Washington, DC — The recovery of wildlife listed under the Endangered Species Act is one of the most formidable challenges facing the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS). While there have been several notable successes, some recovery efforts have foundered due to lack of funding and uneven management. In comments filed today, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) focuses on deficiencies plaguing one of FWS’s oldest captive breeding operations, the fifty-year masked bobwhite quail recovery program.

The masked bobwhite quail is one of the original species listed under the Endangered Species Conservation Act and later the Endangered Species Act in 1973. Native to the Sonoran Desert in Southern Arizona and Mexico, the steady loss of its native grassland habitat had driven the masked bobwhite to the brink of extinction in the wild by 1950. It remains critically endangered today with no known wild populations.

The recovery program is located at the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in Southern Arizona. PEER filed their comments in response to a FWS solicitation of suggestions for improving the propagation or survival of wildlife under the Endangered Species Act. PEER’s comments highlight –

• Inadequate breeding facilities without appropriate ventilation, which can lead to respiratory diseases among the quail.
• Cramped buildings with a lack of space can lead to serious injuries during breeding season when the quail become aggressive towards one another. To prevent fatal injuries, quail are divided into smaller pens and often spend months alone.
• Outdoor runs known as flight conditioning pens to provide “education” to captive reared birds prior to their release into the wild which do not reflect the local habitat nor teach the birds how to forage for themselves and avoid predators.

“If done properly, captive breeding can become the path for critically endangered species to return to the wild,” stated PEER Senior Counsel Jeff Ruch, pointing to an Interior Inspector General inspection report on the bobwhite quail program. “Unfortunately, the Fish & Wildlife Service has not made maintenance of a high-quality recovery program a priority for the masked bobwhite quail.”

Due to these inadequacies, when the time comes for release, the quail are not prepared to survive in the wild. Over the years, some birds have managed to survive for months; however, many are immediately predated while others are unable to find food. In addition, the release areas have experienced years-long drought. Releasing birds into a drought-stricken landscape at high temperatures and with scarce food supply sometimes means birds are released to suffer and die.

To support FWS in its efforts to successfully recover the masked bobwhite, PEER urges FWS to adopt standards to protect the masked bobwhite both in captivity and upon release. In particular, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums has accreditation standards for captive breeding and release programs which are highly regarded in biological circles.

“With the required funding and staffing in place, the Fish & Wildlife Service should then be held accountable to a high standard of care and biological integrity within the entirety of their recovery programs,” Ruch added. “It is imperative that FWS receive the financial and staffing support they need in order to be successful in recovering listed species.”

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Read the PEER comments

Learn about the bobwhite quail

Examine the AZA accreditation program

See the Interior Inspector General report on the bobwhite recovery program