Family-Outdoors

Stream (Photo credit: audreyjm529 ) Decorah – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has temporarily suspended its regular trout stocking on five streams due to stream temperatures ranging between 70 degrees and the low 80s. The DNR is temporarily not stocking trout at Bohemian Creek, in Winneshiek County, Turtle Creek and Spring Creek, in Mitchell County, Twin Bridges, in Delaware County, and Upper Swiss Valley, in Dubuque County. Streams will be evaluated weekly to determine if the suspension will be lifted. “We need to have either the weather cool off or get some precipitation to increase stream flows which should help stream temperatures to decrease,” said Brian Malaise, hatchery manager at the Decorah trout hatchery. The fish coming from the trout hatcheries are in 50 to 56 degree water. “The trout stocked earlier in the year in those streams have become acclimated to the warmer water and can find springs with cooler temperatures, but trout being taken...

 Map of Lake Michigan. Category:Michigan maps (Photo credit: Wikipedia) MILWAUKEE – Another round of public meetings is set for August 7 in Green Bay and for August 9 in Milwaukee to discuss the results from online surveys conducted in April on potential stocking reductions in Lake Michigan that scientists say are necessary to balance game fish with the available food source. In addition, tentative information concerning the details of the reductions will also be discussed. The meetings will both begin at 6:30 p.m. and be held: August 7, Green Bay – DNR Northeast Region Headquarters , 2984 Shawano Ave. August 9, Milwaukee –WATER Institute, 600 E. Greenfield Ave. "We want to go over the results from an online survey that anglers were asked to complete gauging their preferred option for salmon and trout reductions and discuss tentative details of how each state will implement those reductions slated to start in 2013." says Brad Eggold, the Department of Na...

Fruits of the hunt! (Photo credit: Wikipedia) More hunting opportunities meant more pheasants taken during the 2011 season, as last fall’s pheasant harvest was 683,000, up from 552,000 in 2010. Aaron Robinson, upland bird biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said the overall landscape probably didn’t have more birds, but Mother Nature allowed for an increase in harvest due to mild weather conditions and minimal snow cover in November, December and early January. “This is a prime example of how the harvest doesn’t necessarily reflect the overall population,” Robinson said. “We actually had lower production in 2011 than in 2010, but hunter effort made up the difference due to last winter’s exceptionally mild weather conditions.” Statistics actually revealed the number of hunters declined 10 percent to 82,700. The number of resident hunters was down 5 percent to 58,200, while nonresident pheasant hunter numbers decreased 20 percent to 24...

Oberlin College student, Joshua Morse, holding a jumbo Lake Erie rainbow smelt. These commonly occur in the eastern Great Lakes basin and are a focal forage fish species identified as part of the study on climate change impacts to the Great Lakes aquatic food web. Photo by USGS. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake was identifed as a priority terrestrial wildlife species that may be especially vulnerable to impacts of climate change. Photo by Ohio Biodiversity Conservation Partnership. Natural resource managers today are presented with unprecedented challenges that threaten the continued protection, conservation and management of land, water and wildlife, from impacts of climate change to habitat fragmentation and invasive species. In 2012, the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC), part of a network of science-driven partnerships aimed at addressing these large sca...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) North Dakota Game and Fish Department biologists recently completed the 2012 pronghorn population survey, which revealed the statewide population is 20 percent lower than last year. Therefore, the Game and Fish Department is recommending the pronghorn hunting season remain closed in 2012. Bruce Stillings, big game supervisor in Dickinson, said the statewide population estimate has dropped to approximately 3,600 pronghorn. “Pronghorn in all four management regions decreased in numbers from last year and are well below population objectives,” he said. According to Stillings, three severe winters from 2008-10, and virtually no fawn recruitment during 2009-11, left an aging population with few prime-aged breeding females. “The result was another poor fawn crop, but there were signs of recruitment with more yearlings being observed this year,” he added. The recent scenario is similar to the large-scale pronghorn decline in the late 19...

Lake Oahe (Photo credit: Wikipedia) PIERRE, S.D. – Lake Oahe has a national reputation for some of the finest fishing in the country, but the past several months have been exceptional even by standards set by the popular Missouri River reservoir. Boat ramps and fish-cleaning stations along the central South Dakota lake have been very busy with anglers enjoying a walleye bite that began last year, continued through record flooding, and is still going strong. Some anglers are wondering what changed on the big lake. “We currently have a lot of 13- to 16- inch fish in Lake Oahe that were produced since water levels rose at the end of the drought in 2008,” said Mark Fincel, senior fisheries biologist for the Game, Fish and Parks Department. “Fish over 20 inches were common in angler catches this spring, but as the water has warmed, the young fish are now dominating the catch.” Fincel said providing answers to angler’s questions about how the fishery in Lake Oahe is f...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia) The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is considering presenting a proposal to the 2013 legislature which would change Iowa code related to re-defining the definition of bait and to limit an angler when trolling and bait casting to one hook on each of the trolling spoons or artificial baits when used on one line.  The proposal to re-define the definition of bait would specifically identify what types of bait an angler may use.  Included in this definition is a clear recognition of what live fish may be used as bait.  The proposed definition will continue to allow anglers to use the baits that are now most commonly used.  However, according to the proposed definition an angler would no longer be allow to use any fish for bait that is caught on a hook and line. Inconsistency was found in Iowa code language in determining the legality of the Alabama rig, also known as an Umbrella rig.  The proposal to limit an ang...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia) The State Game and Fish Department is considering an option to increase the daily limit for the early Canada goose season from eight to 15, following recent action by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regulations Committee. The service regulations committee is allowing an increase in the bag limit from last year in response to recommendations from North Dakota and South Dakota to allow greater harvest on resident Canada geese. “A daily limit of 15 would give hunters an opportunity to take more birds when they are available,” said Randy Kreil, wildlife division chief for the Game and Fish Department. “We are looking at every option we can to increase hunter harvest of our resident Canada goose population.” Game and Fish first held an early Canada goose season in 1999. Since then, the open area and season length have expanded. In 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service authorized states to expand their resident goose management se...

Wildlife managers put out the welcome mat at a dozen wildlife areas MADISON -- Migratory birds are returning to Wisconsin from their Arctic summer homes for a good mud bath and a few good meals -- courtesy of state wildlife biologists and partners -- before taking to the skies again. A red knot is a shore bird that is rare in Wisconsin, but some lucky birder just may see it. Ryan Brady Photo Their stopover in the Badger state is critical for the birds – some of which will fly thousands of miles before they’re done -- and a great opportunity for birders, state wildlife officials say. “Arctic/boreal nesting shorebirds are starting to wing their way south and will be stopping over in Wisconsin in the next six weeks,” says Andy Paulios, wildlife biologist. “It’s a good birding opportunity and a good opportunity for birders to give back. “We need people to report what they see and we encourage birders to buy a waterfowl habitat stamp to help pay for continuing import...

An osprey keeps a close eye as Kevin, staff member from Clearlink Wireless Solutions, removes chicks from the nest to be banded. Nearly wiped out in southern Michigan at one time, osprey ( Pandion haliaetus ) are now recovering within the state due in large part to the concentrated efforts of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Huron Clinton Metroparks, Detroit Zoological Society (DZS), DTE Energy and more than 100 volunteers. The use of DDT and other pesticides, which caused the thinning of the birds' eggshells, caused osprey populations to decline. Once commonplace in the Great Lakes region, osprey became mostly a bird of remote northern lakes and ponds. After the use of DDT was banned and the osprey population became more productive, state wildlife officials seized the opportunity to re-establish ospreys. In 1998, the DNR initiated a program of relocating or “hacking” the raptors to southern Michigan. The program, which was supported by donations ...

The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP) is pleased to announce that this year’s group of birds that will follow the ultralight planes to Florida has safely arrived in Wisconsin from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, MD. As with last year, they were taken to the White River Marsh State Wildlife Area in Green Lake and Marquette Counties. This is only the second year that this new site has been utilized. The cranes will spend the summer with Operation Migration staff getting acclimated, gaining strength, and learning to follow the planes. This fall, Operation Migration will guide the young birds on their first southward migration to the Gulf coast of Florida, the cranes’ winter home. These birds represent a portion of the 12th group of endangered whooping cranes to take part in a project conducted by WCEP, a coalition of public and private organizations that is reintroducing a migratory flock of whooping cranes into easte...

Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota, near Garrison Dam (Photo credit: Wikipedia) North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries personnel, along with staff from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fish hatcheries, recently completed stocking 9.8 million walleye fingerlings in 113 lakes across the state. Jerry Weigel, fisheries production and development section leader for the Game and Fish Department, said this year’s walleye goal required exceptional production from nearly every hatchery pond in the state. “Overall, we were able to meet every request with Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery contributing 8.7 million fingerlings and Valley City National Fish Hatchery 1.1 million fingerlings. On average the fish were some of the largest in recent years,” Weigel said. Stocking goals for each water body can differ depending on need. Some of the notable stockings include: Lake Sakakawea – 4 million; Stump Lake – 577,000; Lake Darling – 450,000; Devils Lake – 367,000; Hea...

The Common Pheasant(Photo credit: Wikipedia) North Dakota’s spring pheasant crowing count survey revealed a 10 percent increase statewide compared to last year. All four pheasant districts showed an increase compared to last year. The number of crows heard in the southeast increased by 12 percent, northwest by 8 percent, northeast by 6 percent and southwest by 4 percent. Stan Kohn, upland game management supervisor for the State Game and Fish Department, said birds did not experience excessive mortality last winter. “Even with the nice winter last year, I anticipated fewer adult birds to be available this spring because poor production in spring of 2009-11 led to fewer young birds entering the fall population,” Kohn said. “However, I did expect to see higher crow count numbers in the southwest because good numbers of birds were observed last winter, but it didn’t pan out in the crow count numbers.” Even with a somewhat smaller breeding class of birds, Kohn sa...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia) PIERRE, S.D. – Visitors to South Dakota state parks will have the chance to take part in a variety of special family activities on Saturday, July 14. The free activities are a great way for people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors. Make plans to attend the following events: Morning Masterpieces, Lewis and Clark Recreation Area near Yankton, July 14, 10 a.m. CDT. Discuss wetland habitats and draw and/or watercolor what you see. What better way is there to remember your time outdoors than capturing it in art? Basic materials will be provided. Advanced painters may wish to bring their own supplies. Info: 605-668-2985 Archery for Beginners, North Point Recreation Area near Pickstown, July 14, 10 a.m. CDT. Meet at the North Point rifle range to learn the basics of archery.  Info: 605-487-7046 Outdoor Cooking from A-Z, Oahe Downstream Recreation Area near Fort Pierre, July 14, 10 a.m. CDT. Visitors will learn basics of Dutch oven cooking...

Badlands National Park, South Dakota(Photo credit: Wikipedia) PIERRE, S.D. – A new birding trail guide is being offered to help nature and wildlife enthusiasts find birds and birding spots in western South Dakota. The Black Hills, Badlands and Lakes Birding Trail Guide features 38 sites in the region, ranging from state recreation areas to vast expanses of federal lands. Bird watching continues to grow in popularity, and South Dakota’s diverse bird life draws visitors and fascinates residents. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 432,000 people participated in wildlife watching in South Dakota during 2006, the most recent summarized survey year. Residents and nonresidents spent an average of $418 each in 2006 on trip expenses and equipment, including purchase of bird seed, binocul...

Waterfowl in Lake Bowdoin (Photo credit: USFWS Mountain Prairie ) Although breeding habitat conditions have declined from previous years, the 2012 “Trends in Duck Breeding Populations” report estimates waterfowl production in North America’s duck factory is at a record high.  This year’s report estimate of 48.6 million is significantly higher than the 45.6 million birds estimated last year and 43 percent above the long-term average. This annual report summarizes information about the status of duck populations and wetland habitats collected by wildlife biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Canadian Wildlife Service for the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (Survey).  The Survey samples more than two million square miles of waterfowl habitat across the United States and Canada. Highlights from the Survey in the north-central United States, south-central and northern Canada, and Alaska (the traditional survey area) include the followin...