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Cota, Melanie
Michael Burroughs; Roy Averill-Murray; Kimberleigh Field
Mark Slaughter; Gregory Helseth
Fwd: Tortoise Mortality Notification - Silver State - SS1053
Tuesday, August 19, 2014 11:07:43 AM

All,
Please see below on tortoise mortality (SS1053) for the Silver State South project. I will be
following this email with another that has a map and photos attached. Please let me know if
there are questions and/or if you need anything further. Thank you.
---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Kurt Sanderson <kurt@ironwoodbio.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 18, 2014 at 11:03 AM
Subject: Tortoise Mortality Notification - Silver State - SS1053
To: Melanie Cota <mcota@blm.gov>
Cc: Mark Slaughter <mslaught@blm.gov>, Chris Bedwell <cbedwell@ironwoodbio.com>,
Rachel Woodard <rachwoodard@earthlink.net>, Kelly Herbinson
<kellyherbinson@gmail.com>, Tony Simonetti <nello.simonetti@gmail.com>, Corey
Mitchell <coreyirene@gmail.com>, Greg Berthelot <Greg.Berthelot@firstsolar.com>, Kathy
Simon <kathy@ironwoodbio.com>, Chris Blandford <chris@ironwoodbio.com>
Hi Melanie,
Please see below our tortoise mortality report for SS1053. We are generating a map for this
report and will forward it to you separately for your records.
Best regards,
Kurt
-----------------------------------Melanie,
SS1053 (male) was found dead on carapace Friday afternoon, August 15th.Cause of death
isunknown, lack of remaining soft tissue andchew marks on shell strongly suggest canid
predation or scavenging. Please see attached mortality form and photos.
SS1053 had home range within the project in northern part of phase 1. This animal was not
onsite when the fences went up in April, and was therefore fenced offsite.
Please see a list of telemetry locations below over the past two and half months.
8/15 - remains found 651860/3943110
8/13 - above ground, under cover 651668/3943072 - significant flooding 8/12

8/4-8/11 - in burrow, 6581 651721/3943185

8/1 - above ground, in open 651687/3943037
7/30 - in burrow, 6875 651077/3943130
7/28 - above ground, thermo regulating 651692/3942889
7/18-7/25 - in burrow. 6943 651623/3942980
7/16 - in burrow, 6291 651555/3943085
7/10-7/14 - in burrow, 6943 651623/3942980
7/7 - inburrow, 6902. 651601/3943057 - significant flooding 7/5
6/22-7/4 - in burrow, 6943 651623/3942980
6/17-6/21 - in burrow, 6291. 651555/3943085
6/16 - above ground, foraging near 6291. 651555/3943076
5/29-6/15 in burrow, 6943. 651623/3942980
The remains were found about 300m from the project boundary and 200m from previous
location (8/11). 1053 has been generally occupying an area about 150m from the project.
1053's movements seem to correlate with rain events, as most tortoises have become active
with the recentmonsoons.
Please let us know if you have any questions.

Chris Bedwell
Designated Biologist,
Silver State South
Subcontractor for
Ironwood Consulting, Inc.
c. 702.683.5266
e.cbedwell@ironwoodbio.com

_______________________
Kurt Sanderson
Deputy Project Manager
Ironwood Consulting, Inc.
Silver State South
kurt@ironwoodbio.com

909-213-0267

-Melanie Cota
Wildlife Biologist
BLM Southern Nevada District
Pahrump Field Office
4701 North Torrey Pines Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89130
Office: 702-515-5233
Fax: 702-515-5155
mcota@blm.gov
It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity, and
productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.