For over three decades, the Endangered Species Recovery Program (ESRP) has been working to facilitate the recovery and conservation of threatened and endangered species in California's Central Valley. An unexpected freeze of a critical federal grant created a significant funding shortfall that is ending the program, which had been administered by Stanislaus State. 

While ESRP is actively pursuing independent non-profit status (a process that will take time), the conservation work in the Central Valley is still needed for species like the iconic San Joaquin kit fox and secretive riparian woodrat.

?Re-Discovering? the Endangered Riparian Woodrat

This shirt celebrates a remarkable milestone in conservation of the riparian woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes riparia). Working alongside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, River Partners, and California State Parks, ESRP conducted non-invasive surveys to detect riparian woodrats at Caswell Memorial State Park and the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge. Despite two years of searching for sign (including their characteristic "stick houses") in locations where they had previously been documented, biologists came up empty-handed.

Then, this past fall, seven riparian woodrats were live captured on the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge while biologists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ESRP, Oakland Zoo, River Partners, California State Parks, and Fresno Chaffee Zoo were trapping for another endangered riparian mammal, the riparian brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani riparius). These unexpected captures marked the first observations after a seven-year absence on the refuge. 

Inspired by these captures, ESRP lead a camera survey with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California State Parks, and River Partners over the winter. While they have not been able to find the woodrats in most of their historic areas, they have discovered a few places on the refuge where they are present ? including newly restored habitat.

But this work is just beginning. More information is needed to learn about these rare and secretive rodents, collecting population and habitat data essential to help inform management strategies that can minimize threats and promote healthy populations. From the little data biologists have, the species already face significant challenges including habitat loss and modification, predation from domestic cats and invasive black rats, and competition from those same introduced species.

What Are "Woodrat Vibes"?

The shirt's "woodrat vibes" reference captures the essence of field work undertaken by ESRP, USFWS, and River Partners biologists in search of woodrat habitat? recalling those long days spent searching for sign or the perfect site for cameras. Biologists learned to recognize areas that gave off that special "woodrat vibe": riparian habitat with dense shrubbery under majestic valley oaks (Quercus lobata), especially places with "stick houses" or vertical structures like low tree limbs connecting the understory to the canopy where woodrats might forage.

This shirt celebrates those initial discoveries and areas that truly have "woodrat vibes."

How You Can Help

The California Central Coast Chapter of The Wildlife Society is fundraising to help ESRP biologists continue their important work. Every charitable contribution ? whether a tax-deductible donation or the purchase of a kit fox or woodrat t-shirt ? provides valuable resources for their biologists to continue helping the many incredible species that call California home. 

Together with your support, we can protect California's most vulnerable wildlife for future generations.

(Riparian woodrat illustration by www.gentani.org)