Biological Management Services

Wildlife Biologist evaluating habitat on a proposed development site.

Biological, Wildlife & Natural Resource Management & Inventories

Western Plains Consulting provides a wide range of biological, wildlife, aquatic and natural resources management and inventory services including:

· Wildlife Evaluations—Assessing direct and cumulative effects on identified species of interest.

· Habitat Evaluations—Assessing habitat for threatened and endanger species, sensitive and watch plant species, and raptor species of concern. Habitat components necessary to support all species of concerns are evaluated.

· Botanical Evaluations/Surveys—Floristic-based searches are conducted and intensified on areas where sensitive or watch plant species may occur. Complete species lists of each area are compiled during the survey.

· Aerial Surveys—Surveys with fixed-wing aircraft follow low-level systematic routes to sight existing raptor nests and evaluate activities. Aerials surveys have also been conducted for big game, waterfowl, and threatened, endangered, and sensitive wildlife species and/or their habitat.

· Avian Point Count Surveys— Point-count surveys are done at Wind Turbine locations to compile avian species lists and to describe habitat use and interspersion. The counts are performed during spring and fall to capture both migratory and resident species.

· Aquatic Studies—WPC has conducted year-long fish impingement and mortality studies at various industrial facilities which use lakes and rivers for cooling water. The work includes species and size cataloging.

· Hazardous Wildlife Assessment—Evaluation of proposed development areas to determine the likelihood that uses would attract problematic wildlife. This is particularly critical in airport or highway corridor management. Recommendations are made related to guidelines, design, and construction practices that reduce or manage wildlife attractants.