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SOUTHEAST REGION UPDATES
from the Wildlife Diversity Program

A new field season is upon us, so we’re sharing details for projects funded in your region (roughly bounded by I-40 and I-35) by the Wildlife Diversity Program. Additional survey information is available in the linked project statements. Keep scrolling to enter the regional field note challenge, and to let us know what you think of this update.

Buckle in … your region has the highest grant count.

Crawfish frog. Photo by Curtis Tackett.

Ongoing State Wildlife Grants

Grants are focused on Oklahoma's 313 Species of Greatest Conservation Need and may continue for up to five years. Funding is through the State Wildlife Grant Program (65 federal:35 match funding). 

Crawfish Frog Survey

Goal: Listen for calling crawfish frogs and document breeding sites. 

Survey Season: February - April

Survey Organization: Oklahoma State University

Western Chicken Turtle Survey

Goal: Gather life history data for western chicken turtles in Oklahoma. 

Survey Season: March - July

Survey Organization: Missouri State University

Amphibian and Turtle Swabbing

Goal: Track emerging infectious diseases in amphibians and turtles.

Survey Season: March - June

Survey Organization: University of Oklahoma

Nightjar Survey

Goal: Develop a survey protocol for nightjars and collect distribution data, especially for the eastern whip-poor-will.

Survey Season: April - June

Survey Organization: Oklahoma State University

Tricolored Bat Survey and Swabbing

Goal: Capture or detect tricolored bats in western and central Oklahoma and swab for the fungus responsible for white-nose syndrome. 

Survey Season: April - June 

Survey Organization: University of Oklahoma 

Breeding Bird Survey

Goal: Determine the distribution of breeding birds in the state for the second Oklahoma Breeding Bird Atlas.

Survey Season: April - July

Survey Organization: Sutton Avian Research Center

Kiamichi Crayfish Survey

Goal: Develop a sampling protocol and track the regionally endemic Kiamichi crayfish. 

Survey Season: April - August

Survey Organization: Missouri State University

Alligator Snapping Turtle Survey

Goal: Search for alligator snapping turtles in the Little, Blue, Muddy Boggy, Kiamichi and Red rivers and in Eufaula Reservoir.

Survey Season: April - August

Survey Organization: Missouri State University

Bumble Bee Surveys (OSU/OBS)

Goal: Search for Oklahoma bumble bee species and compare with historic records.

Survey Seasons: May - October 

Survey Organizations: Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma Biological Survey

American Alligator Surveys (SWAU/SOSU)

Goal: Better understand the distribution and population status of alligators in Oklahoma. 

Survey Season: Spotlight and capture surveys in spring and fall; nest surveys in summer

Survey Organizations: Southwestern Adventist University and Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Land Snail Survey

Goal: Identify the distributions of known snail species of greatest conservation need and update list of SGCN.

Survey Season: July - September

Survey Organization: ODWC

Oak/Hickory Restoration

Goal: Enhance and restore habitat at the Pontotoc Ridge Preserve.

Season: Year-round

Organization: The Nature Conservancy

Buffalofish Genetics

Goal: Genetically confirm species identification of buffalofishes and assess levels of hybridization. 

Season: Year-round

Organization: Oklahoma State University

Ongoing ESA Section 6 Projects

Grants are competitive and focused on federally listed, petitioned, or candidate species. They have a one-year duration, though several are renewed annually. Funding is through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (75 federal:25 match funding).

Frosted Elfin Survey

Goal: Search on and around wild indigo plants for a small butterfly and its larvae.  

Survey Season: March - May

Survey Organization: University of Oklahoma

Leopard Darter Surveys

Goal: Search for the threatened leopard darter with USFWS and USFS.

Survey Season: Larval trapping in February - April; snorkel survey in July

Survey Organization: ODWC

Red-cockaded Woodpecker Recovery

Goal: Monitor and manage the endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers at the McCurtain County Wilderness Area.

Season: Year-round

Organization: ODWC

Listing Updates

March 31, 2023 – Northern long-eared bat reclassified as federally endangered.

Waiting for the final rule for the alligator snapping turtle, tricolored bat, and pyramid pigtoe.

Waiting for the proposed rule for the little brown bat and monarch.

Species Status Assessment ongoing for the Kiamichi crayfish, plains spotted skunk, peppered shiner, and western chicken turtle.

Petitioned Species (no USFWS action as of yet): southern plains bumble bee, American bumble bee, and Iowa skipper

Regional Field Note Challenge

Enter your favorite or even craziest fish or wildlife sighting for a chance to win a Rite in the Rain spiral notebook!

Entries can be made for any native or invasive species anywhere in the state...extra points for entries of nongame species...extra extra points for species of greatest conservation need. One notebook will be given away per region. 

Sightings must be accompanied by the relevant who, what, how many, and where details to be eligible.

Deadline for entries: April 4, 2023

Does this update work for you?

We're considering sending tailor-made regional updates twice a year...once right before each region’s field season kicks off to let you know what will be going on in your area, and again after it winds down to let you know some early results. Let us know if this format worked for you (or at least wasn't terrible). Please send suggestions for improvement to Jena Donnell, or give this update a thumbs up or thumbs down with the below buttons.