Science

An invasive marine invertebrate known as “marine vomit,” that can smother native species has been found within Whiting Harbor in Sitka. This non-native carpet sea squirt, Didemnum vexillum, (D. vex) is thought to be native to Japan. It was first detected in Whiting Harbor in 2010 as a result of a citizen-science-marine invasive species bioblitz. Tammy Davis, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), invasive species program lead, was concerned along with other stakeholders including local Sitkans and those who work in the marine invasive species world, about the discovery and potential growth and spread of D. vex in Whiting Harbor.

The BLM Colorado Northwest District fisheries program is working closely with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to help bolster populations of the native Bluehead Sucker in the Yampa River Basin. Last summer the BLM helped CPW stock 5,000 Bluehead Suckers implanted with small electronic tags into Milk Creek, a tributary of the Yampa River located in the Little Snake Field Office. Biologists then deployed several small devices that can collect data from the tagged fish that swim near them.        

The blunt-nosed leopard lizard is the poster child for the San Joaquin desert grassland habitat. This fast running lizard that can leap more than 23 inches to escape predators and catch prey! As an Endangered Species, scientists are actively working to put the blunt-nosed leopard lizard on the path to recovery. The timing the 2012-2014 drought facilitated a study by the BLM, University of California, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and The Nature Conservancy to assess the potential effects of climate change on blunt-nosed leopard lizard.