Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

Michigan’s Canada goose success story

It’s no secret that Michigan offers some of the best Canada goose hunting anywhere in the world. But many waterfowl hunters, whose perspective only covers the last 30 years or so, might have a hard flock of Canada geesetime believing it wasn’t always that way. Michigan’s resident Canada goose population – which produces the lion’s share of the annual harvest – was virtually nonexistent a century ago and not especially noteworthy five decades later.

“Back in the ’50s, it was a rare thing to see a Canada goose in this state,” said Barbara Avers, the waterfowl specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “It was rare for hunters to kill a goose. It was a pretty big deal. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan Snakes

Michigan's Largest Snake - The Black Rat Snake Identification VideoWhether you’re a hunter, a wildlife enthusiast or just someone who enjoys an occasional walk in the woods, this 60-second video will help you properly identify the black rat snake, should you ever come across this species in your travels. If you are fortunate to see one of these important Michigan residents, take some time to enjoy it, but please leave it in the wild. Look for more videos in our series into the fall.

Wildlife

Record numbers of two Michigan endangered species point to success of conservation efforts

Two Michigan endangered species are being observed in record numbers this year, due to the collaborative conservation efforts of the Department of Natural Resources and many partners.

piping plover standing on sand with water in background“We’re really excited about the survey results for the Great Lakes piping plover and Kirtland’s warbler,” said DNR Field Operations Manager Keith Kintigh.  “To have both of these species reach record numbers this year shows what great partnerships can do for wildlife conservation over time.”

Piping plovers are migratory shorebirds that nest in three distinct populations in the northern United States and Canada (the Great Plains, the Atlantic Coast and the Great Lakes) and winter mainly along the Gulf Coast. In the Great Lakes, they live near shorelines and beaches and will nest in depressions of sand with rocks, shells or sticks, which can be easily disturbed by beachgoers. To protect their young, they often will distract perceived predators with a “broken-wing” act.

In 1983, there were only 13 breeding pairs of Great Lakes piping plovers in Michigan. This year, more than 158 chicks have been banded in Michigan, Wisconsin and Canada, with more than 58 nests found in Michigan alone. Of the 58 Michigan nests, 43 were in the northern Lower Peninsula and 15 in the Upper Peninsula. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore had the highest occurrence of nests in the region. Read more

Wildlife

New Advanced Wildlife Photography Guide from Alaskan Guide Joseph Classen

Join Kodiak Island author, photographer, and guide, Joseph Classen, as he explores the art of wildlife photography from a hunter’s perspective. In this just released book, the reader will learn:

* How to select and use the appropriate gear required for the rigors of wildlife photography
* How to mentally and physically prepare for an outing in which your wits must be as keen as your eye
*Detailed insights into planning and packing for a wilderness adventure                                  *Choosing the best clothing and accessories to ensure a safe, productive time in the field   *Scouting out prime locations, tracking and attracting photographic subjects using time-honored techniques
*How to read animal behaviors and know where your best photographic opportunities will arise.   And much, much, more Read more

Wildlife

DSC Supports Use of Live Testing for CWD

DALLAS – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department-mandated killing and post-mortem study of deer potentially exposed to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) illustrates an urgent need for the use of live testing for white-tailed deer, elk and other cervids.

Currently, post-mortem testing of brain tissue is the only form of CWD testing approved by the USDA even though an effective, non-lethal alternative test exists.

Results of a study of rectal mucosa testing for CWD in white-tailed deer published by the USDA’s National Veterinary Research Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, shows extremely high diagnostic accuracy, one which could eliminate the need to destroy herds simply suspected to have been exposed to the disease.

“The overall diagnostic specificity was 99.8 percent. Selective use of ante-mortem rectal biopsy sample testing would provide valuable information during disease investigations of CWD-suspect deer herds,” states the report “Diagnostic Accuracy of Rectal Mucosa Biopsy Testing for Chronic Wasting Disease within White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Herds in North America: Effects of Age, Sex, Polymorphism at PRNP Codon 96, and Disease Progression.” Read more

Wildlife

Safari Club International Seeks Help from Coyote Hunters

SCI’s Litigation attorneys are looking for Arizona and New Mexico coyote hunters. SCI’s Litigation Department will soon attempt to join litigation that could affect coyote hunting in Arizona and New Mexico – particularly in areas occupied by Mexican wolves (south and central Arizona and New Mexico). Please contact us if you hunt coyotes in these areas, have concrete plans to do so in the future and would be willing to work with SCI attorneys to provide a sworn statement to assist SCI in court. Contact Anna Seidman, Director of Litigation at aseidman@safariclub.org

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Town hall meeting Aug. 27 in Meridian Township to discuss CWD efforts – DNR needs help from hunters

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will hold a town hall meeting Aug. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Township Hall room of the Meridian Township Municipal Building located at 5151 Marsh Road in Okemos, Michigan, to present information on chronic wasting disease (CWD) and the DNR’s surveillance and management efforts.

Non-cable subscribers or those who live outside the viewing area will have the opportunity to view the meeting through a live video stream on HOMTV’s website at www.homtv.net.   Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Wyoming Receives $438,000 in RMEF Grants to Benefit Elk, Elk Habitat

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation awarded grants to fund 39 projects in 14 counties that will improve habitat, elk research and hunting heritage across the state of Wyoming.

The grants total $438,865 and will directly benefit 15,214 acres spread across Big Horn, Carbon, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Washakie and Weston Counties. There are also five projects of statewide benefit. Read more

Wildlife

Biologist Set to Begin Grizzly Bear Trapping in Yellowstone National Park

BOZEMAN – As part of ongoing efforts required under the Endangered Species Act to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the USGS and Yellowstone National Park would like to inform the public that biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) and Yellowstone National Park will be conducting scientific grizzly bear research operations in Yellowstone National Park from August 25th through October 30th. Read more

Wildlife
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