U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists help protect Fort Bliss wildlife, maintain enivornmental standards

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists conduct wildlife data surveys on Fort Bliss. 

Five U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologists stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, conduct multi-faceted wildlife data collection. Bliss spans 1.12 million acres, stretching from El Paso across the state line into the Organ Mountains, Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. Fort Bliss bolsters wildlife and is a crucial habitat for many endangered species. Also, several understudied species nest, migrate, or permanently reside on Fort Bliss land. 

The Sikes Act directs the Secretary of Defense, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state fish and wildlife agencies, to carry out a program for the conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources on military installations." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. 

In addition to the Sikes Act, the Army Natural Resource Partnership highlights the relationship between the U.S. Army and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to find new ways to increase the conservation of sensitive species and habitats while ensuring the sustainability of the military mission. 

"A lot of these projects our team on Fort Bliss works on address under-surveyed species that could help with future decision-making for military training on Fort Bliss." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Biologist Michael Jungen, said. 

Mission and Safety

Home of the 1st Armored Division, the large tract of land on Fort Bliss provides America's tank division with long-range capabilities for missile fires, vehicle training, infantry, and advanced maneuvers. Biologists reserve a training area after coordinating with Range Control. Range 

Control checks in to see if any unit is training in the desired area; if no one else has reserved the training area, the biologist may occupy the area and conduct surveys. This process eliminates any potential threats of entering training areas that are conducting training. 

"The data we collect benefits the Army because we can have the inside track into the potential regulations that might be coming from species listings or endangered species act petitions." Said Jungen 

Species of concern

One of the more large-scale projects the teams have been working on is collecting data on migratory birds that flock to the Otero Mesa grasslands in the winter months. Nearly a third of bird’s winter in the Chihuahuan desert grasslands. The Otero Mesa is in the New Mexico portion of Fort Bliss, which the biologists monitor. 

"Baird’s sparrow, Sprague’s pipit and Chestnut-collared longspurs are three big species that we see in decent numbers, and all three of those species are birds of concern nationally," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Patrick Cline. 

Much of the historical grasslands of the Otero Mesa are protected on Fort Bliss and have 

minimal military impact on species like the birds of concern that migrate to the Mesa. This is partly due to the implementation of the Sikes Act in congruence with the Migratory Birds Treaty Act, and the Department of Defense Partners in Flight. Bird surveying is typically conducted during the winter months when birds from colder climates take the Central and Western Pacific Flyway and spend the entire winter at Fort Bliss.

Data collection 

Biologists work to collect data on many types of wildlife throughout the year. In the Spring and Summer, the Biologists collect data on Quail, Prairie Dogs, Burrowing Owls, Golden Eagles, and Bat acoustics monitoring. Also, Sneed Pincushion Cactus, Hueco Rocky Daisy, and Bumblebee surveys. 

According to the National Park Service, the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog has dramatically declined due to several factors. Diseases like the sylvatic plague and habitat loss contribute to their decline.

Each Prairie dog colony is checked for fresh droppings, which indicates an active borough. Some have soft pellet droppings from Prairie dogs that also leave scratch marks and freshly tilled-up

dirt in the front of their holes. These are indicators that the den is active. If a prairie dog, with all its curiosity, pokes its head up out of the hole or is caught diving into the hole from land, the Biologists also make note sightings. These findings are all mapped using a handheld phone with USFWS GPS mapping software.

Burrowed Owl surveys are another combination paired with prairie dog surveys. The biologists monitor holes for burrowing owl presence. Often, Burrowing owls make vacant prairie dog boroughs their new homes. These skittish owls do not stick around for the biologists to witness very long. Fresh plumage around the hole or owl scat can confirm an active burrowing owl hole.

"It is essential to collect datasets." biologist Keri Skelly said.

"Bats and bumble bees data sets are lacking information, especially in this region, and getting that information to share with the world will improve future management decisions," She continued. 

iSportsman

Biologists stationed at Fort Bliss also liaise between customers and access to outdoor recreational activities like birding, biking, hunting, and camping. By registering with the

iSportsman website to recreate on Fort Bliss land, biologists answer phone calls about recreation and aid with checking in through the app.

Big game exotic animals also live on Fort Bliss. Species like the Oryx and Aoudad offer unique hunting opportunities that the USFWS biologists manage through the iSportsman website. Oryx and Audad hunt applications are two times a year. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish manages hunts on the New Mexico side of Fort Bliss.

The team of Biologists nears its third year stationed at Fort Bliss and looks forward to what the data will unveil. The Biologists here have a litany of responsibilities but primarily focus on data collection. Recently, Southwest Regional Director Amy Leuders visited Fort Bliss. Leuders was pleased to see the efforts the Biologists are undertaking and was amazed at the diverse landscapes.

"I was amazed at how unique the habitat is here in Fort Bliss." Exclaimed, Jungen

Accompanying the Biologists and hunters during my Department of Defense Skillbridge program was spectacular. The landscapes that inhabit Fort Bliss are a sight to see. Most of the landscape is rough and tough. You can almost never go unscathed walking through the Chihuahuan desert on Fort Bliss; however, the amount of diverse wildlife and habitat changes drastically. In one moment, you are looking into a vast open desert land, and you can go 10 miles away and be in a magical mountainside.

The places they've shown me are worth protecting, and the team of biologists working at Fort Bliss are passionate, skilled biologists who care about wild places and their beauty. With their efforts, further decisions can be made that will keep these federally owned lands a thriving ecosystem while providing sustainable military training environments.