Birding Event in Ottawa County, Michigan
Migratory bird week May 5th through 12th with live raptors, planting for birds, birds of the dunes and more here for the complete schedule and details.
Category: Wildlife
Goldfinch
Owls Delay Destruction of Power Plant
Some wise great horned owls seem to understand their protection under the law, because they built their nest in a twin-boiler power structure that had been scheduled for demolition near Bullhead City, Arizona. Now it’s all up in the air. More here…
Poisoned Bald Eagles Recover
Following several days of treatment at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Nature Center in Helena, eagles that were suspected of being poisoned, were released into the wild. Find out where they went here…
MDNR Files Suit Against Hunting Facility
On Tuesday, April 10, 2012, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources filed a civil complaint against Ronald McKendrick and Charlene McKendrick, who own and operate the Renegade Ranch Hunting Preserve in Cheboygan County. The McKendricks are being sued for violations of Michigan’s Invasive Species Act, which outlaws certain types of swine.
The complaint, brought in Cheboygan County Circuit Court, asks the court to require the McKendricks to comply with the state’s Invasive Species Act and to remove prohibited swine from their property. Read more
75 Years of Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program Success
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — This year marks the 75th anniversary of the passage of the landmark Pittman-Robertson (also known as Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration) Act, which directs excise taxes collected on the sale of firearms and ammunition to be used exclusively by state wildlife agencies for improving wildlife populations, hunter education and public access to the outdoors. The benefits of this program to state agencies, sportsmen, sporting goods retailers and manufacturers and anyone who enjoys and appreciates wildlife and the outdoors have been abundant since its creation. Read more
Quotas for Michigan Elk and Bear Seasons
Michigan hunters will have more elk licenses available but fewer bear licenses, as the Natural Resources Commission set regulations for the upcoming seasons at its April 5 meeting in Lansing. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will make 200 elk licenses available, an increase of 45 from 2011. “We have more elk than we did last year, so we can offer more hunting opportunity while working toward our population goal,” said DNR deer and elk program leader Brent Rudolph. Read more
EPA Denies Latest Anti-Hunting Group Petition to Ban Traditional Ammunition
NEWTOWN, Conn. — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday denied yet another frivolous petition by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) — an established anti-hunting group — calling for a ban on the traditional ammunition (containing lead-core components) for hunting and shooting. Read more
Michigan’s New Elk Management Plan Approved
Michigan’s current elk herd is the result of a release of seven animals from “various city parks and public institutions” (Stephenson 1942) in 1918 about three miles southeast of Wolverine. The herd grew steadily with estimates of 300-400 in 1939 (Shapton 1940) and 900 to 1,000 in 1958 (Moran 1973).
…while no formal objective has been defined for bull-to-cow ratio in the Michigan herd, it is believed that about 60 bulls to 100 cows is most desirable. This is about twice as many bulls to 100 cows as are in many western herds.
A new Elk Management Plan was approved by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Rodney Stokes at the April 5 meeting of the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) in Lansing. The plan was developed to provide guidance for managing elk by focusing on three goals:
1) Manage for an elk population that can be sustained by available habitat;
2) Use hunting as the primary method to control the number of elk; their distribution so that difficulties involving elk interactions with people are abated; and the proportion of males to females in the population; and
3) Enhance the public’s understanding of elk management in Michigan.
The planning process began Read more
Oil Pays for Public Land Purchases
Money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund is being used to purchase public land. Congress uses mitigation fees paid by companies drilling for offshore oil and gas to finance the fund year to year, which is capped at $900 million annually. More here…
Norma USA Rolls Out Performance Ammunition
Norma USA, a subsidiary of the legendary Swedish manufacturer of superior hunting and target ammunition, is proud to introduce the new Norma USA American PH ammunition line and the availability of the long sought after Norma African PH within the United States. Read more