Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

BAN STERILIZATION OF GAME SPECIES

CALL YOUR MICHIGAN REPRESENTATIVE NOW TO SUPPORT HB 5321

Nearly a month ago, we asked you to call legislators to express your support for House Bill 5321, which would prevent another atrocity like Ann Arbor’s deer sterilization program from being authorized. Since the bill has been referred to a subcommittee led by Representatives Curt VanderWall, Joseph Bellino, and Sara Cambensy, with no action to date, we need to light up the phones once again!

Introduced by Representative Triston Cole (R-Mancelona) at the beginning of December, HB 5321 would prohibit the Department from issuing permits that authorize the sterilization of game.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has been pushing communities and state agencies around the country to adopt sterilization as a way to prevent urban bow hunting or future culling to manage deer. The DNR approved this permit under the guise of “research” with no input from the public and it actually runs counter to the DNR’s own approved urban deer management policy.

It is not a great leap to see how HSUS might push this to other species, such as bears or even wolves in order to prevent hunting.

On Thursday, February 22, MUCC will be testifying again on this bill before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee, as will Ann Arbor’s contractor, White Buffalo, who is conducting this so-called “research project”. This meeting is open to the public.

Call your State Representative today and ask them what is taking so long?  Find your representative’s contact information here.  We want them to approve HB 5321 and prevent other cities from attempting more costly and ineffective “research” on the public’s deer.

Please call today and ask them to vote YES!

Wildlife

Whitetail Status by the Numbers

By Glen Wunderlich

With another deer season behind us, wildlife professionals across the country will be compiling data relative to numbers and health of respective deer herds.  However, the Quality Deer Management Association has published its 2018 Whitetail Report, which compares data from the three most recent seasons available 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17.  This summary will provide details of Michigan’s whitetail management practices and how we stack up with the rest of the Midwest segment.

Nationally speaking and on a positive note, yearling buck harvest rates (deer 1.5 years of age) remain at record low numbers, and the percentage of 3½-year-old and older bucks remains at a third of the total antlered buck harvest.   Conversely, the biggest issues and trends include the continued spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD), which has made major headlines in Arkansas, Michigan and Montana in 2017.

From 2015 to 2016, a total of nine free-ranging deer tested positive for CWD in Michigan in two counties, Clinton and Ingham. In 2017, at least 47 new cases had been identified, including 36 confirmed positives in Montcalm County and 10 in Kent County.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicates hunter numbers have declined by over two million from 2011 to 2016.  With regard to expenditures, hunters’ spending dropped nearly $11 billion dollars or 30 percent. Adding insult to injury, the number of hunters is expected to continue declining as baby boomers exit the hunting scene.  Michigan is no exception with hunter participation tumbling 14 percent in the same period.

The top-5 states for harvest of antlered bucks 1 ½ years and older in order are Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia, with Texas coming in at a whopping 399,487 bucks and Michigan with 196,233.   Although steadily increasing over the past three seasons, Michigan’s buck harvest totals are still down 3 percent compared to the 5-year average. Michigan tops the country with an average of 3.5 antlered bucks taken per square mile.

Allowing deer to mature is a worthy goal of all states and Arkansas leads the way with a mere 5 percent of its buck harvest being yearlings.  Michigan continues to rank near the top (or, bottom, if you will) of states with the highest percentage of yearling bucks taken at 47 percent with Wisconsin hunters killing yearlings at the rate of 65 percent of all bucks taken.

The top-5 states with the highest percentage of 3½-plus-year-old bucks taken last season are Mississippi (78), Arkansas (77), Louisiana (72), Oklahoma (59), and Texas (59).  Michigan is holding steady at 27 percent of its total buck kill being 3 ½ years old or more.          

Michigan’s antlerless take of 145,054 is up 6 percent compared to the previous season but down 15 percent compared to the 5-year average.

Monitoring the percentage of fawns in the antlerless harvest is one method for estimating the fawn recruitment rate (those surviving from spring births), and this statistic is one of the most important pieces of data a deer manager needs when assessing a herd’s growth potential and applying a prescribed antlerless harvest.  Accordingly, Michigan hunters are killing fawns at the rate of 26 percent of the total antlerless harvest – a sign that indicates hunters need a better understanding of distinguishing fawns from adult does.  On the plus side, however, Michigan hunters took adult does of 3 ½ years of age or older at the rate of 38 percent of the total antlerless numbers.   

Archery hunters in Michigan took some 37 percent of the total deer harvest ranking near the top nationally.   Our rifle/shotgun kills are down to 48 percent compared to 60 percent the previous year.  Muzzleloaders, on the other hand, took 15 percent of all whitetails – up dramatically from 6 percent the year prior.

The takeaway continues to be the decline in hunter numbers and the resulting wildlife conservation funding from license fees, as a disturbing trend.  To stabilize, or even increase hunter participation, our best bet is to continue to mentor youngsters and there are lots of programs to do just that.  This strategy is not up to someone else, however; if each of us can introduce a youngster to the outdoors, we will have done our part to further the cause of wildlife conservation.

Hunting, Wildlife

Mississippi discovers first case of chronic wasting disease

VICKSBURG – A tissue sample collected Jan. 25 from a free-ranging white-tailed deer in extreme southern Issaquena County, Mississippi, returned the first known positive test of chronic wasting disease in the state.

The 4½-year-old buck died about 8 miles north of Vicksburg and was reported to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The buck was found about 45 miles south-southeast of the southeastern corner of Arkansas. Read more

Wildlife

New Florida FWC rule prohibits feeding of wild monkeys

At its December 2017 meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted to prohibit the feeding of wild monkeys in order to promote greater public safety and decrease health concerns associated with these animals. This amendment to the General Prohibition Rule went into effect Feb. 11. Free-roaming, non-human primates join coyotes, foxes, raccoons, bears, pelicans and sandhill cranes as species included in this rule.

“The health and safety of the public is the Commission’s number one priority. Feeding wild monkeys creates an elevated risk to human health because it brings them into closer contact with people,” said Dr. Thomas Eason, Assistant Executive Director of the FWC. “This amended rule provides our staff the tools we need to effectively address a situation that can have serious consequences.” Read more

Wildlife

Cornell Lab of Ornithology Invites You To View Trailer for Bird of Prey

The Great Philippine Eagle is the national bird of the Philippines, yet it’s clinging to survival with fewer than 1,000 birds remaining. Bird of Prey is the story of the men and women of the Philippine Eagle Foundation who are toiling to give this magnificent bird a future—and of an American cinematographer who’s made it his life’s work, too. We’ve just released a trailer for the film: watch it now.

Wildlife

QDMA Releases 2018 Whitetail Report

ATHENS, GA (February 13, 2018) – The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) today released its 10th annual Whitetail Report, a comprehensive update on the status of white-tailed deer including deer harvest trends through the 2016-17 season, the most recent hunting season with complete deer harvest data available from most whitetail states and Canadian provinces.

“There are some very positive tends occurring,” said Kip Adams, QDMA Director of Conservation. “Yearling buck harvest remains at record low numbers, and we took 4 percent more antlered bucks in the 2016-17 season than the year before.”

Conversely, said Adams, other trends and issues are not as positive. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) continues to spread and make major headlines. Also, the antlerless deer harvest has now declined 19 percent in the past decade, potentially ending a nearly 20-year streak in which hunters annually took more antlerless than antlered deer. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Iowa: Fatal deer disease confirmed in Wayne County

A hunter harvested adult doe taken in southeast Wayne County during the first shotgun deer season has tested positive for the presence of chronic wasting disease (CWD). This is the first hunter harvested wild deer outside of northeast Iowa to test positive for the always fatal disease.

The deer was shot on Dec. 5.

“We contacted the hunter once it was confirmed,” said Terry Haindfield, wildlife biologist and coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources chronic wasting disease monitoring effort. “The test results are disappointing but not surprising. We are seeing an increasing number of CWD positive deer in northeast Iowa and from our neighboring states.”

Haindfield said there have been seven additional CWD positive tests so far from deer in northeast Iowa that came from the 2017 seasons – six in Allamakee County and one in Clayton County. The Iowa DNR is awaiting the final set of test results from the special collection in Allamakee and Clayton counties in January. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan: Artists sought for residence program at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

March 30 application deadline set; artists notified by April 25

Applications are being accepted for the Porcupine Mountains Artist-in-Residence Program for the 2018 spring, summer and fall and 2019 winter residencies.

The Artist-in-Residence Program is open to artists and artisans whose work can be influenced by the unique northern wilderness setting of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Michigan’s largest state park encompasses 25 miles of wave-washed shores, four inland lakes, entire river systems, countless waterfalls, enchanting wooded peaks, and an escarpment, which rises slowly from the edge of Lake Superior until it plummets abruptly into the Carp River valley.

Still, the park’s most impressive feature – and the reason for its creation – is the virgin forest of eastern hemlock and northern hardwoods and the variety of flora and fauna that it supports. Because of these attributes, the park is an ideal location to inspire creativity.

The Artist-in-Residence Program offers writers, composers and all visual and performing artists an opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the park and to express it through their art form. Each year a number of artists will be selected for residencies lasting a minimum of two weeks. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan Elk updates: results of 2017 elk hunting season, winter elk survey

The 2017 hunting season statistics are in, and the winter elk survey just wrapped up, giving the Michigan Department of Natural Resources a clear picture of where the state’s elk population currently stands.

Hunt period 1, which targets elk outside of their traditional range, was 12 days long. From Aug 29-Sept. 1, Sept 15-18, and Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 100 state hunters harvested 74 elk (30 bulls and 44 antlerless elk).

During hunt period 2, Dec. 9-17, all locations in the northern tip of the state were open to hunting. Another 100 state hunters harvested 84 elk (30 bulls and 54 antlerless elk) during this hunt.

Before regulated hunting can take place to assist in management, Michigan’s elk population has to be evaluated.

“Our population goal for elk is between 500 and 900 animals. This has been determined as the best balance for the forests, area agriculture and residents,” said DNR elk specialist Chad Stewart. “Besides having an estimated population, knowing where they are located is also very important.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Join a Global Bird Count for The Year of the Bird

Snowy Owls are also being reported in higher numbers than usual in parts of North America this winter. Photo by Kim Mann, Saskatchewan, 2017 GBBC

The Great Backyard Bird Count takes place worldwide, February 16 to 19

New York, NY, Ithaca, NY, and Port Rowan, ON—The 21st Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) will take place February 16 to 19—in backyards, parks, nature centers, on hiking trails, school grounds, balconies, and beaches. This global event provides an opportunity for bird enthusiasts to contribute important bird population data that help scientists see changes over the past 21 years. To participate, bird watchers count the birds they see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, then enter their checklists at birdcount.org. Read more

Wildlife
1 … 161 162 163 164 165 … 356