|
| Missourians can receive fish from the Conservation Department to stock private ponds. Applications for the program are available at Conservation Department offices, from conservation agents and from most agricultural agencies. Or you can visit www.mdc.mo.gov/fish/stock/ and click on "Applications for fish" to download an application form. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
Hunters find the automated game checking system convenient, conservation agents find leads on poachers, and former check station operators are finding new ways to attract hunters.
JEFFERSON CITY-The 2006 spring turkey hunting season ushered in full implementation of Missouri's new electronic game checking system, a transition that officials say went smoothly and resulted in arrests of people who thought they could abuse the system.
The Missouri Department of Conservation first offered its Telecheck system as a voluntary option for some deer and turkey hunters in the fall of 2004. Telechecking was optional during the 2005 spring turkey season, which was the last time physical check stations were in operation.
Telecheck allows hunters to call an automated telephone system or check game through the Conservation Department's Web site. Those who have trouble with either method get personal help from live operators.
When Telechecking became mandatory for deer hunters last fall, 3.5 percent of hunters needed help. The number fell to 2.8 percent in this year's spring turkey season. Eighty-seven percent chose the telephone method, with 13 percent checking turkeys online.
Protection Division Chief Dennis Steward said deer and turkey checking information is incorporated into a searchable database immediately upon receipt, allowing conservation agents to use the information to enforce game laws. This technological boost enables agents to detect some types of violations instantaneously and gives them solid clues about others.
An example is the hunter who shot two turkeys on the same day, which is not legal. To cover his tracks, he had his wife buy a turkey hunting permit and check the second turkey under her name. But the short time between her permit purchase-also electronically processed-and the telecheck record alerted Conservation Agent Aaron Pondrom that something might be rotten in Pulaski County.
Conservation Agent Steve Zap found something fishy when scanning Telecheck records for Phelps County. A hunter had put off getting a landowner turkey hunting permit until after he shot a gobbler. That and the fact that he was not a qualified landowner got him a ticket.
One man shot a turkey before buying a permit. It was past 1 p.m.-the end of legal hunting time-when he got to a permit vendor to obtain a tag. He waited until around 4 p.m. that day to check the bird, which prompted Pettis County Conservation Agent Kevin Polley to pay him a visit.
Conservation agents around the state are looking into dozens of other cases based on Telecheck information. Steward said Telecheck is no substitute for person-to-person contact, but people who think the new system throws open the doors for poachers don't see the whole picture.
"Sure, there are ways to illegally manipulate this system," said Steward, "but that was true of the old system, too. A small percentage of people will always try to find ways around the law, and if everyone wanted to violate game laws, there is no way our agents could adequately enforce them. Game laws only work because a huge majority of people believe in them. Our job is to deal with the rest."
Steward also reminded people who might try to take advantage of the system that Missouri still has more than 160 conservation agents on the job, and they often get help from citizens through the Operation Game Thief hotline. People who see illegal activity can call toll free (800) 392-1111 and receive cash rewards of up to $500 for tips that lead to convictions. Unauthorized trespassing is one of the most frequent topics of OGT calls during turkey season.
With Telecheck in full effect, Missouri has left behind the era of in-person checking. You might think that the end of check stations would mean the end of social gatherings for deer and turkey hunters, but some businesses and communities are finding ways to salvage the check-station tradition.
An example is Medicine Creek Trading Company in Chillicothe. Owner Jim Swartz, a former check station operator, and David Mitchell of Custom Feathers sponsored a youth recognition program for hunters 15 and younger during the youth and regular turkey seasons. Successful young hunters brought photos of themselves with their turkeys to Medicine Creek, where the pictures went on display. Radio Station KCHI promoted the program heavily, and read the names of successful hunters on air. Youngsters who participated were entered in a drawing for two $50 gift certificates.
Swartz said the goal of the program was to replace check stations as a place where kids and first-time hunters could come to see one another's birds, tell stories and get recognition for their achievements.
"We gave a free mouth call to each of the kids who came in with a picture of their turkey," he said. "We didn't measure or weigh the birds or anything like that. We have been hunter education instructors, so safety is very important to us. We didn't want to do anything that might make it a competitive situation and make kids feel pressure when they were hunting. That can be dangerous."
He said more than 40 youngsters brought in turkey pictures. He is considering a similar program for deer season.
"Telecheck has created both challenges and opportunities," said Steward. "Agents and citizens are rising to the occasion and finding ways to adapt."
-Jim Low-
Bobwhite boosters nationwide will converge on the Crown Center July 26-30.
JEFFERSON CITY-"Flight to the Future" is the theme of Quail Unlimited's national conference, to be held in Kansas City July 26 through 30. The event, which draws hundreds of citizen quail conservationists from around the nation, will be headquartered in the Westin Crown Center.
The event will kick off July 26 with a tour of quail habitat partnerships with the Conservation Department and private landowners. Such cooperative efforts have earned the West Central Missouri QU chapter first place in a national habitat-restoration contest three years running. Participants also will get a comprehensive overview of quail biology, habitat and management.
The convention gets in full swing July 28. The next three days are a flurry of activity, with the State of the Quail Address, conservation seminars, prescribed fire and herbicide workshops and sessions on youth education, improving QU chapter success and many other topics. Those who attend the July 29 luncheon will get to bid in a live auction for shotguns, hunting clothing and other quail-hunting gear.
The convention runs concurrently with the Heartland Wildlife Expo, which will bring more than 200 outdoor vendors and exhibitors to the Crown Center Exhibit Hall. Included is the King of Bucks collection, the Warrior race car, dog-training seminars, hands-on activities for kids, wildlife biologists who will develop custom management plans for landowners and a drawing for a free all-terrain vehicle.
For more information, call (803) 637-5731, or visit www.qu.org/.
-Jim Low-
 |
| Missouri hunters checked 51,018 turkeys during the season April 24 through May 14. That is a 5 percent decrease from last year's harvest of 53,798 but still the seventh-largest in the 47-year history of Missouri's modern turkey season. Unfavorable weather for hunting and below-average reproduction for the past three years held down this year's harvest. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
This comprehensive guide includes more than 700 miles of foot, bicycle and equestrian trails on 136 conservation areas statewide.
JEFFERSON CITY-Do you avoid exercise because you find treadmills and stationary bicycles boring? Do you shun competitive sports because of the potential for injuries? If so, the Missouri Department of Conservation has a stimulating, healthy alternative: walking trails at conservation areas (CAs).
Although CAs are best known for hunting, fishing, birding and nature photography, they also have more than 700 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. With National Trails Day coming up June 3, now is a great time to discover these little-known recreational assets. The Conservation Department plans to release a new guide in June to help Missourians discover these hidden gems.
The American Hiking Society sponsors National Trails Day on the first Saturday in June each year. It encourages local hiking groups to organize events to introduce people to the health benefits and fun of leisurely strolls, brisk walks or marathon hikes. The Society's web site (www.americanhiking.org/events/ntd/events.html) lists events.
For those who want to strike out on their own, hiking trails at CAs are made to order. Two hundred-sixteen designated trails stretch hundreds of miles on 136 areas. These trails range from paved to primitive and from .1 miles to 22 miles. They traverse some of Missouri's most beautiful landscapes, including swamps and barren glades, deep forests and rolling, tall-grass prairies All are covered in the third edition of the Conservation Department's 102-page Conservation Trails book.
Conservation Department Trails Coordinator Teresa Kight said the revised book features more trails and has a comprehensive list of trails on CAs.
"Besides listing all the trails, it highlights popular trails on 40 areas," said Kight. "The featured areas include maps and details of what you can see along the trails."
The book groups trails by region, making it easy to find a hiking spot near home. A description of Missouri landscape types helps users anticipate what they will find in different regions, and a practical "Trail Tips, Tools and Rules" section helps novices get started.
The Conservation Department expects to release the book in June. It will be available from MDC Nature Shop, P.O. Box 180 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, phone (877) 521-8632 or by visiting www.mdcnatureshop.com to order online. The guidebook also will be available at conservation nature centers and regional service centers statewide.
Until Conservation Trails appears on shelves, you can use the Conservation Department's free online Conservation Atlas database to find hiking trails on CAs. Go to www.mdc.mo.gov/trails/. Choose the type of trail you are interested in, or search by county or conservation area name and the database will produce a list of hot links to brochures and maps of CAs with trails.
Once you discover the joys of hiking on CAs, you might want to take an interest in your favorite area by adopting a trail there. Maintaining more than 700 miles of trail is a big job, and the Conservation Department welcomes volunteer help. The Adopt-A-Trail Program lets trail users take an active role in conservation by monitoring, maintaining and enhancing trails and trailhead facilities.
Common trail maintenance tasks include clearing loose rocks, sticks and branches that accumulate on trail surfaces, cutting back limbs and brush, cleaning water bars and drainage ditches, clearing debris from bridges, stairs and viewing decks and picking up trash.
For more information about the Conservation Department's Adopt-A-Trail Program, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/trails/adopt.htm or write to Adopt-A-Trail Coordinator, Wildlife Division, MDC, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.
-Jim Low-
When bears get in trouble, it usually is because they were attracted by food.
FREDERICKTOWN, Mo.-Les Provow got quite a shock last April when he and his 10-year-old daughter approached a trough feeder for wildlife that he had placed in the edge of the woods behind his barnyard. Lying near the feeder was what he took to be a Black Angus calf. It turned out to be a large black bear that was taking a nap after cleaning out the trough. They retreated and reported the sighting to the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Larry Zauss of Poplar Bluff also had a surprising bear encounter. He was walking to his bowhunting spot in Shannon County last October when he spotted a bear ahead. The animal looked up when Zauss accidentally made some noise. Instead of fleeing, as most black bears would, it approached the hunter. Zauss shouted, but the bear merely circled and continued to approach. Again Zauss shouted, but the bear edged closer. At that point, the hunter said he felt threatened and shot the bear with an arrow. The animal fled, never to be seen again.
Jim Braithwait believes the ill-fated bear was the same one he and fellow wildlife damage biologist James Dixon trapped and relocated earlier last year. That bear got in the habit of visiting a rural Christian County home where the owners were feeding it. The idea of having a bear around became less appealing to the family when the animal entered their kitchen looking for more food.
Yet another bear encounter occurred Sept. 23 in Douglas County. Vincent A. Diamond of Cabool was bowhunting from a ground blind in the Mark Twain National Forest when a large black bear appeared. The bear approached his blind, so he tried to scare it away by shouting and shaking the blind. The bear put its nose in the air, apparently trying to identify the source of the commotion by smell, then approached to within a few feet of the blind. Fearing for his safety, Diamond shot and killed the bear.
At least two of these incidents had a common cause. The bear the Provows saw had cleaned out the sweet feed he kept in the trough feeder for deer. The Christian County bear had been fed deliberately. The third bear might have been investigating the smell of coffee in the hunter's blind.
"We have reports just about every year where bears come into conflict with people after eating from wildlife feeders or being fed deliberately," said Conservation Department Resource Scientist Dave Hamilton. "Sometimes it starts accidentally when a bear gets into a feed bin or a trash can. If they are allowed to have continued access to the human food source, they come to associate people with food and start to lose their natural fear of humans."
That often seals the animal's fate. Bears that are not afraid of humans eventually pay for their familiarity with their lives.
Hamilton estimates Missouri's bear population is somewhere between 300 and 500. Ninety percent are found south of I-44. They are most concentrated in two areas. One includes Barry, Christian, Douglas, Ozark Stone, Taney and counties. The other covers Carter, Dent, Oregon, Reynolds and Shannon counties.
Missouri owes at least some of its black bear population to Arkansas, where the Game and Fish Commission reintroduced the species in the 1950s. As that state's bear population has grown, a few bears, mostly young males, have moved out of the areas where they were born to find territories of their own. Some of those bears wind up in Missouri.
Hamilton said Missouri's black bear population is growing slowly. Missouri has few female bears now, but as the number of bears grows, they eventually will form a self-sustaining, breeding population.
Problems with bears are most common in spring and early summer. The animals are hungry when they emerge from winter dormancy, and food is scarce. They range widely in search of food at this time of year and are more likely to be attracted to livestock feed, bird feeders, bee hives, garbage and barbecue grills.
People in areas where bears are most common should keep pet food and other foodstuffs where bears can't reach them. Even bird feeders can be targets of bear foraging. If bears are known to frequent your area, it is a good idea to clean up seed residues beneath feeders and stop feeding birds during the summer. An alternative is to bring feeders inside at night.
It's also a good idea to keep pet and livestock food out of bears' reach. Feed dogs and cats indoors. If you must feed them outdoors, clean up spilled food and place food dishes inside after each meal. Store pet food in airtight containers in enclosed storage areas.
Other helpful tips include the following:
--Never intentionally feed bears.
--Clean outdoor grills after each use and store them indoors.
--Put garbage out the morning of collection.
--Double-bag garbage and pour half a cup of ammonia in trash bags.
--Don't place meat or sweet food scraps in your compost pile.
--Never cook, eat or store food in tents or sleeping areas when camping.
--Keep food locked inside vehicles when not in use while camping.
--If a bear enters your campsite, get inside your vehicle and stay there until the bear leaves.
Attacks by black bears (the only kind found in Missouri) are rare. Most occur because people get too close to them or their cubs. Sometimes this happens when bears smell human or pet food. Chance encounters can bring people and bears dangerously close, too.
To avoid surprises in areas inhabited by bears, whistle, talk loudly or make other noise to warn them of your approach. Black bears are naturally shy of humans and flee when they hear people approach. If you do encounter a bear in the wild and it has not seen you, leave the area quietly. Bears' vision is poor, so they sometimes have trouble identifying people. In such situations, they may stand on their hind legs and lift their noses high in the air. This is not a threat, but an attempt to use smell to identify an intruder.
If a bear is aware of your presence, do not climb a tree; black bears are excellent climbers. Do not turn your back or run. Instead, shout aggressively and back away. Throw rocks and do anything else you can to intimidate the bear until it is out of sight. Then leave the area the way you came.
If you see a bear cub, move slowly and calmly away from it. Watch for other cubs and avoid getting near them, which could trigger adult bears' protective instincts.
If attacked, fight back. Black bears have been driven away when people fought back with rocks, sticks, even bare hands.
Hamilton noted that bears are protected by the Wildlife Code of Missouri. People usually can scare bears away from campgrounds or homes by shouting or banging pots and pans. If these measures don't deter a bear, call your county conservation agent or the nearest Conservation Department office.
The Conservation Department has people trained to deal with bear problems of all kinds, said Hamilton.
-Jim Low-
Following in the footsteps of the Corps of Discovery allows modern explorers to rediscover natural Missouri.
JEFFERSON CITY-Like the Lewis and Clark expedition's voyage of discovery, Missouri's Lewis and Clark Journaling program now spans three years. This year participants can earn a new set of 10 enamel lapel pins by visiting every site on the prescribed list. And as before, there will be a drawing for a grand prize of outdoor equipment for those who visit all the sites.
The Conservation Department launched the program at the start of the Lewis and Clark bicentennial in 2004. It encourages participants to visit designated outdoor destinations and make entries in special journals, just as Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and other Corps of Discovery members did 200 years ago.
At each site, participants get in touch with the natural history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They also receive a lapel pin depicting a plant or animal Lewis and Clark saw on their expedition.
Those who visit all the sites designated for the program each year receive a distinctive completion pin and enter a drawing for a grand prize of outdoor equipment.
The adventure continues this year, but with nine outdoor education sites to visit. Sites and pins available at each are:
--Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center (CNC)-bur oak acorn;
--Cape Girardeau Conservation Campus Nature Center-beaver;
--Columbia Bottom Conservation Area (CA)-trumpeter swan;
--Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center-sycamore leaf;
--Lost Valley Hatchery-lake sturgeon;
--Powder Valley CNC-northern pike;
--Runge CNC-pale purple coneflower;
--Shepherd of the Conservation Center-softshell turtle;
--Springfield CNC-striped skunk.
This year's completion pin depicts the Corps of Discovery's keelboat.
The program runs from June 1 through May 31, 2007. To get started, visit one of the designated sites and ask for your Lewis and Clark Journal booklet. The booklet outlines day trips and activities that will help you get in touch with the Corps of Discovery's saga and has space for journal entries.
-Jim Low-
 |
| Free Fishing Days June 10 and 11 are the perfect time for people who have never fished to find out why more than a million Missourians go "angling" each year. The event allows Missouri residents and nonresidents alike to fish without a permit on public waters. The special weekend does not authorize trespassing without permission, and all other fishing regulations, such as length and creel limits, remain in effect. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
Combining these two outdoor activities is world-class fun.
JEFFERSON CITY-Dust off your fishing gear and your squirrel rifle and get ready for Memorial Day. The black bass fishing and squirrel hunting seasons both open May 27.
For Missourians who enjoy catching hard-fighting smallmouth bass or hunting for the main ingredient of fried squirrel, the Memorial Day weekend is a much-anticipated annual event. For those who fancy both activities it can create a quandary. The best solution is to do both, float-fishing their favorite stream while taking time out along the way to pursue bushytails.
Due to a quirk in the Missouri Wildlife Code, squirrel and black bass seasons used to open on the same day in some-but not all-years. The Conservation Commission eliminated that confusing situation years ago by setting the opening for both seasons on the fourth Saturday in May.
The term "black bass" includes largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. You can catch and keep black bass all year long in impoundments throughout the state, and you can catch black bass in streams statewide throughout the year. However, from March 1 through the Friday before the fourth Saturday in May, you can only keep black bass caught in streams if you are:
--north of the south bank of the Missouri River,
--in that portion of southeast Missouri south and east of Cape Girardeau following Highways 74 and 25, U.S. Highways 60, 67 and 160 and the west bank of the Little Black River to the Arkansas state line, or
--on the St. Francis River downstream from Wappapello Dam.
In the rest of the state-essentially the Ozarks-black-bass fishing is strictly catch-and-release from March 1 until the fourth Saturday in May.
In most of the state's waters, the daily creel limit on black bass is six, with a possession limit of 12. However, many areas are subject to special regulations regarding creel and length limits. These are outlined in the 2006 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations, which is available from fishing permit vendors.
Anglers need to be aware that this year's fishing regulation summary contains an error in the opening date for black bass season on Ozark streams. On page 8 of the guide, the season opener is listed as Sunday, May 28. The correct date is Saturday, May 27.
Squirrel hunting regulations are simple compared to black-bass fishing rules. Season dates and bag limits apply statewide. The season opens May 27 and runs through Feb. 15. The daily limit is six, and the possession limit is 12 fox and gray squirrels in the aggregate. This means you can bag any combination of fox and gray squirrels, so long as you do not exceed six squirrels in one day in total. If you bag a daily limit two days in a row, you have a possession limit of 12 squirrels. After that, you must eat or give away some squirrels before going hunting again in order to stay below the possession limit.
An abundance of stream accesses maintained by the Missouri Department of Conservation statewide makes it easy to combine float-fishing and squirrel hunting. It is important to remember, however, that a hunting permit does not give hunters the right to trespass on private property bordering streams. The best places for this dual sport are where streams run through conservation areas or national forest land.
To find such places, go to www.mdc.mo.gov/atlas/ and use the searchable Conservation Atlas database. A print version, Missouri's Conservation Atlas is available at Conservation Department nature centers and regional offices statewide. The price is $19 plus shipping and tax, where applicable. To order by mail, call toll-free (877) 521-8632, or write to The Nature Shop, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Or, visit www.mdcnatureshop.com/ and order online.
-Jim Low-
The Conservation and Highway departments are saving tax dollars while beautifying the state's highways.
JEFFERSON CITY-Motorists traveling I-35 from Bethany to Ridgeway have a decidedly prettier view today than they did a few years ago, thanks to a cooperative project involving the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). Where state lawn-mowing crews once maintained monotonous miles of fescue grass, the right-of-way now is cloaked with prairie wildlflowers and native grasses. In the long run, the change will be easier on taxpayers' wallets as well as their eyes.
The state kicked off the Roadside Conversion Project in 2003 with work to prepare seedbeds on nine stretches of highway. Planting began the next year, using a mixture of seeds from more than 50 native wildflowers and grasses. Funding for the work came from the Interstate Transportation Enhancment Act through MoDOT. The federal law prohibits states from using the money for highway construction.
The Conservation Department covered 20 percent of program costs with in-kind contributions, such as seed purchases, site evaluations and contractor management.
The earliest roadside conversion projects now are well established and producing wildflower displays that change with the seasons. Bright yellow coreopsis and black-eyed Susan come on in May and June, followed by gray-headed coneflower, purple coneflower, wild bergamot, partridge pea and pitcher sage in the summer and New England aster in September.
Besides looking pretty, the roadside conversions offer several practical advantages. Fescue grass requires periodic fertilization to thrive. Without such expensive maintenance, fescue stands are prone to invasion by tall, ugly annual plants such as sericea lespedeza and ragweed. These require frequent mowing to avoid traffic safety problems.
Conversions target such problem areas. The new mix of native grasses and wildflowers remain relatively short and are more stable than fescue plantings. Because they are adapted to surviving on their own in Missouri, they require no special care and grow stronger each year rather than declining. This keeps out undesirable plants and requires less mowing, which reduces taxpayer expense.
Conservation Department Prairie Wildlife Biologist Steve Clubine said the program offers other benefits as well.
"Using native plants for roadside conversion helps stimulate Missouri's growing native plant industry," said Clubine. "It increases biological diversity by recreating strips of native prairie with plants well suited to the challenging growing conditions found in roadside environments. These plantings are excellent for preventing erosion, which is good for water quality in our lakes and streams, and they are very popular with nature enthusiasts."
Highway sections where conversion projects already are in place include:
--I-35 from Bethany to the Ridgeway exit (planted in 2004);
--I-35 from Ridgeway to the Iowa State Line (2005)
--U.S. Highway 71 from the Vernon County line to Lamar (2004);
--U.S. Highway 54 from the Highway H exit south of Fulton to the Auxvasse exit north of Kingdom City (2004);
--I-55 from the Benton Exit to the Marston Exit north and south of Sikeston (2005)
--I-270 between Routes 30 and 21 (2005)
--Junction of I-70 and I-370 in St. Charles County (2005)
--I-255/I-55 interchange in St. Louis County (2005)
These plantings covered 80 miles of highway and 500 acres. More conversions are scheduled this year around Mexico, Kansas City and Lamar.
Clubine said local interest plays an important role in site selection for roadside conversions.
"We hope to have projects along rural and urban highways in every part of the state by the end of 2007," he said. "Some sites are chosen for their high visibility. There is a coordinated effort to draw attention to what is called the Prairie Passage Corridor along I-35 from Minnesota to Texas."
For more information about the Roadside Conversion Program and how your community can get involved, contact Steve Clubine by e-mail at Steve.Clubine@mdc.mo.gov or by phone at (660) 885-8179, ext. 241, or Stacy Armstrong at Stacy.Armstrong@modot.mo.gov or (573) 751-8647.
-Jim Low-
An EPA grant pays food, lodging and travel expenses for these June events.
JEFFERSON CITY-Middle school, junior high and high school teachers can earn college credit and receive hundreds of dollars worth of scientific equipment for attending a stream conservation workshop in June.
The Clean Stream Education Initiative is funded with a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The training is offered to teachers from throughout Missouri. Participating teachers will learn how to integrate Stream Team information into their science, math and social studies curricula.
The training, including food, lodging, travel, educational materials and instructional supplies, is free of charge. Participants also can receive reimbursement for related travel and lodging expenses. Upon completing the training, participants will receive more than $600 worth of scientific equipment for teaching in their classrooms. The training is aimed at helping teachers create local chapters of the Missouri Stream Team, train their students to use the Stream Team Activity Guide and conduct two activities on locally adopted streams.
Four hours of graduate credit are available for the three-day course through Lindenwood College. Teachers who complete all the required program activities receive reimbursement for half the cost ($120) of the four hours of college credit.
Training will take place at Cuivre River State Park the week of June 12 through 16. For more information or to register for the workshop, visit www.mostreamteam.org/pdfs/clean_stream.pdf, or contact Steve Johnson at moriver@coin.org or (573) 256-2602.
Other sponsors of the training include the Missouri departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Missouri River Communities Network and The Greenway Network, Inc.
-Jim Low-
 |
| John Horstman caught this Missouri state-record black crappie at a private lake in Callaway County April 21. The fish, which weighed 5 pounds, could also be an international record. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
Support for state wildlife action plans will help conserve all wildlife, prevent species from becoming endangered and benefit people, too.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-How do you save money on endangered species programs and ensure the future of all wildlife? Missouri’s Congressional delegation thinks the answer lies in adequate funding for the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program.
Ten Missouri federal lawmakers have signed letters urging their colleagues to support an $85 million appropriation for SWG funds in Fiscal Year 2007. They are Senators Christopher "Kit" Bond and Jim Talent and Representatives Todd Akin, Russ Carnahan, Emanuel Cleaver, William Lacy Clay, Jo Ann Emerson, Sam Graves, Kenny C. Hulsoff and Ike Skelton.
"The Conservation Department is lucky to have all-out support from our Missouri delegates for the State Wildlife Grants Program," said Conservation Commission Chairman Lowell Mohler. "Their support for this important and needed program is something for Missourians to be proud of."
SWGs have channeled more than $7.3 million into Missouri and more than $366 million into state wildlife programs nationwide since the program began in 2001. The money is used to help nongame wildlife species before they become endangered, avoiding costly restoration programs.
Last year states had to submit comprehensive wildlife management strategies to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to qualify for continued SWGs. State and national conservation organizations need increased funding to carry out goals set forth in those plans.
President George W. Bush has asked Congress for $75 million in SWG funding for FY ‘07. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) is seeking a FY 2007 appropriation of $85 million. This is the level urged in letters signed by Missouri’s Congressional delegation and more than 200 other federal legislators.
"With the completion of state wildlife action plans, our nation has a clear vision for conserving all wildlife for the first time in its history," said AFWA spokesman Naomi Edelson. "The next step is to provide adequate funding so those action plans don’t just sit on shelves."
Edelson said she expects the House Interior Appropriations Committee to develop a bill that includes SWG funding by June. The Senate version will follow, and a final bill is likely to go to President Bush by September. Until then, the amount provided for SWG funding will be uncertain.
According to Edelson, Missouri is one of the few states whose Congressional delegations are united in supporting an $85 million SWG appropriation.
"We still need a lot of help," she said. "Even though your delegation is fully in support of the $85 million funding level, there will be many times between now and September for people to demonstrate their resolve on this issue. Continued citizen support is critical to ensuring funding for state wildlife action plans."
Edelson said Missourians who favor increased federal wildlife funding should contact their U.S. senators and representatives and thank them for supporting an $85 million appropriation for SWGs. "That’s all they need to say. It is very important that people stay in touch with their congress persons."
Jim Low-
Nonstop rain may have helped hold down the number of gobblers killed during the first week of Missouri’s spring turkey season.
JEFFERSON CITY-Weather during the first weekend of Missouri’s spring turkey season was foul for the second year in a row, and for the second year in a row the first-week turkey harvest was down.
Hunters checked 24,748 turkeys April 24 through 30. That is down 1,238 or 5 percent from last year. The record first-week harvest occurred in 2004, when hunters checked 29,018 turkeys.
Top first-week turkey harvest counties were Callaway and Franklin with 476 each, Ste. Genevieve with 460 and Texas with 456. Regional harvest totals were: Central, 4,008; Northeast, 3,684, Southwest, 3,258; Ozark, 3,066; Kansas City, 3,061; Northwest, 2,940; Southeast, 2,629; St. Louis, 2,103. Juvenile male turkeys made up 20 percent of the first-week harvest.
Historically, the first week of the three-week season has accounted for approximately half of the total spring harvest. Hunters usually check 15 to 17 percent of the season total on opening day. This year’s opening-day harvest was 8,860. Based on these past trends, Conservation Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer said this year’s harvest could be between 46,000 and 52,000 birds.
Beringer predicted a below-average harvest before this year’s season opened. He made the same prediction last year based on the same factor-below-average turkey reproduction from 2003 through 2005.
Weather also might have held down both the 2005 and 2006 opening week turkey harvests. Hunters encountered hard frosts, high winds and heavy rain during the first weekend of the 2005 spring turkey season. This year rain fell almost nonstop over much of the state during the first weekend of the season.
Missouri’s spring turkey season opens on the Monday nearest to April 21 each year. The Monday opener limits the number of hunters who can be in the woods on opening day. By the time the first weekend of the season rolls around, thousands of hunters (almost 19,000 this year) already have killed turkeys and can not legally kill another gobbler until the following Monday.
This arrangement spreads out hunting pressure over the first week of the season. It improves the quality of hunting and reduces the chances of hunting accidents by making the woods less crowded. This year the Conservation Department recorded four nonfatal, firearms-related turkey hunting accidents during the first five days of the season and none during the first weekend.
-Jim Low-
Recent events point up the perils of adopting wildlife.
JEFFERSON CITY-It was a sad situation, and one in which Wildlife Damage Biologist Jim Braithwait wished he had not been involved. He had to destroy a young white-tailed deer that had attacked a human. Particularly sad was the fact that the deer would not have had to die had it been left where it belonged.
The chain of events that led to the deer’s death began when a Pulaski County man found a male fawn in the woods. Its mother was nowhere to be seen, so the man assumed-incorrectly-that the deer was an orphan. He took it home-illegally. His family hand-raised the deer, feeding it grain, apples and peanut butter.
The deer took up residence on the land near the family’s home and continued to come for hand feedings. Although it appeared tame, its wild nature remained just beneath the surface. The man had no idea he was exposing his two-year-old daughter to mortal danger each time he took her to feed their "pet" deer.
When fall came, the maturing deer’s wild nature reasserted itself. After feeding one evening, it wanted more treats. When the father didn’t produce the food, the deer attacked, rearing up on its hind legs and striking him repeatedly with its pointed hooves.
"It actually tore the shirt off him, and his daughter was right there,' said Braithwait. "Thankfully, it didn’t get her, but it scared them knowing what could have happened."
The family called in Braithwait, who explained that the deer would pose a danger to people if left to run wild. No zoo would want it, he said. The only solution was to put it down.
"That was rough," he said. "Even though they had raised the deer and loved watching it, they understood. It was a tough decision, but the right one."
Wildlife damage agents and conservation agents for the Missouri Department of Conservation deal with similar situations every year. Victims of well-intentioned wildlife adoptions range from birds and bunnies to raccoons and coyotes. All are adorable when young. But they also lack the docile dispositions and predictability of domesticated pets. Furthermore, they are subject to a host of parasites and diseases for which veterinarians have no treatments. Some can be deadly to humans.
Butler County Conservation Agent John Pratt said adopting wildlife almost always results from a misunderstanding of animal behavior. Human parents would not think of leaving their infants unattended in the woods, so finding a young animal alone sets off alarms. They do not stop to think that sumac thicket is as natural a place for a fawn as a crib is for a human baby.
"I have had to deal with this many times over the years," said Pratt. "Often the situations are very unpleasant. Many people think they are doing the right thing by taking in what they believe is an abandoned animal. I have caused adults to cry because I had to take away an animal they were in possession of."
That, said Pratt, is part of his job. Missouri’s Wildlife Code prohibits taking animals from the wild for pets. Doing so can get you a citation and a fine, but as the case of the Pulaski County deer illustrates, the consequences can be much worse.
It is no picnic for adopted animals, either.
"If you pick up a small animal, you probably are inadvertently causing its death," said Pratt. "A bird that has grown too large for its nest isn’t doomed if you leave it where it is. The parents are nearby, gathering food for it."
A Conservation Department study tracked the survival of fawns rehabilitated at an animal rescue center and later released at Duck Creek Conservation Area. All died within six months. The lesson is that fawns raised in captivity lack the skills needed to survive in the wild. Taking them in only delays their deaths.
If a child brings home a young animal, it is not too late to remedy the situation. Explain to the youngster that the baby’s parents miss it, and you need to take it home. Have them show you where they found the baby animal and put it back. They might even catch a glimpse of the adult returning to care for its young.
Retrievers sometimes learn to "hunt" cottontail rabbit nests and persist in bringing squirming, saliva-covered baby rabbits to their dismayed owners. Again, the solution is to return them to the nest. Accept your dog’s gift, then tell it to "Fetch!" and follow it back to the nest. Put the dog indoors, and then replace the bunny and cover the nest with material your dog may have nosed aside. Do not be surprised if the nest is empty the next time you check it. After such a traumatic experience, a mother rabbit usually will move her young to a different location.
"Nature has its own ways of dealing with these situations," said Pratt. "It’s not the human way, but it works."
Perhaps the hardest part of accepting nature’s ways is acknowledging the importance of death.
"It’s important to remember that many more animals are born each spring than could survive throughout the year. We wouldn’t want all the animals to survive, because we would be overrun with them. Nature provides a surplus of wildlife. The survival or death of one animal does very little to assure the survival of the species. It is sad to see an animal in trouble, but the best thing to do is leave them alone."
Jim Low-
Posthumous awards recognize lifetime conservation achievements.
JEFFERSON CITY-The Missouri Department of Conservation is accepting nominations for the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame. The deadline is June 15.
The program honors deceased citizen conservationists and former employees of the Conservation Department and other conservation-related agencies who made substantial contributions to fisheries, forestry and wildlife conservation efforts in Missouri.
Conservation commissioners and directors are not eligible for the award, since other avenues of recognition are available for them. Anyone can submit nominations, which must include a statement of the nominees’ accomplishments and a brief biography. Documentation of achievements is helpful.
A committee appointed by the Conservation Department director screens nominees. This committee consists of two current department employees, two retired department employees and the president of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. The committee meets twice a year and sends recommendations for hall of fame inductees to the Conservation Commission for approval. Some years there are none.
Captioned photographs of Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame members are on display at Runge Conservation Nature Center in Jefferson City.
For further information or to request nomination forms, write to Director, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.
-Jim Low-
Copyright ©2008 Conservation Commission of Missouri. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
