Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

Iowa Sets Goal for Monarch Conservation

The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium has set a goal of acres devoted to monarch butterfly habitat in the state by 2038.

“The consortium has worked collaboratively with diverse stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan to expand habitat on our agricultural land, urban areas, roadsides, and other public land. We appreciate the many partners that have been involved and are encouraged by the work already underway,” said Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

The updated Iowa Monarch Conservation Strategy  seeks to establish approximately 480,000 to 830,000 acres of monarch habitat by 2038. Read more

Wildlife

Wolf Control Action Completed in Idaho’s Lolo Elk Zone

Idaho Fish and Game has completed wolf control actions in northern Idaho’s Lolo elk zone to improve elk survival in the area. Predation on calves and cows is the primary factor limiting recovery of the Lolo elk population.

Ten wolves were killed during the operation, which started in late February. The operation is consistent with Fish and Game’s Elk Management Plan and Lolo Predation Management Plan.

The control operation was paid for using Fish and Game license dollars transferred to the Idaho Wolf Depredation Control Board, created by the Idaho Legislature in 2014. Read more

Wildlife

Spring birding tours at Michigan’s Wetland Wonders

redwing blackbird male

Nothing says spring like the “conk-a-ree” call of a red-winged blackbird or the raucous sounds of a sandhill crane. Celebrate spring and explore Michigan’s wetlands with a birding tour at one of the Wetland Wonders – or managed waterfowl areas – around the state.

Highlights of the birding tours may include diving and dabbling ducks in full breeding plumage, trumpeter and tundra swans, osprey, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, and many others. Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife staff members and volunteers from Ducks Unlimited and Audubon Clubs will lead the tours, which may include a “sneak peek” driving tour into refuge areas that normally are closed.

The birding tours will be held on the following dates: Read more

Wildlife

Idaho-Reared Monarch Butterfly Completes Multi-State Flight to California

The story below was submitted to us by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services Boise, Idaho office.

Tagged monarch butterfly. USFWS photo with permission.

BOISE, Idaho – A winged invertebrate reared in Idaho’s Treasure Valley made history when it was rescued from a swimming pool by a California homeowner. The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) had flown all the way from Idaho to overwinter along the California Coast.

Biologists studying the movements of monarchs documented a first for the declining species March 2 in a swimming pool of a resident who welcomed the visitor’s historic landing. The homeowner found the butterfly a few hundred yards from a known overwintering site where the female butterfly likely spent the winter. While monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains are typically regarded as belonging to the western population, this is the first documented case of a tagged Idaho monarch making the journey to California since Washington State University began a tagging program in 2012. Read more

Wildlife

Arizona Elk Arrive in West Virginia

Partnership between states bolsters ongoing restoration project

RAYMOND WILDLIFE AREA — For the first time in more than 150 years, elk are leaving their hoofprints on West Virginia soil.
On March 3, dozens of elk that were captured and quarantined in January east of Flagstaff were loaded into a livestock trailer and transported nonstop to a release site in the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area in southwest West Virginia.

To view a video, visit https://youtu.be/WlmBjAwXpow. Read more

Wildlife

Arizona: Volunteers Needed to Spotlight Endangered Black-Footed Ferrets

Contact:
Dale Hajek, Public Information Officer

(623) 236-7215, dhajek@azgfd.gov

Volunteers needed to spotlight endangered black-footed ferrets

Survey results shine light on recovery effort in Aubrey Valley, on Double O Ranch
SELIGMAN, Ariz. — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking volunteers to assist with spotlighting efforts to help document the population of endangered black-footed ferrets in Aubrey Valley and on the Double O Ranch near Seligman. Read more

Wildlife

Secretary Zinke Partners with Congress on Bipartisan Bill to Fix National Parks

WASHINGTON – Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke joined U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Angus King (I-ME), Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and others to introduce a bipartisan bill to rebuild America’s National Parks.

The proposed bill would use up to $18 billion in revenue derived from energy produced on federal lands and waters to establish a special fund within the Treasury specifically for “National Park Restoration”. The bill follows the blueprint laid out in Secretary Zinke and President Trump’s budget proposal, the Public Lands Infrastructure Fund. The Alexander/King bill’s cosponsors are: Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Thom Tillis (R-NC). This bill fulfills one of the priorities laid out in President Trump’s legislative framework for rebuilding America’s infrastructure.

“Infrastructure is an investment, not merely an expense. And every dollar we put in to rebuilding our parks, will help bolster the gateway communities that rely on park visitation for economic vitality. Read more

Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife

African Elephant Imports on a Case-by-Case Basis Approved

As part of the permitting process, the Fish and Wildlife Service reviews each application received for import of such trophies and evaluates the information provided in the application as well as other information available to the Service as to the status of and management program for the species or population to ensure that the program is promoting the conservation of the species.

Read the entire memo here:

AIA/DMA/BOP/Animal Species Memorandum To: Assistant Director, International Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servic From: Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ,  Date: March 1, 2018 Subject: Withdrawal of Certain Findings for ESA-listed Species Taken as Sporthunted Trophies.

In response to the D.C. Circuit Court’s opinion in Safari Club Int’!, et al. v. Zinke, et al., No. 16-5358 (D.C. Cir., Dec. 22, 2017), the Service hereby withdraws, effective immediately, the 2014 and 2015 Endangered Species Act (ESA) enhancement findings for trophies of African elephants taken in Zimbabwe.

The findings are no longer effective for making individual permit determinations for imports of sport-hunted African elephant trophies.

Consistent with this approach, the Service hereby also withdraws, effective immediately, the following findings: ESA enhancement findings for trophies of African elephants taken in Zimbabwe signed in 1997 and 2017; ESA enhancement finding for trophies of lions taken in Zimbabwe signed in 2017; ESA enhancement findings signed in 1997, 2014, and 2015, and CITES non-detriment findings signed in 2014, 2015, and 2017 for trophies of African elephants taken in Tanzania; ESA enhancement finding for trophies of African elephants taken in South Africa signed in 1995; ESA enhancement finding for trophies of bontebok taken in South Africa signed in 1997; ESA enhancement findings for trophies of lions taken in South Africa signed in 2016 and 2017; ESA enhancement finding for trophies of African elephants taken in Botswana signed in 1997; ESA enhancement finding for trophies of African elephants taken in Namibia signed in 1995; ESA enhancement finding for trophies of African elephants taken in Zambia signed in 2012; ESA enhancement finding for trophies of lions taken in Zambia signed in 2017; and the ESA enhancement and CITES non-detriment findings for trophies of African elephants taken in Zambia signed in 2017.

All of the above referenced findings are no longer effective for making individual permit determinations for imports of those spo11-hunted ESA-listed species. However, the Service intends to use the information cited in these findings and contained in its files as appropriate, in addition to the information it receives and has available when it receives each application, to evaluate individual permit applications.

The Service is continuing to monitor the status and management of these species in their range countries. At this time, when the Service processes these permit applications, the Service intends to do so on an individual basis, including making ESA enhancement determinations, and CITES non-detriment determinations when required, for each application. The Service intends to grant or deny permits to import a sport-hunted trophy on a case-by-case basis pursuant to its authorities under the ESA and CITES. As part of the permitting process, the Service reviews each application received for import of such trophies and evaluates the information provided in the application as well as other information available to the Service as to the status of and management program for the species or population to ensure that the program is promoting the conservation of the species. Each application must also meet all other applicable permitting requirements before it may be authorized.

Hunting, Wildlife

DU moose license auction raises money for conservation

HELENA, Mont. – Montana’s moose habitat conservation initiative will get a boost, thanks to the winning bid of $30,000 at last weekend’s Helena Ducks Unlimited event. The Helena chapter auctioned the rare Shiras moose license during its annual dinner. Proceeds from the license sale will go to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ moose program.

“The conservation dollars that benefit moose also positively affect waterfowl and other wildlife,” said Steve Christian, an organizer of the event. “We want to thank the people who participated and our buyer who is making a major contribution to Montana wildlife.”

Ducks Unlimited won the right to auction off the license from MFWP. Over the Helena chapter’s four years of hosting the auction, the license has brought in $152,500 for conservation. Montana Ducks Unlimited is reimbursed for auction advertising expenses. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Whitetails Unlimited Awards $25,000 to WI DNR Apple Tree Project

Whitetails Unlimited continues their partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for their mini-apple tree project which, will be placed on various public hunting lands throughout the state. The continuation consists of a 3-year, $15,000 commitment, which brings the total WTU has contributed to this project to nearly $25,000. Each mini-orchard will consist of 8 to12 apple trees which will have the ability to bear fruit for the next 50 to 60 years. This project will not only create an additional food source for white-tailed deer, but also generate additional deer hunting opportunities for hunters utilizing these public hunting grounds. Over 300 orchard sites are expected to be in place upon completion. In addition to the mini-apple orchards, 500 miles of trail plantings and 83 acres of grain plots will also be created. Read more

Wildlife
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