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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, June 6, 2012
Other News: S723
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.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Other News: S711
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RESULTS FOR POLL S710
Do you think Wisconsin should have a hunting season on sandhill cranes?
YES 55.6% | NO 44.4% | MAYBE 0% | UNDECIDED 0% | COMMENTS [1]
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Charge the same fee for resident and non-resident fishing licenses?
As in most states, fishing license options differ or Wisconsin residents and nonresidents. Nonresidents have more short-term license options, but are charged significantly higher fees than residents for comparable licenses. A resident annual fishing license, for example, is $20, while a comparable nonresident annual license is $50. Although higher license fees for nonresidents are a long-standing tradition, the reason why this is done is unclear. READ MORE HERE: | |||||||||||
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   When you LEAVE a COMMENT & YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS, you are entered into the drawing - for a ZipVac portable vacuum sealer starter kit, complete with a rechargeable pump, a hand-operated pump and reusable, resealable storage bags. Follow ZipVac on Twitter and subscribe to the ZipVac blog. | |||||||||||
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 THE EVENTS CALENDAR HAS BEEN MOVED DANSMALLOUTDOORS.COM/EVENTS•FISHING CONTESTS: Find them ALL online: @ American Fishing Contests | |||||||||||
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Leftover spring turkey permits available beginning week of March 19
The following zones have leftover permits, and the scheduled sales dates are as follows:
Customers may purchase one permit per day. Read more here: For more information contact:
Volunteers needed for 2012 sturgeon guard
While groups of male sturgeon battle it out for the opportunity to fertilize a female’s eggs, standing on the shore are groups of volunteers making sure the fish are not touched. It has been this way for nearly 30 years and will happen again in 2012. The Department of Natural Resources is looking for volunteers for the Sturgeon Guard. This elite group was created in the mid-1980s to make sure the fish, which slam themselves along the shoreline during spawning, aren’t illegally netted or speared. “Those working as members of the sturgeon guard are extremely important to the continued strength of the sturgeon population,” said warden supervisor Carl Mesman, DNR sturgeon camp coordinator, “Our volunteers are not only passionate about protecting the fish, but have become part of this incredible success story. Many come back year after year just to be a part of it.” Spawning usually takes place between a five and nine day period. Those who can be available day or night have the best chance of observing the spawning sturgeon. Guards should be prepared for any and all weather conditions and are encouraged to pair up with a friend or family member to keep them company during their 12-hour shifts. Anyone interested in volunteering should visit the DNR website and search for “sturgeon guard.” Read more .... FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
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• Jeff qualifies again for the USA Ice Team
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