The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has undertaken the largest wildfire protection and resiliency effort in its history, working to safeguard nearly all of its wildlife areas, ecological reserves and the surrounding communities from wildfire ahead of peak wildfire season this summer and fall.

Wildfire resiliency work is underway at dozens of CDFW-owned properties statewide. These efforts include creating fire breaks, removing brush and other wildfire fuel, thinning overgrown vegetation, expanding livestock grazing and conducting controlled burns when conditions safely permit.

The unprecedented undertaking is the result of SB 85, the “Wildfire Forest and Resilience Early Action Package,” state legislation signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in April that authorized $536 million in wildfire protection and resiliency spending in the current fiscal year. CDFW is budgeted to receive $15 million of those funds to better protect its lands, which total about 1 million acres. Additional wildfire funding is expected in the 2021-22 state budget.

“This is a huge moment for the department, and we’re really striving for smart projects that will benefit wildlife habitats and the communities surrounding department lands,” said Stafford Lehr, CDFW Deputy Director for Wildlife and Fisheries. “We’ve already identified more than 40 projects, many of which have been started and a few already completed. We’ll be able to hire some new people and buy some new equipment that will not only help protect our own properties but better protect our neighbors as well. In many instances, this wildfire work has the added benefit of improving native plant and wildlife habitat on our properties.” Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor  Media Association (POMA)

It’s been utterly fascinating to learn about wild turkeys’ tendencies and habits over the past few years.  That’s because we enjoy good numbers of them and that makes live education available.  One of the oddities I’ve noticed – yet one crucial to the big birds’ survival – is how the hens can disappear from what was previously common ground.  And, so it has been for the past month or so.

Three males – one young longbeard, one jake and one double-bearded jake – have been stealing the show without any help from the females anyway.  Pecking order has become defined and dominance is part of life, no matter what position a given bird assumes.  Watching them chase each other around a tree is pure no-cost entertainment!  All this “nonsense” helps to define their own hierarchy, which is separate from that of the females.  And, that brings me to my next observation this drizzly morning:  The hens are back!

At first thought, one may assume something’s amiss, when hens that were commonly seen in the springtime seem to vanish.  That’s because all the breeding behavior we see when hunting is over.  Not only are the gobblers not gobbling, but the hens had become most secretive locating nesting sites.

Now the family groups are scavenging together in familiar, safe territory known well to the mother hens.  It was eye-opening to watch the little ones scratch in the pine straw – something programmed in their computer chip.  But, these young birds had been away from the nest for weeks and by the looks of them, they’ve already experienced flying to some degree.  They leave the nest a day or two after hatching and a mere two weeks later can fly short distances.  Add another week and they’re flying to higher roosting levels and have changed diets from mostly insects to more plant matter.

And, oh how they love a clover field.  It typically offers the best of insects and vegetation, but not right now; hens are still going to be protective and cautious guarding their respective families.  Accordingly, the mother hens seem to know their groups are still susceptible to both airborne and ground attacks from predators.  And, although I spotted several hens with over 20 combined offspring, they were distinct families religiously controlled by the mother hens in familiar conifer cover.

Already, more food is falling from above as mulberries hit the ground in huge numbers, courteous of the spring-long, stress-producing drought.  These sweet morsels are a bane to homeowners who allow them to grow too close to anything they don’t want to become purple.  But, in the field, the trees (not bushes like in the nursery rhyme) grow relatively fast and strong.  Not only do they make super firewood, but myriad wildlife – including young and adult turkeys – enjoy the abundant, nutritious feast.

Various groups of turkeys can be seen within a mile or so of their home range, which is how much they tend to walk in their daily routines.   It sure was uplifting to see the circle of life unfolding, as the young turkeys were shown their new territory.

The Department of Natural Resources is committed to providing Michigan residents the opportunity to share input and ideas on policy decisions, programs and other aspects of natural resource management and outdoor recreation opportunities.

One important avenue for this input is at meetings of the public bodies that advise the DNR and, in some cases, also set policies for natural resource management. Frequently check the DNR boards, commissions, committees and councils webpage for updates.

The links below will take you to the webpage for each group, where you will find specific location or virtual and teleconference meeting information. When finalized, meeting agendas will also be available here. Please check these pages frequently, as meeting details (such as locations and agendas) may change and sometimes meetings are canceled. Read more

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A 28-year-old female bald eagle that suffered injuries to her foot and eye received medical care from wildlife professionals and was released back to the wild in Marion County on Friday, June 18, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The female bald eagle was released after more than seven weeks of rehabilitation.

On April 28, Ohio Wildlife Officer Chad Grote, assigned to Marion County, and Ohio Wildlife Officer Maurice Irish, assigned to Delaware County, responded to a landowner’s call about an injured bald eagle. After safely capturing the bird, the officers decided her toe and eye injuries required rehabilitation and transferred the eagle to Crows Hollow Wildlife Care in Richwood.

While rehabilitation professionals assessed the bird’s injuries, they discovered it was banded as a hatchling on June 10, 1993 at Reno Beach in Lucas County, making her an astounding 28 years old. On average, eagles live about 20 years in the wild.

Banding efforts during the early 1990s were one way to help monitor and increase bald eagle populations. Staff collected a blood sample, attached radio telemetry gear, patagial wing markers, a state leg band, and a federal leg band. Current Division of Wildlife Assistant Chief Todd Haines and Mark Shieldcastle, a retired wetland research biologist, were on the banding team for this eagle.

“This bald eagle is on an amazing journey that brought it from Lucas County to central Ohio,” Haines said. “This bird has no doubt played a vital part of the bald eagle’s comeback in Ohio. I’m happy to see this eagle has made a complete recovery from its injuries, and also glad I had the chance to interact with it again after so many years.” Read more

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input on development of a new general management for Proud Lake Recreation Area in Oakland County.

Visitors, local community members and stakeholders interested in sharing their opinions and ideas about the park are encouraged to participate in an online survey available through Thursday, July 22, at Michigan.gov/ProudLake.

“Public input is a critical component of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division’s planning process,” said Debbie Jensen, DNR park management plan administrator. “There will be several options for people to get involved, including the initial online survey option and then a public open house in the fall. The open house will provide opportunities to review the draft general management plan that will be developed in response to this first phase of public input.”

General management plans are used to define long-range planning and management strategies that protect resources, while addressing recreation and education needs and opportunities. “Proud Lake is a diverse recreation area offering something for everyone, from developed facilities to quiet natural areas,” said park supervisor Jennifer Etienne. “I am excited to learn what people think about the recreation area and what they would like to see in the future.” Proud Lake Recreation Area is about midway between the communities of Milford, Wixom and Walled Lake in southeastern Michigan. The park is home to a 2-mile stretch of the scenic Huron River, which is managed as a Designated State Natural River, a modern campground, more than 20 miles of trails, and land open to hunting. The park also features two camper cabins and the year-round River Hawk Complex meeting facility. The park supports a wide variety of plant and animal life, and includes the 105-acre Proud Lake Nature Study Area that encompasses a floating bog and associated woodland vegetation. Read more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – The 2021-22 Federal Duck Stamp goes on sale Friday, June 25. The stamps, which cost $25 and raise about $40 million for conservation each year, are valid from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.

Purchased by millions of waterfowl hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and stamp collectors every year, duck stamps provide critical funding to purchase and protect wetlands and associated habitat for ducks, geese and other wildlife species.

“The Federal Duck Stamp is one of the many ways hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts contribute to conserving and protecting America’s waterfowl and wetlands. Whether you’re an avid waterfowl hunter, a birder, conservation enthusiast or a collector, you should support this vital program by purchasing a Duck Stamp,” said Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam. “Of every dollar spent on a Federal Duck Stamp, 98 cents of the purchase is used by our friends at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire and protect waterfowl habitat. The First Day of Sale is our opportunity to celebrate another great season and say thank you to all those supporting and delivering wildlife conservation through their purchase of a duck stamp each year.” Read more

Help stressed yard trees now and remove egg masses this fall

Gypsy moth caterpillars have been busy this spring in areas across Michigan. As these now large caterpillars near the pupal or cocoon stage, tree defoliation is at its peak.

In highly infested areas, the caterpillars’ munching is audible, and round pellets of frass, or waste, rain down throughout the day and night. Oaks, aspens, willows and other host trees may be nearly leafless, or defoliated, by their feeding.

The hairy, yellow-faced caterpillars with pairs of red and blue spots down their backs can be found on buildings, vehicles, equipment or anything that’s been outside for a while. Widespread invasive gypsy moth outbreaks in Michigan became apparent in the mid-1980s. Suppression programs in the 1990s and 2000s introduced predators, parasitoids and a fungal disease called Entomophaga maimaiga to aid the naturally occurring nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV) in controlling populations. NPV and the fungal disease have important benefits – they are specific to gypsy moth populations and do not affect people, pets or beneficial insects like pollinators or insect predators. In addition, they remain in the environment, continuing to help control gypsy moth populations every year. The fungal disease spreads best in moist springs, so this year’s drought conditions may have slowed its activity. Read more