Overview

We provide full Natural and Ecological Resource Management services for various clients ranging from large scale development projects and government agencies to individual property owners and non-profit organizations. WHM has experienced staff and associates that work closely with our clients to develop ideas and solutions that are satisfactory to local, state and federal governmental regulations.

Threatened and Endangered Species

Issues of threatened and endangered wildlife, plants, and ecological communities often arise during the planning review by county conservation districts, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. If a database reveals that such species may be present on or within close proximity to the project area, the permit applicant is required to retain a qualified biologist to investigate the area.

Early consultation with jurisdictional agencies prior to project development is critical. WHM and our associates have certified professionals to deal with these “hits.” Typically a habitat assessment (phase I) is initially required by the agency after a “hit” is registered. A presence/absence survey (phase II) or a trapping survey (phase III) may also be required. Occasionally, additional research or activities such as radio telemetric tracking, species relocation, habitat re-creation, or construction monitoring may also be required by some agencies depending on the species and the area.

Some species that generate concern in Pennsylvania and and in some neighboring states are:

• The Bog Turtle
• Red-Bellied Turtle
• Wood Turtle
• Timber Rattlesnake
• Canebrake Rattlesnake
• Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
• Indiana Bat
• Green Salamander
• Bald Eagle
• Allegheny Woodrat
• Northeastern Bulrush

WHM staff and associates include personnel that are recognized by State and Federal agencies as qualified surveyors/biologists for the above mentioned species. Our staff or associates have conducted numerous habitat assessments, presence/absence surveys, trapping surveys, and other types of research for many plant and wildlife species of concern for various developers, engineering firms, non-profit organizations, universities, and government agencies throughout the United States. These studies allowed projects to go forward without negatively impacting the habitats of the threatened and endangered species.

The expertise and experience of our staff and associates includes, but is not limited to other species such as:

• Acadian Flycatcher
• Aleutian Canada Goose
• American Alligator
• American Bittern
• American Crocodile
• Barred Owl
• Black Crowned Night Heron
• Blue-spotted Salamander
• Bobolink
• Box Turtle
• Broad Headed Skink
• Broom Crowberry
• Burrowing Owl
• Corn Snake
• Coronet Blue Butterfly
• Damselflies
• Dragonflies
• Eared False Foxglove
• Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
• Eastern Fence Lizard
• Eastern Hognose Snake
• Eastern Mud Salamander
• Eastern Small Footed Bat
• Eastern Spadefoot Toad
• Edith’s Checkerspot Butterfly
• Five-lined Skink
• Four-toed Salamander
• Freshwater Mussels
• Gopher Tortoise
• Grasshopper Sparrow
• Hartford Fern
• Jefferson Salamander
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Long-tailed Salamander
• Map Turtle
• Marbled Salamander
• New Jersey Chorus Frog
• Northern Copperhead
• Northern Cricket Frog
• Northern Myotis Bat
• Northern Pine Snake
• Pine Barrens Tree Frog
• Piping Plover
• Pitcher Plants
• Queen Snake
• Red-headed Woodpecker
• Rough Green Snake
• Semi-palmated Sandpiper
• Spectacled Caiman
• Spotted Salamander
• Spotted Turtle
• Stephen’s Kangaroo Rat
• Sundews
• Swamp Honeysuckle
• Swamp Pink
• Upland Sandpiper
• Western Spadefoot Toad

Biological and Ecological Assessments

Biological and ecological inventories are generally an inventory of all plant and animal life within an assigned area, and the overall environmental quality of that area relating abiotic factors (temperature, light, moisture) to biotic components, the living things that shape an ecosystem. A Biological Assessment (BA) is a process to determine whether a proposed activity under the authority of a Federal action agency is likely to adversely affect listed species, proposed species, or designated critical habitat. The BA is used to compile enough information about the activity or project and the species potentially affected to determine whether a proposal is likely to: (1) adversely affect listed species or designated critical habitat; (2) jeopardize the continued existence of species that are proposed for listing; or (3) adversely modify proposed critical habitat. The outcome of this biological assessment determines whether formal consultation or a conference is necessary. An ecological assessment determines the impact of past and present operations on the area ecology. These assessments also determine the impact of any specific cleanup, operational, or closure actions. Assessments include determining the concentration of contaminants in ecological species, the relative health of indicator species, and other activities required to protect threatened or endangered species.

Macroinvertebrate Surveys

The condition of aquatic habitat is an indicator of the overall health of a watershed. WHM has experienced staff that can perform aquatic habitat assessments and macroinvertebrate surveys. The staff is familiar with various assessment protocols acceptable in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.

Wildlife Management

We have expertise/experience in habitat assessment and presence/absence surveys and technical reports, environmental impact statements, wildlife management plans, habitat management and mitigation, radio telemetry research, general inventory studies, drift fence and other forms of wildlife trapping including aquatic and wetland turtle trapping, and construction monitoring services for many species of wildlife including threatened and endangered species. Our capabilities include reptile and amphibian inventories and surveys, bird and raptor surveys, mammal surveys, insect surveys, and vernal pool surveys and evaluations.

Radio Telemetry

WHM staff and associates are extensively experienced with the use of radio telemetry equipment. Radio telemetry is a mechanism used by biologists to track free ranging wildlife in the field, usually for the purpose of obtaining activity range and daily movement data, as well as habitat use information. Radio transmitters can be safely attached to wildlife through a variety of procedures depending on the species. The data can be used to develop an appropriate wildlife management or habitat management plan. An example would be habitat management at a wetland occupied by bog turtles. Particular portions of wetlands where bog turtles are known to occur may be managed differently and more appropriately based on the activity range and habitat use data provided through radio telemetry. Radio telemetry can provide information which will allow biologists to make better educated decisions on the proper placement and designation of wildlife travel corridors and habitat set-back areas in relation to disturbance/construction areas.

Wildlife Habitat Creation/Enhancement

Habitat creation entails the construction or enhancement of appropriate habitat for a given wildlife or plant species through activities such as prescribed burning, exotic vegetation removal, waterway/wetland creation and enhancement, planting of native vegetation, and construction of artificial habitat for mitigation.