“After reviewing Ms. Kagan’s record and testimony at her confirmation hearing, the GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA concluded that, ‘The available evidence portrays her as a forceful advocate of restrictive gun laws and driven by political considerations rather than rule of law.'” — Sen. John Thune (R-SD), August 5, 2010

Applications for antlerless deer licenses in areas with restricted quotas are on sale through Sunday, August 15, at all license vendors or online.

In all, 776,500 antlerless deer licenses will be available in 2010, an increase from 728,100 last year. The number of both public- land and private-land licenses has been increased.

Hunters will find fewer antlerless licenses available in the Upper Peninsula. In 2009, 12 U.P. Deer Management Units (DMU) did not have antlerless deer licenses. This year 17 DMUs will not offer them.

In the northern Lower Peninsula, antlerless permits have increased somewhat, largely due to more licenses available on private land on the east side of the region. Five DMUs will not offer antlerless licenses, compared to four in 2009. All private-land licenses for DMU 487 – which includes Alpena, Alcona, Iosco, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Presque Isle counties – may be used throughout the DMU. There will not be any private-land licenses for the sub-unit DMUs within DMU 487. As another option for taking antlerless deer only within DMU 487, hunters in the unit may use an antlerless or combination license for antlerless deer within the Nov. 15-30 firearm season or the Dec. 10-19 muzzleloader season.

In southern Michigan, where deer populations remain significantly above goal, the number of available antlerless licenses has been increased. As with the change made for DMU 487, all private-land licenses for DMU 486 – the multi-county unit which includes all but six DMUs in southern Michigan – will be good throughout the DMU. There will not be any private-land licenses for the sub-unit DMUs within DMU 486.

Applications, which remain on sale through Aug. 15, are $4. Hunters may apply for just one antlerless license.

By Steve Hickoff

Need some hunting action? Check your state’s regulations. Chances are there’s a crow season slot offered sometime soon. Local to my northern New England home base, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont all offer August options. Maybe your hunting location does too.

Some history: Back in the 1970s, crows were first recognized as migratory game birds. These days states around the country establish seasons. Summer offerings, and split-season fall or even winter time periods, aren’t uncommon. Typically springtime nesting periods offer a break in the action, but hey we’re usually busy with the turkeys. Crows even help us find gobblers then. How do you hunt crows now? A few ideas follow:

DECOYING: Decoying is crucial to your crow hunt. Crow-hunting traditionalists use the classic owl decoy trick, as the birds are arch enemies, but I’ve learned that varying tactics is required if you hunt one area frequently. Plastic-bodied crow fakes work fine when established in front of a treeline you can hide in. Blinds (natural are best) are essential as crows are wary as wild turkeys, and they can view you from above as well. To enhance decoy sets, we’ve used a propped-up fox pelt in a field, a deer hide (as if to imitate downed carcass-imitating crow food), plastic eggs, and so on, anything that might draw in a crow’s curious attention. As always, check state regulations.

CALLING: Electronic crow calling, peppered with your own real imitations, works too. Set it nearby in your blind. As calling goes, with decoys in place, calm, still mornings work best. You can begin with casual vocalizations, work in excited calls, and also the slam dunk of them all, the wailing moan of a distressed crow. So-called dying rabbit predator calls draw their attention too. Fooling them into range is half the fun. Shooting, often between a roost and feeding area, rivals the best that waterfowling can offer. Really. It’s fast-shooting action, and a real challenge.

As with all forms of hunting, it pays to scout as you would for any other species. Late-summer sees migratory groups gathering as they shift ranges. This is a super time to decoy and call them. I have yet to encounter a farmer who hasn’t granted permission to hunt crows.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis announced the discovery of a well-established Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation in northern Ulster County that includes land within the Catskill Park’s Forest Preserve. EAB is a small but destructive beetle that infests and kills North American ash tree species, including green, white, black and blue ash.

The discovery comes as a result of surveying efforts by DEC, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) and the federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) after the initial discovery of an adult EAB specimen in Saugerties on July 15.

“This latest discovery of EAB is particularly troubling because it occurred within the boundaries of one of the state’s two constitutionally protected forest preserves,” Commissioner Grannis said. “This should be a wake-up call for everyone who enjoys New York’s forests and woodlands. We know that the transportation of firewood causes the spread of this destructive pest, so everyone should do their part to protect our trees: Don’t transport firewood. Buy your wood locally.”

Staff from DEC, APHIS and DAM have begun further investigative surveying of the initial site and the surrounding area. Evidence of EAB has since been found at a total of 19 sites spread over an area of approximately 15 square miles, encompassing the Ulster County towns of Saugerties, Ulster, Kingston, Woodstock and Hurley. Infested trees are now estimated to be in the hundreds and the center of the infestation appears to be in the vicinity of the hamlet of Ruby.

EAB has also been confirmed in two new counties. A specimen on private land in Catskill, Greene County, was confirmed this week and is likely an extension of the Ulster County infestation. The agencies confirmed the presence of EAB in a federally-deployed trap on a public right-of-way in Caledonia, Livingston County. Staff are continuing surveys to delineate the EAB presence in those and surrounding areas.

“New York State and our partners are evaluating the options available to us and learning from the experiences of other states that have battled EAB,” said Director of DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests and New York’s State Forester Robert K. Davies. “Our strategy will focus on measures that have been shown to slow the spread of EAB infestations. Meanwhile, in order to protect our forest resources, we want to re-emphasize that the public can help by complying with our restrictions on firewood movement.”

It is suspected that the spread of EAB is primarily due to the movement of infested firewood and wood products from one place to another. The recent discovery of EAB within the Catskill Forest Preserve is a reminder that many of New York State’s forests and parklands are high-risk areas due to firewood movement by campers. Identification of dead and dying ash trees, especially within popular campgrounds and parklands, may require additional measures to ensure the safety of campers and other visitors.

New York has more than 900 million ash trees, representing about 7 percent of all trees in the state.

DEC is receiving significant cooperation from the state Department of Transportation and Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation and numerous other educational and not-for-profit partners. In response to the new EAB detections, DEC has also requested assistance from the state’s Forest Products Industry in restricting the movement of ash.

GW: Reference previous post below this one…

NEWTOWN, Conn.-The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry, has announced its opposition to a petition filed today with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeking to ban the use of traditional ammunition, containing lead-core components, by America’s sportsmen and women. The petition, filed by several agenda-driven groups including the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), erroneously claims that the use of traditional ammunition by hunters is inconsistent with the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976. The petition goes on to suggest that the use of traditional ammunition poses a danger to wildlife, in particular raptors such as bald eagles, that may feed on entrails or unrecovered game left in the field.

“There is simply no scientific evidence that the use of traditional ammunition is having an adverse impact on wildlife populations that would require restricting or banning the use of traditional ammunition beyond current limitations, such as the scientifically based restriction on waterfowl hunting,” said NSSF President Steve Sanetti.

Helping to demonstrate the validity of Sanetti’s statement are recent statistics from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) showing from 1981 to 2006 the number of breeding pairs of bald eagles in the United States increased 724 percent. And much like the bald eagle, raptor populations throughout the United States are soaring.

Also fueling concerns over the CBD petition is the likely ramification a ban on traditional ammunition would have on wildlife conservation. The federal excise tax that manufacturers pay on the sale of the ammunition (11 percent) is a primary source of wildlife conservation funding and the financial backbone of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. The bald eagle’s recovery, considered to be a truly great conservation success story, was made possible and funded by hunters using traditional ammunition – the very ammunition organizations like the CBD are now demonizing.

“Needlessly restricting or banning traditional ammunition absent sound science will hurt wildlife conservation efforts as fewer hunters take to the field,” said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. “Hunters and their ammunition have done more for wildlife than the CBD ever will. And the CBD’s scientifically baseless petition and endless lawsuits against state and federal wildlife managers certainly do not serve the wildlife that the organization claims to protect.”

About NSSF

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 5,500 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.
Contact:

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C.- A coalition of conservation, hunting and veterinary groups today filed a formal petition with the Environmental Protection Agency requesting a ban on the use of toxic lead in hunting ammunition and fishing tackle. Major efforts to reduce lead exposure to people have greatly reduced the amount of lead in the environment, but toxic lead is still a widespread killer in the wild, harming bald eagles, trumpeter swans, endangered California condors and other wildlife.

“It’s long past time do something about this deadly – and preventable – epidemic of lead poisoning in the wild,” said Jeff Miller of the Center for Biological Diversity. “Over the past several decades we’ve wisely taken steps to get lead out of our gasoline, paint, water pipes and other sources that are dangerous to people. Now it’s time to get the lead out of hunting and fishing sports to save wildlife from needless poisoning.”

An estimated 10 million to 20 million birds and other animals die each year from lead poisoning in the United States. This occurs when animals scavenge on carcasses shot and contaminated with lead bullet fragments, or pick up and eat spent lead-shot pellets or lost fishing weights, mistaking them for food or grit. Some animals die a painful death from lead poisoning while others suffer for years from its debilitating effects.

“The science on this issue is massive in breadth and unimpeachable in its integrity,” said George Fenwick, president of American Bird Conservancy. “Hundreds of peer-reviewed studies show continued lead poisoning of large numbers of birds and other animals, and this petition is a prudent step to safeguard wildlife and reduce unacceptable human health risks.”

American Bird Conservancy, Center for Biological Diversity, Association of Avian Veterinarians, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, and the hunters’ group Project Gutpile are asking for the ban under the Toxic Substances Control Act, which regulates dangerous chemicals in the United States.

“As a hunter in California, compliance with the recent state nonlead ammunition regulation has been simple,” said Anthony Prieto, a hunter and co-founder of Project Gutpile, a hunter’s group that provides educational resources for lead-free hunters and anglers. “I still get to hunt, there is no toxic impact on wildlife or my health, and copper bullets shoot better.”

The petition references almost 500 scientific studies, most of which have been peer-reviewed, that starkly illustrate the widespread dangers from lead ammunition and fishing tackle. Lead is an extremely toxic substance that is dangerous to people and wildlife even at low levels. Exposure can cause a range of health effects, from acute poisoning and death to long-term problems such as reduced reproduction, inhibition of growth and damage to neurological development. In the United States, 3,000 tons of lead are shot into the environment by hunting every year, another 80,000 tons are released at shooting ranges, and 4,000 tons are lost in ponds and streams as fishing lures and sinkers. At least 75 wild bird species are poisoned by spent lead ammunition, including bald eagles, golden eagles, ravens and endangered California condors. Despite being banned in 1992 for hunting waterfowl, spent lead shotgun pellets continue to be frequently ingested by swans, cranes, ducks, geese, loons and other waterfowl. These birds also consume lead-based fishing tackle lost in lakes and rivers, often with deadly consequences.

Lead ammunition also poses health risks to people. Lead bullets explode and fragment into minute particles in shot game and can spread throughout meat that humans eat. Studies using radiographs show that numerous, imperceptible, dust-sized particles of lead can infect meat up to a foot and a half away from the bullet wound, causing a greater health risk to humans who consume lead-shot game than previously thought. A recent study found that up to 87 percent of cooked game killed by lead ammunition can contain unsafe levels of lead. State health agencies have had to recall venison donated to feed the hungry because of lead contamination from lead bullet fragments. Nearly 10 million hunters, their families and low-income beneficiaries of venison donations may be at risk.

For more information, read about the Center’s Get the Lead Out campaign and the ABC web page on lead threats to birds.

Read the petition to EPA
Photos of lead-poisoned wildlife for media use
Frequently Asked Questions
Timeline of lead hazard reduction for wildlife and people
Summary of recent scientific studies

Background

Lead has been known to be highly toxic for more than 2,000 years. Its use in water pipes, cosmetics, pottery and food is suspected as a major contributing factor in the collapse of the Roman Empire. Lead causes numerous pathological effects on living organisms, from acute, paralytic poisoning and seizures to subtle, long-term mental impairment, miscarriage, neurological damage, and impotence. Even low levels of lead can impair biological functions. There may be no safe level of lead in the body tissues of fetuses and young. Despite knowledge of how dangerous lead is, it continues to be used in hunting and fishing products that expose wildlife and humans to lead. In recent decades the federal government has implemented regulations to reduce human lead exposure in drinking water, batteries, paint, gasoline, toys, toxic dumps, wheel balancing weights, and shooting ranges.

The California condor, so near extinction in the mid-1980s that the last nine wild birds were captured for an expensive captive-breeding program, had a healthy enough captive population to begin reintroduction into the wild in the mid-1990s. Yet reintroduced condors are far from safe since they feed on carcasses often containing lead bullet fragments. At least 30 condors in California and Arizona have died from lead poisoning since reintroductions began, and chronic, sub-lethal lead poisoning is rampant throughout the four reintroduced condor flocks in the United States. In 2008 California passed the Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act requiring use of non-lead bullets for hunting in the condor range. This law has reduced lead exposure, but lead bullets are still available in California and condors, eagles, and other wildlife continue to be poisoned.

Because there are now numerous, commercially available, non-toxic alternatives, the petitioning groups are urging the EPA to develop regulations to require non-lead rifle bullets, shotgun pellets, and fishing weights and lures throughout the nation. Non-toxic steel, copper, and alloy bullets and non-lead fishing tackle are readily available in all 50 states. Hunters and anglers in states and areas that have restrictions or have already banned lead have made successful transitions to hunting with non-toxic bullets and fishing with non-toxic tackle. Over a dozen manufacturers of bullets have designed and now market many varieties of non-lead, nontoxic bullets and shot with satisfactory to superior ballistic characteristics – fully replacing the old lead projectiles. The Toxic Substances Control Act gives the EPA broad authority to regulate chemical substances that present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, such as lead. The EPA can prohibit the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce of lead for shot, bullets, and fishing sinkers.

American Bird Conservancy (www.abcbirds.org) conserves native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas by safeguarding the rarest species, conserving and restoring habitats, and reducing threats while building capacity of the bird conservation movement.

The Center for Biological Diversity (www.biologicaldiversity.org) is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 255,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility is a national nonprofit alliance of local, state and federal scientists, law enforcement officers, land managers and other professionals dedicated to upholding environmental laws and values.

The Association of Avian Veterinarians is an international professional organization of practitioners advancing and promoting avian medicine, stewardship, and conservation through education of its members, the veterinary community and those they serve.

Project Gutpile is a grassroots hunters’ organization dedicated to educating hunters and anglers and to saving wildlife from lead poisoning through encouraging the use of nontoxic ammunition.
Contact:
Robert Johns, American Bird Conservancy, (202) 234-7181 x 210
Jeff Miller, Center for Biological Diversity, (510) 499-9185

The 2010 Archery World Cup Stage 3 event in Ogden, Utah, which will commence on Tuesday with the official practice, is highlighted with a resounding 34 countries registered. The Archery World Cup, being held in the United States for the first time, is slated for competition starting on Wednesday, August 4 through Saturday, August 7. The world’s best target archers have come to the Beehive state for the third of four World Cup qualifying stages in hopes of earning a spot in the World Cup Final in Edinburg, Great Britain, in September.

Highlighting the list of countries is the United States, who leads the World Cup Nations Ranking with 443 points and 14 medals after the first two stages earlier this year. The next closest is Russia with 234 points, while the People’s Republic of China anchors third with 191 points.

The Ogden Archery World Cup prides itself in making all competition sessions free to the public to attend. The official practice and preliminary rounds will be held at Weber State University practice fields, Tuesday to Friday, located at 3848 Harrison Blvd., Ogden, Utah 84408.

The medal matches and championship finals will be held at picturesque Lindquist Field on Saturday, August 7 starting at 4 p.m. All attendees will receive a complimentary hot dog and soft drink. This exciting format puts the finalists in a head-to-head competition format where each arrow will be followed on a big screen allowing fans to follow every point earned. The closing ceremonies will feature a new archery technology and fireworks.

Other activities on Saturday for the family include the Family Fun Zone, Team USA autograph booth, and other sponsor booths. Lindquist field is located at 2330 Lincoln Ave., Ogden, Utah 84401.

MEDIA NOTE: All media members are invited to any and all competition sessions. The media must check-in for credentials onsite by contacting Ogden Organizing Committee Media Director Anthony Bartkowski or Ogden Convention and Visitors Bureau Media Representative Aimee Edwards.

About Archery World Cup… For the first time in history, the United States will host an Archery World Cup stage. Utah will welcome elite archers from over 35 countries. The pivotal third stage will be contested at Weber State University with the finals held at the picturesque Lindquist Field in Ogden, the same competition venues as the 2009 World Archery Youth Championships. Ogden will also host the Archery World Cup in 2011 and 2012.

The Archery World Cup, which started in 2006, has been a popular event for athletes, sponsors, media and fans. The FITA-sanctioned event allows organizers to select unique competition venues, which included hosting the finals by shooting over a canal at the 2009 Archery World Cup in Denmark, and competing from a floating platform at the 2006 final in Dubai. The Archery World Cup has grown into one of the annual premiere events for the international federation that attracts approximately 300 athletes from 30 countries at each of the various qualifying stages.

Contacts: Brent Rudolph 517-641-4903 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014

The Natural Resources Commission will consider proposed changes to crossbow regulations at its Aug. 12 meeting in Escanaba.

The NRC is studying proposals that would expand the regulations that were in effect in Zone 3 (southern Michigan) last year that allowed all hunters, 12 years of age or older, to use crossbows during archery deer seasons.

Elsewhere in the state, crossbow regulations were more restrictive than in Zone 3 last year. One proposal for 2010 would expand that regulation to the entire Lower Peninsula, while another would expand it statewide.

In addition, the NRC is likely to address proposals for minor changes to the regulations, including:

-lowering the minimum age from 12 to 10 years of age,
-allowing the use of modified bows where crossbows are legal,
-issuing temporary crossbow permits to hunters who have temporary disabilities, and
-eliminating the maximum speed of bolts that are shot from crossbows.

Hunters using crossbows would still be required to obtain a free crossbow stamp.

Results of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment’s mail survey conducted after the 2009 hunting season indicated that participation in archery deer hunting increased after crossbow regulations were liberalized.

BEAVERTON, Ore. – Leupold’s Tactical Optics Division has upgraded its Mark 4® Extended Range/Tactical (ER/T®), Long Range/Tactical (LR/T®) and Mid Range/Tactical (MR/T®) riflescopes to give American warfighters and snipers an even greater edge on the modern battlefield. The upgrades also offer numerous optical advantages for hunters, competition shooters and other civilian shooting enthusiasts.

Primary upgrades include Leupold’s Xtended Twilight Lens System™, as well as options such as M5 0.1 mil windage and elevation adjustment dials, Horus reticles, front focal plane reticles and third-generation illuminated reticles. Selected options can be retrofitted for existing Mark 4 riflescopes, depending on model.

“These upgrades further enhance our field-proven line of Mark 4 riflescopes,” said Kevin Trepa, Leupold’s vice president of tactical sales and marketing. “Our mission to serve the unique needs of American warfighters and demanding civilian shooters continues as we develop precision optics to help them take maximum advantage of the reach and power of their rifles.”

New ER/T, LR/T and MR/T models feature the Xtended Twilight Lens System – Leupold’s best lens coating technology for low-light conditions. The system utilizes Leupold’s index matched glass with lens coatings designed to optimize the transmission of low-light wavelengths. As a result, shooters receive a crisper, brighter sight picture in dim light than ever before.

Following are key features of the available options:

* M5 windage and elevation adjustment dials have audible, tactile 1/10 (0.1) milliradian clicks to match range-estimating, mil-based reticle options. This allows fast and easy correction in the field, resulting in greater shooting precision.

* Horus reticles are mil-based and employ an advanced two-dimensional grid system that helps enhance both accuracy and ease of use. The fine grid marks do not obscure targets and thus allow rapid engagement, while the intuitive design can dramatically reduce training time. Horus reticle options include the H26, H27, H36, H37 and H58.

* Front focal plane reticles allow the operator to use the scope on any magnification while retaining the exact spacing of range-estimating reticle features (the reticle magnifies with the image). Consequently, the operator can accurately estimate range and calculate holdovers at all power settings.

* Leupold’s third-generation illuminated riflescope reticles advance the technology with an array of features designed to provide a user-friendly, intuitive system for fast target acquisition in tactical low-light situations. Third-generation illumination offers a 15 percent brighter reticle, eight different intensity settings (two compatible with night-vision equipment) and redesigned control dials to enhance ease of use.

While no single Mark 4 riflescope can be fitted with all the upgrade options, numerous variations exist and most models are capable of accepting multiple upgrades. To determine specific options available for particular scopes, contact Leupold Tactical Optics at 1-800-LEUPOLD.

Ready for deployment, Mark 4 ER/T, LR/T and MR/T riflescopes are waterproof, fog proof and shock proof. A 30mm maintube provides exceptional strength and allows for a wide range of windage and elevation adjustment. Exhaustive testing in the factory and field ensures durability. Flip-open lens covers are standard issue. Each scope comes in a matte black finish and is covered by the company’s Tactical Optics Warranty.

Leupold has offered precision optics for tactical applications since the 1985 introduction of Ultra riflescopes, which were designed to excel under the most extreme battlefield conditions. Today, more long-range Leupold Tactical Optics are in service with the U.S. military than any other brand. For more information on Leupold Tactical Optics, go to www.leupold.com.

Leupold & Stevens, Inc., the preeminent American-owned and -operated optics company, employs more than 600 people in its state-of-the-art facility near Beaverton, Ore., where rugged, dependable, high-performance Golden Ring® and Mark 4 optics are designed, machined and assembled. Leupold is a fifth-generation, family-owned company whose products are sold worldwide to military warfighters, law enforcement personnel, hunters, competitive shooters and wildlife observers. The product line includes rifle, handgun and spotting scopes; binoculars; rangefinders; flashlights; mounting systems; and optical tools and accessories.
Contact:
Patrick Mundy, (503) 526-1467 or pmundy@leupold.com

Jeff Patterson, (402) 437-6410 or jeffp@swansonrussell.com

ANN ARBOR, Michigan

A sensitive area of important waterfowl habitat has been impacted by the Enbridge Lakehead oil spill. On July 26, 2010 a leak occurred in an Enbridge pipeline that released what the Environmental Protection Agency estimates to be more than 1 million gallons of crude oil into Talmadge Creek, a tributary of the Kalamazoo River. Ducks Unlimited, the world leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation, is communicating with state and federal agencies working on the clean up. DU continues to monitor the progression and potential consequences of the spill.

Ducks Unlimited is urging those who encounter oiled wildlife or waterfowl resulting from the Enbridge spill to follow the recommendations of the EPA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, who have asked that people call the spill hotline at 800-306-6837. It is important that impacted wildlife be handled by trained experts. It is unhealthy to handle oiled wildlife without proper training and equipment and unlawful to handle oiled migratory birds without specific authority from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The same number can be used to obtain updates on the spill or to find out about opportunities to volunteer.

The Kalamazoo River lies within the Ducks Unlimited Great Lakes and Atlantic Regional Office’s Southeast Lake Michigan Watershed Priority Area. DU’s conservation program within this priority area incorporates scientific data and computer modeling to predict where mallards will settle on the landscape in the spring to nest. Southwestern Michigan, and the entire Southeast Lake Michigan watershed provide key habitat for Michigan-nesting mallards which have experienced a reduction in numbers over the previous years. DU has many active habitat restoration projects close to the spill area and will evaluate the effect of this spill on continuing efforts to restore emergent wetlands and establish native warm season grasses. As the spill is contained and the assessment phase begins, Ducks Unlimited will work to support state and federal agencies to reduce the impact of this event.

“We appreciate the great work being conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resource and the Environment, and the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as Enbridge employees and contractors,” said Ken Babcock, director of Ducks Unlimited’s Great Lakes/Atlantic regional office. “This unfortunate accident is something no one likes to see, and is very difficult to contain and clean, so we are glad to see cooperation and acceleration of the clean up effort.”

DU will continue to work with federal and state agencies, and will monitor efforts as the clean up effort continues.

Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow, and forever.