1. Bald Eagle

The Bald Eagle is present at a number of U.S. military sites including Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland which is a prime nesting area.  Fort Riley in Kansas is one of the largest wintering spots for the bald eagle in the U.S., with up to 388 eagles observed in camp at a time.

Image: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via wikimedia.

2. Marbled Murrelet

Potential habitat for the marbled murrelet exists in of the last remaining stands of low-elevation Sitka spruce, at the U.S. Naval Radio Station at Jim Creek, Washington.  The Navy owned the land but not the logging rights and extensive logging occurred until 1990, when the Navy purchased the rights in order to preserve 225 acres containing Sitka and western red cedars up to 1,500 years old.

Image: Marbled murrelet chick by Peter Halasz at wikimedia.

3. Mojave Desert Tortoise

Human encroachment and its attendant trash has made the Mojave Desert more attractive to ravens, which love to feast on young tortoises.  Combined with military’s use of the land for training purposes, the effect on the Mojave Desert Tortoise has been severe.  Restoration of the population involves a coordinated effort partnering with UCLA, including a captive-rearing program initiated at Edwards Air Force Base.

Image by Tigerhawkvok at wikimedia.

4. California Least Tern

Some of the largest remaining nesting sites of the California Least Tern are located in the San Diego Bay.  As lead agency in a conservation plan and host for nesting colonies on three of its bases, the U.S. Navy coordinates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Port Authority, and the private shipping industry.

Image: US Fish and Wildlife Service via wikimedia.

5. West Indian Manatee

The West Indian Manatee was falling victim to the propellers of U.S. Navy’s powerful C-tractor tugboats at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia until the early 1990’s, when the navy began to install propeller guards which not only protected the manatees but also improved efficiency.  Now all tugs and other small vessels at Kings Bay have propeller guards.  Other protective measures include speed limits, no-entry areas, and population monitoring in and around the bay.

Image: West Indian Manatee with calf, US Fish and Wildlife Service via wikimedia.

6. Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

At the U.S. Marines Corps base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, the red-cockaded woodpecker is being protected through restoration of its longleaf pine habitat, monitoring of roosting and nesting areas, and population monitoring.

Image: GNU Free Documentation License at wikimedia.

7. California Red-Legged Frog

While not on the endangered species list, the California Red-Legged Frog is listed as a threatened species.  The California National Guard at Camp San Luis Obispo has become a critical habitat for the frog due to nearby population encroachment and reservoir construction.  Erosion control efforts along streams at the facility help protect the frog while also stabilizing land for its training mission.

Image: Pierre Fidenci at calphotos via wikimedia.

8. Gray Wolf

The 53,000 acre Camp Ripley is home to the Minnesota National Guard and it also hosts a thriving population of the Gray Wolf.  Camp Ripley was the first facility in the country to develop a gray wolf monitoring and tracking program.

Image: US Fish and Wildlife Service.

9. Regal Fritillary Butterfly

9. Habitat management consistent with military training goals can go a long way.  The Regal Fritillary Butterfly, once near the endangered species list, is thriving at Fort Indiantown Gap.  The Pennsylvania National Guard facility hosts the country’s single largest population of the butterfly and has protected its grassland habitat by relocating some mechanized exercises and converting others to virtual exercises.

Image: Vintage postcard from Karen’s Whimsey.

Once abundant throughout American territories, the Bald Eagle has been negatively impacted by poaching, habitat destruction, pesticides and food source contamination. Its population has dropped from approximately 100,000 nesting pairs at the nation’s founding to just over 400 nesting pairs in the early 1960’s.

The Bald Eagle, nearing the brink of extinction just 35 years ago, has made remarkable progress and is still expanding its presence throughout our nation’s lands and skies. Public Law 108-486, signed by President George W. Bush on December 23, 2004, called for the United States Mint to mint and issue three commemorative coins that celebrate the encouraging recovery of the Bald Eagle species and the removal of the Bald Eagle from the Endangered Species List.

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