News.Bytes, Bureau of Land Management California ISSUE 782 - October 26, 2017 - Bat Week - Hunting and Fishing - Wildfire - Headlines and Highlights - BLM and DOI Highlights - Wildlife Question of the Week - Upcoming Events BAT WEEK Go To Bat for Bats! There are many different ways to help bats and they are all important. These actions can help protect bats living in our backyards and in our communities. Because everyone has very different skills, resources, capacities, interests, and time, a variety of opportunities are being offered for the 2017 Bat Week Celebration, “Go to Bat for Bats.(batweek.org) Related: Events hosted by BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,f2q4,5ph2,1bct,ijo3 13 Awesome Facts About Bats Called creepy, scary and spooky, bats often get a bad rap. They’re an important species that impact our daily lives in ways we might not even realize. From pollinating our favorite fruits to eating pesky insects to inspiring medical marvels, bats are heroes of the night. Bat Week -- held the last week in October -- celebrates the role of bats in nature and all these amazing creatures do for us. (DOI blog) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,olm,7kuo,1bct,ijo3 BLM and Partners Promote Health of Bat Populations Through partnerships, the Bureau of Land Management promotes the health of bat populations by working to increase the quality and quantity of bat roosting and foraging habitat. Since its founding in 1982, Bat Conservation International has worked to conserve the world’s bat population and their ecosystems in order to ensure a healthy planet. It began after scientists worldwide expressed concern over diminishing bat populations and the effects it might have on our own environment. This partnership between BCI and the BLM has helped to conserve and protect bat roosting sites in the United States. Efforts conducted through this partnership have identified abandoned mines that are no longer suitable for use in the production of natural resources that provide suitable habitat through bat-friendly mine closures to help dwindling bat populations. (My Public Lands Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,5py6,2eaj,1bct,ijo3 HUNTING AND FISHING #HuntFishCA This fall, we joined California Department of Fish and Wildlife to celebrate hunting and fishing on America's public lands. BLM-managed public lands in California offer a wide variety of recreational opportunities; hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, boating and backcountry exploring are among the primary activities on large expanses of public lands. Millions of acres are available for hunting and hundreds of miles of river are available for fishing. The Department of Fish and Wildlife is responsible for over 1 million acres of fish and wildlife habitat, managed through 711 properties throughout the state. These properties provide habitat for a rich diversity of fish, wildlife and plant species. Together, BLM and CDFW are proud to promote the excellent hunting opportunities available on your public lands. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,fa6i,2pxq,1bct,ijo3 Game Cameras - Who's Watching Who? Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks shared crazy game camera snippets! "Game cameras give hunters an idea if the location they choose is a dandy one or a dud. Going back and reviewing the video to see what critters show up can be informational and quite entertaining." (Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,68k8,e4st,1bct,ijo3 Get Hooked on Fishing on Public Lands and Waters Fishing is a favorite outdoor pastime for many people. Alone or with friends and family, fishing can be a fun and relaxing opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. In 2016, over 35 million people went fishing, many of them on public lands and waters. From the calm of fly fishing in a Montana stream to the thrill of sportfishing in the Gulf of Mexico, fishing is a great way to support conservation and inspire your next water-cooler story. (DOI blog) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,1vw0,hlt,1bct,ijo3 New Laws Enhance Poaching Penalties to Better Protect Wildlife As many big game hunting seasons progress into the fall, California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers have a new tool to deter poaching and punish violators for serious poaching crimes. Legislation sponsored by the wildlife conservation community approved enhancements of penalties for the illegal take of trophy-class animals. Under Fish and Game Code section 12013.3 penalties are significantly enhanced for any person convicted of poaching deer, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and wild turkey with certain characteristics that would define them as trophy game animal. (CDFW website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,99li,m012,1bct,ijo3 WILDFIRE A Look Back at the Largest North Coast Wildfires of the Past 50 Years The wildfires in Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties have burned approximately 192,000 acres. But how do these fires measure up to the region's past fires? The largest single fire incident on record remains the 1996 Fork fire, burning approximately 83,057 acres in Lake County, much of which destroyed the Mendocino National Forest. (The Press Democrat) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,91wx,1m6j,1bct,ijo3 Causes of California’s Worst Wildfires: Power Lines, Lightning, Arson, More The causes of California wildfires are numerous and include vehicle sparks, runaway debris burns, runaway campfires, arson attacks, compromised power lines, lawn mowers rolling over dry grass, fireworks, target shooting and lightning. The sources behind this year’s disastrous fires in Wine Country and beyond are not yet known. But here is a look at the causes of some of the most destructive wildfires in the past 30 years, according to state and federal data. (San Francisco Chronicle) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,eb5j,21mq,1bct,ijo3 For an Endangered Animal, a Fire or Hurricane Can Mean the End When a wildfire swept through Arizona, all but 35 rare red squirrels disappeared. After California’s fires and Hurricanes Harvey, Maria and Irma, so did other near-extinct animals... One of North America’s rarest species, the Amargosa vole, also lost part of its remaining habitat in a September fire in the Amargosa Basin near Tecopa, Calif. About 50 of the few hundred remaining mammals perished, said Janet Foley, a professor at the U.C. Davis Veterinary Medicine protection program. (The New York Times) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,194h,e714,1bct,ijo3 Department of the Interior Supports California Wildfire Suppression Efforts The Department of the Interior, along with its Federal and non-Federal firefighting partners, are supporting the on-going efforts of California state and local firefighters who are leading the combined effort to suppress wildfires that have largely impacted state, local and private lands. Nearly 10,000 Federal firefighters are working with state and local firefighters on six large fires in California. Across the Nation this year, more than 51,500 wildfires have burned 8.8 million acres of Federal, State, Tribal, and private lands. (Sierra Sun Times) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,9pzs,7evj,1bct,ijo3 HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS BLM Seeks Public Comment on Environmental Assessment for Perdito Exploration Project The Bureau of Land Management has initiated a 30-day public comment period on the Perdito Exploration Project Environmental Assessment located in Inyo County. Public comments may be received by close of business, Nov. 20. Silver Standard U.S. Holdings Inc. intends to construct seven drill pads and subsequently drill seven diamond core exploration holes to a maximum depth of 1,000-feet deep. To do so, the company wants to build an exploration road on previously disturbed and reclaimed lands. This would allow vehicular access to the drilling site. A BLM-managed dirt road is currently used to access the project area from Saline Valley Road. (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,7l9m,1r0n,1bct,ijo3 BLM Reopens Cow Mountain Recreation Management Area The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office reopened the Cow Mountain Recreation Management Area in Mendocino and Lake Counties on Monday, Oct. 23. The recreation management area was temporarily closed recently due to fire danger. The Redwood and Sulphur Fires, which form the Mendocino Lake Complex Incident, burned nearly 39,000 acres in close proximity to the Cow Mountain Recreation Management Area, but are now listed at 98 percent contained. (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,1xhu,ax2e,1bct,ijo3 Related: Latest fire information via InciWeb → bit.ly/2siVOlO and CAL FIRE → bit.ly/2tqv43i DUI and Registration Checkpoints Scheduled for Halloween Holiday Weekend at the Dunes Bureau of Land Management law enforcement officers will be conducting driving under the influence and registration checkpoints at several locations within Imperial County from Oct. 26 through Oct. 29, between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. Checkpoints are placed in locations based on traffic and high visitor use areas. Locations are chosen with the greatest opportunity for deterring impaired riding and driving, while keeping safety considerations in mind for the public and the officers. (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,5201,nuf,1bct,ijo3 Get Your California Campfire Permit Online Visit preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit - watch a short video - take a quiz - get your online permit - save or print pdf or just bookmark the link on your mobile device to display when needed. We hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween weekend enjoying public lands! North American Association for Environmental Education: 30 Under 30 Karlee calls Arcata, a small town in the heart of the misty Redwoods of Northern California, home. She is currently serving a second term of National Service as a Watershed Stewards Program AmeriCorps Member placed at the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The mission of the Watershed Stewards Program is to conserve, restore, and enhance anadromous (salmon and trout-bearing) watersheds for future generations by linking education with high quality scientific practices. In her first term of service, she served as a Team Leader where she provided Member support to thirteen WSP members and scientists throughout Northern California who partner with different Natural Resources agencies. (NAAEE website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,hq4n,9825,1bct,ijo3 30 Under 30 recognizes individuals in the U.S. and internationally, 30 years of age or younger, who are game changers in their communities. With California Drought Over, Fewer Sierra Pines Dying After five years of drought in which more than 100 million trees died in California — mostly ponderosa pines attacked by tiny bark beetles in the Sierra Nevada — aerial surveys this summer revealed fewer dead pines than last year, a positive turn that researchers hope will continue if the state has another wet winter. (KQED Science) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,1x4r,b0b0,1bct,ijo3 Related: Forest Service Aerial Detection Monitoring (USFS website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,5dxo,7pxm,1bct,ijo3 Military Vehicle Preservation Association Historic Convoy Visited the California Desert After traveling more than 2,000 miles from Chicago, the Military Vehicle Preservation Association’s convoy of more than 45 historic military vehicles rolled into Needles, California on Monday, October 10. The convoy, celebrating the 91st Anniversary of the dedication of U.S. Highway 66 or Route 66, was greeted to a hero’s welcome by the City of Needles, the BLM’s California Desert District and the California Historic Route 66 Association. The convoy paid tribute to America’s war veterans, celebrated the military history of the General Patton Desert Training Center, and the contributions of Route 66 and BLM-managed public lands during World War II. The convoy followed the original Route 66 alignment across BLM-managed public lands in the Mojave Desert from Needles to Barstow, enroute to its final destination in Santa Monica. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,1w1l,b59n,1bct,ijo3 BLM Announces New Manager for Eagle Lake Field Office, Susanville Brian Novasak, an experienced natural resource administrator with a broad background, has been named manager of the Bureau of Land Management Eagle Lake Field Office in Susanville. (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,5do1,hxkk,1bct,ijo3 BLM Seeks Help Finding Missing Informational Panel from Historic Route 66 California Gateway Site On Oct. 23, the Bureau of Land Management discovered an informational panel went missing from the Historic Route 66 California Gateway Site, south of Needles. The site is located near the intersection of Five Mile Road and Interstate 40 in San Bernardino County, CA. The Bureau of Land Management, Needles Field Office is requesting information from the public and neighboring law enforcement agencies related to this or any similar type of incident in the surrounding tri-state area. (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,l7uo,ch6w,1bct,ijo3 BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS BLM Seeks Public Comment on Greater Sage-grouse The Bureau of Land Management announced opportunities for the public to comment and share issues on the agency’s consideration of potential amendments to its Nevada and California land use plans, specifically elements of land use plans that address greater sage-grouse conservation. Meetings cover Northern Nevada, including one slated for Elko on Nov. 8. (Elko Daily Free Press) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,abwv,9cc8,1bct,ijo3 Related: Public meeting on Nov. 3 for proposed land use plan amendments for sage-grouse conservation (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,116q,63y0,1bct,ijo3 Secretary Zinke Announces Largest Oil and Gas Lease Sale in U.S. History U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced that the Department is proposing the largest oil and gas lease sale ever held in the United States --76,967,935 acres in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The proposed region-wide lease sale, offering an area about the size of New Mexico, is scheduled for March 2018 and includes all available unleased areas on the Gulf’s Outer Continental Shelf, surpassing last year’s region-wide lease sale by about one million acres. (DOI news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,hayw,b3k9,1bct,ijo3 BLM Announces Three Selections for National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board The Bureau of Land Management announced that the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture have made selections for the three open positions on its nine-member National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. Mr. Fred T. Woehl, Jr. of Harrison, Arkansas, has been reappointed for the category of public interest (equine behavior); Dr. Sue M. McDonnell of West Chester, Pennsylvania, has been reappointed for the category of wild horse and burro research; and Mr. James French of Winnemucca, Nevada, has been newly appointed for the category of natural resources management. Each individual will serve a three-year term on the Advisory Board. (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,j8qr,ay7z,1bct,ijo3 BLM Third Quarter Oil and Gas Lease Sales Hit Combined $170.7 Million In keeping with the Administration’s goals of promoting America’s energy dominance, seven Bureau of Land Management state offices generated $170.7 million in bonus bids during their quarterly oil and gas lease sales. Among these sales, rights to a total of 218 parcels, covering 134,834.71 acres were sold. (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,1e9e,lwww,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK Are you adventurous, shy, flamboyant or mysterious? What bat personality would suit you best? Find out by taking the Bat Conservation International quiz! http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,i4hk,mctm,1bct,ijo3 UPCOMING EVENTS Now - January: Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Events The BLM offers wild horses and burros for adoption or purchase at events across the country throughout the year. Upcoming wild horse and burro adoption events are planned into 2018. The most current adoption and purchase event schedule is provided on the BLM website. All times are in local time. Event information is shown in local time and subject to change without notice. Please call the Wild Horse and Burro Information Call Center at (866) 468-7826 for the most updated information. (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,ft0j,cdp8,1bct,ijo3 Related: Redlands Off-Range Corral just received some new wild horses and burros available for adoption, and some can be purchased! (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,jpy6,t0s,1bct,ijo3 Now - April 30: Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Announces Winter Visitor Center Schedule http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,knnw,b6h2,1bct,ijo3 As the Coachella Valley begins to move into the winter months, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center will initiate its winter visitor center schedule. From October 1 to April 30, 2018, the visitor center will be open five days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday to Monday, and close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. (BLM news release) October 23-31: “Going to Bat for Bats” in the Coachella Valley. Help celebrate BatWeek, October 24 to 31, 2017. Bat Week is an annual celebration of bats and this year marks the fourth year of this bat-tastic educational outreach program. Numerous organizations and agencies across the United States and Canada will be leading projects and events throughout the week to learn, support and get the word out about how amazing bats really are! (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,e8lz,lrpl,1bct,ijo3 October 28 and November 18: National Public Lands Day Events Near Palm Springs, California BLM's Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office has a National Public Lands Day event for everyone! Save the date for five volunteer opportunities in Dulzura, Mountain Center, Morongo Valley, Desert Hot Springs and La Quinta, California. Contact the Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office at (760) 833-7100 for more information. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,htmx,l7ls,1bct,ijo3 November 4: BLM Offers Point Arena-Stornetta Tours and Coastal Hike Join the Bureau of Land Management for a series of guided nature hikes along the coastal trail overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Point Arena-Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument this fall. As stewards, the BLM manages a variety of recreation and visitor services across the nation, providing unique outdoor opportunities. The tours will focus on exploring the natural world, wildlife, native and invasive plants and teaching participants what they can do to protect habitat for endangered species, including the threatened western snowy plover and coho salmon, and endangered California red-legged frog, Point Arena mountain beaver and Behren’s silver spot butterfly. (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,276i,iukf,1bct,ijo3 November 6-9: Maintenance Scheduled for Amboy Crater Access Road The Bureau of Land Management Amboy National Natural Landmark Recreation Area will be undergoing an asphalt surface treatment, cracks repair and sealing, and pavement markings of the area’s access road and parking lots from Nov. 6 to 9. The temporarily vehicular traffic road closure will help the BLM keep public landscapes healthy and productive, while ensuring public safety and increasing project efficiency. (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,1k4j,1tp2,1bct,ijo3 November 11-12: Fee-Free Days on BLM-managed Public Lands The unique and diverse natural landscapes and world-class visitor facilities on BLM-managed lands are among America’s greatest treasures, and most of these lands and waters are open for recreational use. Through the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, the BLM and other Federal agencies -- including U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -- collect recreation fees to maintain and improve the quality of visitor services and amenities. Visitors may purchase recreation passes that cover many recreation fees. On fee free days, recreation standard amenity and day use fees on Bureau of Land Management lands are waived. (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,9xb,kwu8,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER Are you adventurous, shy, flamboyant or mysterious? What bat personality would suit you best? Find out by taking the Bat Conservation International quiz! http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,abn0,6kjy,1bct,ijo3 The Earth without bats would be a very different and much poorer place. More than 1,300 species of bats around the world are playing ecological roles that are vital to the health of natural ecosystems and human economies. Many of the more than 1,300 bat species consume vast amounts of insects, including some of the most damaging agricultural pests. Others pollinate many valuable plants, ensuring the production of fruits that support local economies, as well as diverse animal populations. Fruit-eating bats in the tropics disperse seeds that are critical to restoring cleared or damaged rainforests. Even bat droppings (called guano) are valuable as a rich natural fertilizer. Guano is a major natural resource worldwide, and, when mined responsibly with bats in mind, it can provide significant economic benefits for landowners and local communities. (Bat Conservation International website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2yekh,3xn3,ajiw,95if,1bct,ijo3 News.Bytes is a publication of the Bureau of Land Management California. Bureau of Land Management California State Office 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W1623 Sacramento, Ca 95825 (916) 978-4600 www.blm.gov/ca/
