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 Ruffed grouse numbers entering downside of population cycle
Ruffed grouse populations are known to boom and bust over a nine- to 11-year cycle, according to Brian Dhuey, wildlife surveys coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources. The index that Wisconsin uses to track ruffed grouse decreased 25 percent between 2011 and 2012. “While this is a bit of bad news for grouse hunters, it should not be too big of a surprise,” Dhuey said. “We were overdue for the expected downturn.” A roadside survey to monitor the number of breeding grouse has been conducted by staff from the DNR and U.S. Forest Service, tribal employees, and numerous grouse enthusiasts and volunteers since 1964. Surveyors begin 30 minutes before sun rise and drive along established routes, making 10 stops at assigned points and listening for four minutes for the distinctive “thump, thump, thump” drumming sounds made by male grouse. Results from this survey have helped DNR biologists monitor the cyclic population dynamics of ruffed grouse in the state. “Spring arrived early in Wisconsin in 2012, and conditions for the survey were rated ‘excellent’ on 60 percent of the routes. This was about the same as last year’s 62 percent and above the long-term average,” Dhuey said. The number of drums heard per stop was down 25 percent in 2012 from the previous year. Both of the primary regions for grouse in the state, the central and northern forest areas, showed declines of 21 and 26 percent respectively. The only area to show an increase was the southeast, where grouse exist in only isolated areas of suitable young forest habitat and are not common. The number of routes that showed a decline in the number of drums heard outpaced those that showed an increase by better than 2:1 margin. Results from the survey matched declines seen on two research areas, with the Sandhill Wildlife Area showing a decline of 11 percent and the Stone Lake Experimental Area showing a decline of 18 percent. Complete survey results can be found on the DNR website (search Wildlife Reports). “This drop in breeding grouse was not unexpected, as grouse populations tend to be at their peak in years ending in a 9 or 0 in Wisconsin. Last year we had an increase in grouse and were probably at the cyclic peak, a decline was inevitable,” Dhuey said. “Early weather conditions are excellent for nesting and brood rearing, if we can stay normal or above for temperatures and have a bit of dry weather, we should have a pretty good brood year. I would expect that hunters will see a decline in the number of birds they see afield this fall, but areas of good cover should still hold birds. In years with low grouse numbers, hunters who find success are generally those willing to explore new coverts, as grouse will tend to occupy only the best habitat available and may not be found in the same areas where hunters found them in recent years,” he said. For more information search for ruffed grouse hunting on the DNR website. Read more here: For more information:
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
Other News: S724
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Other News: S723
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Grant boosts investigations into why bass are booming, walleye waning in some lakes
A consortium of researchers and fisheries biologists from the University of Wisconsin’s Madison and Stevens Point campuses and the Department of Natural Resources have received a $760,000 federal grant over five years to help investigate the shifting fish populations and tease out the most likely reasons behind the shift. Apple River Flowage largemouth “We’re excited to have a large-scale, collaborative research project underway to tackle our key questions and help inform our management decisions,” says Jon Hansen, one of the DNR fish biologists involved in the study and leader of DNR’s bass committee. “The issue is very complicated, and identifying the causes of these changes requires various approaches and the expertise that the different partners bring to the table.” Says Steve Carpenter, a UW-Madison limnologist and a principal investigator in the study, “At this point, we have nothing but hypotheses. Now we can get to work on gathering real information and figuring out which of the many hypotheses might be right.” The grant is funded by the U.S. Geological Survey and will be led at UW-Madison by Carpenter, at Stevens Point by Dan Isermann, and at the DNR by a team of DNR Bureau of Science Services researchers and Fisheries Management biologists. The work will build on, and draw data from, ongoing state efforts to adjust bass and walleye fishing regulations and attempt to determine how much anglers affect these populations. Bass are the fish Wisconsin anglers reported releasing most often in a 2006-07 statewide mail survey, with only 5.4 percent of bass harvested, while 30 percent of all walleye were harvested. “These traditional approaches (changing regulations and collecting data) are important to do, but if that is all we did, we’ve never be able to figure out what this is happening,” says John Lyons, the DNR fisheries researcher who assembled the collaborative research team. “We’d still be speculating. What this study will do is not necessarily provide the solution, but it will narrow down the explanations from 10 plausible reasons to two or three that are highly plausible, and which of our management tools could work.” Read more here: For more information:
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Wednesday, May 9, 2012
DSORe Other News
Baiting and feeding banned in Polk, Burnett, Washburn and Barron counties
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| Baiting and feeding white-tailed deer in Barron, Burnett, Polk and Washburn counties is BANNED, effective May 10. photo WDNR ©2012 |
MADISON – A ban on baiting and feeding white-tailed deer in Barron, Burnett, Polk and Washburn counties went into effect on May 10.
The Department of Natural Resources took the action, in accordance with existing state law, due to the discovery on private land in Washburn County of a wild white-tailed deer that tested positive for chronic wasting disease. Both state and federal veterinary laboratories confirmed the finding. Later DNA testing confirmed that the deer is from the area.
Barron, Burnett and Polk counties are within a 10-mile radius of the location of the Washburn County property on which this CWD-positive deer was found. State law requires that counties or portions of counties within a 10-mile radius of a game farm or free-ranging CWD-positive are included in the baiting and feeding prohibition. With the addition of these four counties, baiting and feeding of deer is banned in 32 Wisconsin counties.
“While we lament this news, we welcome the positive response we’ve heard from area deer hunters,” said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. “We held an informational meeting with local citizens and nearly 200 showed up and stayed for hours asking good questions of our wildlife, law enforcement and wildlife health staff. In the end, my executive assistant Scott Gunderson asked the crowd how they felt about an immediate baiting and feeding ban and it was overwhelmingly supported.”
No changes are planned for the 2012 deer hunting season rules in the affected counties other than the ban on baiting and feeding, said Tom Hauge, director of the DNR Bureau of Wildlife Management. Hunters will be asked to provide tissue samples from deer killed within a 10-mile radius of the CWD positive doe for further surveillance testing. Samples will also be collected from road kills and possibly taxidermists and meat processors. Details of the sampling and testing program will be shared widely in subsequent news releases and on the DNR website - keyword CWD - as the details are finalized.
“Baiting and feeding of deer unnecessarily increases the risk of spreading CWD and other diseases,” Hauge said. “Animal health is important to preserving our great hunting tradition and is a foundation of tourism and vital to local businesses.”
Baiting and feeding increase risks of spreading communicable diseases, like CWD, by concentrating deer in one spot. Deer using one spot are more at risk for spreading a disease.
Individuals can still feed birds and small mammals provided the feeding devices are at a sufficient height or design to prevent access by deer and the feeding device is within 50 yards of a human dwelling. This ban does not affect the use of bait for hunting bear or training bear dogs.
Learn more about CWD or go to the DNR website and search “CWD.”
Read more here:
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
- Mike Zeckmeister, DNR northern region wildlife supervisor – 715-635-4090
- Dave Zebro, DNR northern region law enforcement leader– 715-635-4093
- Bob Manwell, DNR Office of Communications – 608-264-9248
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
DSORe Other News
New videos show steps anglers, boaters take to avoid spreading aquatic invasive species
MADISON – Two new public service announcements show boaters, anglers and other water users the four easy steps to take to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and the fish disease VHS. The animated 30-second spot “Sneaky Critters” and “Talking Sign” are now available on DNR's YouTube channel "invasive species" (exit DNR) playlist and ready to be shared, says Deborah Seiler, outreach coordinator for Department of Natural Resources and UW-Extension aquatic invasive species efforts. "We hope these new PSAs do get spread around," Seiler says. "We encourage anyone or any group that’s interested in AIS prevention to share the videos and embed them on your blog or website." The video public service announcements remind water users to:
Seiler says that the more people can remind fellow boaters and anglers to take steps to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and VHS fish disease, the healthier Wisconsin lakes, fish and local economies will be. Read more here: FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
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Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Other News: S717
Born wild: Animal babies best left in nature
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| The well-intended person may attempt to rescue or to feed a wild animal baby because, in the human world, we perceive the baby as being afraid, alone and abandoned. It usually is not. photo WDNR ©2012 |
Like their human counterparts, wild animal mothers share the dedication to protect, to feed and to care for their babies. But state wildlife officials say people should know that wild animal mothers do this in different ways.
“Unlike humans, one way an animal mom protects her baby is to conceal it and leave it hidden from predators under natural vegetation,” said Amanda Cyr, a wildlife biologist with the Department of Natural Resources
The mother returns to feed the babies, but often under the cover of darkness or brush, Cyr said, adding this is something people may not understand because it is so removed from what a human mother does.
“The well-intended person may attempt to rescue or to feed a wild animal baby because, in the human world, we perceive the baby as being afraid, alone and abandoned,” Cyr said. “It usually is not. Its mother is following natural behavior instincts to help the babies survive and thrive. Human interventions, while done with good intentions, instead can damage the health and well-being of the baby animal.”
Too much human or domestic animal disturbance or activity near a baby animal also could cause the mother to shy away from the area. She also advises to keep a close watch on pets so they don’t disturb a nest of baby animals. To prevent a wild animal from making a nest near your home or in the chimney, vent, window well, Cyr suggesting placing caps or covers on those areas. “Seal any unintended opening or hollow,” she said.
Cyr also warns feeding a wild animal with human foods can cause more damage to the wild animal because their digestive systems are different. Wild animals require different foods and nutrient levels that cannot be met with human diets.
Read more here:
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
- Amanda Cyr - DNR Wildlife Biologist – (715) 359-5508
- Joanne Haus - (206) 267-0798
Thursday, March 29, 2012
DSORe Other News S713
Sturgeon Spawning In Full Swing on the Wolf River
The annual spring sturgeon spawning run is on in the Wolf River. DNR fisheries biologist Ron Bruch issues daily reports on the progress of the run and on DNR tagging activity. Here’s a sample report from Tuesday, March 27: We found more sturgeon on spawning sites to tag today despite the cold weather ................ Read more here: Ron Bruch's Blog, Winnebago Lake Sturgeon For more information contact:
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Friday, March 23, 2012
DSORe eNews S712
This week we make a change here on Dan Small Outdoors @ WordPress.com. We are changing the format of this blog. We will no longer post the eNewsletter for Dan's Radio show here.
This week we make a change here on DSO Radio @ Blogspot.com. We are changing the format of this blog.
We will no longer post the eNewsletter for Dan's Radio show here. Instead, we will now post a graphic (seen right) with a link to the eNewsletter online. Additionally, we will include a more in-depth coverage on an interesting topic found-in or related-to the current weeks Radio eNewsletter.
With this new venue, we hope to build a broader audience enjoying Dan's unique view-point on Wisconsin's great outdoors.
Thank you for reading. Please pass the link to this page and Dan's other online locations (found on the Landing Page ). As always we truly appreciate your feedback. Let us know how you like the over web presence, this blog, the eNewsletter, the Outdoors Radio show and more. We look forward to providing you more information, good tips, interesting read and up-to-the-moment news of Wisconsin's Great Outdoors.
- Ed.
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