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Could a disappearance of bees mean an eventual disappearance of hunting as we know it?
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The Question: "Could a disappearance of bees mean an eventual disappearance of hunting as we know it?"
WHAT do YOU think of this.
VOTE YOUR OPINION
photo c. Les Booth ©2013
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Could bee deaths be sounding the end of hunting as we know it?
NPR REPORT on the Crisis In Honeybee Deaths:
In all the conversation about crops, one area of interest,
specifically to hunters, has not been mentioned: food plots. Since food
plots are not large income generators they don’t show up on the typical
radar for impending disasters. But, food plots, natural or man-made,
are important to the health of the deer herd and many other life forms
in nature. Food plots also provide food, by adjacent provision to,
bacteria, insects, small animals, birds, etc., all the way up the food
chain.
All of the plants found in a food plot are pollinated by bees. Yes,
there are other insect and atmospheric (wind) contributors; and animals
walking though, do scatter pollen about. But bees are the primary
pollinator. Remove the bee from the pollination equation and you have no
food plot. Just that shockingly simple.
So what happens to the whole system, IF bees disappear? Scientists
have been telling us that everything is connected, in a systemic way;
everything connected to each other; nothing happens in any part of the
system, without the rest of the system also being affected. Thus, any
damage to the system is felt up the chain. The closer such a systemic
interruption occurs, to the base of the system, the greater its effects
are felt throughout the system.
If so, could a disappearance of bees, mean an eventual disappearance of hunting as we know it?
It is certainly worth thinking about.
Read more here |
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It's springtime and the turtles are out on the roads. WATCH FOR THEM
GIVE them a BREAK!
photo c. WDNR ©2013 |
Turtles, Roads, and the Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program
MADISON – Wisconsin motorists and others can join a new effort to
help reverse the decline in turtle populations by helping identify the
deadliest road crossings for turtles so that crossing safety measures
can be taken to help save turtles.
“Road mortality is a major factor in the decline of many of our
turtle species,” says Andrew Badje, a conservation biologist with the
Department of Natural Resources. “Slowing down when driving by rivers
and wetlands and reporting where you see dead or live turtles along the
road are ways citizens can help protect and conserve these animals in
the future.”
In Wisconsin, every year from mid-May to early July female turtles
leave their aquatic habitats for dry upland nesting grounds to deposit
their eggs. Many of these seasonal expeditions require treacherous
passages over roads more than once. As some wetlands dry up over the
course of the summer, turtles also cross roads in search of nearby
deeper-bodied wetlands to live.
“Too often, the turtles never make it to the other side,” Badje says.
While some motorists accidentally hit turtles, research has shown that
some motorists will actually swerve to hit and kill turtles.
Road mortality has a significant effect on turtle species such as
Blanding’s, painted, snapping, and wood turtles, Badje says. Other
reasons for the decline of turtle populations within Wisconsin include
habitat loss and fragmentation, illegal pet trade, egg predation,
disease, and slow reproductive rates.
“Road mortality is one thing we can reduce if we’re cautious and
alert for turtles crossing roads and highways, avoid them, and take the
extra step of letting DNR know where that turtle crossing was,” he says.
Motorists and other citizens can record road crossing observations online through the Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program website. They also can access turtle road crossing report forms online, print them, fill them out, and mail them in to the address on the form. (exit DNR).
Submitted data will be shared and distributed statewide with agencies
and organizations willing to make roadways safer for Wisconsin’s 11
turtle species. Projects include implementing wildlife friendly
underpasses and using a stencil to mark roadways where people need to
use caution and slow down so they don’t hit turtles.
Other steps motorists can take to save turtles include:
- Slow down when driving by rivers and wetlands in the spring, summer, and fall.
- Stop and help turtles cross roadways, only if it’s safe to do so.
- Carefully move turtles crossing roads to the side of the road in the direction they are moving.
- If assisting a snapping turtle, use a stick or an object for the
turtle to bite down on. Then handle its tail and gently guide the turtle
across the roadway, in the direction it was heading.
“Turtles are an important part of the food chain in lakes, rivers and
wetlands and people really enjoy seeing them in the wild,” Badje says.
“Citizens are the key to protecting and conserving Wisconsin’s turtles,
and we hope the Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Project can help more people get involved and help reverse the decline.”
Read more here:
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
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Gypsy moth spraying begins. Be AWARE - sign-up or call for spray dates.
photo c. WDNR ©2013 |
Gypsy moth aerial spraying to start soon
MADISON—Some Wisconsin residents will see and hear loud, low-flying
planes at around sunrise beginning in late May. Planes will be spraying
for gypsy moth caterpillars, an invasive and destructive pest that feeds
on the leaves of many species of trees and shrubs.
Stay updated
Spray dates and times are weather dependent. Sign up online to receive e-mail notifications
about spray plans at (exit DNR) People also can listen to a recorded
message about our spray plans by calling the toll-free Gypsy Moth
Information Line at 1-800-642-6684. Press menu option 1 for updates.
Spraying is expected to begin in southern Wisconsin in late May and
end in northern Wisconsin in July or August. View maps of the specific
spray areas online at (exit DNR).
Spraying will be completed by two programs:
- The Slow the Spread Program, conducted by the Department of
Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, focuses its efforts in
western Wisconsin where gypsy moth populations are low and emerging. The
objective is to slow the westward spread of gypsy moth. This year’s
Slow the Spread treatments are planned in the following 25 counties:
Barron, Bayfield, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dane, Douglas, Dunn, Eau
Claire, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, La Crosse, Lafayette, Monroe, Polk,
Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon and Washburn.
- The Suppression Program, conducted by the Department of Natural
Resources, serves eastern Wisconsin where gypsy moth is well
established. These areas are treated to reduce damage from currently
high populations of gypsy moth caterpillars. This is a voluntary program
that works with landowners and local governments. It has one gypsy moth
spray treatment planned this year: on the property of Governor Dodge
State Park in Iowa County.
Know what to expect
Spraying depends on favorable weather conditions—calm winds, no
precipitation and high humidity. Planes may start spraying as early as 5
a.m. The planes fly very low and loudly over treatment sites and
surrounding areas. Planes will remain in the area until the completion
of the day’s spray plans and as long as weather conditions remain
favorable. Spraying may last into the late morning or afternoon.
Spraying could occur any day of the week, including weekends.
Most sites will be sprayed with Foray, which contains Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk). Btk is a naturally-occurring soil bacteria that kills gypsy moth caterpillars when they ingest it.
Btk is not toxic to people, bees, pets or
other wild animals. However, some people with severe allergies may wish
to stay indoors during spray application or avoid areas to be sprayed on
the day that spraying occurs.
The formulation of this bacterial insecticide used by the state’s cooperative gypsy moth program is listed with the Organic Materials Review Institute as acceptable for use in certified organic food production.
DNR Suppression sites will receive one application of Btk, while some DATCP Slow the Spread sites in western Wisconsin will receive two applications of Btk, three to five days apart, weather permitting.
In areas with endangered species of butterflies and moths, a gypsy moth specific product called Gypchek will be used instead of Btk.
The Slow the Spread program also will spray a mating
disruptor to additional sites in western Wisconsin from mid-June to as
late as early August. The pheromone in the mating disruptor makes it
difficult for male moths to find female moths in low, isolated
populations, preventing reproduction.
For more information about the programs or gypsy moths, visit the website. Or, call the toll-free Gypsy Moth Line at 1-800-642-MOTH (1-800-642-6684) to hear a recording of the programs’ current spray plans or talk to staff.
Read more here:
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
- Colleen Robinson Klug, DNR - (608) 266-2172
- Jim Dick, DATCP communications director - (608) 224-5020
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