes will be continued for one year using radio telemetry. Free-ranging EDB’s will be equipped with VHS radio transmitters (models: SI-2, 11g, Holohil, Inc.; R1535, 15g, ATS) via surgical implantation. Snakes will be radio located 3-5 days each week. Translocation of Fox Squirrel and Wild Turkey to Parris Island will require live-trapping at multiple approved donor sites for each species. Trapping methods will consist of wooden box traps (Fox Squirrel) and rocket nets (Wild Turkey). Both capture methods are the established techniques for their respective species. Both species will also require identifying markers and radio transmitters in order to gather quality data on survivability and habitat use in a manner consistent with scientific research. Monitoring activities should continue through at least one reproductive cycle. Fox squirrels will be marked with ear tags (no.1 Monel) and VHF radio collars (ATS M1640). Wild turkeys will be marked with aluminum leg bands (No.8 female or No.9 male) and outfitted with either VHF radio backpacks (ATS A-1540) or GPS backpacks (TBD).

The objective of our study is to use eastern diamondback rattlesnake translocations to increase ecological integrity by maintaining and increasing native biodiversity at both sites, and to mitigate human caused mortality of a federal candidate species. A central theme of the study is that conservation must integrate public approval and human land use at a landscape-scale to successfully maintain/restore ecological integrity and thus maximize ecosystem services. A main goal of our "integrated landscape approach" is to use translocations to better match native biodiversity to current land use practices. Specifically, we will increase PI's native biodiversity by repatriating fox squirrels, wild turkeys and bobwhite quail (the first stage of which will be fox squirrels and wild turkey). Further, these charismatic species may be used as outreach tools to better inform the public about conservation and increase public acceptance. Additionally, our integrated landscape approach will use eastern diamondback rattlesnake translocations to reduce local densities, potentially mitigating the risk of negative human-rattlesnake interactions on PI, while repatriating or subsidizing the free-ranging rattlesnake population on the accepting wildlife habitat property.

This project will result in the development of a management model to guide Depot natural resources personnel in reducing the probability of negative human-EDB interactions. Radio telemetry (RT) research will complement current efforts on PI aimed at reducing negative rattlesnake-human encounters. The monitoring data collected from the previous work along with this project will be used to assess pre-treatment EDB movement patterns, life history and habitat associations. This study will further aid MCRD natural resources personnel given human safety issues stemming from military activities (personnel, training and development) in EDB habitat on the MCRD.

Specifically, this work will continue to 1) determine year-round EDB habitat use on the MCRDPI; 2) model seasonal differences in EDB population densities within the current MCRDPI timber management regimes and training areas; 3) help determine whether potential EDB redistribution off Depot is feasible and, if so, can help to prevent or mitigate negative human-snake interactions; 4) increase MCRDPI’s biodiversity by re-establishing Wild Turkey and Southern Fox Squirrel, as well the accepting property’s biodiversity by enhancing Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake populations.

3. Scope The results of this project will enable the Depot natural resources personnel to better manage: 1) the natural resources around the training mission; 2) the habitat necessary to support wildlife in which we are charged with managing; 3) help to better protect personnel from EDB interactions; 4) and potentially increase the biodiversity of the Depot.

4. Tasks

Project Milestones/Completion Dates (Estimates) Task Number Work Milestones Projected Completion Date Conduct visual surveys and monitor/track previously implanted EDB’s – need 10 to 15 individuals with at least 1 years’ worth of tracking data.

July 2015 Capture, re-implant transmitters in EDB’s, collect data, translocate to an accepting wildlife habitat property.

Aug 2015 Track/monitor translocated EDB’s, collect data.

May 2016 Trap WT’s and SFS’s from multiple donor sites, collect data, install bands/tags/monitoring devices, translocate to MCRDPI.

Aug 2015 Track/monitor translocated WT’s and SFS’s collect data.

May 2016 Analyze data from EDB monitoring/tracking; develop final report and preliminary adaptive management protocol.

June 2016 Analyze data from WT and SFS monitoring/tracking; develop final report and preliminary adaptive management protocol.

June 2016

Task 1 - Conduct visual surveys and monitor/ track previously implanted EDB’s Monitor, track previously implanted EDB’s (with at least a year’s worth of tracking data) and record data on tracked individuals. Study will require no more than 15 individuals but no less than 10 for translocation to the receiving wildlife habitat property.

Task 2 – Capture, Re-Implant Transmitters in Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes translocate to the receiving property.

Capture transmittered EDB’s that have been tracked/utilized in the previous research. Record data on individuals such as biostatistics, location captured and weather. Re- implant individuals with new transmitters in order to assure at least another year’s worth of tracking life. Translocate individuals after transmitter surgery recovery to the receiving wildlife habitat property.

Task 3 - Track/monitor translocated EDB’s, collect data.

Track/monitor transmittered individuals 3-5 days/week. Collect/record data on movements, locations, weather, habitat, etc.

Task 4 - Trap WT’s and SFS’s from multiple donor sites, collect data, install bands/tags/monitoring devices, translocate to MCRDPI.

Trap between 15-24 WT’s and 20-24 SFS’s from multiple approved donor sites. Collect/record physical data, locations, habitat type for individuals. Install tags/bands and monitoring devices on individuals. Translocate to MCRDPI.

Task 5 - Track/monitor translocated WT’s and SFS’s collect data.

Track/monitor transmittered WT and SFS individuals 3-5 days/week. Collect/record data on individuals, movements, locations, habitat, weather, etc.

Task 6 - Analyze data from EDB monitoring/tracking; develop final report and preliminary management protocol.

This should be developed based on the information gathered from the inventory and monitoring/tracking work performed throughout the year. Information such as survivorship throughout the year, habitat preferences through the seasons, home range requirements and population densities within these habitats shall be utilized to develop the model. This will provide some predictive capabilities for personnel to manage the habitat for future training, resource management and personnel/animal protection.

Task 7 - Analyze data from WT and SFS monitoring/tracking; develop final report and preliminary management protocol.

This should be developed based on the information gathered from the inventory and monitoring/tracking work performed throughout the year. Information such as survivorship throughout the year, habitat preferences through the seasons, home range requirements and population densities within these habitats shall be utilized to develop the model. This will provide some predictive capabilities for personnel to manage the habitat for future training, resource management and personnel/animal protection.

5. Deliverables

The contractor shall deliver a preliminary draft of the final report with project methods, results and relevant management strategy protocols for translocating EDB’s, WT’s and SFS’s to the MCRDPI Natural Resources Manager (NRM) and the appropriate personnel at the receiving property for review by July 2016. One printed copy of any supporting material and one CD-ROM shall be submitted. The contractor shall submit GIS layers and metadata of sample points, movements, species home range maps and habitat use to the MCRDPI NRM and appropriate personnel at the receiving property for review and quality control by July 2015.

6. Government Furnished Property, Material, Equipment or Information

The Government will support the contractor with locally derived GIS maps and data layers such as roads, wetlands, training areas, installation restoration sites, forested areas in order for the contractor to develop sample sites, deploy equipment and make other decisions needed to adequately perform the work. MCRDPI will supply transmittered EDB’s that will be tracked and captured by the contractor.

7. Security

There will be no special security requirements other than the standard contractor access pass process through Depot’s Provost Marshal’s Office (PMO) at 584 Wake Blvd and the Depot’s Security Office (DSO) located in the Commanding General’s building #154, Room 106.

8. Travel

The contractor is responsible for making any travel arrangements required to support this work. A vehicle pass will be required through the DSO background check process and through PMO. A valid driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of vehicle insurance will be required by PMO for the vehicle pass.

9. Special Material Requirements

N/A

10. Other Unique Requirements

The contractor’s radio telemetry work will require usage of the VHF 164 MHz range. This channel has been approved for usage through the G-6 office.

11. Place of Performance

The field work will be performed within the boundaries of the MCRDPI and appropriate wildlife habitat as determined by the contractor.. The data analysis and other computer support will be performed by the contractor at their place of business.

12. Period of Performance

The period of performance shall be 01 July 2015 – 30 Jun 2016