Response of Wildlife to Forest Restoration Activities in the Panhandle Region of Crater Lake National Park

Mohren, Sean

In response to a planned restoration effort in the Panhandle region, the wildlife team at Crater Lake National Park began surveying the Panhandle region of the Park for rare and threatened species including the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator), and fisher (Pekania pennanti). The northern spotted owl was listed at “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act by the USFWS in 1990 and has been on a steady decline in the Park. The fisher is a Federal Candidate species and is currently being reviewed to be listed as “threatened” in 2016 by the USFWS. While not abundant, the fisher has been documented occupying Crater Lake National Park during the summer and winter months. The Sierra Nevada red fox is a rare subspecies of fox that was thought to only occur in 2 locations in California when it was petitioned to be listed in 2011. More recent surveys have documented a few individuals in Oregon including Crater Lake National Park. Upon review for listing, the USFWS subdivided this population of red fox into two distinct population segments, one in southern California and one in northern California and Oregon. It was their determination that the northern distinct population segmented, which includes the population in Crater Lake National Park, did not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act at this time. Ultimately, we want to ensure the planned forest restoration project does not have any immediate or long-term negative effects to these rare species. In addition to rare species surveys, the wildlife team is also taking this opportunity to examine the effects of this forest rehabilitation project on the rodent (mice, voles, shrews, and woodrats) and small mammal (chipmunks and squirrels) community. Crater Lake National Park is thought to be home to five mice, seven voles, six shrews, two woodrats, five chipmunks, and four squirrel species that have the potential to occur within the project area. This group of species plays a critical role in the overall health of the ecosystem in and around Crater Lake National Park. Small mammals and rodents make up an important part of the food web and are often relied upon as a food source by both common and rare species of the Park such as red fox, spotted owls, and pine marten. They are partially responsible for distributing nuts, seeds, and fungi throughout the forest. In addition, they assist with the aeration of the soils through burrow development. The overall goal of this project is to better understand the effects of this restoration effort on the rodent and small mammal community in the Panhandle region of Crater Lake National Park and to ensure the project does not have any short or long-term negative impacts to rare wildlife species. The objectives include: 1) understanding the use of the Panhandle area by rare species including the Northern spotted owl, fisher, and Sierra Nevada red fox; 2) determining the diversity of rodents and small mammals in the Panhandle before and after the restoration project; and 3) examining the change in abundance and distribution of rodents and small mammals after the restoration project is implemented.

Response of Wildlife to Forest Restoration Activities in the Panhandle Region of Crater Lake National Park

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