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| Keywords: wildlife nature t&e te threatened and endangered threatenedandendangered public lands publiclands research science partnership outdoors california desert drought blmcalifonia animals climate change climatechange habitat vole study The Amargosa vole inhabits discontinuous pockets of marsh along the Amargosa River between the towns of Shoshone and Tecopa—a rare section where surface flows are maintained year around. The marshy areas, which range from less than 1 acre up to about 5 acres in size, are fed by perennial tributary springs and deep underground aquifers along the river. Severe drought conditions over the past few years, in conjunction with long-term water management issues, have likely dramatically reduced the quality of a key marsh patch for the Amargosa vole where 80-90% of the world population of this species currently exist. The Amargosa Vole population normally hovers at 100-200 individuals, but has recently dropped to fewer than 35 at one point this year — making the vole a new poster child for climate change. The team, made up of researchers from U.C. Davis, the BLM, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.C. Berkeley, took action to save the species. Efforts included habitat stabilization in key population areas, a translocation effort to move some of the animals into other habitat areas, a captive breeding program to help study and supplement wild populations, and recreation of habitat on private lands. Photo by Don Preisler, U.C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The Amargosa vole inhabits discontinuous pockets of marsh along the Amargosa River between the towns of Shoshone and Tecopa—a rare section where surface flows are maintained year around. The marshy areas, which range from less than 1 acre up to about 5 acres in size, are fed by perennial tributary springs and deep underground aquifers along the river. Severe drought conditions over the past few years, in conjunction with long-term water management issues, have likely dramatically reduced the quality of a key marsh patch for the Amargosa vole where 80-90% of the world population of this species currently exist. The Amargosa Vole population normally hovers at 100-200 individuals, but has recently dropped to fewer than 35 at one point this year — making the vole a new poster child for climate change. The team, made up of researchers from U.C. Davis, the BLM, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.C. Berkeley, took action to save the species. Efforts included habitat stabilization in key population areas, a translocation effort to move some of the animals into other habitat areas, a captive breeding program to help study and supplement wild populations, and recreation of habitat on private lands. Photo by Don Preisler, U.C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. | ||||
