3.7 -- ENDANGERED SPECIES AND PROTECTED HABITATS 



Several endangered species inhabit the Gulf Coast area and 

 are susceptible to impacts from OCS development. These species 

 include the brown pelican, red wolf, alligator, sea turtles, 

 southern bald eagle, Mississippi sandhill crane, and whooping 

 crane (USDI, 1976B: 111-38 and Visual No. 4). 



A small breeding colony of brown pelicans has been estab- 

 lished on Queen Bess Island of the Grand Terre Islands (east of 

 Grand Isle) and appear to be making a comeback. There are also two 

 nesting rookeries along the Texas coast. The possible impacts of 

 OCS activity on the brown pelican include the possibility of their 

 feathers becoming contaminated with oil or their ingesting oil- 

 contaminated food (USDI, 1976b: 111-38). 



The alligator inhabits the entire coastal area of the 

 central Gulf. They are dependent on a well-established marsh 

 habitat for their food supply and for nesting. An acute oil 

 spill or pipeline break resulting in devegetation of a marsh 

 may adversely affect alligators. The loss of alligator habitat 

 is directly related to the time required for reestablishment 

 of marsh vegetation (USDI, 1976b: 111-33) . In three Louisiana 

 parishes (Calcasieu, Vermilion, and Cameron) the status of 

 the alligator has been reduced from "endangered" to "threa- 

 tened" Each year short hunting seasons are allowed 

 in those parishes. In other parishes, they remain on the 

 endangered list (Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, 

 1977). 



Sea turtles in the Gulf include the Atlantic ridley , 

 hawksbill, and leatherback (USDI, 1976b: 111-38) . The 



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