Region 1

Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly (Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis) The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently released a draft recovery plan on the Delhi sands flower-loving fly for public comment. This unique nectar-eating insect, which mimics hummingbirds with its feeding habits and hovering flight, apparently has very specific habitat needs. It occurs on approximately 155 acres (63 hectares) of habitat distributed among 8 sites within San Bernardino and Riverside counties in southern California. Before wide-scale habitat alteration in this region, the flower-loving fly likely occupied much of the Colton Dunes, encompassing 40 square miles (104 square kilometers) of soils in the Delhi Sands geological formation. About 1,200 acres (485 ha) of suitable habitat remain. The recovery plan focuses on protecting eight existing or established populations within three recovery units. The plan also recommends establishing a captive breeding program for this highly endangered animal.

Region 2

Gulf Coast Animals The Native Gulf Coast Prairie "Safe Harbor" Plan exempts private cooperators in 19 Texas counties from the Endangered Species Act's habitat protection regulations if their management activities attract endangered species to their property. The plan is part of a broader agreement with the Sam Houston Resources Conservation and Development Area, Inc., which provides cost-sharing funds for certain habitat restoration, enhancement, and maintenance activities to participating landowners. Some prairie restoration and range management activities are beneficial both for grazing and for a variety of wildlife, including the endangered Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis) and Attwater's greater prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri). Three cooperators have signed up for the program so far, with land totalling 1,303 acres (527 ha). Potential interest has been voiced by 43 others whose property totals over 130,000 acres (52,610 ha).

Texas Plants The FWS Clear Lake, Texas, Field Office secured funding and landowner cooperation to selectively clear invasive shrubs from 20 acres (8 ha) of historic and current habitat of an endangered plant, the white bladderpod (Lesquerella pallida), and a listing candidate, the Texas golden gladecress (Leavenworthia texana). Both species, native only to Texas (and primarily to only one county), are restricted to exposed outcrops of the Weches geologic formation. This formation consists of a layer of calcareous marine sediments overlying an impermeable layer of clay, resulting in areas that are seepy and wet much of the year but hard and dry during summer. These open islands of thin, alkaline soils support very specialized plant communities.

Previously damaged by road construction and overgrazing, the primary threat to these areas now is extensive encroachment by non-native shrubs. Besides manual clearing of the exotic plants, the FWS has worked with the State's Department of Agriculture to develop reasonable restrictions on the use of a herbicide commonly applied by area landowners. The effort involved more fully identifying the areas of concern, and developing time of usage and application alternatives that would allow landowners to control shrub encroachment without jeopardizing the rare native species.

Region 3

Regional Website Region 3 of the FWS now has its own site on the World Wide Web (http://www.fws.gov/r3pao/r3home.html). Although much of the site is under construction, one important and evolving component is an endangered species section. Future plans call for including photos, maps, and facts for listed and candidate species, as well as for species of concern, throughout Region 3. Recovery progress reports and official announcements may also be added.

Aleutian Canada goose (Branta canadensis leucopareia) Because of continuing progress in the recovery of this subspecies, it may no longer need Endangered Species Act protection. When the recovery program was initiated almost 20 years ago, the subspecies probably numbered only about 800 birds, nesting primarily on Buldir Island in the Aleutian Chain. Years of effort were devoted to removing the arctic fox (Alopex lagopus), an introduced predator, from former nesting islands, and to protecting the geese from hunting on their wintering grounds in Oregon and California. The overall population has now grown to more than 20,000 birds, with self-sustaining nesting populations on three Aleutian islands. Reestablishment of nesting geese is underway at five other islands.

The second year of successful long-distance translocations occurred in 1995, when 184 Aleutian Canada geese were captured on Buldir Island and released on Skagul and Yunaska Islands. On Alaid-Nizki Island, biologists discovered 124 nesting pairs. This is the second reintroduced nesting population, after Agattu Island, to become self-sustaining.