Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) are hypothesized to be in a long-term population decline. Mitigating this hypothesized decline has been infeasible to date given the deficiency of data on ringtails. To update critically needed information, we are compiling existing observation and community science data while deploying trail cameras, to develop an updated map of ringtail distribution in California. Additionally, there is limited genetic research available and no markers suitable for low-quality sample types typical with non-invasive methods. We aim to fill this knowledge gap by developing genomic markers, a vital first for this species. 

Paleontological evidence shows that Jaguars likely occurred in much of California, and even as far north as Washington State. Specific evidence of Jaguar remains (bones and fossils) indicated that they certainly were found in the southeast Bay Area, the South Coast Range southward through the Los Angeles basin, and east into the western deserts of southern California, as well as along the Colorado River drainage between California and Arizona. Historical evidence, around the time of the European invasion of California, includes direct observations of Jaguars from San Francisco to San Diego, and along the Colorado River drainage. Although no Jaguars exist in the wild in California today, at least 8 individuals have been found in Arizona, within their dispersal distance to California. This suggests that some potential exists for one or more dispersing Jaguars to cross into California, from Arizona or Mexico. Recent suggestion of reintroduction of large predators has prompted consideration of reintroduction of Jaguars into the southwestern United States. However, the first conversation must include careful consideration of the individual animals that may enter southern California and the 25 million people that currently live there. I suggest that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife consider the potential for dispersal of this species and make plans to protect any Jaguars that cross into California.

The Southern Sierra Nevada Distinct Population Segment of fisher (Pekania pennanti) was listed as federally endangered in 2020. Given the dramatic changes in habitat and wildfire activity that have occurred in the Sierra Nevada region over the past decade, understanding the causal factors behind demographic rates is critical for the species’ conservation. Between 2007 and 2017, two large research efforts collected telemetry data on nearly 300 fishers on the Sierra National Forest. To better understand factors driving fisher survival, we revisited this dataset and compared it to several recently developed time-series datasets of habitat change and management activity. We examined the relationships between individual survival and physiology, landscape composition and configuration, and human activities such as hazardous fuel reduction and illegal marijuana cultivation at the home range scale. This information will be crucial in helping to balance fisher conservation with forest restoration work in the new Sierra Nevada landscape.

An essential operational goal for the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) project is the use of zero emission trains operating on 100% renewable energy, between San Francisco to Los Angeles within 3-hours. The HSR Authority recognizes that unintended impacts associated with project must be addressed in parallel with construction and operational goals. Wildlife corridors and safe crossings have been the focus of the early planning, design and permitting decisions. This presentation will highlight mitigation efforts to maintain habitat connectivity and will touch on the design of wildlife underpass corridors, bridges, and viaducts to create a permeable rail line. The placement of 338 various dedicated wildlife crossing structures aims to avoid habitat fragmentation. Construction is nearing completion along the first 119-mile segment in the Central Valley, which covers 15 different habitat types. A Wildlife Crossing Monitoring Program has been developed to better understand how the SJKF and other terrestrial wildlife species interact with the designs of each crossing structure. The findings will be made available to CDFW, USFWS, Caltrans and other agencies to improve other wildlife connectivity programs and guidance documents.

The San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) (SJKF) is an endangered subspecies endemic to California’s San Joaquin Valley. Amidst a landscape dominated by agricultural development, the Kern National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) provides remnant alkali desert scrub habitat for the SJKF and other upland species. However, SJKF observations at the KNWR have significantly dwindled since the 1970s, potentially due to an influx of invasive vegetation. Through an intensive 3-year habitat restoration effort, we have removed 500 acres of invasive salt cedar across KNWR. Considering that salt cedar typically colonizes riparian areas, our study is the first to document salt cedar treatment within an upland ecosystem. Our objective was to commence a multi-year study of SJKF site use patterns across all potential SJKF habitat to assess their long-term response to invasive plant removal. We established paired camera arrays at 12 sites with varying proximity to treated salt cedar stands. We evaluated multiple local site characteristics potentially influencing SJKF movement, prey availability, and predation risk, including shrub density, grass height, proportion of bare ground, and kangaroo rat burrow density. Using multi-scale, single-season occupancy models, we aim to estimate SJKF local site use through predefined biological seasons. Our results may reveal how long it takes SJKF to respond to habitat recovery, and the extent to which invasive plant removal influences site use dynamics compared to other local characteristics.

In recent years southern Sierra Nevada (SSN) forests have experienced rapid environmental change including drought, widespread tree mortality, and mega fires burning over 700,000 acres in 2020-2021 alone. We analyzed 13 years of monitoring data from the US Forest Service’s Sierra Nevada Carnivore Monitoring Program to assess the impacts of these changes on the endangered SSN fisher population and three co-occurring carnivore species (marten, grey fox, ringtail). We used a hierarchical, multi-species occupancy analysis to estimate annual occupancy and detection probabilities incorporating covariates for forest structure tree mortality, fire severity, and climate. We summarized annual occupancy patterns across three regions and three elevation strata. Across the SSN occupancy for fisher and marten fluctuated annually but was relatively stable in some regions but declined significantly for both species on the Sequoia National Forest by 2023. Conversely, by 2022 grey fox occupancy more than doubled compared to the first 3 years of the study. Fisher occupancy also varied across elevation strata with occupancy declining most strongly at low elevations. Fisher occupancy decreased after fire across all fire severity levels, with the greatest decline in areas of high severity fire. However, response to fire varied across species with marten occupancy also declining but grey fox and ringtail occupancy increasing in high severity fire areas. Our results illustrate the value of long-term monitoring data in evaluating the impact of environmental change on wildlife species.