Alleged Endangered Species Act Violation of the Masked Bobwhite Quail Program

We investigated potential violations of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) and possible reprisal associated with the Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) recovery program for the endangered masked bobwhite quail at the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR) in Sasabe, AZ. 

 

We initiated this investigation after learning of an FWS PowerPoint presentation, developed by a BANWR employee, that contained photos of masked bobwhite quails that were injured and living in overcrowded conditions at BANWR. The photos of the quails depicted potential ESA violations. 

 

In addition, we learned during our investigation that a supervisor at BANWR had approved the presentation and authorized the BANWR employee to show it to an advisory group to illustrate the quails’ living conditions and the need to improve the facilities. Ten days after the presentation was shown, an FWS deputy regional supervisor lowered the BANWR supervisor’s annual performance rating and also reduced the amount of a monetary award she was to receive. The BANWR supervisor believed the deputy regional supervisor’s actions were reprisal against her for allowing the presentation to be shown, so we included this issue in our investigation.

 

Although we confirmed that the quails had been living in overcrowded conditions at BANWR and that some had suffered injuries, we found no evidence of negligence by BANWR employees while caring for the quails. In addition, we learned before completing our investigation that FWS had improved the quails’ living conditions. 

 

We confirmed that soon after the BANWR employee gave the presentation, FWS regional officials visited BANWR to assess the quails and their facility; the BANWR supervisor’s rating was lowered the day after they returned to the regional office. We further determined that FWS regional officials were concerned because the presentation had been shown to recovery team members who were not FWS employees, and they feared it might be released to the public. The officials we spoke to gave conflicting reasons for why her rating was lowered; one said that her involvement in the presentation was a factor in the decision, while another said that the visit to the facility had revealed overall maintenance issues at BANWR.

 

We issued this report to Michael Bean, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, for review and action.