Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

SCI Takes Battle Over Polar Bear Imports to the U.S. Supreme Court

Washington, DC – Safari Club International (SCI) today filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court asking the Court to overturn the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2008 listing of the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.  After the listing of the species, private conservation funding generated through sustainable use hunting evaporated.  By filing this petition, SCI is seeking to rectify this bad public policy. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Antis in Michigan Pushing Second Referendum on Wolves

On July 2nd, animal rights groups launched a petition drive to stop the state from controlling the growing wolf population.  If enough signatures are gathered, Michigan voters will decide on November 4, 2014, whether to overturn Senate Bill 288, which granted authority to designate game species to the state Natural Resources Commission.  The anti-hunting coalition, called Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, is backed by the nation’s most powerful animal rights organization, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Hundreds of geese banded in southeast Michigan

Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologists, staff and volunteers helped to round up and band over 1,000 Canada geese in Southeast Michigan last month.

girl helps band gooseThe geese were banded as part of a national effort to track the population and movement of Canada geese in the United States. In North America, biologists band more than 200,000 ducks and nearly 150,000 geese and swans each year.

In the latter part of June, geese molt their primary flight feathers and are unable to fly, making them easier to capture and band.

“We banded 170 birds at three locations in Jackson and Hillsdale counties,” said DNR wildlife biologist Kristin Bissell. “We had 11 very enthusiastic, hard-working volunteers who helped make it a success!  We’re happy that a sample of the geese from the south central portion of the state will be represented in the banding effort!”

During the banding process, Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan Warns Anglers of Invasive Crayfish

Red swamp crayfish

 

The Department of Natural Resources has recently discovered that anglers are purchasing red swamp crayfish from food markets and using them as live bait. It is illegal to import any live species of crayfish into Michigan for commercial bait purposes. Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) are native to the southeastern United States and are considered an invasive species in Michigan. Read more

Wildlife

Duck Breeding Population Estimates Show Promising Numbers

While just below last year’s record numbers, 2013 duck populations are still well above long-term averages

PRATT­- Duck populations are strong, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 2013 Report on Trends in Duck Breeding Populations. The preliminary estimate of total duck populations from the traditional survey area (northcentral United States, southcentral and northern Canada, and Alaska) is 45.6 million birds­- a six percent decrease from last year’s estimate of 48.6 million birds, but a 33 percent increase from the long-term average. In addition to estimating duck populations, the survey also examines habitat conditions. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

1.7 Million Acres Accepted for CRP, Acre Totals Now at 26-Year Low

Pheasants Forever has grave concerns regarding continued massive habitat losses through weakening CRP

Washington, D.C. – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will accept 1.7 million acres offered under the 45th Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up, lowering Conservation Reserve Program total acreage to 26.9 million acres. Now at a 26-year program low, Pheasants Forever calls this depletion a modern low point for conservation, one which will have serious ramifications not only for wildlife, but for the nation’s soil and water quality as well. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife
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