Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

Safari Club rewards Michigan hunters for survey participation

Bay City and Unionville residents win crossbow, rifle

Two Michigan hunters were presented with new hunting equipment by the Michigan Involvement Committee of Safari Club International at last week’s meeting of the Natural Resources Commission in Two Michigan hunters hold a new crossbow and rifle with representatives from Safari Club International.Lansing, Michigan. The gear – a Weatherby rifle and a TenPoint crossbow – was given by the committee as thanks for all hunters’ participation in Department of Natural Resources hunter surveys. Read more

Firearms, Hunting, Wildlife

Humphries Appointed NWTF Chief Conservation Officer

EDGEFIELD, S.C. – The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) recently appointed Becky Humphries its new chief conservation officer.

“I am excited to lead NWTF’s conservation efforts in this new role,” said Humphries. “Our staff is working hard to conserve the focal landscapes we have identified across the country. We also are focused on the future site of the Palmetto Shooting Complex, ensuring we continue to lead by example when it comes to wildlife and habitat management plans.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Mountain Lion Believed Responsible for California Attack Killed

A 65-pound male mountain lion was killed with a rifle shot near the Picchetti Ranch Zinfandel Trail area Friday morning in an effort to protect public safety relating to a lion attack several days earlier.

Two families were hiking on a marked trail in Cupertino on Sunday, Sept. 7 when a mountain lion attacked one of the children. According to the adults in the group, the 6-year-old boy was walking only 10 feet in front of the others, when a mountain lion jumped from a hidden position and attacked him. The boy was transported to the hospital with serious but non-life threatening puncture wounds and released the next day.

Wildlife experts went to the scene of the attack and picked up the cat’s scent. After three days of investigating within a one-mile radius from the attack site, the experts and specialized tracking dogs found a cat and treed it approximately130 yards from the attack site. The cat was about 70 feet up in the tree and tranquilizing it was not a reasonable option and the fall would have killed it anyway.

The cat displayed unusually aggressive behavior while treed, crouching and fixating on a wildlife officer. The fact that it was so close to the attack site, coupled with the territorial behavior, likely indicates that this was a local lion probably involved in the incident as opposed to one that was passing through the area. CDFW’s wildlife investigation lab will be conducting a full forensics investigation, comparing evidence gathered at the attack to confirm the identity of the cat.

No one at the department wanted to destroy this animal but protecting public safety is a first and foremost priority. Relocation of mountain lions is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In this instance, the lion was not eligible because it had attacked a human. CDFW’s mountain lion policy can be found here: Human/Wildlife Interactions in California: Mountain Lion Depredation, Public Safety, and Animal Welfare. The policy is based on structured decision-making protocol that includes non-lethal and relocation options, but prioritizes public safety in the event of attacks or threats on humans.

Authorities will conduct a complete necropsy, making the rabies test a priority as well as the gathering of additional forensic information to assess the health of the cat.

Wildlife

No Wolf Hunt in 2014, No Matter What Happens on November Referendums

Natural Resources Commission Asks DNR to Review Science, Data on Wolf Depredations for 2015

EAST LANSING—The Natural Resources Commission today announced that it would not consider a wolf hunt for 2014, even if the two referendums on the November 2014 ballot, which originally authorized a wolf hunt were approved. A separate law, the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, will grant the Natural Resources Commission authority to designate game species using sound science, when it takes effect in March or April.

“Even if the referendums are passed, there would not be time to establish a wolf hunt in 2014,” said Commissioner John Matonich.  “We asked the Wildlife Division to study the science and the data on wolf depredations of dogs and livestock and present their findings to the commission in 2015.”

Russ Mason, chief of the DNR Wildlife Division, also announced that department biologists would be reviewing and possibly updating the department’s wolf management plan.

“We’re very happy with the decision to study the science and not to rush a wolf hunt this year,” said Amy Trotter, resource policy manager for Michigan United Conservation Clubs. “The Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act was not about a wolf hunt, despite what the anti-hunters claimed. It was about making the decision, and others like it, with sound science, and that is exactly what the NRC has asked for. “ Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

SCI Donates $100,000 to Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

Washington, D.C. – Safari Club International (SCI) is celebrating the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) 25th Anniversary with a contribution of $100,000. The check presentation was held during the Annual Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation VIP reception before their Annual Banquet & Auction in Washington, DC on Sept. 10th. “The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation plays the essential role of supporting bipartisanship for the hunters, anglers, and target shooters of our nation,” said SCI President Craig Kauffman. “SCI has been a proud partner of CSF since its beginning and I know we will continue to support their work in Washington, D.C. for years to come.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Preparing For Deer Season: Strategies For Hit List Bucks And Fall Food Plots

Their Hit List is getting serious in the newest video at www.GrowingDeer.tv. Watch this episode to see the biggest buck they will be targeting and Dr. Woods’ preferred hunting strategies for mature bucks! Plus, it’s time to get moving on your fall food plots. They are a great attraction area for harvesting deer, but what if you add a tree plot right within your fall plot? It’s a killer combination! Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

State of the Birds Report Shows Gains for Some Wetlands Species

MEMPHIS-A new report from the U.S. Committee of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative shows encouraging population gains for some wetland-dependent bird species. At the same time, the report’s authors warn about the future implications of the continuing loss of ephemeral or temporary wetlands in the prairies of the United States and Canada. Some species such as northern pintail and black tern, which rely heavily on ephemeral wetlands, have experienced long-term declines.

The State of the Birds 2014 reports that some wetland-dependent bird populations are at or near historic high levels, including mallards, gadwall, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal and northern shovelers, according to annual breeding bird surveys conducted in the United States and Canada.

“Many wetland bird species are doing very well,” said DU’s Chief Scientist Dr. Scott Yaich. “We can at least partially attribute this to collective wetland conservation efforts across the continent. But, two decades of unprecedented above-average rainfall in many key breeding areas are in large part responsible for duck population increases that are masking the loss of wetland habitats documented by other studies. We continue to be very concerned about the accelerating loss of wetlands in important areas for birds and what that will mean when we inevitably enter another dry period.” Read more

Wildlife

Wildlife Management the Right Way

By Glen Wunderlich

When Michigan voters head to the polls this November, they’ll have an opportunity to vote for principle – and, principle only – as two particular referendums have already been rendered moot.  The reason is that the Michigan House of Representatives passed the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act with a bipartisan vote of 65-43.  This in turn means the seemingly endless wolf hunt controversy is settled and the Department of Natural Resources’ biologists will be able to establish hunting seasons based on science.

Looking back to year 1996, when Proposal G was overwhelmingly approved by a 70-percent margin, Michiganders actually believed science would dictate how we would manage wildlife.  Proposal G was a referendum on Public Act 377 of 1996, which amended the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to grant the Natural Resources Commission exclusive authority to regulate the taking of game in this state. The amendment also required the Commission, to the greatest extent practicable, to use principles of sound scientific management in making decisions regarding the taking of game.

Ah, but if enough emotion and money could be leveraged into the mix, anti-hunters found a way to override the intent of Proposal G through referendums designed to trump science in favor of hype.  Not anymore!

Sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a Washington, D.C.-based anti-hunting organization, the referendums aimed to repeal two bills that would have allowed a regulated hunting season for wolves in certain areas of the Upper Peninsula where wolves have killed pets and livestock. Because the initiative contains an appropriation ($1 million to protect fisheries from aquatic invasive species), it is not subject to a third referendum by HSUS or its front group, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected.

After the language was adopted, Michigan United Conservatin Clubs’ Drew YoungeDyke was asked if MUCC or Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management planned to campaign for a “yes” vote on the referendums.

“We’re not going to waste resources on it,” he said. “No matter what happens in November, there’s not going to be a 2014 wolf hunt because there isn’t time for the DNR to scientifically craft a season structure for it. And no matter what happens in November, there will be a hunting season in 2015, 2016 and every year thereafter as long as it continues to be supported by sound science.”

Jill Fritz, Michigan director for the Humane Society of the United States and director of Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, told reporters that they would campaign heavily for a “no” vote on Proposals 1 and 2, including television advertisements. The Humane Society’s Legislative Fund spent $750,000 on “media” for Keep Michigan Wolves Protected in late July, according to campaign finance reports.

She also told reporters that they planned to sue to block the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, although it has not been made clear on what grounds.

Said Representative Jon Bumbstead (R-Newago), “This is about more than wolves. It’s about protecting the rights of our constituents to hunt and fish by managing our fish and wildlife with sound science.”

It’s also about keeping the noses of out-of-state extremists out of our business, just like we thought we were doing 18 years ago.

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Eaglet Pair Released Along Banks of Kennebec

Marc Payne of Avian Haven (left) and Brent Bibles of Unity College release two rehabilitated juvenile bald eagles along the banks of the Kennebec River.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Two Bangor Eaglets, rescued from their treetop nest in May after one parent died and another became ill, were released today along the banks above the Kennebec Riveryesterday. The released juvenile bald eagles took right to the sky in their new home. Read more

Wildlife
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