January 23, 2002

Media Contacts:
Chuck Underwood, FWS , 904-232-2580 x109
Kate Fitzwilliams, International Crane Foundation, 608-356-9462 x147
Takako Hashimoto, Chassahowitzka NWR, 352-563-2088

Crystal River, FL - The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) confirmed today that a whooping crane, previously reported missing, was lost to a bobcat kill on or about January 10.

The whooping crane, referred to by biologists as #10, was noted missing the morning of January 10 when U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and International Crane Foundation biologists went to locate the bird for capture. The bird's radio transmitter had stopped functioning earlier and biologists had planned to replace it that morning. All the birds, including #10, had been accounted for during the previous afternoon check.

The crane's remains were located Saturday afternoon (January 19) approximately 900 feet south-southwest of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge wintering site pen; a location near a wetland area the birds have used several times for roosting at night. Richard Urbanek, FWS biologist, found the bird's remains while making another sweep of the area in search of the bird.

It is not believed the radio transmitter failure contributed to the bird's death, but it did hamper earlier efforts to locate the bird.

"Bobcats are part of the natural landscape," said Jim Kraus, refuge manager for the Chassahowitzka NWR. "While the cranes gain experience in the wild and explore the nearby habitat, they will naturally encounter predators. We will continue to balance the need for the birds to range freely through the marshes with the need to protect them from this known threat until they gain the necessary experience to survive on their own."

The wintering pen is constructed with eight-foot high mesh fencing that is partially buried to prevent predators from digging under the fence, and is surrounded by two rows of electric fencing to "discourage" predators from approaching the enclosure. While this pen offers a secure, familiar place for the birds to use, it does not restrict the birds' daily movements. Allowing the birds the freedom to explore their winter home and adapt to being in the wild is a key element in their development of wild behavior. While unfortunate, in any reintroduction effort losses, including to predators, are to be expected.

Biologists report the remaining five whooping cranes appear in good health and are otherwise adapting well to their winter home.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and International Crane Foundation biologists will continue monitoring the site during the birds' winter stay at the refuge.

The whooping crane reintroduction study is a cooperative effort of public and private partners, collectively referred to as WCEP, and aims to re-establish a migratory flock of cranes back into the eastern North American landscape. In the first phase of the study, ultralight aircraft are being used to lead young chicks south from their fledging area at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin to suitable wintering grounds at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge along Florida's central-west coast. The birds are then expected to return to the Necedah area on their own in the spring. The ultimate goal of the project is to reintroduce enough birds to the fly-way to establish a self-sustaining flock containing at least 25 adult, breeding pairs.

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