Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

Hunter Nation Issues Statement on Wisconsin Wolf Hunt Court Decision

Hunter Nation released the following statement on a Dane County judge’s decision today to deny the organization’s request to join a lawsuit to protect the constitutional rights of Wisconsinites to hunt the gray wolf:

“Clearly, this was the plan of the Evers administration and Attorney General Kaul from the minute wolves were no longer under federal protection – follow the marching orders of the radical anti-hunting groups and trample the rights of Wisconsin hunters, farmers, pet owners, and families,” Hunter Nation President and CEO Luke Hilgemann said. “Hunter Nation will not sit by while the opponents of common sense predator management try to violate the constitutional rights of hunters in this state, and we are reviewing our options for how to best continue the fight.”

Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan DNR Confirms Recent Cougar Photo From Dickinson County

Wildlife biologists with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have confirmed a trail camera image showing a mountain lion walking through a semi-open area of firs and poplars was taken in September in Dickinson County.

“On Sept. 16, 2021, a trail camera photo was taken of a cougar in southern Dickinson County,” said Cody Norton, the DNR’s large carnivore specialist. “This is about 50 miles from where a July 20 video was captured in Baraga County.”

The photo recently gained news media attention after it was posted on social media.

The DNR’s team of biologists that investigates cougar reports had seen the photo but initially could not confirm the source or location where it was taken. The team was able to investigate the report after the owner of the photo saw a newspaper story about it and contacted the DNR.

This latest confirmation brings the total number of confirmed cougar reports to 74 in Michigan since 2008. This figure does not necessarily translate to the same number of cougars because a single animal may be included in more than one confirmed report. Read more

Wildlife

Boone and Crockett Club Welcomes Introduction of Bipartisan Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act

MISSOULA, Mont. (October 20, 2021) – The Boone and Crockett Club thanks Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI-3) and GT Thompson (R-PA-15) for yesterday’s introduction of legislation to authorize federal funding to address chronic wasting disease (CWD) more holistically. H.R. 5608 authorizes $35 million each to research and management efforts and requires 75% of the management funding be directed to state and tribal wildlife agencies. If enacted, the bill will lay the groundwork to provide additional resources to states and tribes to proactively address CWD outbreaks and to manage this always-fatal disease of deer, elk, and moose.

“Chronic wasting disease is a significant threat to many of our country’s native big game species, a challenge that affects both future hunting opportunity and the health of these ecologically important wildlife species,” commented James F. Arnold, president of the Boone and Crockett Club. “We appreciate the continued leadership of Congressmen Kind and Thompson for their efforts to find solutions to this growing challenge. The legislation that they introduced today will provide critical new funding to state wildlife agencies that are on the front lines battling CWD.” Read more

Wildlife

MDARD proposes Exterior Firewood Quarantine to protect Michigan trees and forests from invasive species

Public comment on the proposal due by November 19, 2021

LANSING, Mich. –- The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is proposing an Exterior Firewood Quarantine to prevent the introduction of unwanted plant pests and diseases into Michigan. Public comments on the proposal are due by Friday, November 19, 2021.

Over 140 pests and diseases can be moved by firewood, including Asian long-horned beetle, mountain pine beetle and spotted lanternfly. These pests are not known to exist in Michigan but could be accidently brought into the state by travelers transporting firewood.

“Harmful invasive species, some of which are invisible to the naked eye, can hide in or on firewood. While most cannot move too far on their own, these pests and diseases can be transported undetected on traveler’s firewood, starting new infestations in locations hundreds of miles away,” said Mike Philip, MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division Director. “These infestations can be devastating and pose a serious threat to Michigan’s agriculture, natural resources and the environment.” Read more

Wildlife

Veracruz: 1/3 Million Migrants Wednesday

Thousands of young Swainson’s Hawks are migrating past the Veracruz raptor counting site as they make their first flight from nesting areas in the western United States and southern-central Canada to northern Argentina (photo by Paul Konrad).
At times the sky becomes a “River of Raptors” above the Veracruz, Mexico count site.

Last Wednesday was a banner day for hawk and vulture migration above Veracruz, Mexico – we all should have been there – with 354,806 birds counted including 195,527 Broad-winged Hawks, 63,047 Swainson’s Hawks, and 66,891 Turkey Vultures among 11 different raptor species – all in 1 day! There is no doubt the Veracruz count site is the busiest in the Americas and the world, or that it lives up to its name of “River of Raptors!” During the following 2 days, raptor migration numbers remained high with totals of 146,240 Thursday and 135,157 Friday!

The birds that pass by the Veracruz count site originated from nesting ranges in North America and funnel inland between the Gulf Coast to the east and mountain ranges to the west. To view all the daily observations at the Veracruz count site, and to check out daily raptor counts see HawkCount

Of course, there are exciting raptor count sites located across the United States and southern Canada as impressive numbers and diversity of birds of prey continue to migrate south daily throughout October and into November. Consider visiting a raptor counting site this fall, and find one near you at HawkCount which is operated by Hawk Migration Association of North America.

 

Wildlife

Eastern Whooping Cranes Reach 81

Whooping Cranes will soon begin migrating south from Wisconsin to wintering sites as far south as Alabama and Florida (photo by Paul Konrad).

This year’s fall count of the introduced Eastern population of Whooping Cranes is currently estimated at 81, including 19 wild-hatched Whoopers. At the beginning of October at least 63 Whooping Cranes were still in Wisconsin, 1 (possibly 2) in Michigan, and 4 in Illinois, with other Whooping Cranes in the eastern population unconfirmed during the past month. This exciting project to reintroduce Whooping Cranes has been led by the International Crane Foundation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and a broad group of other agencies, groups, and individuals.

For more information about the introduced Eastern population of Whooping Cranes and other crane-related news from around the world, see Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – October 2021 – International Crane Foundation (savingcranes.org)

Wildlife

New World Record Migration Flight!

If you look closely, you can see the satellite transmitter and its antennae fitted on the back of the record-breaking Bar-tailed Godwit, photographed a few days ago in western Australia by Geoff White.
A migration map showing the 2020 and 2021 migration routes taken by the record-setting Bar-tailed Godwit (courtesy of Adrian Riegen and Audubon).

September 28th an adult male Bar-tailed Godwit completed a record-breaking flight as it touched down in New South Wales, Australia after a continuous migration of more than 8,100 miles that began in western Alaska. The godwit literally flapped its wings for 239 continuous hours to set the world record for the longest continuous flight recorded for any land bird! And the record-setting godwit isn’t done yet – in the next few days, the godwit that is fitted with a solar-powered satellite transmitter is expected to end its migration in New Zealand. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan: still time for timber harvesters, haulers to apply for federal COVID-19 assistance

Timber harvesters and haulers have until Friday, Oct. 15, to apply for a share of $200 million in federal aid for losses experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers program through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. For assistance, watch this recorded webinar on how to apply. Read more

Wildlife

Michigan: make safe firewood choices to protect the places you love

This October, support Firewood Month by choosing to buy firewood where you burn it to prevent the spread of tree pests and diseases. As natural resource managers across the state work to limit tree loss from oak wilt, hemlock woolly adelgid and other destructive invaders, you can do your part by making safe firewood choices.

Invasive species, those that are not native and cause harm to the environment, economy or human health, are often transported to new locations through human means. Most tree pests and diseases get to new destinations in contaminated plant material or infested wood products, including firewood.

According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, there are 140 pests and diseases that can be moved with firewood. Some are already present in Michigan, while others, including Asian longhorned beetle, beech leaf disease and spotted lanternfly, are infesting nearby states.

Recreational lands in Michigan are showing the effects of invasive tree pests and diseases. For example, P.J. Hoffmaster State Park has lost over 1,000 trees from oak wilt, transforming once-shady campsites and healthy wildlife areas into barren, open space. Read more
Wildlife

Michigan: drop boxes available 24/7 to submit deer heads for bovine TB testing

Successful hunters who want to get their deer checked for bovine tuberculosis have a convenient option if their nearest Michigan Department of Natural Resources deer check station is not yet open. Twelve drop boxes across the northeast Lower Peninsula are now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for hunters to submit deer heads for bovine TB testing. Locations include Alanson, Alpena, Atlanta, Cheboygan, Gaylord, Grayling, Hillman, Indian River, Mio, Rogers City, Roscommon and Vienna Corners. Several sites are possible thanks to the cooperation of local businesses.

When heading to a drop box, hunters need to bring along two things: a smartphone and the head of their deer. Hunters should remove the head from their deer before arriving at the drop box, taking care to make the cut at least 3 inches behind the deer’s jaw to ensure a proper sample for the lab. To reduce potential exposure to disease, the DNR recommends always wearing latex or rubber gloves when field-dressing your deer, especially when removing the head.

Once at the drop box, hunters can follow the posted instructions for using their smartphone to enter contact and harvest information through an online form.

Detailed drop box location information is available at Michigan.gov/DeerCheck. Successful hunter patches are not available at drop boxes.

Contact DNR Wildlife Health Specialist Emily Sewell at 231-340-1821 with any questions.

Hunting, Wildlife
1 … 91 92 93 94 95 … 359