Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

Hunters, Citizens Invited to Collaborate on Michigan CWD Response

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Natural Resources Commission will host a series of public engagement meetings on chronic wasting disease – a fatal central nervous system disease found in deer, elk and moose. The meetings will provide an opportunity for the commission and department to hear suggestions and observations from hunters and residents interested in the health of the state’s deer herd.

Vicki Pontz, chair of the Natural Resources Commission, said that both the commission and the DNR are focused on achieving specific CWD management objectives that include:

  • Slowing the spread of the disease.
  • Achieving a low prevalence rate.
  • Preventing the disease from reaching new areas.
  • Maintaining Michigan’s rich hunting traditions.

“Hunter and citizen involvement and support of efforts to contain and eradicate chronic wasting disease are critical,” Pontz said. “We want to hear from our stakeholders. We are asking them to share their thoughtful opinions on any new hunting regulations they believe may be needed before the start of the 2018 deer hunting season.”

At the meetings, DNR staff members will provide a CWD update and then collect attendees’ written ideas on how best to address this issue. Those unable to attend a meeting may participate in a web-based opportunity available starting April 10 at michigan.gov/cwd.

CWD public engagement meetings will take place in:

  • Bay City, April 10 – 6 to 8 p.m., Delta College Lecture Theater, Room G-160, 1961 Delta Road in University Center.
  • Cadillac, April 11 – 6 to 8 p.m., Wexford Center, 1320 North Mitchell.
  • Kalamazoo, April 12 – 6 to 8 p.m., Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St.
  • Detroit, April 17 – 6 to 8 p.m., Doubletree Detroit-Dearborn, 5801 Southfield Freeway.
  • Rockford, April 18 – 6 to 8 p.m., Rockford Fine Arts Auditorium, 4100 Kroes St. NE.
  • DeWitt, April 19 – 6 to 8 p.m., DeWitt High School Auditorium, 13601 S. Panther Drive.
  • Marquette, April 24 – 6 to 8 p.m., Marquette High School, 1203 W. Fair Ave.
  • Iron Mountain, April 25 – 6 to 8 p.m. (central time), Bay College, 2801 North US 2.
  • Gaylord, May 1 – 6 to 8 p.m., Ellison Place, 150 Dale Drive.
  • Newberry, May 2 – 6 to 8 p.m., Tahquamenon High School Auditorium, 700 Newberry Ave.
  • Houghton, May 3 – 6 to 8 p.m., Magnuson Hotel, 820 Shelden Ave.

“Michigan’s hunters have successfully partnered with the DNR for many decades on wildlife and conservation challenges and opportunities,” said DNR Director Keith Creagh. “We know they care deeply about the long-term health and vitality of Michigan’s wildlife, and right now the state’s wild deer population faces no more serious issue than chronic wasting disease.” Read more

Wildlife

Michigan: Vandals Compromise Dickinson County Bat Research Project

Conservation officers are investigating a break-in and theft of security cameras and signs from a mine site on private property near the city of Norway where an important bat research project has been under way.

The old abandoned iron mine – a small, dead-end horizontal shaft where the ceiling partially collapsed in recent months – was once the annual winter hibernating home to more than 20,000 little brown, northern long-eared and big brown bats.

“Today, the number of bats hibernating in this mine has fallen to just a few thousand survivors with the advent of white-nose syndrome,” said Bill Scullon, a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division field operations supervisor from the Norway office. “White-nose syndrome is a devastating disease that has killed millions of bats in eastern North America and has significantly impacted Michigan’s bat population.

“These bats eat lots of insects in the summertime and are of great benefit to the environment, forest health and agriculture.”

The mine is gated with a metal structure to keep the public out but protect the bats. The site is also posted against trespass. Those who entered the site illegally disrupted hibernating bats. Read more

Poachers, Wildlife

Michigan Needs to Kill More Whitetail Does

By Glen Wunderlich

Hunters can learn plenty about deer-hunting trends by looking at the numbers compiled by various wildlife agencies across the states.  Many Michiganders, however, seem bent on focusing on a particular segment of the whitetail population:  bucks.

Back in the days of market hunting in the early to mid-1900s, deer herds were decimated by unregulated hunting.  Therefore, it made sense to protect female deer to regenerate herds.  Although those days are behind us, some of the thinking that prevailed then seems to be dominating too many of our hunters today.  Trends were showing promising reversals in years subsequent to 1999, but we hunters have exhibited shortsightedness, once again.

In the current issue of Quality Whitetails published by the Quality Deer Management Association, its director of communication, Kip Adams portrays disturbing projections based on our DNR’s compilation of numbers in his piece, “The Dwindling Doe Harvest.”   Specifically, year 2014 signaled the start of a significant slide in antlerless harvests reaching a low point in year 2016.  That was the first year since 1999 that more antlered deer were taken than antlerless deer.  If you think that’s a good thing, read on.

The American wildlife management model, that has been successful in restoring not only whitetail deer herds but that of elk, antelope, and wild turkeys to name a few, depends largely upon hunter participation.  Hunters fork over hard-earned dollars to participate in hunting activities, play by the states’ management-plan rules, and reap the rewards for not only themselves but for non-hunters alike.  Their license fees and excise taxes on equipment is the primary source of revenue for management agencies across the nation.

As Kip Adams points out, hunting is an essential tool for sound deer management and part of our sporting heritage. However, in most states hunter numbers have declined, and existing hunter recruitment programs are proving only marginally effective.  Decreasing revenues follow.

From 2006 to 2011 hunter numbers increased by over one million, but during the past five years we lost 2.2 million hunters nationally.  In 2016 (the last year of available data), 11.5 million people 16 years of age and older went hunting (5 percent of total U.S. population), averaging 16 days afield each. Eighty percent of those 11.5 million hunters pursued big game like deer and elk.

Although Michigan has one of the top-5 states with the highest number of deer hunters, we have fewer deer and fewer hunters than in the past.  Disturbingly, Michigan hunters shot about 3 bucks for every 2 antlerless deer.  A closer look reveals we are shooting too many immature bucks – a whopping 47 percent of bucks taken are adolescents of 1 ½ years of age.  At the same time, compared to the 5-year average, our antlerless harvest is down 15 percent.

If ever we want to avoid the needless expense of sharpshooters (hired guns) in common use today – or, worse yet to continue an even more expensive and insane sterilization approach – we need to wise up.  If you’ve ever wondered why you see far more does than bucks, you have your answer.

Taking more antlerless deer will help to balance the ratio of male and female deer, thus improving the health of the herd and strengthening the habit that holds them.

Hunting, Wildlife

Congressional Budget Delivers Benefits for Birds

GW:  If this spending bill isn’t for the birds, you could be a genuine conservative.

>Washington –The $1.3 trillion spending agreement reached by Congress this week contains good news for birds and bird conservation. Legislators increased funding for State of the Birds activities to $3 million, giving a boost to the conservation of endangered forest birds in Hawaii, including the creation of safe nesting areas. Congress also indicated that funding levels for work to support migratory bird conservation will remain at or be set above 2017 levels. Read more

Wildlife

Montana: Spring livestock carcass disposal begins

In the continuing effort to reduce conflicts between grizzly bears and livestock producers on the Rocky Mountain Front, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is partnering with the Montana Stockgrowers Association, the National and Montana Wildlife Federations, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to implement a carcass collection and removal program. These partners have contributed local outreach efforts and logistics coordination, operating funds, and a truck with fuel to pick up carcasses from participating landowners.

“As grizzly bears continue to move out from the Rocky Mountain Front and into areas they haven’t occupied, we’ll continue to look for ways to work with local producers, communities, and other partners to avoid or reduce conflict,” said FWP director, Martha Williams. Read more

Wildlife

Carefully monitored burns will improve wildlife habitat

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today will conduct two prescribed burns totaling 68 acres in Allegan County (Clyde Township). The burns will restore cool-season grasses for birds, reduce thatch and make the ground more fertile for planting food plots in spring.

Prescribed burns are one way the DNR keeps lands and forests healthy. The burns are planned to achieve specific objectives – oftentimes simulating the benefits of natural fires. The burns are conducted by highly trained DNR personnel in designated state-managed areas during appropriate weather conditions and in cooperation with the proper authorities and local units of government. Public safety is a top priority during all prescribed burns.

In addition to enhancing wildlife habitat, prescribed burns are used to:

    • Help with forest regeneration.
    • Restore and maintain native plant life.
    • Control invasive plant species.
    • Reduce the risk of wildfires.

Read more

Wildlife

Michigan: DNR awards $515,000 in local funding for projects along Iron Belle Trail

Nearly 30 projects spread across 18 different counties will share $515,000 in local funding to push forward trail enhancement projects and connections along Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail.

In an effort to leverage funding to advance progress toward completion of this statewide trail, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has awarded $515,000 in local funding to 28 communities to help develop and enhance it.

Funded projects were eligible to receive up to $30,000 for trail enhancement projects including feasibility studies, preliminary construction, engineering of new trail segments, signage for trail segments and trailheads, environmental impact studies and other uses. For this round of funding, the DNR received 56 applications. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan Winter Wildlife Viewing

As winter hangs on for its final few weeks before spring, wildlife viewing opportunities abound for those who know where to look. Here are some tips for escaping cabin fever the next several weeks.

Waterfowl

Two bufflehead ducks on the water

During harsh winters, waterfowl get forced into smaller and smaller pockets of open water, so the trick to finding them is often locating that open water. During milder winters, like this one, birds can be more spread out. Check moving water bodies such as larger deep-water rivers and river outlets, as well as all open water pockets on the Great Lakes shore. These pockets may change location due to winds and underlying currents, so it often pays to search. We are already into March, which means many species that wintered in the south are already arriving, adding to the number of waterfowl present statewide. Ducks, swans and geese often forage in agricultural fields and feed on leftover grains by day, so when you’re within a few miles of large bodies of water be sure to watch local agricultural fields for waterfowl gatherings too.

Eagles

Bald eagle in a tree. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan: DNR seeks information on Mecosta County bald eagle death

Anyone with a tip should call or text the Report All Poaching line

Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers are asking for citizen assistance with an investigation into the death of a bald eagle in Mecosta County.

Thursday, March 1, conservation officers were called to the vicinity of 20 Mile Road near Grant Center in Grant Township, where the mature bald eagle was discovered. The bird was lodged in the limbs of a large tree near the road. Read more

Poachers, Wildlife

AZGFD: Applications accepted to adopt a desert tortoise

PHOENIX – Approximately 50 desert tortoises will soon awaken from their winter slumber and the Arizona Game and Fish Tortoise Adoption program will be once again be looking for good adoptive homes. There is no charge to adopt a tortoise.

The desert tortoises up for adoption are a wide range of ages and sizes. AZGFD is accepting applications for those willing to provide a special home. Adoption application packets and general information can be found atwww.azgfd.gov/tortoise.

Adopters need to have a securely enclosed yard or separate enclosure in their yard, free from potential hazards such as a dog, fire pit or unfenced pool. The enclosed area must include an appropriate shelter for the tortoise to escape Arizona’s extreme summer and winter temperatures.

All of the desert tortoises eligible for adoption will be given health checkups before going to their new homes. Tortoises are only available for adoption to residents living within the species’ native range, which includes the Phoenix, Bullhead City, Kingman, Prescott, Lake Havasu, Tucson and Yuma areas. Read more

Wildlife
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