The Turner Endangered Species Fund began operations in June 1997. During the year we accomplished important administrative tasks and worked on behalf nine imperiled species including red-cockaded woodpeckers, aplomado falcons, California condors, black-footed ferrets, black-tailed prairie dogs, red wolves, Mexican wolves, northern gray wolves, and desert bighorn sheep. Highlights include:

receiving a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS on September 12.

developing a logo for the Fund.

tentatively determining that the pine forests of the Avalon Plantation will support a colony of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers. During early January 1998 we intend to finalize this determination and then launch the first ever attempt to restore an extinct population of woodpeckers.

developing specific considerations for reintroducing aplomado falcons and California condors in New Mexico.

designing the black-footed breeding facility for Vermejo Park Ranch. Construction will begin in mid-January 1998. Our captive facility will produce ferrets that are well prepared for life in the wild and thus significantly strengthen restoration efforts in Montana and South Dakota, and facilitate restoration of ferrets to Vermejo Park.

developing appropriate techniques for promoting the growth of black-tailed prairie dogs. Following a few years of aggressive management the prairie dog populations might be large enough to support free-ranging black-footed ferrets.

determining that St. Phillips Island is too small to serve as an island propagation site for red wolves.

releasing eight Mexican wolves into the breeding pens at the Ladder Ranch. Two more wolves will arrive in January 1998. The Ladder facility is one of the largest of its kind in the world and will contribute mightily to Mexican wolf recovery. National Geographic Explorer is documenting the Fund’s involvement with Mexican wolf recovery.

developing a strategy for restoring wolves to Vermejo Park. While biologically feasible, wolf restoration presents tremendous socio-political challenges. To succeed, we must proceed cautiously and be respectful of the needs and concerns of Vermejo’s neighbors.

releasing seven desert bighorn sheep to the Fra Cristobal Mountains of the Armendaris Ranch. Currently the population numbers 49 sheep including 15 lambs. The Fra Cristobal restoration effort is quickly becoming a flagship project for recovering desert bighorn sheep in New Mexico.

Restoration is an extreme management response to a dire situation. Accordingly, Fund projects must be pragmatic and focused on activities that will result in restoration of self-sustaining populations.

Long-term monitoring is critical for ensuring success and will enable the Fund to contribute important information to the science of restoration.

Research must be an integral component of some Fund projects because restoration is a “young” science fraught with uncertainty and great complexity.

Utilizing traditional and cutting-edge technologies (e.g. radio telemetry and DNA analysis) will increase the effectiveness of fieldwork.

Success will greatly depend on the performance of field biologists. Accordingly, the Fund must develop a team of hard-working, well-trained individuals who remain with the organization for extended periods because we provide a viable “career path” (e.g. graduate training if appropriate, competitive salaries and benefits, involvement with important projects, opportunity to effect policy, responsibilities commensurate with abilities and desires, etc.).

Educating our colleagues and the general public about the Fund and forming effective partnerships with like-minded organizations are cost-effective approaches for developing new projects and creating a “sphere of influence” that is larger than Turner properties.