by

• Main Authors: Rock Ptarmigan, Robb S. A. Kaler, The Evergreen, State College, Brett K. Sandercock
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agattu Island; Arctic; Near Islands; Agattu; Archipelago; Arctic Fox; Lagopus mutus; rock ptarmigan; Alaska
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.483.2920; http://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2097/382/RobbKaler2007.pdf;jsessionid=7A9F513E695A32B2CE827D3F7578144C?sequence=1

Translocations are a useful management tool for restoring wildlife species to their native ranges, but require post-release monitoring to determine project success. We report results of a 4-year effort to reestablish a breeding population of Evermann's Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus evermanni) on Agattu Island in the Aleutian Archipelago, Alaska. This endemic subspecies of ptarmigan was extirpated from most of the Near Islands by introductions of arctic fox by fur traders, and natural recolonizations did not occur after fox eradication. All females surviving the 2-week post-release period attempted to nest but initiated clutches later in the season and laid fewer eggs than resident females. Nest success was similar for resident and translocated females. Brood survival was greater for translocated than resident females and differed significantly; however, brood survival varied among years and was reduced by adverse weather conditions in 2006. Seasonal survival of radio-marked birds during the breeding season was 100 % for translocated and resident ptarmigan. Over-winter mortality resulted in a low return rate in 2006. Returning birds in 2006 showed strong site fidelity and nest