ABOUT N. FORK POUDRE SCT
The US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) is taking a new approach to species conservation through locally formed Site Conservation Teams (SCT). The first team—targeting Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse (PMJM)—was established in the North Fork of the Cache la Poudre River Watershed in 2019. The SCT includes representation from local landowners, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.
The N. Fork Poudre Site Conservation Team (Poudre SCT) aims to work with the local community to achieve the best solutions for people and Preble’s mice.
North Fork Poudre SCT Structure
The Nork Fork SCT is comprised of 22 members plus 8 alternates. Membership is made up of private landowners, non-profit NGOs, local government municipalities, federal agencies, state natural resource agencies, and one for profit conservation entity. A charter defines roles and responsibilities. All positions are voluntarily held and are voted on every two years. A chairperson facilitates and coordinates directly with the USFWS Preble’s lead who is the liaison for all SCTs. Decisions are made by consensus.
Our work includes:
Assessing habitat quality within hydrologic unit codes
Nominating mouse populations to serve as recovery populations whose size will be monitored for 10 years
Develop Threat Abatement and Conservation Plans, which serve to identify local and regional impacts and activities, potential management actions, and identification of opportunities for habitat improvement, including funding and support resources.
Inclusive and robust community outreach and education
N. Fork Poudre Site Conservation Team Partners
Our Working Area
Poudre SCT Working Area. (Click map to enlarge)
The Preble’s meadow jumping mouse is found in high plains riparian habitat often reaching to foothills riparian habitats from southeastern Wyoming to south central Colorado. The subspecies is often found in dense, herbaceous riparian vegetation, which may have an overstory canopy layer. The Preble’s mouse regularly uses upland grasslands adjacent to riparian habitat, and they occur near and may be dependent upon some amount of open water. The subspecies hibernate near riparian zones from mid-October to early May.
In the North Fork of the Cache la Poudre Watershed, the Preble’s mouse is found between 5,500 and 7,600 feet above sea level.
