Park Service Aims To Protect 'Species Of Concern'

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The National Park Service is working on a plan to protect sea turtles and other species from predators like raccoons and coyotes. / Wikimedia Commons

The National Park Service is working on a plan to protect vulnerable nesting animals from predators.

Lots of what the Park Service calls “species of concern” hang out at National Park sites throughout the southeast, including loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, green and leatherback sea turtles; snowy and piping plovers and the southeastern and Perdido Key beach mice. Some are federally listed as endangered or threatened, while others are listed at the state level.

The NPS is working on a comprehensive plan to protect those critters from predators like raccoons and coyotes.

Doug Hoffman is the wildlife biologist for Cumberland Island National Seashore. He said experts will share knowledge across parks.

“What’s produced is based on what we know from our main parks," he said. "But it can also be used in other smaller parks that really don’t have the knowledge base that some of us do.”

NPS is hosting webinars Oct. 9 and 11, which require pre-registration, and accepting public comment through Oct. 26.

The plan is available for review online and at the NPS visitor center in St. Mary's.