silver state solar tortoise mortality 2
DESCRIPTION
Silver State Solar Tortoise Mortality, response to FOIA requestTRANSCRIPT
From: Chris BedwellTo: Melanie CotaCc: Mark Slaughter; Michael Burroughs; Chris Blandford; Kurt Sanderson; Kathy Simon; Rachel Woodard; Kelly HerbinsonSubject: SS1018 Mortality ReportDate: Saturday, May 31, 2014 6:57:11 PMAttachments: DT_Mortality_20140530.pdf
SS1018 was found dead May 29th just before 1400 by Corey Mitchell at 652978/3944161. I received a call from her upon discovery and called the BLM by 1410 to inform them. Her mortality form and photos are attached and this is from her email:
“Here are some photos from the resident tortoise, SS1018, I found dead in the corridor today. I've also attached the mortality form with my notes. The carcass was very clean except for the few tooth marks described. No scat or tracks in the immediate vicinity, the substrate was gravel/rock and nothing was obvious. I found a few possible large tracks (size of my palm) in the wash 7-10 m away but again with that substrate it was difficult to tell definitely what I was looking at.”Tortoise was found on carapace with head, forelimbs, and pectoral girdle gone. The hind limbs and tail appear completely intact. A couple tooth marks can be seen on the shell, but no extensive shell trauma is present. There is a photo attached of a matted down Krameria where the predator/scavenger appears to have laid down to eat. A couple bones (with possible suspect hairs) were found in the bush that can be seen in a separate attached photo. Corey revisited the carcass May 30th to remove the transmitter and noted the presence of maggots that had not been there the day prior. This would suggest the time of death was probably 2-4 days before the 29th.
1018 was found at the base of the Lucy Gray Mountains about 1.5k from the nearest project boundary near a burrow. Below are the tracking events for this animal over the past couple weeks:
15-May-14Health/Blood Draw
651720 3943830 Cover Visible Resting
16-May-14 Daily Check 651925 3943944 Cover Visible Resting17-May-14 Daily Check 651923 3943931 Open Visible Locomotion21-May-14 Weekly Check 653024 3943860 Cover Visible Resting
The attached map shows the carcass location in relation to the project, recent tracking locations, nearby known male tortoise locations, and a burrow known to have been used by 1018. We have been tracking this animal since Fall 2012 and have more movement data if needed.
Please contact us with any questions or comments.
Chris Bedwell
Designated Biologist,Silver State SouthSubcontractor forIronwood Consulting, Inc.c. 702.683.5266e. [email protected]
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!!
!
!
! !
! !!
!
!
!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
! !
!
!
!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
_̂
#*
#*
#*
+O
SS10455/28/2014
SS10115/29/2014
SS10235/29/2014
1,469 meters
SS10185/21/2014
SS10185/17/2014
SS10185/16/2014
SS10185/29/2014
SS1018SE27
651500 652000 652500 65300039
4300
0
3943
000
3943
500
3943
500
3944
000
3944
000
3944
500
3944
500
3945
000
3945
000
Figure 1
P:\GIS\Ironwood\Silver_State_GDB\MXD\DT_Mortality_20140530.mxd
SILVER STATE SOLAR SOUTH
Tortoise Mortality Location(5-29-2014)
Tortoise SS1018
_̂ Mortality Location
Recent Location
#*
Recent Male Tortoise Location
+O Closest Burrow Occupiedby SS1018
! Desert Tortoise Burrow Location
Stage 1 Tortoise Fencing
ROW Boundary
0 250 500Meters
±