It may not be August anymore, but time seems to fly faster now compared to the start of my internship. At the same time, I’ve been working on conservation measures and getting a grasp of site visits. I was given a tour around Travis AFB to see past projects that the Military and Waterway Division team has mitigated for California Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma californiense). The increase of urban development has degraded CTS habitats threatening their existence for them to flourish. With the continuation of climate disturbances, vernal pools, a pivotal environment to continue the breeding cycle, are most impacted by human encroachment and intensive ongoing droughts. The purpose of taking the tour was to become familiarized with exclusion fencing and the pitfall trap system used to prevent CTS from reaching restricted areas that are constantly in use. Exclusion fencing is one conservation measure used to deter wildlife from entering areas that will increase mortality or injury. These fences can be staged in different forms and combined with other materials such as mesh or solid. However, for this location, solid exclusion fences were mainly used to prevent entanglement, desiccation, injury, and death of CTS compared to mesh fences. The picture below shows a portion of the solid exclusion fence placed along the habitat area to prevent CTS from reaching the driveway. This fence includes a sensory motion camera to take pictures of the CTS that cross the staging area for various purposes. Throughout my tour, I understood that a simple site visit not only demonstrates the building of collaborative relationships with the military but to fortify the primary goal that the FWS and Applicants have to conserve and protect viable habitats for the California Tiger Salamander located within the base.

CTS exclusion fencing at Travis AFB. Teresa F/SFWO

I also went to the Delevan National Wildlife Refuge to survey the endangered plant called Palmate-bracted bird’s beak (Cordylanthus palmatus). Before embarking to Delevan NWR, I decided to familiarize myself with the species and eventually realized that Palmate-bracted bird's beak wasn't a bird but a plant. This plant is known for its excretion of moist salt granules and hair-like club-shaped structures. It has adapted to drought-prone areas by having impeccable hemiparasitic rooting systems to obtain resources from plants in its proximity. Although there was plentiful Palmate-bracted bird's beak spread throughout Delevan NWR to survey, these plants still face issues such as non-native plant encroachment and an increase in urban development. Extremely grateful for the opportunity to go help survey with fellow peers from SFWO. 

A special Thanks to Nora Papian for letting me use her Palmate-bracted Bird's Beak photos from Delevan National Wildlife Refuge. 

Palamte-bracted Bird's Beak. Nora Papian/SFWO.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: FWS Regionals

Location: Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office