Public Comment Now Open on Proposed Conservation Sonoma Planning Agreement

I am writing about special status wildlife in Sonoma County, particularly American Badger (Taxidea taxus), a keystone species for grassland and coastal prairie, a CA Species of Concern since 1987. As a Naturalist with 26 years of field study and observations of this species, identifying both habitat areas and natal territories within those habitat areas, I am in a position to offer both expertise and important conservation information for badger in our county. Understanding the location of natal territories is critically important, as these must be protected and conserved. Wildlife corridors leading to natal territories and habitat within those corridors are also relevant to support both male badger movement patterns, mating, reproduction, and then dispersal of juvenile badgers to seek their own habitat and territories. In Sonoma County, badgers attempt to live in their hatural habitat, grassland and/or coastal prairie, and most often are faced with surviving on ranches that occupy most of the grassland and coastal prairie in Sonoma County. Some ranchers are known to shoot and kill badgers on their properties as they dislike the prey-digging pattern of badgers as badgrs seek prey of pocket gophers and meadow voles. In the South Bay and southern California, ground squirrels are more commonly the prey of badgers. Here in Sonoma County, pocket gopher is the #1 prey source for badgers. Gophes aerate soil of grassland as they tunnel underground and badgers further aerate soil as they dig for their prey. The larger holes created by badgers seeking prey are what the ranchers dislike. Many ranchers do not understand the aeration of soil to contribute to the grassland of the ranches. Once informed about this, some ranchers ignore the badger activity and allow the activity, then when if felt needed will fill in the holes. The critical habitat areas for American Badger, including identified natal territories, are West Petaluma, the Bodega wildlife corridor to Bloomfield, into Valley Ford, the Bodega area, the Bodega Bay area and northward up the Sonoma County coast. The next critical area is west Sebastopol with a movement corridor to and from the Sonoma County coast. The very outskirts of south Santa Rosa bordering Sebastopol in recent years has also been notable for badger activity and dispersal of juvenile badgers from their mother badger. Public lands along the coast that host natal territories and badger habitat include Jenner Headlands Preserve, Willow Creek State Park, Wright Hill Ranch, Red Hill (State), and Carrington Ranch. The southeast area of Sonoma County where the Sonoma Valley Wildlife Corridor receives rather extraordinary attention is not relevant for American Badger movement or habitat. In 2015, the sole adult female badger in residence on land bordering Sonoma and the southest Petaluma interface, was struck by a vehicle and killed. I have consulted with multiple property owners in southwest Sonoma County and also between the coast and into west Sebastopol, to verify badger activity and discern maturity level of the badger and habitat needs. The first and thus far only badger sanctuary in California, with a natal territory and reproducing adult female badger, is in West Petaluma on Paula Lane, conserved with an Open Space Matching Grant in 2012. Unfortunately, the current title holder, City of Petaluma, has engaged in significant destruction of habitat and caused the adult female badger to flee with her young cub, not yet ready for dispersal, in Summer of 2019. This tragedy continues to unfold as the City of Petaluma has employed consultants without any level of species experience or awareness of how badgers utilized this habitat year-round for over 100 years. Of course, this is inexcusable and while a Conservation Easement was placed ovrer the land and is held by the Open Space District, the District has not responded adequately to ensure protection of the habitat for the badger, the primary wildlife species at this property, to protect the habitat and species. An ongoing effort continues in this regard. Kim Fitts of Bioconsultant LLC in Santa Rosa conducted the habitat survey for American Badger on the Paula Lane land in West Petaluma in 2004 and has submitted biological opinions specifically challenging the City of Petaluma’s decisions and actions, and her opinions have unfortunately been disregarded. There is of course no excuse for this and an effort is underway and has been to achieve a property title transfer from the City of Petaluma to a qualified entity to be able to restore the habitat from harm. This also continues. As far as development is concerned, the special status of American Badger does not include the State designation that would mandate protection of habitat. This is truly tragic. We in Sonoma County need to be proactive and evaluate biological resources related to development proposals to ensure both habitat protection and wildlife corridor preservation. I am completing a 3-part series of wildlife corridors in Sonoma County, utilizing the accrued information from badger sightings and known activity and habitat areas over 20+ years, to document wildlife corridors in Petaluma Valley, along the Sonoma County coast and connecting from West Petaluma through Bloomfield to the coast, and Marin County coastal and inland areas. The intent is to produce a static map and a story map that will be avilable for review and conservation use. When I obtain grant funding and can complete this project, I will be plesed to provide the mapping to Permit Sonoma. American Badger is an important meso predator, generally nocturnal, whose life in Sonoma County involves hunting for and digging out prey, accessing water as needed, and living a normal wild life. Badgers are not vicious predators as they have been portrayed in our soceity, including making it into our Lexicon (“Stop badgering the witness!”). Education about this important native Sonoma County and California mammal needs to continue, so humans can know to avoid encroachment and cooperate in conserving as much grassla nd and coastal prairie habitat as possible. Badgers are a best natural source for gopher population management. American Badger is a carnivore and does not attempt to access gardens or crops. The summer season of June through August can be deadly for juvenile badgers who usually disperse from their mother badger and seek their own territories, crossing roads in the process. I will be plesed to provide additional information as needed for this species. I am grateful for the growing number of property owners in Sonoma County who respect American Badger and welcome a badger’s presence to their land, knowing a visit to hunt for gophers and/or to obtain water will generally last about 7-10 days.. Adult female badgers generally locate their natal territories in hilly, secluded grassland areas where they reside with simple movement patterns out to forage for prey and then return to their burrow complexes. Reach out to me at 707-241-5548 for more location specific information or additional insights. Susan Kirks, Naturalist (PLAN)