USDA-UnitedStatesDepartmentofAgricultureMarketingandRegulatoryProgramsAnimalandPlantHealthInspectionServiceWildlifeServicesIdahoStateOffice9134WBlackeagleDrBoise,ID83709(208)373-1630(208)378-5349FaxInvitationforPublicInvolvementEnvironmentalAssessment:PredatorDamageManagementinIdahoYouareinvitedbytheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture(USDA),AnimalandPlantHealthInspectionService(APHIS),WildlifeServicesProgram(WS)inIdahotoparticipateintheplanningprocessforthedevelopmentofanewEnvironmentalAssessment(EA)onalternativesforreducingdamagetoagriculturalandnaturalresources,andproperty;andriskstopublichealthandsafetycausedbyvariouspredatorsinIdaho.PredatorspeciesinvolvedinthemajorityofconflictsanddamageinIdahoincludeAmericancrows(Corvusbrachyrhynchos);badgers(Taxidealaxus);blackbears(Ursusamericana);black-billedmagpies(Picahudsonia);bobcats(Lynxrufus);commonravens(C.corax);coyotes(Canislatrans);feral,free-rangingandhybriddogs(C.lupusfamiliaris,includesdomesticdogs);mountainlions(Pumaconcolor);raccoons(Procyonlotor);redfoxes(Vulpesvulpes);andstripedskunks(Mephitismephitis).OtherpredatorsinIdahothathavehistoricallycausedonlylocalizeddamageonanoccasionalbasisincludeferal/free-rangingcats(Feliscatus),grizzlybears(Uarctoshorribilis),mink(Mustelavison),long-tailedweasels(Mfrenata),short-tailedweasels(Merminea),andspottedskunks(Spilogaleputorius).Predationfromgraywolves(C.lupus)andfisheatingbirds(variousspecies)areaddressedinseparateEAsandwillnotbeincludedinthenewEA.Ifyouwouldliketoparticipateinthisprocess,weencourageyoutoreadthisinvitationandprovideinformationforanyoneorallofthefollowingquestions:../WhatissuesorconcernsdoyouhaveregardingtheUSDA,APHIS,WS'involvementinPredatorDamageManagement(PDM)inIdaho?../WhatPDMalternatives(i.e.,NoWSPDMinIdaho,Technicalassistanceonly,Bountysystem,OnlyNon-lethalmethods,etc.)wouldyousuggestorpropose?../Doyouhaveanyrelevantinformationtocontributetotheanalysisandthisprocess?Whyareweconductingthisanalysis?TheWSprograminIdahoisacooperatively-funded,service-orientedprogramthatprovidesassistancetorequestingpublicandprivateentities,andfederal,state,county,localandtribalgovernmentswiththemanagementofdamageandconflictstoagriculturalandnaturalresources,andproperty;andriskstopublichealthandsafetycausedbypredators.WSauthorizationtoprovidethisservicewasprovidedbyCongressintheActsofMarch2,1931(7U.S.C.426-426b),asamended,andDecember22,1987(7U.S.C.426c).ThecurrentprogramisconductedinaccordancewithEnvironmentalAssessmentsandassociatedDecisionsandFindingsofNoSignificantImpactpreparedfortheNorthern/Central,andSouthernIdahoWSDistricts(USDA2002and1996)andtheirsupplements.TheEAsevaluatetheenvironmentalimpactsofalternativesforWSinvolvementinPDMinIdaho.PursuanttoWS'internalNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA)reviewprocess,andafterreviewofpubliccommentsonadraft2014supplementtotheSouthernIdahopredatorEA,IdahoWSdeterminedthatpreparationofanewEAtoaddressallPDMinIdahoiswarranted.Whyareweproposingthiswork?Theneedforactionisbasedonrequestsfromprivateorganizationsandindividuals;andfederal,stateandlocalagenciesforIdahoWSassistancewithprotectionofagriculturalandnaturalresources,andpropertyfromdamageandconflictscausedbypredators;andthereductionofriskstopublichealthandsafetybymanagingpredators.AgriculturalResources(Livestock,crops,apiaries,etc.).AccordingtotheNationalAgriculturalStatisticsService(NASS),livestockproduction(primarilycattle,sheep,hogs,andpoultry),andlivestockproducts(i.e.,milk,wool)accountedfornearly$4billionorabout53%oftotalfarmcommoditysalescashreceiptsandis,therefore,consideredaprimaryagriculturalindustrysectorintheState.Predatorsareresponsibleforthedepredationofawidevarietyoflivestockincludingcattle,goats,sheep,swine,otherhoofed-stock,exoticpen-raisedgame,andpoultry.During2011and2012,predatorlossesaccountedfor23.5%and26.9%,respectively,ofalllossestosheepandlambsinIdaho,valuedaround$1.4millionand$1.8million,respectively(NASS2013).Althoughpredatorlosseswouldappeartobeonlyasmallportionoftotallivestockproductioninthestate,lossesarenotdistributedevenlyamongproducers,andimpactsonindividualproducerscanbesubstantial(Bakeretal.2008).Coyotesweretheleadingcauseofpredatorlosses,accountingfor59%and60%ofpredationcausedbyallpredatorsin2011and2012,respectively.Wolveswerethesecondleadingcauseofpredatorlosses,followedbydomesticdogsmountainlionsbearsand,otherpredators,andunknownpredators(NASS2013).Fieldcropssuchasmelons(watermelonsandcantaloupes),sweetandfieldcorn,andwheataresusceptibletodamagebypredatorssuchascoyotes;feral,free-rangingandhybriddogs;badgers;andraccoons.Fruitandnutcropsandtreescanalsobedamagedbyraccoons,commonravensandblackbearsinIdaho.Badgerdiggingandburrowingcausesdamagetoimprovedandplantedpasturesbecausetheunevengroundhamperstheuseofplantingandmowingequipmentandcandamagetheequipment.Otheragriculturecommoditiesthatcanbedamagedbypredatorsincludeaquaculture;beehives;commercialgameanimals;livestockfeed;anddikes,damsandimpoundments.InFederalFiscalYear(FY)2011throughFY2013damagetothesetypesofresourcesreportedtoorverifiedbyIdahoWSincluded$3,931tobeehivesbyblackbearsandgrizzlybears;and$1,500damagefromcoyotes,commonravens,andstripedskunksconsuminglivestockfeed.NaturalResources.IdahoWSrespondstorequestsfromagencieswithnaturalresourcesmanagementresponsibilitiesforwildlifespeciesthatareimpactedbypredation.Ifanaturalresourcesmanagementagencyrequestsassistanceinprotectingimpactedwildlifespecies,IdahoWSworkswiththeagencytoidentifyandprovidethelevelofassistancerequestedandneeded.Inthepast,theIdahoDepartmentofFishandGame(IDFG)hasrequestedIdahoWSassistancewithcoyotepredationmanagementfortheprotectionofmuledeer(Odocoileushemionus);andstripedskunk,raccoon,redfox,andcoyotedamagemanagementtoprotectnestingwaterfowlandring-neckedpheasants(Phasianuscolchicus).Inaddition,theU.S.FishandWildlifeService(USFWS)andIdahoWShaveenteredintocooperativeserviceagreementsforbadger,redfox,andcoyotepredationmanagementfortheprotectionofnorthernIdahogroundsquirrels(Spermophilusbrunneusbrunneus)(aThreatenedspecies).Greatersage-grouse(Centrocercusurophasianus),bighornsheep(Oviscanadensis),andmuledeerpopulationsinmostareasofldahoaresufficientlyhealthythatIDFGallowssportharvestofthesespecies.However,insomeareasoftheState,IDFGhasnotmetmanagementgoalsforthesepopulationsandcouldrequestIdahoWStoconductPDMactivitiesinanefforttoreducepredationand/orenhancelocalpopulationsofthesespecies.Property.PredatordamagetopropertyinIdahoincludesblackbearsandraccoonsbreakinginanddestroyingtheinteriorsofhomesorotherstructures;coyotes,mountainlions,grizzlybearsorredfoxeskillingorinjuringpetsandlivestockguardinganimals;coyotescausingdamagetodripirrigationsystemsbybitingholesinthepipe;raccoonsandskunks burrowingintoorunderhomestoden;andbadgers,2skunks,orraccoonscausingdamagetolandscaping,gardens,orgolfcoursesfromfeedingactivities.OvertheperiodofFY20IIthroughFY2013,anaverageof162incidentsperyearofpredatordamagetopropertywasreportedorverifiedbyIdahoWSwithanannualaveragelossperyearof$4,849.PublicHealthandSafety.IdahoWSconductslimitedPDMactivitiestoaddresspublichealthandsafetyconcerns.Publichealthandsafetyconcernsinclude:attacksonhumansbymountainlions,bears,andcoyotesthatresultininjuriesordeath;diseasethreatsfromrabiesandplagueoutbreakswherepredatorsactasreservoirsfordisease;andodorandnoisenuisancesfromskunksandraccoonsunderhouses.IdahoWShasassistedmanyresidentsintheTreasureValleyareaconcernedaboutcoyoteattacksontheirpetsandtheirapparentlossoffearforhumans.Predatorattacksonhumansfortunatelyoccurveryrarely,qutcouldresultinrequestsforassistance.Coyotes;redfoxes;badgers;feral,free-ranging,andhybriddogs;andferal/free-rangingcatssometimescreatehumansafetythreatswhentheyspendtimeonornearairportrunways.Althoughtherehasbeenonly1incidentofthesespeciesactuallybeingstruckbydepartingorlandingaircraftinIdaho,suchincidentshaveoccurredatairportsinotherStates.WShasrespondedtoanumberofrequestsfromairportsinIdahowherethepresenceofsmallpredatorsanddomesticanimalsontherunwaywasconsideredapotentialpublicsafetyhazard.Additionally,thediggingactivityofbadgersnearoradjacenttotaxiwaysandrunwayswillsometimesdepositsoil,rocks,andotherdebrisontheaircraftmovementareas,creatingahazardoftheseitemsbeingingestedintojetenginesandpotentiallycausingdamage.QuestionstobeaddressedintheproposedEABasedonagencyrelationships,MemorandaofUnderstanding(MOUs)andlegislativemandates,IdahoWSistheleadagencyforthisproject.IdahoWSwilluseaninterdisciplinaryapproachincompliancewiththeNationalEnvironmentalPolicyActandagencymandates,policiesandregulationstoaddressthefollowingquestionsintheproposedEA:•HowcanIdahoWSbestrespondtorequeststoreducedamageandconflictstoagriculturalandnaturalresources,property;andriskstopublichealthandsafetyassociatedwithpredatorsinIdaho?•Whataretheenvironmentalimpactsofimplementingvariousmanagementstrategies?•Doestheproposedactionhavesignificantenvironmentalimpacts,therebytriggeringtheneedtoprepareanEnvironmentalImpactStatement?TheLeadAgency'sproposedactionAtthistime,IdahoWSbelievesthatthepreferredalternativewouldbetocontinueandexpandthecurrentIntegratedWildlifeDamageManagement(IWDM)programinIdaho.IdahoWSwouldcontinueongoingprogramsfortheprotectionofagriculture,property,andhumanhealthandsafetybutwouldincreaseinvolvementinprotectionofthreatenedandendangeredspecies,sensitivewildlife,andgamespecies.TheIWDMstrategywouldencompasstheuseofpracticalandeffectivemethodsofpreventingorreducingdamage whileminimizingharmfuleffectsofdamagemanagementmeasuresonhumans,targetandnontargetspecies,andtheenvironment.Underthisaction,IdahoWScouldprovidetechnicalassistanceanddirectoperationalassistanceincludingnon-lethalandlethalmanagementmethods,asdescribedintheWSDecisionModel(Slateetal.1992).PredatorDamageManagementwouldbeimplementedinIdahoundertheproposedactionwhenrequestedonprivate,public,federal,state,ortriballandswheresignedWorkInitiationDocuments,MOUsorAnnualWorkPlans(AWPs)areinplace.AllPDMwouldcomplywith3applicablefederal,tribal,state,andlocallawsandregulations,andcurrentMOUsbetweenIdahoWSandvariousmanagementagenciesandtribes.Requestsfortheprotectionofgame,nongame,speciesofspecialconcern,andT/EspecieswouldcomefromtheIDFG,USFWSorothernaturalresourcesagencieswithhavingmanagementauthorityforthespeciesinquestion.WildlifespeciesforwhichexpandedPDMactivitiesmaybeinitiatedcouldinclude,butwouldnotbelimitedto,greatersage-grouse,sharp-tailedgrouse(Tympanuchusphasianellus),muledeerandwhite-taileddeer(0.virginianus),bighornsheep,pronghornantelope(Antilocapraamericana),northernandsouthernIdahogroundsquirrels(S.b.endemicus),ring-neckedpheasants,wildturkeys(Meleagrisgallopavo),andwaterfowl(variousspecies).Whenappropriate,non-lethalmethodswouldberecommendedandutilizedtoreducedamage,includingphysicalexclusion,culturalpractices(e.g.,shedlambinganduseofguardinganimals),habitatandbehaviormodification(e.g.,exclusion,chemicalrepellents,andfrighteningdevices),andcaptureandrelocation.Inothersituations,targetpredatorswouldbecapturedand/orremovedashumanelyaspossibleusinggroundandaerialshooting,trapping,snaring,M-44s,denning,gascartridges,livestockprotectioncollars,decoyandtrackingdogs,DRC-1339,orregisteredeuthanasiadrugs.Indeterminingthedamagemanagementstrategy,preferencewouldbegiventopracticalandeffectivenon-lethalmethods.However,non-lethalmethodsmaynotalwaysbeappliedasafirstresponsetoeachdamageproblem.Themostappropriateresponsecouldoftenbeacombinationofnon-lethalandlethalmethods,orcouldincludeinstanceswhereapplicationoflethalmethodsalonewouldbethemostappropriatestrategy.WhoaretheCooperatingandConsultingAgencies?IdahoWSistheleadagencyforthisEA, andthereforeisresponsibleforthescope,content,anddecisionsmade.TheIDFGisacooperatingagencyinthepreparationofthisEA.TheIDFGhastheauthoritytomanageresidentwildlife,andIDFGhasdevelopedandadoptedapolicyin2000foravianandmammalianpredationmanagement(IDFG2000).ThePolicyprovidestheIDFGdirectioninmanagingpredatorpopulationsconsistentwithmeetingmanagementobjectivesforpreyspeciespopulationsandfurtherstatesthatpredatorpopulations,aswithallwildlifeinIdaho,willbemanagedtoassuretheirfuturerecreational,ecological,intrinsic,scientific,andeducationalvalues,andtolimitconflictswithhumanenterpriseandvalues.WSisalsoconsultingwiththeU.S.DepartmentoftheInteriorBureauofLandManagementandFishandWildlifeService,U.S.ForestService,IdahoStateDepartmentofAgriculture,IdahoNationalLaboratory,andIdahoDepartmentofLands.Whataretheissuesofconcern?IdahoWSandourcooperatingandconsultingagencieshaveidentified thefollowingissuesforconsiderationintheanalysis.Issuesareusedtoidentifyandcomparealternativemanagementstrategies.TheseissuesmaybeaddressedintheEA:•Effectsontargetpredatorspeciespopulations•Effectsonnon-targetspeciespopulations,includingthreatenedandendangeredspecies•ImpactsonSpecialManagementAreas(suchasWildernessStudyAreas)•Humanenessandethicalperspectives•Effectsonrecreationandaesthetics(huntingandnon-consumptiveuses)•Impactsonhumanandpetsafety•Effectivenessinreducingdamageandriskstohealthandsafety4Proposed reasonable alternatives Idaho

WS

has identified

the following

proposed reasonable alternatives

to the preferred

action

that

may

be evaluated

and analyzed

in the EA. Idaho

WS

is requesting

public comments

to futther delineate reasonable and appropriate

alternatives

that should

be evaluated

. 1. Continue

the Current

Federal

PDM program

. This

is the current

Idaho

WS program

and

is also

the "No Action

" alternative

as defined

by the Council

on Environmental

Quality

for ongoing programs

. 2

. Provide Technical Assistance

Only.

Idaho

WS would

not conduct

direct

PDM activities

in Idaho. Instead

, the entire

Idaho

WS program

would

consist

of only providing

technical assistance (training, consultations,

loaning equipment)

when requested. 3. Provide Nonlethal

PDM

only

. Idaho

WS would

only

use

and recommend

nonlethal

PDM methods to resolve predator

damage

and conflicts. 4.

No Federal

PDM

by Idaho

WS

. Under

this alternative

the Federal

WS program

would

be terminated

in Idaho. How

to get involved We encourage

you

to become involved

and participate

in the planning

process

for

the development

of

a new Environmental

Assessment

(EA)

on alternatives

for

the reduction

of damage

to agricultural

and natural resources,

and property

; and risks

to public

health

and safety caused

by predators

in Idaho

. If you would like

to participate

in this process,

please answer

any

or

all

3 questions

in the first paragraph

of this invitation.

All comments

must

be submitted

in writing

and received

by January

14,2015.

We

will accept comments

on

the proposal

by

the following

methods: • Federal eRulemaking

Portal:

Go

to: http://www

. regulations

. gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014- 0105 • Postal Mail/Commercial

Delivery

: Please

send

your comment

to State Director,

USDA,

APHIS, WS,

9134

W Blackeagle

Dr., Boise,

ID 83709,

Phone

: (208) 373-1630. We look forward

to receiving

your comments

. Your contribution

will

help Idaho

WS make

the best possible

decision

on reducing

damage

and conflicts

to agricultural

and natural resources,

and property;

and risks

to public

health

and safety associated

with predators

in Idaho. Literature

Cited Baker,

P.J

.

, B. Luigi

, S. Harris,

G. Saunders,

and

P

. C

. L. White

. 2008. Terrestrial

carnivores

and human food production

: impact

and management.

Mammal

Review

38

: 123-166

. IDFG.

2000

. Policy

for avian

and mammalian

predation management.

Idaho Department

ofFish

and Game

, 600 South Walnut,

Boise

, Idaho

, USA

. NASS.

2013

. 2013 Idaho agricultural

statistics.

United

States Department

of Agriculture,

National Agricultural

Statistics

Service,

Idaho

field Office,

Boise,

Idaho,

USA

. 5Slate,D.A., R.Owens,G.Connolly,andG.Simmons.1992.Decisionmakingforwildlifedamagemanagement.TransactionsoftheNorthAmericanWildlifeNaturalResourcesConferences57:51-62.USDA.2002.Environmentalassessment:predatordamagemanagementinsouthernIdaho.USDA,APHIS,IdahoWSprogram,Boise,Idaho,USA.USDA.1996.Environmentalassessment:predatordamagemanagementincentralandnorthernIdaho.USDA,APHIS,IdahoWSprogram,Boise,Idaho,USA.6