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Prairie Dog Translocations.
Habitat Harmony was formed after its founders successfully translocated 150 Gunnison's prairie dogs in 2000 from a colony that had been largely graded over to prepare for a soccer field at Foxglenn Park in Flagstaff, Arizona. This was the first known translocation of Gunnison's prairie dogs in northern Arizona. After incorporating in 2000, Habitat Harmony moved a colony of prairie dogs from Doney Park, just east of Flagstaff. In 2003 we translocated 299 prairie dogs from the Flagstaff Mall expansion site. In 2005 we moved 20 prairie dogs from 4 different sites around Flagstaff, using the sudsing method instead of trapping. This relocation project was preceded by extensive research on the sudsing method, and training from an experienced sudsing relocator from Colorado. In 2007 we moved 16 prairie dogs from a fire station development site on Fort Valley Road. During the summer of 2008, board member Emily Nelson led the effort to move to a safe habitat 195 prairie dogs that would otherwise have been poisoned. The effort was funded by a grant from the Arizona Heritage Fund to study the post release survivial of prairie dogs using different release methods. Humane Management of Prairie Dogs and Wildlife. Habitat Harmony has assisted with the humane management of the prairie dogs at Elden Hills Golf Course and the Continental Sports Complex in Flagstaff, and has consulted with Christensen Elementary School on the management of prairie dogs. We have also assisted the Museum of Northern Arizona with the humane management of its prairie dogs. We consider it to be a significant accomplishment that the Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission required the developer of the Slayton Ranch housing development in Doney Park to consult with Habitat Harmony on the humane management of a prairie dog colony on its development site. We have also worked with Coconino County to develop wildlife disclosure statements that are distributed to home owners in new developments in Coconino County. Influencing Public Policy to Protect Wildlife. Just as important as the relocation work are Habitat Harmony's efforts to influence public policy. We made a significant contribution to the Flagstaff Regional Land Use and Transportation Plan (a twenty year planning document prepared cooperatively by the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County, affecting limitations on urban sprawl and preservation of open space) by adding provisions to protect wildlife and habitat. In 2001, Habitat Harmony was instrumental in promoting a seasonal hunting ban on Gunnison's prairie dogs in Arizona, protecting this vulnerable keystone species during its reproductive season. In 2004, we supported a petition to list Gunnison's prairie dogs under the Endangered Species Act. Habitat Harmony provided input to Arizona Game and Fish Department on a statewide plan for the protection of Gunnison's prairie dogs that was completed in December 2007. Our volunteers respond to email alerts by contacting representatives on important wildlife issues. We organize letter writing campaigns to inform public officials about the value of wildlife and natural spaces. Expert Forum for Wildlife and Open Space. We recently formed the Expert Forum for Wildlife and Open Space as a resource of scientific expertise for the planning processes of the city and the county to insure protection of northern Arizona’s greatest assests: our wildlife and open space. We have twenty three scientists who contribute to the Study Group. They have proven to be instrumental in guiding the process of revising the Regional Land Use and Transportation Plan. The group is currently working with city staff and the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for the Regional Plan to draft goals and policies for the open spaces. In addition, the group is advocating for a Conservation Lands System to become part of the Regional Plan. Wildlife Quick Reference Guide. Northern Arizona has many plans generated by many different agencies that affect the area’s wildlife and habitat. When we became aware that there was not an overview, or summary comparing all of these documents, we decided to create a guide. We hired N.A.U. graduate student Jessica Gist to study the 9 different plans and write a reference guide that would explain the scope and goals of each plan. First Vegetation Map of Flagstaff. In 2009, Habitat Harmony was proud to sponsor Dr. Lawrence Stevens of Stevens Ecological Consulting, LLC as he created a draft habitat map of the City of Flagstaff. To our knowledge, Dr. Stevens’ efforts resulted in the first-ever coarse-scale map showing different vegetation types in the City of Flagstaff. This map is an important first step in determining vegetation cover and wildlife habitat, which will help inform City of Flagstaff urban planning efforts during the current ongoing revisions of both the Regional Plan and the Land Development Code. Working with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) data layers and 2007 aerial overflight photography provided by the City of Flagstaff, and after consulting with Northern Arizona University professors Dr. Tina Ayers (Biological Sciences) and Dr. Paul Beier (Forestry), Dr. Stevens identified eight important coarse-level vegetation types and habitats within city limits. These include:
The team mapped existing land zoning data onto the photographic imagery, and determined the acreage of different zoning designations (building, industrial, roads and roadsides, rural, suburban, urban, unknown, non-City lands, and unclassified lands) on each section of City land. They also estimated the percent of area covered by the eight habitat types on each section, as well as the area occupied by impermeable anthropogenic activities and features. Lastly, they visited several sections to qualitatively evaluate vegetation patterns, and refined a list of invasive species found in Buffalo Park (developed by Dr. Ayers). In addition to providing this first approximation of a City-wide habitat map, Dr. Stevens is compiling a list of animals that occur within City limits, in cooperation with other members of Habitat Harmony’s Expert Forum for Wildlife and Open Spaces. We expect that both the map, data layers, and these important compilations of the City’s fauna will be used (and revised) by City and County urban planners, interested citizens, and conservation groups. To view or download a copy of Dr. Stevens’ draft map and report, Click Here to go to the Expert Forum for Wildlife and Open Space page of our website. For more technical information about the map and data layers, please contact Dr. Lawrence Stevens at farvana@aol.com. Educational Presentations. Habitat Harmony created an educational program on the prairie ecosystem of northern Arizona to use in the "Kid's Care Camps" at Second Chance Center for Animals every summer. In addition to educating the campers at Second Chance, our program was the model for the prairie dog summer camps held at the Museum of Northern Arizona. The education director at Second Chance Animal Shelter is carrying our program that features the wildlife our mountain community to the reservations around Flagstaff. We give adult educational presentations to Con Slobodchikoff's biology class at N.A.U., to the Wildlife Society at N.A.U. and to other local environmental groups. We created an educational display box for the entrance to the Flagstaff Public Library, featuring a mountain grasslands ecosystem. Habitat Harmony volunteers have worked with private landowners removing noxious weeds to improve wildlife habitat, and have assisted Arizona Department of Game and Fish with monitoring the local ebert squirrel population and with observation projects at Aubrey Valley at the black-footed ferret reintroduction site. Additionally, we participate in several annual local wildlife fairs. Our educational brochure, "Our Prairie Dog Neighbors,' completed in 2004 with the cooperation of Northern Arizona University and Arizona Game and Fish Department, is being distributed statewide.
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