Goal 2. Establishment and long-term maintenance of populations (or habitat) of Kincaid's lupine, Fender's blue butterfly, sharp-tailed snakes, western gray squirrels, and western bluebirds.

 

Providing long-term habitat for the listed target species is the primary focus of this plan.  However, this plan principally concerns vegetation and actual wildlife management has been left (entirely) to others.  For that reason, Appendix B was commissioned from Barry Schreiber and the Supplemental Reports (including expert consultant contact information) were assembled for this plan. 

 

Kincaid's lupine

 

See Supplemental Report  #3 by Tom Kaye.  This is the most problematic portion of the plan.  Introducing a federally listed Endangered Species onto private land could have all kinds of unforeseen regulatory consequences.  Students at Crescent Valley HS have Kincaid's lupine plants, all necessary federal permits, and a strong interest in transplanting the lupine to private lands, but timing is premature.  It is probably necessary to at least get residential development agreements in place first (Goal 3), before attempting to introduce a federally protected species into the environment. 

 

Federal money seems available to try this introduction, however (see Goal 9).  The basic plan is to involve students in the formal design of an experiment to introduce Kincaid's lupine into the oak savannah environment  (see "Experimental Design").  The introduction would be in the form of a public experiment, with the help of local scientists, and students would display their design and findings on the Internet for peer review and public information purposes. 

 

Fender's blue butterfly

 

See Supplemental Report  #3 by Tom Kaye.  Several of the Add List plants are local species known to be used by Fender's blue butterfly.  At least two of these (buttercups and camas) are also on the Relict List.  These animals haven't been sighted on the project site yet, but the Kaye report indicates they may well migrate to the area, particularly if Kincaid's lupine can be established.  Will they be bluebird prey if they do? 

 

Sharp-tailed snakes

 

See Supplemental Report #4 by Richard Hoyer.  Both Schreiber and Hoyer believe these animals may already exist on the site.  I am preparing to go out with Hoyer in the next few weeks to try and verify their existence.  Snakes live principally on slugs and, according to Hoyer, may actually develop greater

 

population densities in the residential development than in the oak savannah.  Both Shreiber and Hoyer agree that this plan should prove beneficial to snake populations, whether they are already present, or introduced at a later time.

 

Western gray squirrels

 

Schreiber, Hoyer, and Eltzroth all agree that western gray squirrels will likely begin to occupy the new habitat almost immediately, if they aren't there already.  Apparently, most of the gray squirrels in Corvallis are natives (as opposed to Salem, where most of the gray squirrels are exotics), and the wildlife experts seem to agree the opening of this canopy should result in increased local populations of the animal.

 

Western bluebirds

 

See Supplemental Report #5 by Elsie Eltzroth.  Bluebirds began to visit the site before the logging had been completed.  Schreiber and Eltzroth agree that the changed habitat should benefit local bluebird populations.  Birdhouses are currently being set up to augment and better manage bluebird nesting habitat, but long-term plans are to provide nesting habitat through the gradual and episodic dying of limbs, tops, and trees in the oak savannah area.  Birdhouses may continue to be used in the residential and staging (rocked) areas indefinitely.