United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services 463 West Street Amherst, MA 01002 Toll free 866-4USDA WS Phone 413-253-2403 Fax 413-253-7577

Janurary 27, 2017 Jorge J. Ayub Coastal Ecologist MA Department of Conservation and Recreation 251 Causeway Street, Suite 700 Boston, MA 02114-2119 Mr. Ayub, This proposal is in regard to the management of beach predators at Sandy Point State Reservation in Ipswich, MA during the 2017 shorebird nesting season. The context of this proposal will be a comprehensive outline of Wildlife Services (WS) projected activities that should be conducted to reduce predation on shorebird populations. During previous nesting seasons, WS has deemed four (4) wildlife species as “major predators”. These species are American crow, red fox, Eastern coyotes and raccoons. These species have been labelled major predators because of confirmed predation. Each species has been responsible for shorebird predation at various times of the year and will require different management practices. During the 2016 nesting season, WS has documentation of great horned owls frequenting Sandy Point State Reservation during the shorebird nesting season but there has not been documentation of predation from this species. In 2017, WS proposes the use of mock piping plover exclusions baited with hard-boiled chicken eggs monitored by infrared cameras to monitor for avian predation. If American crows are observed WS recommends using DRC-1339 COR to control these predators that may “key in” on piping plover exclusions. Pre-baiting and mock exclusion setup will be conducted by WS staff. WS suggests constructing three (3) mock exclusions in similar locations as 2016. When WS staff observes 100% pre-bait uptake, WS will conduct a DRC-1339 application. WS recommends the MA DCR maintain their USFWS migratory bird depredation permit for the removal of great horned owls, because they pose a threat to nesting of least terns and piping plovers. The permit should list employees of USDA WS as subpermitees. WS can then conduct night operations for the removal of great horned owls through the use of live traps or by sharpshooting. It is very important that DCR staff or other monitoring staff take notes on predator activity while working on the beach. Dates, times, weather conditions and pictures of unknown tracks are all important data that should be recorded and relayed to WS during the nesting season. In 2016 and in years prior, Eastern coyotes and red fox were responsible for a portion of the overall predation on Sandy Point State Reservation and on bordering properties and need to be managed to alleviate predation. WS will conduct all site visits to conduct shooting activities with the use of suppressed rifles and/or shotguns with non-toxic shot. Attempts to remove red fox and Eastern coyotes should be conducted prior to nesting and should continue through the nesting season. WS will also assist MA DCR in renewing or modifying their USFWS and MA DFW depredation permits in order to conduct all listed activities in 2017. All of the above activities listed are what WS believes need to be done to show a positive impact to nesting success of shorebirds on Sandy Point State Reservation. Every year brings different weather patterns, habitat changes and predator activity and activities that need to be conducted to alleviate predation can change. This work plan is written to have flexibility to allow changes during the nesting season. At your request, our office has developed this proposal for a program to conduct direct control of both avian and mammalian predators at Sandy Point State Reservation. The cost for a Cooperative Service Agreement (CSA) providing six months of control, consisting of a minimum of six (6) control visits will be for a total of $5,800. These visits can be used for any of the activities; trapping, shooting or DRC-1339

Safeguarding American Agriculture APHIS is an agency of USDA’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

COR applications. Wildlife Services will schedule control visits and may increase or decrease visits during the agreement depending on predator presence and activity. Wildlife Services will also provide MA DCR with a report of all activities conducted within the 2017 nesting season to include a qualitative assessment of how effective the effort was, unanticipated challenges that were encountered during the 2017 nesting season and preliminary recommendations for future efforts. The start date for the proposed CSA drafted is 1 March, 2017 until 31 August, 2017. This date can be changed to any date agreed upon by both WS and MA DCR. Thank you, Erik S. Shaffer, Wildlife Specialist USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services 463 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002 866-487-3297 toll free in MA, CT & RI 413-253-7577 fax 413-658-4446 cell

Federal Relay Service (Voice/TTY/ASCII/Spanish) 1-800-877-8339

United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services 463 West Street Amherst, MA

01002 T: 413-253-2403 F: 413-253-7577

December 26, 2017

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Field Headquarters

One Rabbit Hill Road

Westborough, MA 01581

Push = Push/Walking Spot = Spotlight/FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared)/Survey

Call = Calling Trap = Trapping

Subject: Permit#:047.17LP Report for Horseneck Beach State Reservation Predators

Date

Method(s) Used &

Approximate Man Hours

Number

of hours

for crow

work

Species Observed Number

Taken

Number

Dispersed Push Spot Call Trap

3/29/17 0 6 4 0 0 Eastern Coyote 0 1

4/05/17 0 2 0 0 4 n/a n/a n/a

4/17/17 0 4 4 0 4 n/a n/a n/a

4/24/17 0 4 0 0 4 AMCR 5 0

5/02/17 0 1 0 0 4 n/a n/a n/a

5/09/17 0 6 2 0 4 GHOW 1 0

5/24/17 0 6 4 0 0 n/a n/a n/a

6/08/17 0 6 6 0 0 Eastern Coyote 0 1

6/20/17 0 6 6 0 0 Eastern Coyote 0 1

7/05/17 0 8 8 0 0 Eastern Coyote 0 1

8/02/17 0 4 0 0 6 n/a n/a n/a

Totals

11 site

visits

0

hours

53

hours

34

hours 0 hours

26

hours

AMCR 5 0

Eastern Coyote 0 4

GHOW 1 0

On March 29 2017, WS began predator management activities to include after dark mammal

surveys and the use of mock piping plover exclosures in an effort to alleviate American crow

predation. An estimated five (5) American crows were taken with DRC-1339 COR. One (1)

GHOW was removed through the use of firearms.

Subject: Permit#: 047.17LP Report for South Cape Beach State Park Beach Predators

Date

Method(s) Used &

Approximate Man Hours Number of

hours for

crow work

Species Observed Number

Taken

Number

Dispersed Push Spot Call Trap

4/12/17 0 2 0 0 4 AMCR 0 4

4/27/17 0 2 0 0 4 AMCR 7 2

5/04/17 0 2 0 0 8 AMCR 6 0

5/11/17 0 2 0 0 4 AMCR 6 0

5/18/17 0 2 0 0 4 AMCR 4 0

5/25/17 0 2 0 0 4 AMCR 2 0

6/01/17 0 2 0 0 4 n/a n/a n/a

8/07/17 0 2 0 0 8 n/a n/a n/a

Totals

8 site

visits

0

hours

16

hours

0

hours

0

hours

40

hours AMCR 25 6

On 4/12/17 WS started to monitor pre-bait uptake in mock PIPL exclosures for AMCR predation.

An estimated 25 American crows were removed from South Cape Beach using DRC-1339 COR.

Subject Permit#: 047.17LP Sandy Point State Reservation Beach Predators

Date

Method(s) Used &

Approximate Man Hours Number of

hours for

crow work

Species Observed Number

Taken

Number

Dispersed Push Spot Call Trap

4/18/17 0 2 0 0 8 n/a n/a n/a

5/08/17 0 1 3 0 4 n/a n/a n/a

5/12/17 0 2 4 0 6 n/a n/a n/a

6/13/17 0 3 3 0 2 n/a n/a n/a

7/05/17 0 7 7 0 2 n/a n/a n/a

7/25/17 0 2 0 0 6 n/a n/a n/a

Totals

6 site

visits

0

hours

17

hours

17

hours

0

hours

20

hours n/a n/a n/a

On April 18, 2017 WS began activities to remove avian and mammalian predators with the use of

baited mock exclosures to remove American crows and night surveys to remove mammalian

predators. There were no predators removed 2017 nesting season.

Subject Permit#: 047.17LP Demarest Lloyd State Park Beach Predators

Date

Method(s) Used &

Approximate Man Hours Number of

hours for

crow work

Species Observed Number

Taken

Number

Dispersed Push Spot Call Trap

3/29/17 0 2 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a

4/05/17 0 0 0 0 6 n/a n/a n/a

4/17/17 0 4 4 0 2 GHOW 0 1

4/24/17 0 0 0 0 6 AMCR 6 0

5/02/17 0 0 0 0 4 AMCR 6 0

5/11/17 0 3 0 0 6 n/a n/a 1

5/15/17 0 1 0 6 3 n/a n/a n/a

5/16/17 0 1 0 3 1 n/a n/a n/a

5/17/17 0 1 0 3 1 n/a n/a n/a

5/18/17 0 1 0 3 1 n/a n/a n/a

8/02/17 0 2 0 0 6 n/a n/a n/a

Totals

11 site

visits

0

hours

15

hours

4

hours

15

hours

36

hours

AMCR

12

0

GHOW 0 1

On March 29, 2017 WS began activities to remove avian and mammalian predators with the use

of baited mock exclosures to remove American crows and night surveys to remove mammalian

predators. WS estimates removing twelve (12) American crow from Demarest Lloyd State Park

Beach using DRC-1339 COR.

Subject Permit#: 047.17LP Lovell’s Island State Park Beach Predators

Date

Method(s) Used &

Approximate Man Hours

Number of

hours of work Species

Observed

Number

Taken

Number

Dispersed Push Spot Call Trap Crow Rat

3/06/17 0 12 10 4 4 0 n/a n/a n/a

3/07/17 0 4 4 4 4 0 n/a n/a n/a

3/30/17 0 12 10 4 4 0 n/a n/a n/a

3/31/17 0 4 4 4 4 0 GHOW 0 1

4/27/17 0 6 6 2 4 10 AMCR 2 1

4/28/17 0 4 4 2 4 2 n/a n/a n/a

5/11/17 0 2 0 0 3 3 n/a n/a n/a

5/18/17 0 3 3 0 3 3 n/a n/a n/a

5/19/17 0 3 3 0 3 3 n/a n/a n/a

6/1/17 0 2 0 0 3 3 n/a n/a n/a

6/14/17 0 2 0 0 4 4 AMCR 2 0

6/20/17 0 2 0 0 4 4 n/a n/a n/a

Totals

12 site

visits

0

hours

56

hours

44

hours

20

hours

44

hours

32

hours

GHOW 0 1

AMCR 4 1

Norway Rat 104 oz consumed

On March 6, March 30 and April 27, 2017 WS conducted overnight surveys of Lovell’s Island to

observe for Great-horned owl activity. No nesting activity was observed on these surveys but one

(1) owl was observed on March 31, 2017.

On May 11, 2017, WS constructed mock piping plover nests to target American crow and placed

out 46 enclosed bait stations to target Norway rats using Diphacinone-50. There is current no

methodology to determine the number of Norway rats killed by Diphacinone-50. A total of 104

ounces of Diphacinone-50 was consumed by Norway rats during the 2017 nesting season.

Two (2) AMCR were removed by the use of firearms and two (2) AMCR were removed by the

use of DRC-1339 COR during the 2017 nesting season.

Subject Permit#: 047.17LP West Island State Reservation Beach Predators

Date

Method(s) Used &

Approximate Man Hours Number of

hours for

crow work

Species Observed Number

Taken

Number

Dispersed Push Spot Call Trap

3/29/17 0 4 4 0 0 n/a n/a n/a

4/05/17 0 2 0 0 4 AMCR 0 1

4/24/17 0 4 4 0 2 Raccoon 1 6

5/10/17 0 6 4 0 2 n/a n/a n/a

5/15/17 0 0 0 10 2 n/a n/a n/a

5/16/17 0 0 0 6 1 Raccoon 3 0

5/17/17 0 0 0 6 1 Raccoon 0 0

5/18/17 0 0 0 6 1 Raccoon 2 0

5/19/17 0 0 0 6 1 Raccoon 1 0

8/02/17 0 2 0 0 8 n/a 0 0

Totals

10 site

visits

0

hours

18

hours

12

hours

34

hours

22

hours

AMCR 0 1

Raccoon 7 6

Safeguarding American Agriculture APHIS is an agency of USDA’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

On March 29, 2017 WS started control work for mammalian and avian predators on West Island

State Park. In total, WS removed seven (7) Raccoons, six (6) by the use of box traps and one (1)

through the use of firearms. No avian predators were removed in 2017.

WS surveyed all DCR beaches except South Cape Beach with infrared game cameras throughout

the 2017 nesting season. All migratory bird removal efforts was conducted under a USFWS

migratory bird depredation permit issued to The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and

Recreation.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate in contacting our office.

Thank You,

Erik S. Shaffer

Wildlife Specialist

USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services

MA, CT, RI

Federal Relay Service (Voice/TTY/ASCII/Spanish) 1-800-877-8339