Extreme Elk Hunting

Public input sought on establishing new breeding locations, experimental populations

PHOENIX — On the brink of disappearing from the United States with only 21 animals remaining in 2002, the endangered Sonoran pronghorn population in the U.S. is growing. An estimated 68 animals grace the landscape, thanks in part to extensive cooperative management efforts, captive breeding, irrigation for forage and protection from predation. Now, the species is ready for the next step — recovery.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has drafted an environmental assessment (EA) as part of the process to establish a second U.S. population into its historical habitats of southwestern Arizona. The two areas being considered are in the King Valley of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (Kofa NWR) and the Barry M. Goldwater Range-East (BMGR-E).

To allow for greater management flexibility in the reintroduction effort, the plan proposes that these new populations be designated as “experimental, nonessential populations” as classified under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act.

On Feb. 23, a public information session on the proposal will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m., followed by a public hearing from 7-8:30 p.m. on the experimental population designation. The event will be held at the Gila Bend High School located at 308 N. Martin Ave. in Gila Bend. Written and oral comments will be collected at the hearing.

In addition to the meeting opportunity, the public can submit comments on the proposals by:

• U.S. mail: Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Attention: Refuge Manager, 1611 N. Second Ave., Ajo, AZ 85321
• Fax: (520) 387-5359
• E-mail: James_Atkinson@fws.gov
• Online: www.regulations.gov, reference document id FWS-R2-ES-2009-0077

 The draft environment assessment for establishing additional locations and the Federal Register listing proposing the populations as experimental are available for review at www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Library under “documents added within last 90 days” or by contacting the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge at (520) 387-6483. 

“10(j) designation goes a long ways towards facilitating the actual release of animals on the ground,” said Eric Gardner, nongame branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The experimental designation allows a more collaborative approach, garners support, and helps develop partnerships between stakeholders, landowners, and other federal, state and local officials.”

Previous reintroduction efforts of endangered species using 10(j) classification include the black-footed ferret and the California condor.

Gardner added, “Multiple populations for a species are critical to recovery efforts and are more desirable than one population because they help prevent a single regional catastrophic event (e.g., disease, weather events, high predation rate) from causing the entire species or population to disappear from an area or altogether become extinct.”

For a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fact sheet on experimental populations, visit www.fws.gov/southwest/docs/ES10jFactSheet.pdf.

To learn more about the Sonoran pronghorn, one of five subspecies of the American pronghorn, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov.