Big-game Preserves and Ranges The numbers of big-game animals on the Bureau's fenced preserves are given in table 6. TABLE 6.-Animals on Fenced Big-game Preserves Maintained by the Bureau of Biological Survey (Estimated) 1 All but this number were transferred to the Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge, Oreg. Kofa and Cabeza Prieta Game Ranges, Ariz.-The desert grasses and shrubs on these ranges were in the best condition they have been for many years, following plentiful fall and winter precipitation. Water was available for all wildlife using the Kofa Range, but the supply on the Cabeza Prieta Range was not adequate. Numerous bighorn sheep were seen regularly on these ranges, but no accurate estimate of their numbers could be made. Gambel's quails were abundant, and coveys could be seen at the watering places at almost any time. National Bison Range, Mont. Of the 54 bighorn sheep on this range at the beginning of the year, 25 were transferred to the Hart Mountain Refuge, Oreg., which is believed to provide the species a more suitable habitat. Desert Game Range, Nev.-About 350 bighorn sheep and 175 deer were estimated to be on this area at the end of the year. Conditions for the big game were excellent. Since the range was established 47 species of mammals and 66 of birds have been recorded. Sheldon National Antelope Refuge, Nev.-Considerable rainfall during the spring months resulted in a good growth of browse for the antelope and other animals, and at the close of the year there were on the refuge about 1,200 antelopes, including about 400 fawns, approximately 300 mule deer, 250 wild horses, and large numbers of sage hens. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Okla.-Spring rains on this refuge put the range in much better condition than in most years and brought up water levels in the lakes, which had been greatly lowered during the acute drought in the preceding summer and fall, when it was necessary to release water from Rush, Jed Johnson, and Elmer Thomas Lakes to supply Fort Sill and the city of Lawton. In January, 24 antelopes were received from New Mexico in exchange for the same number of elk. They appear to have acclimated themselves satisfactorily. With additional range made available by the curtailment of grazing by domestic stock, the longhorn cattle herd was permitted to increase slightly and numbered 171 at the end of the year, compared with 149 in 1939. National Elk Refuge, Wyo.-Although no official enumeration of the elk in the Jackson Hole herd has been made since the spring of 1938, when 17,370 were counted, of which 7,782 were on the refuge, it was estimated that at least 9,000 spent the past winter on the area. Weather conditions were such that it was not necessary to feed them hay, and few losses occurred. DEVELOPMENT OF REFUGES During the fiscal year, projects involving engineering work and inspection were undertaken on 72 refuges, the actual construction being done by C. C. C. and W. P. A. labor. Preliminary surveys were made on 29 refuges, and construction plans were drawn up for 32. In addition, technical information of use in the administration of the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Act was developed and the engineering feasibility of a number of proposed refuges was investigated. As in previous years, one hydraulic engineer attended to the filing of water rights and the protection of water supplies and negotiated with various Federal and State agencies on matters involving the use of water on or affecting the wildlife refuges. He was one of three engineers who represented the United States on the Souris River water adjudication and conferred with Canadian representatives on the distribution of the water of this international stream, on which three of the Biological Survey refuges in North Dakota are situated. Biological Development Food and cover.-In the marsh and aquatic planting program, 200,000 pounds of seeds, tubers, and rootstocks were collected within the refuge system, to meet the needs for biological rehabilitation of newly acquired areas and to hasten natural recovery on lands mismanaged by former owners. Improved seed-collecting technique and abundant crops combined in some instances to provide supplies somewhat in excess of immediate needs and permitted the distribution of material to other public agencies for use in wildlife-habitat improvement. In the development of upland-game habitat, 1,250,000 trees, shrubs, and vines were used, part of which were made available through the cooperation of the Soil Conservation Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, Forest Service, and State conservation departments. About 3,000 pounds of tree and shrub seeds were collected for the propagation of wildlife food and cover plants needed for future development work, some of which were turned over to other agencies for propagation under growing agreements. For improvement of big-game ranges where intense utilization had reduced the forage supply, 12,000 pounds of seed, collected mostly within the refuge system, were used. To establish supplementary feed patches, 14,000 pounds of seeds of legumes and other food plants were sown on quail and turkey management sites. About 30,000 acres of land were cultivated by sharecroppers, under agreements, and by refuge personnel to provide supplementary food for wildlife during critical periods and to aid in sustaining increasing wildlife populations. A large percentage of this acreage was sown to forage crops for geese. On a 5-acre field of millet and buckwheat planted on the Tamarac Refuge, Minn., 33 pheasants, 6 prairie chickens, 12 ducks, 1 Canada goose, and 11 white-tailed deer were seen feeding at one time. Controlled burning.-The recognized importance of controlled burning in marsh management for waterfowl has led to an increased use of fire on coastal areas where field investigations indicate that this practice will be of greatest value. The importance of controlled burning in certain types of marsh vegetation is indicated by the fact that more than 100,000 blue and lesser snow geese fed extensively on burned areas on the Sabine Refuge, La., which they had previously avoided. Extensive field observations were carried on to obtain additional data on the several interrelated factors involved. Controlled burning was also practiced on several hundred acres of land lying within upland-game management demonstration units. Control of noxious aquatics.-Factors favoring the development of an optimum waterfowl habitat also permit the growth of noxious plants that tend to supplant those of high value to wildlife and thereby minimize the utility of the area. Where the problem exists, control measures have been undertaken with noteworthy success, particularly in the reduction of cattails. Special equipment is being developed for future work of this nature. Cover management.-The rapid response to habitat-improvement work on refuges is reflected in increasing wildlife populations, which in several instances have permitted the removal of mature breeding stock for restocking public lands. From the Sand Lake Refuge, S. Dak., 1,830 pheasants were distributed to 6 counties for restocking under the direction of conservation officials of that State. Surplus Ideer and raccoons also were released to various State conservation departments for restocking depleted coverts. Nesting. The design of boxes for tree-nesting ducks was improved on the basis of field investigations of their use. Artificial nesting boxes have produced a material increase in breeding wood ducks and goldeneyes, and 750 new ones were constructed and installed, and many old ones reconditioned. To provide essential habitat features for waterfowl and shorebirds in new impoundments, 49 additional nesting islands were constructed. Winter feeding. During severe winter weather, when it becomes necessary to provide grain for birds unable to find food because of ice and snow, not only is feeding done on the refuges but elsewhere in cooperation with local agencies. Some of the grain used is raised on the refuges, some is purchased, and some is donated by other agencies Federal, State, or private. Through the cooperation of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, 10,896 bushels of mixed grains were obtained from 12 grain-inspection stations. The severe winter of 1939-40 made it necessary to do more feeding than usual. On and adjacent to the Brigantine Refuge, N. J., about 2 tons of grain were distributed daily to some 600 black ducks and other birds, much of it, quickly and effectively, by means of an airplane. Considerable feeding also was done on the White River Refuge, Ark. Civilian Conservation Corps Development on Refuges Work accomplishments.-The C. C. C. continued to have an important part in the long-range program of developing waterfowl and other game refuges. There were C. C. C. camps on 41 National and 1 State wildlife refuge in 26 States. The number of full-strength camps averaged approximately 35, and 1 side camp was used. Among 8 new camps, the one at the Ogden Bay State Refuge, Utah, is especially noteworthy because it is the first C. C. C. activity by the aid of which a State will directly participate under the provisions of the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Act. Work programs were completed by 5 camps, making 20 in all that have finished the development work assigned to them by the Survey. Enrollees detailed by other services worked on 8 other refuges, making a total of 16 refuges improved by C. C. C. enrollees working from side camps or on special details. The development work differed in each locality because of wide variances in soil and water conditions and their influences upon food and cover vegetation but was of the same nature as outlined in previous reports. The following few accomplishments indicate its scope: More than 240 miles of truck and patrol trails, 26 bridges, 70 miles of telephone lines, 80,908 rods of fences, 11 lookout towers, 18 dwellings, 6 overnight cabins, and more than 50 barns, garages, and other service buildings were constructed to enable the personnel to administer the refuges and maintain the sanctuary status effectively and economically. To provide favorable water conditions for wildlife, the enrollees built 8 large diversion dams; moved more than 1,700,000 cubic yards of earth in constructing dikes and levees; excavated more than 660,000 cubic yards of earth and rock to provide 21,570 lineal feet of ditches and canals; built 14 small reservoirs and 96 permanent check dams; cleared and cleaned debris and undesirable growths from approximately 560,000 square yards of water channels and 1,180 acres of lake and pond sites; and built 83 spillways and other water-control structures. They planted desirable food and cover vegetation on 4,696 acres. Job-training and educational programs. In the development work on the refuges thousands of enrollees are given practical training and instruction both in classroom and field, the training being practical rather than theoretical, because classroom work is supplemental to field training, which in turn is supplemental to actual field work, where more than 1,100 trucks, tractors, trail builders, graders, draglines, and other pieces of equipment were used by enrollees under skilled supervision. Of the 610,000 enrollee training hours, about 300,000 were given to instruction in truck, tractor, and dragline operation and repair; welding; surveying; the handling of dynamite; and the construction of roads, bridges, and buildings. Safety program.-The safety program is closely correlated with the training program and is so emphasized that the accident-frequency record for 1940 was better than ever. The 1.35 accidents per 10,000 man-days of work in 1939 dropped to 1.13; that is, there were 1,054,920 |