Wildlife Response Guidelines Canada - United States Marine Spill Pollution Contingency Plan CANUSLANT Annex Wildlife Response Working Group

Workgroup New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fisheries and Oceans Canada Canadian Wildlife Service Canadian Wildlife Service Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance U.S. Department of Commerce - National Marine Fisheries Service U.S. Department of Commerce - National Marine Fisheries Service

Vulnerable Wildlife – CANUSLANT Area Significant numbers of birds migrate through, breed, and over winter in the area: waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds, and bald eagles; Significant numbers of birds migrate through, breed, and over winter in the area: waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds, and bald eagles; The entire provincial wintering population of the harlequin duck, listed as endangered in New Brunswick, occurs in the outer Bay of Fundy. The entire provincial wintering population of the harlequin duck, listed as endangered in New Brunswick, occurs in the outer Bay of Fundy. Numerous seabird colonies in the area range from hundreds to thousands of birds. Numerous seabird colonies in the area range from hundreds to thousands of birds. Colonial breeding bird species include terns, storm petrels, razorbills, common murres, puffins, and common eiders. Colonial breeding bird species include terns, storm petrels, razorbills, common murres, puffins, and common eiders.

Vulnerable Wildlife – CANUSLANT Area Harbor seals, grey seals, minke whales, and harbor porpoises may also be present in the CANUSLANT area throughout the year. Harbor seals, grey seals, minke whales, and harbor porpoises may also be present in the CANUSLANT area throughout the year. Species of baleen whales, including the fin whale, the endangered humpback whale and endangered right whale, migrate through and stop to feed during the spring and summer. Species of baleen whales, including the fin whale, the endangered humpback whale and endangered right whale, migrate through and stop to feed during the spring and summer. Vulnerable terrestrial wildlife include black bear, moose, white-tailed deer, coyote, red fox, river otters, beaver, mink, and weasels. Vulnerable terrestrial wildlife include black bear, moose, white-tailed deer, coyote, red fox, river otters, beaver, mink, and weasels.

Workgroup/Guideline History The 2002 CANUSLANT exercise report recommended forming a Canadian- United States Wildlife Response Working Group with representatives from the respective wildlife resource agencies. The 2002 CANUSLANT exercise report recommended forming a Canadian- United States Wildlife Response Working Group with representatives from the respective wildlife resource agencies. Purpose: To develop wildlife response guidelines for when a coordinated approach is needed to keep wildlife away from oiled areas and for capturing and treating individuals of selected wildlife species that become oiled. Team convened in 2003; documents exchanged. Reconvened in late Team convened in 2003; documents exchanged. Reconvened in late Working draft completed in June 2007; tested in CANUSLANT Working draft completed in June 2007; tested in CANUSLANT Late 2007 work initiated on revisions and completion of outstanding work items; e.g., customs/border crossing; marine mammals; update to permit/declaration form annex. Late 2007 work initiated on revisions and completion of outstanding work items; e.g., customs/border crossing; marine mammals; update to permit/declaration form annex.

Key components Agencies and contacts; Agencies and contacts; Statutory responsibilities and requirements; Statutory responsibilities and requirements; Concept/progressive hierarchy of operations – Concept/progressive hierarchy of operations –  Primary – Control the release, remove oiled carcasses, minimize disturbance;  Secondary – Keep the wildlife away (deterrence/hazing);  Tertiary – Capture, treat, release. Steps for capture, treatment, release, recovery, deterrence; Steps for capture, treatment, release, recovery, deterrence; Equipment (e.g., hazing); Equipment (e.g., hazing); Forms, permits, chain-of-custody record; Forms, permits, chain-of-custody record; Potential facility locations. Potential facility locations.

Key Assumptions/Givens Canadian and US wildlife agencies will provide protocols to the CCG OSC and USCG FOSC for oiled carcass removal. Canadian and US wildlife agencies will provide protocols to the CCG OSC and USCG FOSC for oiled carcass removal. Deterrence - case specific, by joint decision; Deterrence - case specific, by joint decision; Collection, deterrence, treatment, will be under the oversight of the appropriate wildlife agencies; Collection, deterrence, treatment, will be under the oversight of the appropriate wildlife agencies; Public announcements via JIC; Public announcements via JIC; Canadian and US wildlife agencies are responsible for funding their respective operations via normal procedures; Canadian and US wildlife agencies are responsible for funding their respective operations via normal procedures; Transfer of equipment may take place; Transfer of equipment may take place; Involved individuals will be appropriately trained. Involved individuals will be appropriately trained.

Appendices Appendix 1 – Selected Species and Wildlife Resource Agency Management Responsibilities Appendix 1 – Selected Species and Wildlife Resource Agency Management Responsibilities Appendix 2 – CANUSLANT Wildlife Resource Agency Contacts Appendix 2 – CANUSLANT Wildlife Resource Agency Contacts Appendix 3 – Migratory Bird Susceptibility to Oiling: Selected Species Appendix 3 – Migratory Bird Susceptibility to Oiling: Selected Species Appendix 4 – Oiled Carcass Recovery Appendix 4 – Oiled Carcass Recovery Appendix 5 – Data Sheet for Collected Oiled Carcasses and Wildlife Assessment Appendix 5 – Data Sheet for Collected Oiled Carcasses and Wildlife Assessment Appendix 6 – Oiled Wildlife Collection Tags Appendix 6 – Oiled Wildlife Collection Tags Appendix 7 – Chain-of-Custody Record and Evidence Storage Log Appendix 7 – Chain-of-Custody Record and Evidence Storage Log Appendix 8 – Deterrence Program Considerations Appendix 8 – Deterrence Program Considerations Appendix 9A – General Permit Information for Selected Response-Related Appendix 9A – General Permit Information for Selected Response-Related Activities: Migratory Birds and Marine Mammals Activities: Migratory Birds and Marine Mammals Appendix 9B – Specific Permit Information for Selected Response-Related Appendix 9B – Specific Permit Information for Selected Response-Related Activities: Migratory Birds and Marine Mammals Activities: Migratory Birds and Marine Mammals Appendix 10 – Equipment and Materials Stockpiled for Bird Response Activities Appendix 10 – Equipment and Materials Stockpiled for Bird Response Activities Appendix 11 – Entities with Bird Deterrent Personnel Appendix 11 – Entities with Bird Deterrent Personnel Appendix 12 – Factors to Consider in Determining When to Begin and End a Wildlife Capture and Treatment Program Appendix 12 – Factors to Consider in Determining When to Begin and End a Wildlife Capture and Treatment Program Appendix 13 – Checklist for Requesting Initiation of Migratory Bird and/or Appendix 13 – Checklist for Requesting Initiation of Migratory Bird and/or Marine Mammal Capture and Treatment Programs and/or Marine Mammal Capture and Treatment Programs and/or Pre-emptive Capture Program Pre-emptive Capture Program Appendix 14 – Potential Bird Stabilization and Treatment Facilities Appendix 14 – Potential Bird Stabilization and Treatment Facilities Appendix 15 – Guidelines for Cross-border Transportation of Oiled Wildlife Appendix 15 – Guidelines for Cross-border Transportation of Oiled Wildlife

Next Steps: Marine mammals/turtles: POCs to be identified; renew relationship; text finalized; Marine mammals/turtles: POCs to be identified; renew relationship; text finalized; Remaining work items completed; training requirements; avian flu; hunting closures; border crossing; general wrap up; Remaining work items completed; training requirements; avian flu; hunting closures; border crossing; general wrap up; Target: JRT approval by the June ’09 JRT meeting Target: JRT approval by the June ’09 JRT meeting