Most recent case of epizootic hemorrhagic disease confirmed in St. Joseph County

A common viral deer disease has made a return to St. Joseph County after a three-year hiatus, with additional counties likely to follow. Over the past several weeks, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has received reports of over 120 probable cases of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, primarily from counties in the southwestern Lower Peninsula.

The DNR Wildlife Health Section and the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory recently confirmed the EHD virus in a free-ranging white-tailed deer from St. Joseph County. Several other counties are awaiting lab confirmation.

EHD is a viral, sometimes fatal disease found in wild ruminants such as white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk.

“Although early reports indicate 2024 could see a significant outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in pockets of Michigan’s deer population, this isn’t necessarily unusual,” said Chad Stewart, acting supervisor of the DNR Wildlife Division’s Sustainable Populations Section. Read more

The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) applauds the effort to restore desert bighorn sheep in the Lone Star State’s Franklin Mountains State Park.

Historically, desert bighorn sheep were native to Texas. With the settlement of the Trans-Pecos Region of Texas, native wild sheep populations declined rapidly, becoming extirpated by 1960. Through hard work and dedication, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the Texas Bighorn Society (TBS), private landowners, and dedicated sportsmen and women collaborated to restore desert bighorns to many historic mountain ranges.

“Recently, wild sheep populations in Texas have declined dramatically because of health-related die-offs associated with pathogen transmission from non-native aoudad,” explained Kevin Hurley, WSF’s VP for Conservation. “Franklin Mountains State Park is one area identified by TPWD and TBS that is free of aoudad, making it the perfect location to re-introduce desert bighorn sheep safely.” Read more

A male Black-throated Hummingbird is a rarely photographed but wide-spread western hummingbird (photo by Mason Maron).

Among the northern-nesting hummingbirds – Ruby-throats, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Caliope; even Anna’s and Allen’s Hummingbirds – the nesting season and post-fledging period is complete for 2024. Now there are probably 2 or 3 times as many hummingbirds of each species migrating south with recent fledglings bolstering populations. Certainly, now the center stage is our feeders and flower gardens as they provide food, shelter, water, and resting areas; and the importance of these resources can’t be underestimated.

The best part about fall hummingbird migration is that the dynamos are not in such a rush during late summer; not like they were during their spring migration to nesting areas. But that’s a good thing as the hummingbirds that stopover will likely spend additional time in our yards, neighborhoods, school campuses, business properties, and church yards, as long as they find what they need. Read more

Good news for elk, whitetail deer, black bears, small mammals, wild turkey, grouse, songbirds and many other species.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation allocated $893,336 that leveraged an additional $1,528,310 from partners for 14 habitat enhancement, land conservation and access, and research projects in Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

“Nearly 5,000 acres of wildlife habitat will be enhanced and more than 1,700 acres will be conserved including improved or expanded public access for hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities,” said RMEF Managing Director of Mission Operations Jenn Doherty.

Project List: Read more

With Vermont’s bear hunting season starting September 1, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reminds hunters that the sale of bear paws and internal organs of bears is prohibited by a new law.

“Vermont State Game Wardens have investigated cases where people from out of state have approached Vermont hunters to purchase bear paws and gallbladders which are valuable in Asian countries,” said Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Christopher Herrick. “Vermont was one of the few states that still allowed the sale of bear paws and gall bladders that are re-sold on the black market.” Read more

The pull of an airgun trigger, the thwap of a dart hitting the rump of an elk, and the barely-above-a-whisper call over the radio: “Dart is in” are all followed by a couple of minutes of quiet observation. One can feel a sense of anticipation from the silence of the assembled enforcement officers and wildlife biologists.

They watch as the elk ambles a few feet, looks back and licks at the dart in its backside a few times, and finally, starts to rock and sway as the immobilizing drug begins to take effect.

It goes down slowly, and then suddenly – and then, one last call over the radio that spurs a flurry of activity: “He’s down.”

The young bull elk that Fish and Game staff darted and relocated from a Boise neighborhood on the evening of Aug. 21 went about as quickly, efficiently, and safely as such an operation can go. Less than 30 minutes separated the deployment of the dart and the moment the elk stood again upright in a horse trailer, awaiting transportation to a release site far away from the bustling intersection of S. Federal Way and E. Bergeson St. near where it was found.

Looking solely at these 30 minutes on a warm August evening in Boise, one might come away with the impression that darting and relocating an animal in real life isn’t so different from the movies. But then, they wouldn’t be seeing the whole picture.

“This went as close to perfect as we could have hoped for, and that’s a testament to the professionalism of our staff,” said Regional Supervisor Josh Royse. “But they don’t all go like this, even when you play them perfectly.” Read more

The sow grizzly was captured in an area experiencing ongoing cattle depredations, prompting the relocation

After consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) relocated a 5-year-old female grizzly bear on Aug. 21, 2024.

Wildlife Services began trapping southeast of Henry’s Lake in an area that has experienced several confirmed cattle depredations due to grizzly bears over the past several weeks. A 257-pound female grizzly was captured on the night of Aug. 20 while visiting the site. Given the presence of other bears at the kill site, and having no prior history of cattle depredation, the decision was made to relocate this bear.

In cooperation with the USFWS and the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, the sow grizzly was immobilized, given a body condition and health assessment, fitted with a radio collar and relocated to a remote area in the Fish Creek drainage on Forest Service land approximately 12 miles from the City of Island Park. Read more

An angler was injured in a black bear attack on the Stillwater River near Beehive on the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 21.

The angler, an adult male, was fishing alone on the bank of the Stillwater River when he encountered a black bear. The bear swatted the man’s face and immediately left the incident site. The man sustained non-life-threatening injuries and did not seek medical attention.

The bear’s behavior was likely defensive in the surprise, close encounter. Due to the nature of this defensive encounter, there are no efforts to capture the bear at this time. Recreationists, including anglers, should be aware while in bear country, especially in areas with abundant natural foods such as fruit and berries and where hearing may be limited along rivers and streams. Read more

An adult male grizzly bear was euthanized last week after four livestock conflicts in the upper Blackfoot Valley over the past month.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife specialists reported that the conflicts began in mid-July east of Lincoln where the bear first killed a calf on leased private property. The first depredation was not discovered for a few days, so traps were not set. FWP worked with the landowner and other partners in the area to try to prevent more livestock depredations, however the bear remained and continued to pursue cattle.

Other depredations began the first week in August, with three calves killed in a five-day period. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service authorized removal of the bear and game cameras were set on one of the carcasses. The bear was shot and killed by U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services on Aug. 13.

FWP and USFWS specialists work to help landowners and communities avoid bear conflicts. If you see a bear or sign near your residence that may result in a conflict, call your local bear specialist at the contact number found on FWP’s website: fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear/contact. Read more