Management Recommendations for Washington’s Priority Species: Ferruginous Hawk (2024)

Management recommendations

Because of the endangered status of ferruginous hawks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recommends land-use managers protect all areas associated with their breeding and nesting habitat. A status of endangered means that the species is “seriously threatened with extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range within the state” (see WAC 220-610-110). For this reason, WDFW recommends broad protective measures with respect to (a) the extent of the area that should be protected, and (b) the degree to which areas are protected (e.g., strong emphasis on avoidance of harm). We recommend protecting unoccupied nesting territories because ferruginous hawks have been observed re-occupying territories after an absence of at least 20 years (Romin and Muck 2002; M. Vekasy, pers. comm.; J. Fidorra, pers. comm.). We recommend strictly avoiding places that provide key breeding and foraging opportunities because this is the lowest-risk option for this seriously at-risk species. Recovery of the species will ultimately require restoration of currently degraded habitat (WDFW 1996).

Proposals to develop in areas associated with ferruginous hawk breeding should be assessed for impacts on nesting habitat. This can be accomplished by devising a plan to avoid (strongly preferred) or minimize and provide compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts to important nesting habitat resources. The following steps are provided to help assess the potential impacts of a proposed development to ferruginous hawks and to avoid, minimize, and provide compensatory mitigation to offset all unavoidable impacts.