Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

Mexican Wolf Population Census Counts Underway in Arizona

PINETOP, Ariz. — Biologists from multiple agencies working on the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT) have been surveying Mexican wolf 2020 end-of-year population numbers since Nov. 1, 2020 and are expected to continue through Feb. 4, 2021. Population numbers are essential for the Mexican wolf due to the subspecies status as an endangered species.

Ground counts of wolf packs and single wolves in Arizona and New Mexico began Nov. 1. The ground count period lasts for the months of November and December and is followed by an aerial count and capture operation conducted by the IFT using helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft. Any wolf captured will be fitted with a satellite tracking collar to assist the IFT with monitoring and management efforts. The dates for the upcoming aerial count and capture operation are Jan. 21 through Feb. 4, weather permitting. Agency personnel will be limited for this year’s aerial operation and numerous precautions will be implemented to limit the exposure to and possible spread of COVID-19. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan: Deer Private Land Assistance Network Grant Application Period Open

The application period for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Deer Private Land Assistance Network grant program is now open.

This cooperative grant program, known as Deer PLAN, is designed to fund deer habitat improvement projects on private land in the northern Lower Peninsula. The awarded funds will be used to produce tangible, on-the-ground efforts that improve deer habitat and provide quality deer hunting locations.

Landowners with property in Alcona, Alpena, Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties are encouraged to apply for the Deer PLAN program. Read more

Wildlife

Giving the Outdoor Bug

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

During the past year of upheaval, in which many of us became reclusive to avoid the possibility of contracting COVID-19, we had time for a bit of soul searching.  Gone were the trips to the local watering holes, sports arenas, eateries, and many places where good times were commonplace. However, as these doors were closed, others opened; isn’t that the way of life?

Many of us were forced to inner-act with our family members on a scale we’ve not experienced heretofore.  To some it could have meant getting on each other’s nerves more than usual, but to others it became an opportunity to become more acquainted with the outdoors.  And, that’s exactly what has happened, as millions of us escaped the daily fear foisted upon us by hitting the streams, lakes and woods.  There we were safe to learn and to play together with those closest to us.

If you are one who hunts, fishes, or simply enjoys the fresh outdoor air and wildlife, you had to be introduced to these activities somewhere along the line.  Here is a case in point, which led me to my love of the outdoors.

My father did not hunt or fish, so for me to participate in these activities, someone else had to step up and it was my next-door neighbors, the Satterfields.  They decided to ask me if I’d like to go fishing with them.  As a child of 10-12 years of age, I recall handling the rods and closed-faced fishing reels they stored in their garage in anticipation of my first fishing trip.  Of course it helped to catch a fair amount of fish that day to fan the flames of my excitement.

Before I reached the age to drive a car, I would hitchhike to Upper Straits Lake in Oakland County – rod and reel in hand.  Faith got me back and forth regularly, but one day in particular stands out in my mind some 60+ years later.

I rented a rowboat from Bill Shaw’s boat livery like I did so many times before.  The action was slower than usual and overcast skies threatened the outing, but held off.  I gave up early and began exercising my thumb along Long Lake Road, when a middle-age man pulled over ahead of me in a Buick Riviera.  As we put my gear in the spacious trunk, he asked me if I would take him fishing!  In return, he promised to take me home afterward – all the way to the house.  Since I already paid the daily rental fee for the boat, I agreed.  Back at the lake the fishing was still slow that day and rain persuaded us to call it quits.  And, as promised, I got an unprecedented ride home.

My point is that this scene would not have played out had the Satterfields not taken the step for me to join them that day.  Here are two ideas to acquaint others to the outdoors.

*  Buy a license for someone and invite them to go with you.

*  Give someone a hunting or fishing trip and you be the host.

After decades of declining revenue for wildlife management, because people were losing touch with outdoor world, we’ve seen a 10-percent increase in license sales in year 2020 nationwide.  Now, we need to continue the exciting trend, because license sales fuel wildlife conservation.

We never know what the future may hold and what roads we may choose in life, but my neighbors had exposed me to something that was there all along; I simply did not know it.  That inner fire still burns as strong as it ever did, and today you have the ability to spark such a flame in others.

Fishing, General, Hunting, Wildlife , , , ,

NRA Signs MOU with USFWS

FAIRFAX, Va. – The National Rifle Association is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to assist in the recruitment, education, and retaining of sportsmen and women through NRA’s vast hunter education and outreach programs.“Together with the USFWS, the NRA has worked for decades to ensure as many outdoorsmen and women as possible can safely and responsibly enjoy our hunting heritage,” said Jason Ouimet, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “We look forward to a formalization of this longstanding relationship and thank Director Skipwith for her tireless work on this effort.” Read more

Wildlife

Wintering Whooping Cranes Update

Whooping Cranes are among the most endangered species of birds (photo by Mike Sloat).

There are currently three populations of Whooping Cranes in North America, including the primary historic population that migrates from their nesting range centered in Wood Buffalo National Park in the Northwest Territories of Canada, to their wintering area centered at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in coastal Texas, near Rockport. There are also 2 introduced populations of Whooping Cranes – one migratory population that nests in Wisconsin, and a non-migratory population in Louisiana.

The best information we have about the numerical size of these 3 populations of Whooping Cranes indicates the historic population numbers more than 500, with the last census information indicating 506 Cranes were present in coastal Texas a year ago, in February 2020, including 39 first year Whoopers. There are presently about 100 nesting pairs of Whooping Cranes in this population. Read more

Wildlife

Great Backyard Bird Count, February 12-15

Add your birding counts to the Great Backyard Bird Count this year (White-winged Crossbills photographed during a GBBC by Nick Saunders).
Birders from around the world participate during the GBBC.

It’s time to look ahead to the next big birding community event: The annual Great Backyard Bird Count, which is scheduled for February 12 to 15 – President’s Day weekend in the United States. During last year’s 2020 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) a total of 268,674 birders from 194 countries participated and counted millions of birds! How many? More than 27 million birds (27,270,156 birds) including 6,942 species! Every birder who participates is very important, so if you have been a loyal participant, please start gearing up for this year’s GBBC, and if you would like to join the fun for the first time, “Welcome!”

This truly global event is co-sponsored by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Birds Canada, and Audubon, and to get more information about the annual Great Backyard Bird Count and how you can participate this year, see https://www.birdcount.org/

Wildlife

How Chickadees Survive Northern Winters

Will you think differently about the Black-capped Chickadees that visit your feeders and backyard habitat after reading this article?

Many birds migrate to warmer locations with more food options, they must endure long, often perilous migrations and increased competition. Some familiar feeder visitors like Black-capped Chickadees remain in northern latitudes year-round. Birds that stay north when the snow flies face 2 daily dilemmas – don’t freeze, and don’t starve. Most birds follow a simple winter survival formula: Maximize the calories of foods eaten while minimizing calories spent finding food, sheltering, and keeping from freezing in cold and even ultra-cold weather.

Small birds maintain an elevated body temperature to stay active – generally about 105°F – compared to birders who live in the north, with our 98.6°F body temperatures. Finding enough food is likewise paramount when most food supplies become greatly reduced during winter weather, just when food is required most to fuel their body and keep it warm.

Cold Feet

Black-capped Chickadees, like most birds that spend the calendar year in northern latitudes, contend with the winter with bare uninsulated legs and feet. Yet their toes remain flexible and functional at all temperatures; whereas our feet, if that small, would freeze into blocks of ice in seconds.

How do they do this? Read more

Wildlife

Montana FWP and partners release bighorn sheep in Little Belt Mountains

50 sheep translocated from herd in Missouri River Breaks

UTICA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and partnering organizations and agencies captured and translocated bighorn sheep this month to an area of the Little Belt Mountains about 65 miles southeast of Great Falls.

Bighorn sheep, whose populations were once vast across the West, were extirpated from the Little Belts by the early 20th century. In the past 10 years, a few bighorn sheep have naturally returned to the mountain range, and although FWP biologists have documented lamb production there since 2015, they have been unable to verify more than six sheep at one time in the entire range.

>> Read more

To watch a video presentation of this translocation, visit https://youtu.be/K6ML4TXurZU

Hunting, Wildlife

Interior Seeks to Increase Broadband Access, Reduce Wildlife Hazards Across Rural Communities

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo —?Today, the Department of the Interior announced three new actions by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service an the National Park Service to aggressively increase broadband internet access in rural communities and reduce wildfire risks. Deputy Secretary Katharine MacGregor made the announcement at the Bureau of Land Management headquarters in Grand Junction, Colorado.

“High-speed internet connectivity is essential for education, economic opportunity, health and public safety – especially as we continue to respond to the challenges of COVID-19,” said Deputy Secretary MacGregor. “Facilitating greater broadband access and reducing wildfire risks for the benefit of rural and underserved communities is truly a bipartisan issue, and I hope these commonsense rules are carried forward by the incoming administration.” Read more

General, Wildlife

Invite a Newbie Outdoors with You

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

During the past year of upheaval, in which many of us became reclusive to avoid the possibility of contracting COVID-19, we had time for a bit of soul searching.  Gone were the trips to the local watering holes, sports arenas, eateries, and many places where good times were commonplace. However, as these doors were closed, others opened; isn’t that the way of life?

Many of us were forced to inner-act with our family members on a scale we’ve not experienced heretofore.  To some it could have meant getting on each other’s nerves more than usual, but to others it became an opportunity to become more acquainted with the outdoors.  And, that’s exactly what has happened, as millions of us escaped the daily fear foisted upon us by hitting the streams, lakes and woods.  There we were safe to learn and to play together with those closest to us.

If you are one who hunts, fishes, or simply enjoys the fresh outdoor air and wildlife, you had to be introduced to these activities somewhere along the line.  Here is a case in point, which led me to my love of the outdoors.

My father did not hunt or fish, so for me to participate in these activities, someone else had to step up and it was my next-door neighbors, the Satterfields.  They decided to ask me if I’d like to go fishing with them.  As a child of 10-12 years of age, I recall handling the rods and closed-faced fishing reels they stored in their garage in anticipation of my first fishing trip.  Of course it helped to catch a fair amount of fish that day to fan the flames of my excitement.

Before I reached the age to drive a car, I would hitchhike to Upper Straits Lake in Oakland County – rod and reel in hand.  Faith got me back and forth regularly, but one day in particular stands out in my mind some 60+ years later.

I rented a rowboat from Bill Shaw’s boat livery like I did so many times before.  The action was slower than usual and overcast skies threatened the outing, but held off.  I gave up early and began exercising my thumb along Long Lake Road, when a middle-age man pulled over ahead of me in a Buick Riviera.  As we put my gear in the spacious trunk, he asked me if I would take him fishing!  In return, he promised to take me home afterward – all the way to the house.  Since I already paid the daily rental fee for the boat, I agreed.  Back at the lake the fishing was still slow that day and rain persuaded us to call it quits.  And, as promised, I got an unprecedented ride home.

My point is that this scene would not have played out had the Satterfields not taken the step for me to join them that day.  Here are two ideas to acquaint others to the outdoors.

*  Buy a license for someone and invite them to go with you.

*  Give someone a hunting or fishing trip and you be the host.

After decades of declining revenue for wildlife management, because people were losing touch with outdoor world, we’ve seen a 10-percent increase in license sales in year 2020 nationwide.  Now, we need to continue the exciting trend, because license sales fuel wildlife conservation.

We never know what the future may hold and what roads we may choose in life, but my neighbors had exposed me to something that was there all along; I simply did not know it.  That inner fire still burns as strong as it ever did, and today you have the ability to spark such a flame in others.

Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife
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