Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance

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Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. §§661 666; Fish and Wildlife Act, 16 U.S.C. §742 et seq.; Sikes Act, 16 U.S.C. §§670(a) 670(o); Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. §3101; Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act, 16 U.S.C. §§4701 4741; and Lacey Act, 16 U.S.C §3376(b) The Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) and the Service are collaborating on a project evaluating the nest success for whooping cranes in Wood Buffalo National Park (NP) and identifying the factors limiting nest success (predators and weather). The project will show how the potential work and related costs required to increase recruitment could subsequently aid population growth and persistence. Results of this project will inform decisions on whether to consider and potentially design strategies to mitigate the threats on whooping crane nests and to subsequently increase recruitment and speed this species to recovery (predator control). Funding herein supports implementation of this study. This project addresses the Department of the Interior⿿s (DOI) Secretarial Priority number 1: creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt by identifying limiting factors to whooping crane recovery so these factors can be addressed and recovery of the species accelerated. This work will also address Secretarial Priority number 10: achieving our goals and leading our team forward ⿿ as the Friends of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), CWS and the Service want to recover this species. The limiting factor is recruitment in Wood Buffalo NP. Understanding the causes of recruitment enable the Service to address those causes and accelerate recovery.

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