Cypripedium kentuckiense(Southern Lady's Slipper)

Status Status is improving. Recent field surveys have increased the number of known populations. Previously, the species was a Category 2 (58 FR 188; September 30, 1993), but currently has no Federal status.

Life History :
Lady's slipper is a long-lived herbaceous perennial. It flowers from mid-April to late May. Fruits develop in late fall.

Habitat :
Mature floodplain forests and the slopes of mesic (relatively dry) ravines.

Distribution :
Lady's slipper is found on the Cumberland Plateau of Kentucky and northern Tennessee; the Interior Highlands of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma; and the Gulf Coastal Plain of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. Oklahoma populations are restricted to four southeastern counties: McCurtain, Leflore, Choctaw, and Pushmataha.

Field Characters :
There is only one other species of yellow lady's slipper orchid in Oklahoma: the small yellow lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus var. parviflorum). The large flowers of southern lady's slipper readily distinguishes it from small lady's slipper. Also, the small yellow lady's slipper typically is found in bog and wet prairie habitats.

Causes of Decline :
Fifty percent of the known populations of southern lady's slipper are now extirpated. A few others could not be verified. The habitat of the southern lady's slipper is threatened by logging, the conversion of natural forests into pine plantations, and reservoir construction (for example, permanent inundation of floodplain forests). All species of lady's slipper are intolerant of human disturbances. Also, orchids are prized by plant collectors, a practice that has endangered several plant species. Unfortunately, very few native orchids survive being transplanted into greenhouse pots or flower gardens.

Recovery Needs :
Sites that harbor southern lady's slippers need to be protected from logging and water-table alteration.

Description :
lady's slipper grows between 2 and 3 feet (6-9 dm) tall. Stems bear both leaves and flowers. There is usually one stem per plant. Leaves are alternate and range in number from two to nine, five being the most common. They are 5 1/2 to 6 5/16 inches (14-16 cm) long by 2 3/8 to 3 1/8 inches (6-8 cm) long. Leaf blades are oval in shape. Margins taper gradually from the middle of the blade and with a twist at the apex. Venation is parallel with seven highly noticeable veins. A few hairs occur only along the veins. Inflorescences are composed of typically one solitary flower per plant. A bract, 3 1/8 inches (8 cm) long and 1 1/16 inches (2.8 cm) wide, extends from a petiole (=leaf stalk) beneath each flower. Flowers are yellow with maroon stripes on the inside of the lower petals. Flowers are 5 inches (13 cm) across, which is large for a Temperate Zone orchid species. The calyx consists of three sepals. The uppermost sepal, which is the largest of the three, arches over the lower petal of the flower. It measures approximately 2 1/2 inches (6.8 cm) long and 1 1/2 inches (3.2 cm) wide. The lower two sepals are fused into an organ that is positioned below the lower most petal. It is approximately 2 1/2 inches (5.7 cm) long and 3/4 inch (1.3 cm) wide. The corolla is composed of three petals. The lower most petal is the largest ( 2 inches [5 cm] long by 1 1/2 [3.8 cm] wide). It is inflated to form a pouch (=lip). The other two petals are up to 3 1/8 inches (8 cm) long, and narrow, around 4/16 inch (7 mm) wide and twisted. Stamens and pistils are united in the orchid family to form a column. The column curves down onto the upper most portion of the lip. Two fertile stamens and one nonfunctional stamen are present. The nonfunctional stamen resembles a small petal. The pistil is composed of a terminal stigma and an ovary with three faint lobes. Fruits are a wide capsule that are approximately 3/4 inch (1.3 cm) wide by about 2 1/2 (6.3 cm) long. Seeds are abundant and very small.

Enhydra Lutris

General range: Coast of Russia, western Canada, and the United States.
Range in Washington: Reintroduced along coast.
Habitat: Kelp beds in ocean.
Diet: Sea urchins, shellfish.
Habits: Exclusively aquatic; uses rocks as tools to crush shells.
Identification: Dark brown with yellowish head; large crushing molars. Total length: 75-180 cm; tail: 25-35 cm; mass: 12-36 kg. Males larger than females.
Conservation: State Endangered

Habitat:
Sea otters are marine mammals. They inhabit temperate coastal waters with rocky or soft sediment ocean bottoms less than 1 km from shore. Kelp forest ecosystems are characteristic of otter habitats.

Physical Description:
Mass14 to 45 kg; avg. 29.50 kg(30.8 to 99 lbs; avg. 64.9 lbs)
Length1 to 1.50 m; avg. 1.25 m(3.28 to 4.92 ft; avg. 4.1 ft)
Sea otters are the largest member of the family Mustelidae. Males weigh 22 to 45 kg and are 1.2 to 1.5 m in length. Females are slightly smaller, weighing 14 to 33 kg and measuring 1 to 1.4 m in length. The tail comprises less than a third of the body length. The pelage is brown or reddish brown. Sea otter fur is the densest of all mammals, with about 100,000 hairs per square centimeter. Since sea otters do not have any insulating fat, the fur is responsible for maintaining warmth. The hind legs are long and the paws are broad, flat, and webbed. The forelimbs are short and have retractable claws. Sea otters are the only carnivorans with just 4 lower incisors. Females have two mammae.

Behavior:
Sea otters are solitary for the most part. Males congregate in groups when resting. Females tend to stay away from males except when mating. Sea otters can spend their whole life in the ocean but will rest on land when the population density is high. Swimming is performed using the hind limbs, tail, and vertical undulations of the body while the forelimbs are tucked into the chest. Otters can swim as fast as 9 km per hour under water. Sea otters are diurnal with crepuscular peaks in foraging activity. Foraging dives usually last 50-90 seconds, but otters can remain submerged for nearly 6 minutes. Foraging takes up 15-55% of an otter's time; time is dependent on availability of food. Prey is located using vision and touch and is captured with the forepaws. It is then brought to the surface where feeding takes place as the otter floats on its back using its chest as a table. Sea otters are one of few mammals that exhibit tool use. Prey items with hard shells or exoskeletons are broken open with a rock. Some otters will hold the rock on their chests and drive the prey into the rocks. Others will leave the prey on their chests and hit the prey with the rocks. The same rock is kept for many dives. Otters will often wash their prey by holding it against their body and turning in the water. Males steal from females if they get a chance. For this reason, females tend to forage in separate areas. When resting or sleeping, sea otters float on their backs and wrap themselves in kelp to keep from drifting. Their hind limbs stick up out of the water and forelimbs are either folded on their chest or used to cover their eyes. Grooming and cleaning their fur is important for maintaining its insulating ability.

Przewalski's Horse

Physical Description: The coat of the Przewalski's horse ranges from brown to dun, with a pale underbelly and muzzle, a dark tail, a dorsal stripe, striped legs, and a dark, short mohawk–like mane. The head is large, and the body is short and muscular.

Size: The Przewalski's horse stands about 13 hands high at the shoulder (a little more than four feet) and has a head and body length of less than seven feet, with a tail close to three feet long. Adults can weigh between 550 and 750 pounds.

Geographic Distribution: Before their population dwindled, these horses spanned regions in Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, and China.

Status: The World Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Species listed the Przewalski's horse as extinct in the wild until 2008. Causes of extinction were hunting, harsh climate, loss of habitat, and loss of water sources to farm animals. However, successful reintroductuions qualified this species for reassessment in 2008, and they are now classified as critically endangered. Currently, there are around 1,500 animals remaining in zoos and breeding facilities, carrying genes from 14 founders. Because loss of genetic diversity threatens their continued survival, the National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center and other institutions around the world maintain breeding populations that serve as a source of animals for reintroduction in Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan. Thanks to their effort nearly 400 horses now roam in re-introduction sites in Mongolia and China.

Habitat: Steppe vegetation, shrubland, and plains
Diet: Przewalski's horses eat grasses and other vegetation.

Reproduction: Females reach sexual maturity at about two years of age but usually do not breed until they are three years old. Young males do not reach sexual maturity until after three years of age. Similar to the domestic horse, Przewalski’s mares cycle during the spring and summer months but some can cycle throughout the year. Stallions are able to breed year round. Foals are born 11 to 12 months after conception (330-350 days), which is often in the early summer months (May to July).

Behavior: Przewalski's horses live in harems that consist of a dominant stallion and several mares. Young stallions form bachelor bands, which is where they remain until they are able to form harems. Males are territorial and compete with other males to acquire females for their harem.

Cool Facts:
• Przewalski’s horses have never been tamed for riding, which means that they are the last truly wild horse in existence today.
• Przewalski's horses have 66 chromosomes, two more than domestic horses.
• The Mongolian name for these horses is "takhi," which means "spirit". Horses are central to Mongolian culture, and takhi are a symbol of their national heritage.
• The Chinese call the Przewalski’s horse "yehmah."
• These horses were scientifically described in the late 19th century after Polish naturalist Colonel Nikolai Przewalski obtained a skull and hide of this seldom-seen animal and shared them with scientists at a museum in St. Petersburg.

Water Shrew

MASSACHUSETTS SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN

DESCRIPTION: The Water Shrew is the largest long-tailed shrew in New England. It measures 144-158 mm (5.7~.2 in) in length, with its long tail accounting for more than half of its total length; and weighs from 10 16 g (approximately 1/3 oz), The unique feature of the Water Shrew is its big "feathered" hind foot. The third and fourth toes of the Water Shrew's hindfeet are slightly webbed, and all toes as well as the foot itself have conspicuous stiff hairs along the sides. Both the webbing and the fringe of hairs increase the Water Shrew's swimming efficiency.

The male and female Water Shrew are colored alike, equal in size, and show slight seasonal color variation. In winter, the Water Shrew is glossy, gray black above tipped with silver, and silvery buff below, becoming lighter on the throat and chin. It has whitish hands and feet, and a long, bicolored (ie.lighter beneath, darker above) tail covered with short, brown bristles. In summer, its pelage (fur) is more brownish DeGraaf. Richard M. and Rudis. Deborah D. above and slightly paler below, with a less frosted appearance. The New England Wildlife-Habitat Natural spring molt occurs during late May and early June; the autumn molt takes History and Distribution General Technical place in September. The color of immatures is much like that of adults.

SIMILAR SPEOES IN MASSAOfiJSEJTS: Five other species of shrews inhabit Massachusetts: the Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus), Smoky Shrew (Sorex fumeus), Rock Shrew (Sorex disWr), Pygmy Shrew (Sorex hoyi), and Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda). The Water Shrew is distinguishable from all of these because it is the only long-tailed shrew that has long hairs along the margins of its hind feet.

HABITAT : The Water Shrew is aptly named, for seldom is it found more than a few yards from the nearest water -a spring. a mountain lake, or, most commonly, the banks of a swift rocky-bedded stream usually near boreal or mixed forest. It prefers heavily wooded areas and is rarely found in marshes that are devoid of bushes and trees. It may be found in beaver lodges and muskrat houses in winter.

LIFECYCLE & BEHAVIOR: The Water Shrew is secretive and elusive, seeking cover along the waterways. It lives in bankside burrows, the entrance often concealed deep between boulders or between the gnarled roots of a leaning streamside hemlock. Small surface runways are usually found under cover of bank overhangs, fallen logs, brush piles or other debris. The Water Shrew makes it own runways but also uses those of mice and moles. The Water Shrew is active throughout the year at any time of the day or night, with peaks of activity at sunrise and sunset. It has periods of deep slumber, but during its waking hours it is extremely active, foraging excitedly for short periods, darting rapidly over the ground, traveling through subsurface tunnels, or burrowing through snow.

FEEDING:The Water Shrew feeds primarily on aquatic insects, chiefly mayflies, caddis flies, stone flies, and other flies and beetles and their larvae; although snails, flatworms, smaIl fish and fish eggs may also be eaten when available. Because the eyes of the Water Shrew are poorly developed, it uses its keen senses of touch, hearing, and smeIl when foraging. Foraging takes place both under and on top of the water. Prey is located underwater entirely by touch. The long whiskers located on either side of the shrew's head are extended stiffly out to the sides while the animal is casting for prey. It is speculated that water vibrations from the shrew's intended victim may alsoaid in guiding the Water Shrew to its prey.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Description:
The red-shouldered hawk is a slim, narrow-winged, long-tailed buteo. It obtains prey by still-hunting from perches and scanning the ground below. The 17- 24 inch (43-61 cm) adult is blackish-brown above with extensive black and white checkering, especially apparent on the wings. Rufous streaking and edging is apparent all over the body, but is most evident on the shoulders. The tail is blackish with three or four narrow white bands. The breast, belly and wing linings are rufous with black streaks. Immatures are brownish above with little or no rufous coloring. Their undersides are cream-colored, heavily streaked, and blotched with dark brown. The tail is brownish-gray with narrow, light bands. From courtship to the start of incubation red-shouldered hawks scream a loud "kee-yar;" during the remainder of the year they are predominantly silent.

Life History:
During the courtship display, one to four birds may soar together. They flap, swoop and descend while calling before diving to the original perch. They may rise in wide spirals 1,500 to 2,000 feet above the nest. The male and female build a nest together. It is usually placed in the crotch of the main trunk of a tree, 20-60 feet high. It is made of sticks and twigs, lined with strips of inner bark, fine twigs, dry leaves, evergreen sprigs, feathers and down. The clutch averages three eggs. Incubation lasts for 33 days and the young fledge in 39-45 days. First breeding usually occurs at two years of age.

Distribution and Habitat:
Red-shouldered hawks breed east of the Great Plains from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast, west along the Gulf to central Mexico. An isolated population breeds in California. Wintering occurs south of Canada, though sparsely so in the northern states. In New York, nesting populations were found in the Appalachian Plateau, Catskill Peaks, the Delaware, Mongaup and Rensselaer hills, the Tug Hill Plateau, and Lake Champlain Valley.
This raptor breeds in moist woodlands, riverine forests, the borders of swamps, open pine woods and similar habitats. Nesting almost always occurs near water, such as a swamp, river or pond.

Status:
This hawk was once the most common large hawk of central and western New York. However, in recent years New York populations have declined. Biologists have found it difficult to determine if the change in historic data represents a shift in the breeding range or an actual population decline. The primary problem facing this species is loss of habitat. Since European settlement in the 17th century and especially since the 19th century, the favored closed canopy forests have been cut for logging, agriculture, and urban and suburban development.

Disturbances from humans in the form of off-road vehicles, hunters, horseback riders and suburbanites in general have pushed red-shouldered hawks into the deepest, wildest areas left. Although some members of this species seem to be unaffected by humans, most are secretive and avoid inhabited areas. In 1999, the red-shouldered hawk was down graded from "Threatened" to "Special Concern."

American Marten

Scientific name: Martes americana
The American marten (Martes americana), or marten, often incorrectly called the pine marten because of their close resemblance to their European relative, is a member of the mustelid family. The name mustelid came from the fact that members of this family have developed anal scent glands which produce a strong repellent smell that are often used to mark territories. Other members of this family that can be found in New York include fisher, ermine, weasel, mink, and the river otter.

Description:
Marten are a small, slender bodied mammal with a long bushy tail that measure about one-third of their overall length. They have a pointed snout and large round ears in comparison to their head. Generally, the females are smaller than the males. They also have claws that are semi- retractable, just like a cat. The adult female will measure only 18-22 inches in length and weigh 1.5-1.8 pounds while the adult male will be around 20-25 inches in length and 1.6-2.8 pounds. Their fur is made up of long soft hairs. Fur coloring varies greatly between individuals from a pale buff- yellowish color to a reddish brown, with paler head and underparts and darker legs and a light colored throat patch . Marten are often confused with fisher, another member of the weasel family. The fisher can be found through out New York's marten range, is similar appearance and tracks, but the fisher is much large in size than the marten.

Habits:
Marten are solitary mammals, avoiding their own kind except during mating season. Most active during the dusk and dawn hours, they are an arboreal species, spend the majority of their lives in and around mature spruce - fir coniferous forest, or a mixed hardwood, especially beech tree - coniferous forest. This type of environment provides ideal sites for them to den and also great habitat for their primary prey species the red squirrel. Here in New York, the vast majority of marten will be found in the High Peaks region of the Central Adirondacks and surrounding areas. Although they are very shy, marten are extremely curious creatures as well. The sighting reports that we receive from the public are usually encounters with marten staring in a window at them or siting on their seasonal cabin's porch.

Diet:
The American Marten are omnivores. They do prey heavily on small mammals, especially red squirrels, but they are known to eat just about anything- birds, fish, frogs, insects, and carrion. Their diet also includes seasonal fruit, seed, and nuts crops like berries, and especially beech nuts.

Breeding Biology:
Marten have polygynous mating habits, usually breeding with more than one partner. The male establishes his territory and defends it against all other male incursion. Marten breeding season occurs mid summer but the young are not born until late March to early April. This is because marten are part of a group of mammals that have the ability to delay the implantation of fertilized eggs. Even though the female's eggs are fertilized almost right away, the eggs will not become attach to the uterus wall and begin to develop until sometime in February. This is known as delayed implantation. Gestation is actually 42 days. The young or kits as they are correctly called, are born in late March to early April. Both blind and naked at birth, the kits grow rapidly and by about 3 months old they are fully grown. Shortly after that, their mother will leave them to fend for themselves and she will get ready to breed all over again. Marten normally reach sexual maturity around two years of age when they will undergo their first breeding season.

Tracks and Sign:
The marten's foot has very large foot pads in relation to their body weight. This gives them a big advantage of being able to walk on deep snow that is very common in the Central Adirondacks. They grow longer hair between their foot pads in the winter which aids in keeping their feet warm. This hair often distorts the marten's track size. When snow tracking, you may find where a marten will travel "subnevean" or below the surface of the snow, in order to hunt small prey that have taken winter refuge in downed trees It is often difficult to tell the difference between a marten track and their close relative the fisher, especially in poor snow conditions.