Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

Michigan DNR seeks input on dedicated project boundaries, part of 2013 land strategy implementation

As part of the implementation of its managed public land strategy adopted in late 2018, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been reviewing and revising – and now is seeking public input on – dedicated project boundaries around state forests, game and wildlife areas, parks and recreation areas.

These boundaries, mapped in 2004, serve as a guide for public land ownership and include current state-owned land and privately owned land that would be a priority for the DNR to acquire in the future if it becomes available for sale.

Proposed changes to dedicated project boundaries are available for public review and feedback via an interactive online map at Michigan.gov/PublicLands. Comments will be accepted online through Nov. 30 and at the Dec. 10 Natural Resources Commission meeting.

“Having defined boundaries around DNR lands allows us to focus on priority areas for public land ownership now and into the future to ensure quality recreation opportunities and protect Michigan’s unique features and resources,” said Scott Whitcomb, senior advisor for wildlife and public lands. “By periodically re-examining and redefining those boundaries, we are able to manage public land more effectively and efficiently, easily recognize ownership boundaries and reduce conflicting land uses.”

A final decision on dedicating project boundaries is expected to be made by the DNR director at the December NRC meeting. Read more
Wildlife

NSSF Cancels 2021 SHOT Show

Statement from NSSF President & CEO Joe Bartozzi:

Due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases throughout the world, NSSF, the firearm industry trade association, today makes the difficult announcement that the 2021 SHOT Show has been cancelled.

NSSF has remained in constant communication with Nevada officials throughout the year in our planning for the 2021 show. While there has been a concerted effort to expand the allowable levels for large gatherings by the county and state, with positivity rates peaking during our key planning period we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 show. Sadly, these spikes are currently transpiring worldwide. Given the sheer complexities, diminishing timeline and immense logistical planning required to conduct a trade show as large as SHOT, NSSF simply could not move forward at this point with so many unknowns and variables. We truly appreciate the guidance of Nevada and Las Vegas officials in allowing us to communicate this news to our exhibitors and attendees well in advance of the show. We would also like to thank the Sands directly for their help and efforts to navigate this unprecedented situation. Read more

Ammunition, Archery, Cutlery, Firearms, Fishing, Hunting, Optics, Self Defense, Wildlife

Gray Wolves Management Returned to States and Tribes

BLOOMINGTON, MN– More than 45 years after gray wolves were first listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Trump Administration and its many conservation partners are announcing the successful recovery of the gray wolf and its delisting from the ESA. U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt was at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge to announce that state and tribal wildlife management agency professionals will resume responsibility for sustainable management and protection of delisted gray wolves in states with gray wolf populations, while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) monitors the species for five years to ensure the continued success of the species.

The Service based its final determination solely on the best scientific and commercial data available, a thorough analysis of threats and how they have been alleviated and the ongoing commitment and proven track record of states and tribes to continue managing for healthy wolf populations once delisted. This analysis includes the latest information about the wolf’s current and historical distribution in the contiguous United States

“Today’s action reflects the Trump Administration’s continued commitment to species conservation based on the parameters of the law and the best scientific and commercial data available,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “After more than 45 years as a listed species, the gray wolf has exceeded all conservation goals for recovery. Today’s announcement simply reflects the determination that this species is neither a threatened nor endangered species based on the specific factors Congress has laid out in the law.”

In total, the gray wolf population in the lower 48 states is more than 6,000 wolves, greatly exceeding the combined recovery goals for the Northern Rocky Mountains and Western Great Lakes populations.

The gray wolf is the latest in a strong list of ESA recoveries that includes the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, American alligator, brown pelican and 48 other species of animals and plants in U.S. states, territories and waters. Countless more have improved or stabilized. Collectively, these successes demonstrate that the ESA can make a difference for imperiled species. Read more

Wildlife

Anti-Poaching Continues With DSC Grants

(Oct. 25, 2020 – DALLAS) — What happens when there is no hunting in Africa due to travel restrictions? Poaching goes on the rise. With no incoming revenue, safari operators cannot pay for the anti-poaching scouts and patrols that protect wildlife. These patrols remove snare lines, apprehend perpetrators and create a deterrent presence. But without hunting revenue, there was no way to continue this important work.

DSC and the DSC Foundation stepped up quickly to fill the void, creating the Hunters CARE (COVID Anti-poaching Relief Effort). This program provides relief in the form of grants that will keep boots on the ground in the struggle to prevent poaching.

By the end of October 2020, 26 grants by DSC and 21 grants from DSCF have gone to 10 countries in order to protect an impressive 24 million acres of habitat and wildlife.

In their own words, safari operators speak about the loss of revenue due to the pandemic, and the immediate impact of grants from DSC and DSC Foundation.

Danene van der Westhuyzen, Aru Game Lodge, Namibia, said, “It’s been really a tough year. We all are struggling to survive, but luckily, we all have incredible amounts of passion to keep our businesses going. Thank you, DSC and DSC Foundation, for what you have done for all of us.”

Arthur Baisly, HHK Safaris, Zimbabwe, said, “The area that we look after is 800,000 acres. at the moment. With this COVID and no clients, we have had to reduce our running costs and we sent half of the staff off with no pay. And now with the finances from the DSC, and the DSC Foundation, we are able to reinstate those scouts and get our operation up and running back to normal.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Boone and Crockett Club Celebrates Overdue Delisting of Gray Wolf

MISSOULA, Mont. – The Boone and Crockett Club welcomes Thursday’s announcement by Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Aurelia Skipwith to return gray wolf management to state conservation authority. Wolves are a wildlife restoration success story, akin to the recovery and delisting of bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and numerous other species. The ultimate goal of the Endangered Species Act is to bring species back from the brink of extinction and stabilize populations so that management can move back to the states. The Boone and Crockett Club appreciates the FWS and state wildlife agencies for their success in recovering wolves and looks forward to the future collaborative management of this species.

“As a leader in the first successful delisting of the gray wolf 10 years ago, we welcome this decision and hope it brings closure and celebration to the restoration of the wolf in the lower 48 states,” commented Boone and Crockett Club President Tim Brady in response to the announcement. “The goal of the Endangered Species Act is to recover imperiled species so they no longer require the protections offered by the Act, and the gray wolf is a good example of how a species can be recovered.”

In 1995 and 1996, 66 wolves from southwestern Canada were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park and to central Idaho and by 2002, the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming had exceeded their recovery goals. In addition, existing populations in the western Great Lakes states had met their population goals by the early 2000’s and within a decade the populations were two to three times their recovery goals.

The Boone and Crockett Club has worked to ensure that recovered wolf populations could be moved off the endangered species list in order to be managed by state fish and wildlife agencies. However, legal challenges to FWS delisting decisions had put wolf management in a constant state of limbo. The Club worked closely with Idaho Representative Mike Simpson and Montana Senator Jon Tester on legislation to ensure that wolves in those two states would be delisted and to prohibit future litigation. After it was enacted in 2011, Idaho and Montana assumed full management authority and proved that their state management plan could maintain stable wolf populations. Wolves in the contiguous U.S. are now estimated at 6,000 individuals and the Club has continued to work with states and the FWS to move to delist gray wolves throughout their range in the lower 48 states.

“Wolves are fully recovered and are naturally expanding and reestablishing well beyond their identified recovery area,” Brady concluded. “Continued lawsuits and delaying of state management of this recovered species is unnecessary, as are proposals to reintroduce wolves in states like Colorado. It is time to celebrate wildlife restoration when we have been successful; it is time to close the book on gray wolves as a federal endangered species.” Read more

Wildlife

Trump Administration Adds 1,275 Miles to National Trail System

30 trails designated, continued expansion of outdoor recreation

BOULDER CITY, Nev. — U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt announced 30 new national recreation trails in 25 states, adding more than 1,275 miles to the National Trails System. Secretary Bernhardt made the announcement from Lake Mead National Recreation Area, where he designated 76 miles of the Colorado River within Lake Mead National Recreation Area as a national water trail. The newly designated Mohave National Water Trail begins where the Black Canyon National Water Trail ends, providing water recreation opportunities for 106 miles along the Colorado River.

Today’s announcement is in addition to the 370 miles of national recreation trails that were designated in 2018, bringing the Trump Administration’s total to 49 national recreation trails added, spanning 1,645 miles.

“I encourage Americans to get outside, enjoy our incredible public lands and visit a nearby national recreation trail. Spanning more than 83,000 miles, larger than the interstate highway system, the National Trails System provides easy access to a wide variety of outdoor experiences,”?said Secretary Bernhardt. “The Trump Administration is committed to expanding public access to the outdoors, so more Americans have the opportunity and ability to experience it in all of its splendor.” Read more

Wildlife

Wildlife Forever and Jay N. Darling Legacy Center Unveil Songbird Art Contest™

White Bear Lake, MN – Wildlife Forever is proud to announce the Songbird Art Contest™ as the newest opportunity to connect the public to the outdoors using the Art of Conservation™. In partnership with the Jay N. Darling Legacy Center based in Des Moines, Iowa, this competition is inspired by the legacy of artist and conservationist Jay Norwood Darling, encouraging participants to learn about North American Songbird Species and inspiring the next generation of stewards.

Throughout history, North America has been home to a tremendous diversity of bird species. Since the 1960s, Songbird populations in North America have dropped 29 percent over historic averages. Three billion birds have been lost and many species of songbirds are at risk of becoming endangered. While one single factor cannot be attributed to these losses, the data is clear that public awareness and education about this critical issue is needed now, more than ever.

The Songbird Art Contest™ will focus on conservation education and will be open to all ages with a strong focus on youth engagement. Participants will be required to submit an original piece of artwork accompanied by an essay detailing the unique characteristics of their chosen bird species and conservation needs. Participants will have until November 30th of each year to submit their entry to the contest by mail to Wildlife Forever. Winners being announced on National Bird Day, January 5th. The Songbird Art Contest™ is looking for additional partners and sponsors to kick off the contest, opening on May 1st, 2021. Read more

Wildlife

$3.6 million in grants available to target invasive species in Michigan

Proposals accepted through Dec. 11

Michigan’s Invasive Species Grant Program is now accepting proposals for the 2020 funding cycle, with an anticipated $3.6 million available to applicants.

The program – a joint effort of the Michigan departments of Natural Resources; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Agriculture and Rural Development – is part of a statewide initiative launched in 2014 to help prevent, detect and control invasive species in Michigan. Read more

Wildlife

Elevate your bird-watching with some community science

One of the best ways to enjoy Michigan’s fall colors and fresh air is to take in the many majestic migratory birds that dot our skies and landscapes this time each year. Better yet, birders of all experience levels can lend bird research a hand by sharing observations of what they see and when and where they see it.

Michigan’s fall migration includes waterfowl, shorebirds, waterbirds, songbirds and raptors that head south to their wintering grounds. Such bird patterns, often complex and misunderstood, are key to helping identify conservation priorities that best support these winged wanderers.

Why does that matter to you? Well, researchers need help. You can help advance Audubon’s Migratory Bird Initiative by visiting public lands and reporting bird sightings on eBird – an online database of bird observations providing scientists, researchers and amateur naturalists with real-time data about bird distribution and abundance. Plus, eBird makes it easy to keep track of your own bird observations, photos and audio files. Read more

Wildlife
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