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VOL: 8 ISSUE: 816 - 20 APRIL 2013
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• You can be a conservation hero
• Wisconsin author follows in Gordon MacQuarrie’s footsteps
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To ENTER, log onto mercercc.com, click on Enter to Win, and look for the Dan Small Outdoors Radio Give.A.Way.
eMail: outdoorsradio@gmx.com
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 • Jeff finds a pile of shed antlers
• Dan strikes out on first-period turkey hunt
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RESULTS of POLL S815
Does the Spring Hearings vote on the crossbow issue clarify state sportsmen’s stand on this issue?
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Is Wisconsin DNR doing a good job managing Lake Michigan’s fishery?
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The Question: "Is Wisconsin DNR doing a good job managing Lake Michigan’s fishery?"
WHAT do YOU think of this.
VOTE YOUR OPINION
photo c. Jay Campbell ©2013
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Comments sought on Lake Michigan fisheries management plan update
MADISON – The state is revising its long-term fisheries management
plan for Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan waters and invites anglers and others
to provide ideas for future management goals and tasks.
“We’re starting another 10-year look forward and want to know if
people have advice for continuing some of the great fishing the current
plan has helped deliver, and advice on how to respond to the great
changes we’re seeing in the ecosystem,” says Bill Horns, Great Lakes
fisheries specialist for the Department of Natural Resources.
People who are interested in commenting can find the current plan, a
review of progress on implementing that plan, and information about
challenges to the ecosystem, on DNR’s website, by searching for the keyword, Lake Michigan Plan.
Comments can be sent to:
eMail: Bill Horns
sNailMail:
Bill Horns
FH/4, Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison WI, 53707-7921
DNR manages Lake Michigan fisheries in partnership with other state,
federal, and tribal agencies, and in consultation with the public,
particularly sport and commercial fishers. DNR’s “2003-2013 Lake
Michigan Integrated Fisheries Management Plan” set four main goals:
provide a diverse, balanced healthy ecosystem, a diverse, multi-species
sport fishery, a stable commercial fishery and science based management.
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. |
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MIKE TOTH
Field & Stream executive editor talks about the magazine’s Heroes of Conservation and Hero for a Day programs and details ten field days planned for this year, including one with the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation at Camp Hackett in Phillips, Wisconsin on April 27 ,
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KEVIN SEAROCK
Wisconsin author talks about his new book, Troutsmith: an Angler’s Tales and Travels, a collection of thoughtful essays on fishing, fly tying, and travel to great trout-fishing destinations
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FRED NICKEL
Director of parks, recreation and trails for Adams County, Wisconsin
reports walleyes are biting below the dams at Castle Rock and Petenwell
flowages and announces county ATV trails will open May 18
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MADISON OUTDOORS REPORT EXCLUSIVELY ON FM 100.5 ESPN, ESPNWISCONSIN.COM AND PODCASTS
RON BAREFIELD
McFarland, Wisconsin fishing guide reports
cold, high water has slowed fishing action, as ice comes off the
Madison chain. Area rivers are also high, making them unfishable and
dangerous. One bright spot is Lake Wisconsin, where small walleyes and
saugers are biting
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• FISHING CONTESTS: Find
them ALL online: @ American Fishing Contests
• RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY BANQUETS & EVENTS: ONLINE INFO:
• MILFORD HILLS ACTIVITIES & EVENTS: ONLINE INFO
• JSOnline: On The Trail w/ Paul Smith - Activities & Events: ONLINE INFO
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Use special care when driving this Spring, animals are on-the-move, and many of them are the new arrivals.
photo c. Dan Small Outdoors, LLC. ©2013 |
Born wild: Babies best left in nature
Animals’ parents most often hiding nearby: Drive with caution; use special care during animal rush hours of dusk and dawn
MADISON -- With the arrival of spring so, too, will be the arrival of
baby wildlife. Well-intentioned animal enthusiasts may mistakenly
assume some wildlife babies are abandoned and in need of their help
without realizing the babies’ mothers most likely are nearby and on the
job.
Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologists remind outdoor
enthusiasts that these wildlife babies are best left in their natural
homes and near their mothers, which are likely hiding from sight in an
effort to protect their babies.
“Wildlife animal mothers protect, conceal and feed their babies in
ways that may be easily misinterpreted by humans who want to help the
animal baby that appears vulnerable,” said Amanda Cyr , a DNR wildlife
biologist. “Unlike humans one way they protect their babies is to
conceal them and leave them hidden from predators under natural
vegetation.”
Cyr says the mother returns to feed the babies, but often under the
cover of darkness or brush. This is something humans may not understand
because it is so removed from what a human mother does. The
well-intended but uninformed person may attempt to rescue or feed a wild
animal baby because, in the human world, we perceive the baby as being
afraid, alone and abandoned.
“It often is not. Its mother is following natural behavior instincts
to help the babies survive and thrive,” Cyr said. “Human interventions,
while done with good intentions, instead can damage the health and
well-being of the baby animal.”
Cyr says 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. Too much human or domestic animal disturbance or
activity near a baby animal could also cause the mother to shy away from
the area. Especially keep a close watch on pets when they are outdoors
so they don’t disturb a nest of baby animals.
To help prevent a wild animal from making a nest in a building or too
close to human activity, place caps on chimneys, vents and window
wells, and seal up any unintended openings or hollows.
Born without body scents for a reason; fawn’s spots for survival
Some wild animals are born with little body scent. Their protection
from predators, Cyr says, is for them to remain motionless and concealed
within the environment.
“Their mothers are keeping watch from afar,” Cyr said. “The mother
returns a couple of times each day to quickly feed the babies. After
feeding, the mother will quickly hide them again from the predators.”
Cyr says this is the natural behavior of white-tailed deer and fawns.
“Fawns have little scent to attract a predator and their spots help
them blend in to the environment,” she says. “They move very little in
their first weeks while they are alone in a place the mother selected.
If you see a fawn lying on the ground by itself, you should leave the
fawn where it is and not disrupt the area.”
Baby rabbits also are usually alone in their nest during the day when
the mother is not there. The baby rabbit’s best protection from
predators is to remain in their nest which is concealed with grass or
vegetation.
“The mother will come back to the nest a couple times each day to feed the babies,” Cyr said.
Don’t touch but call for help;drive with care during animal rush hours
If you find a baby wild animal, Cyr says the best policy is to leave
them alone. “A good option to really help the animal is to call the DNR Call Center (1-888-936-7463, 1-888-WDNRINFo). We can evaluate the situation and determine if you should be connected with a wildlife rehabilitator in your area.”
To get the name of a wildlife rehabilitator in your area, you can
contact the WDNR’s Call Center (1-888-WDNRINFo / 936-7463) or Bureau of
Wildlife Management (608-266-8204), or search for "wildlife
rehabilitator directory" on the DNR website.
“Animals tend to be on the move during specific times during the day
and the hours around dusk and dawn are especially busy,” Cyr said. When
driving in more rural or woods areas slow down and watch for animals on
the move. Just like humans, animals start getting more active when the
weather makes a transition into the warmer temperatures.
What is the law on assisting wildlife?
State and federal laws prohibit the possession of live native wild
animals without a license or permit from the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A permit from
the USFWS is required to possess all native birds protected under the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act. A few species are allowed to be possessed
without a license, but the take of these species must be from a legal
source.
If it is absolutely necessary to help a young animal that is injured
or its mother has been killed, a person may legally have the animal in
their possession for up to 24 hours for the purpose of transporting the
animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
People can learn more about assisting wildlife by searching the DNR website for orphaned wildlife.
Read more here:
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
- Mandy Cyr - (715) 359-5508
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Trappers
who wish to be licensed for the 2013 season; at least 10 years old and
never having held a trapping license; education courses are under way,
statewide.
photo c. WDNR ©2013 |
Want to trap in fall? Take required safety course now
More than 2,000 finished course in 2012 thanks to expert instructors
MADISON -- Trapper education courses are under way statewide and open
for those needing this required training before doing any trapping this
fall, a Department of Natural Resources furbearer ecologist says.
“These courses are popular and can fill up quickly,” said Geriann
Albers, DNR assistant furbearer ecologist. “The courses are led by
volunteer instructors who are experts in trapping. However, not all
counties have the trapper courses so it’s best to find the course in the
county closest to you and sign up now.”
Albers says the course is required for those who have not previously
held a trapping license and are not actively engaged in farming. She
also recommends students be at least 10 years old.
Just more than 2,000 completed the trapper education course in 2012.
“The credit for that graduation rate goes to our many dedicated
volunteer instructors and education coordinators from the Wisconsin
Trappers Association who put in countless hours to keep this program
top-notch,” Albers says. This course includes strong attention on
trapper ethics and trapper responsibility besides the important basics
of rules and regulations, traps and trap setting, history of furbearer
management and biology of furbearers.
Wisconsin’s trappers, can participate in regulated trapping seasons
in other states with the exception of Minnesota, Michigan, Hawaii and
Washington, D.C. Oftentimes trapper education is a requirement and our
Wisconsin course is recognized and accepted by others.
The trapper education course cost is $12 and pre-registration is
required. To learn more about this course and where the courses are
taught, search the DNR website for trapper ed.
Read more here.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact:
- Geriann Albers, Assistant Furbearer Ecologist - (608) 261-6452
- Jenny Pelej, public affairs manager, Bureau of Wildlife Management - () -
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