ThinkingAfield.org

DALLAS — Several weeks ago, DSC and DSC Foundation launched the Hunters CARE (COVID Anti-poaching Relief Effort) program. The purpose of the Hunters CARE program is to expeditiously deploy funds to on-the-ground anti-poaching efforts during these trying times.

The world has been immeasurably impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the conservation community has not been immune to its far-reaching consequences. As a result of hunt cancellations and postponements, hunting operators have been left with limited income to maintain their anti-poaching presence in their critical wildlife areas.

Corey Mason, DSC executive director, says, “Everyone recognizes the significant impact that COVID has had around the world from financial strain to loss of employment. The same is true across the African continent in which hunters’ dollars have not flown to Africa and they have not been there in the sense of employment as well. As unemployment has increased, so has the need for people to head to the bush to try to feed their family.”

DSC and DSC Foundation created the Hunters CARE program with the aim to quickly alleviate the fallout that COVID-19 has had on our important partners in the field. To date, the Hunters CARE program has helped secure over 16 million acres of habitat across seven different African countries and maintain the employment of more than 370 anti-poaching scouts. Read more

Michigan Department of Natural Resources forest health experts are getting reports of oak, aspen and maple trees losing leaves to gypsy moths in the southwestern and northeastern parts of the Lower Peninsula.

The gypsy moth is an invasive species that caused widespread defoliation in the state from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. This year, defoliation is likely to become visible within the next few weeks in localized outbreak areas and persist through mid-July.

“Gypsy moths are a nuisance but rarely kill trees,” said Scott Lint, forest health expert with the DNR’s Forest Resources Division.

Keep defoliated trees healthy by making sure they get water; avoid damaging tree roots and bark. Trees should begin to develop new leaves in July to replace those that were eaten.

Check out this update from Michigan State University Extension about gypsy moth caterpillars this season; additional resources are below.

For additional questions, contact Scott Lint at LintS@Michigan.gov.

BOZEMAN – As part of ongoing efforts required under the Endangered Species Act to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, the U.S. Geological Survey, in conjunction with Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, is working to inform the public that pre-baiting and scientific capture operations are once again about to begin within the Gravelly and Madison Ranges of Montana. Biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will begin work in southwest Montana beginning June 17th and will continue through July 17th. Capture operations can include a variety of activities, but all areas where work is being conducted will have primary access points marked with warning signs. It is critical that all members of the public heed these signs.

Monitoring of grizzly bear distribution and other activities are vital to ongoing recovery of grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem. In order to attract bears, biologists use natural food sources such as fresh road–killed deer and elk. Potential capture sites are baited with these natural foods and if indications are that grizzly bears are in the area, culvert traps or foot snares will be used to capture the bears. Once captured, bears are handled in accordance with strict safety and animal care protocols developed by the IGBST.

Whenever bear-capture activities are being conducted for scientific purposes, the area around the site will be posted with bright warning signs to inform the public of the activities occurring. These signs are posted along the major access points to the capture site. It is important that the public heed these signs and do not venture into an area that has been posted. For more information regarding grizzly bear capture efforts call the IGBST hotline at 406-994-6675. Information about the grizzly bear research and monitoring is available from the IGBST website: https://www.usgs.gov/science/interagency-grizzly-bear-study-team