Family-Outdoors

The USFWS is wanting to lead by example when building new facilities. In that light, they are proud of the new facility they have built at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa.  It received the 2016 Federal Energy and Water Management Award. It also has the virtue of being attractive. Relatively commonsense approached were used to achieve the results mentioned, such as conserving water using only native plants that thrive without watering (seems like a no-brainer at a USFWS facility) and solar power with LED lighting. These are but a couple of examples of the approaches and technologies utilized. Read more about this at https://goo.gl/y4Y9xx. The USFWS is trying to encourage endangered species recovery by maximizing use of federal money through Endangered Species Act Grant Program.  This year about $45 million will have been paid out in grants to twenty states.  One example is the states of Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin will receive $1 million under...

August 1 is an important deadline for fall hunters and trappers pursuing wild turkey, sharp-tailed grouse, bobcat, fisher and otter. Permit applications for fall hunting can be purchased for $3 ($6 for bobcat applications) online at  gowild.wi.gov , at  Department of Natural Resources service centers , and at all  license agents . License sales are no longer available by phone, but the live operators at the DNR Call Center can help answer any questions hunters may have about the permit application process. The Call Center is available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, and can be reached at 888-WDNR-INFo (1-888-936-7463). 2016 Fall Season Dates Fall wild turkey Zones 1-5: Sept. 17 through Dec. 31 Zones 6 & 7: Sept. 17 through Nov. 18 Sharp-tailed grouse: Oct. 15 through Nov. 6 Bobcat hunting and trapping: Period 1: Oct. 15 through Dec. 25 Period 2: Dec. 26 through Jan. 31, 2017 Fisher (trapping only): Oct. 15 through Dec. 31 Otter (tra...

A new online map and user tool for trout will help anglers find places to fish and gain information about local regulations. Developed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources fisheries bureau, the tool is available through  dnr.wi.gov , using the keyword " TROUT ." The map includes public land and DNR fishing easements. "With more than 13,000 miles of trout streams, revised regulations and several important new classifications and easements this year alone, Wisconsin anglers have more places to go trout fishing than ever before," said Joanna Griffin, DNR trout coordinator. "The new tool will help anglers locate great places to fish, find access points and check regulations. The database contains the latest information available - an important factor since this year alone, we have 14 streams with upgraded classifications. It also includes 27 streams that were recently documented as sustaining trout populations with six of these earning the covete...

The Bad River in Copper Falls State Park, north of Mellen in Ashland County, Wisconsin (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Go Wild system for issuing licenses and more now on line; ice rapidly going out from lakes across the state An end-of-winter snowstorm dropped up to 6 inches of snow in the far northwestern part of the state, with lesser amounts falling as far south as Park Falls, but warmer temperatures continue in the forecast and the snow is not expected to stay around long. High water associated with rain and snow closed a portion of Highway 169 leading to Copper Falls State Park from Mellon, but the park remains accessible from the east. The rains also washed out a section of the Tuscobia State Trail near Park Falls and barricades have been put in place at the washout. Wisconsin's new  Go Wild  system for issuing fishing, hunting, conservation patron and other licenses and permits went on line March 17. By the end of March, people will also be able to use the syste...

Horicon Marsh. Photo by Ryan Hagerty/ Horicon means pure and clean water in Mohican.  This important refuge provides breeding habitat for a variety of migratory birds, especially the redheaded duck.  It is approximately 33,000 acres in total, and is located southwest of Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. More n 300 species of birds spend time in Horicon at some point during the year, and with its relatively close proximity to Milwaukee and Madison, it offers some great opportunities to get out and experience nature. Consider a visit this Spring when the area is especially vibrant with wildlife. We at Family-Outdoors appreciate the great stewardship of this area by the USFWS! http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Horicon/about.html

40 elk captured in second year of elk translocation project MADISON -- The second year of Wisconsin's elk reintroduction effort is now complete for the 2016 season, and 40 elk currently await transport to their new home in Jackson County. The elk are currently being held in a pen in Kentucky, where they receive daily care and monitoring. They will undergo a stringent quarantine and health testing period of at least 120 days, including an acclimation period in Wisconsin, before their release into the area in and around the Black River State Forest of Jackson County. The goal of the reintroduction project is to establish a second elk herd in central Wisconsin, similar to the existing herd in northern Wisconsin--pictured here earlier this winter--which wildlife biologists hope to bolster with future reintroduction efforts.  Photo Credit: WDNR Laine Stowell "With two elk herds now on the landscape, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and our partners will co...

MADISON - Coyotes become more active in late winter as they become more territorial during the breeding season and give birth to pups. Join Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for a live chat Feb. 23 at noon and learn more, including how to help reduce coyote interactions with pets. Coyotes are prevalent throughout much of Wisconsin, and thrive in areas with an abundance of food like rabbits, squirrels, and rodents. In many urban settings, bird feeders, gardens and ornamental vegetation can bring coyotes to the area where these animals feed. To help reduce coyote interactions, remember a few quick tips: do not provide food for coyotes and other wildlife in your yard; store trash indoors, or keep it secure with tight-fitting lids; scare tactics, also called hazing, can be used if you see a coyote in your yard or while out walking - make loud noises or throw objects in the direction of the coyote; and keep cats indoors and always watch dogs when outdoors--coyote attacks...

Male Hine's emerald dragonfly. Photo courtesy of Kmierzwa/Creative Commons. The  Genoa National Fish Hatchery  in Wisconsin provides more than 30 million fish, eggs and mussels of more than 26 species to meet conservation and research needs all across the country, from New Mexico to Georgia. And now the hatchery is raising the federally endangered  Hine’s emerald dragonfly , the only dragonfly on the Endangered Species list. Dragonflies play an important role in nature. They catch and eat small flying insects, including mosquitoes, biting flies and gnats. In their immature stage (larvae), dragonflies are an important food source for larger aquatic animals such as fish. They also serve as excellent water quality watchdogs. The rare Hine’s emerald dragonfly was believed to be extinct by the mid-1900s, but in 1988, one was found southwest of Chicago. Other small populations were then uncovered in Wisconsin, Michigan and Missouri. The Illinois population is on ...

BARABOO, Wis. -- A youth conservation skills day will be held Thursday, July 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ho-Chunk Nation Neesh-la Pow wow grounds, S2917 County Road BD Baraboo, Wis., 53913. The program is open to the public. It is coordinated and partially supported by the Wisconsin Academy of Global Education and Training of Milwaukee, a 501(c)(3) organization, as part of a state-tribal effort by the Department of Natural Resources and the Ho-Chunk Nation. The event is expected to draw more than 150 youth from the Ho-Chunk Nation, Wisconsin, Japan and China. Mark LaBarbera of the Outdoor Heritage Education Center is organizing skill activities in partnership with Ho-Chunk. Activities during the day will include drumming, dance, cultural displays, Native American food, games, and outdoor skill sessions. A Ho-Chunk Nation smudging ceremony is planned to connect and inspire youth to create a conservation legacy. Registration information is available at:  tinyurl.com...

Saturday and Sunday are Free Fun Weekend in Wisconsin; 50th anniversary of rail trails on Saturday This Saturday  and Sunday are  free fun weekend in Wisconsin . No fishing licenses or state trout stamps are required to fish waters of Wisconsin, no vehicle admission stickers are required for entry into state park or forest properties, no trail passes are need to bike or horseback riding on state trails and no Wisconsin all-terrain vehicle registration or non-resident trail passes are needed to operate ATVs or UTVs on state trails. Anglers must comply with all fishing regulations and bag and size limits, and campers must still register and pay camping fees in state campgrounds. This Saturday  is also National Trails Day and it will have special significance in Wisconsin with a  50th anniversary celebration of rail trails  in the state. Wisconsin was the first state to convert an abandoned railroad corridor into a recreational trail--the  Elroy-Sparta ...

Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin will receive grant funding to restore habitat and help restore the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly. Photo by Ann. B Swengel/USFWS. Minneapolis – Bumblebees, mussels and Karner blue butterflies are among imperiled species in the Midwest that will benefit from more than $2 million in grants through the Service’s Competitive State Wildlife Grants program.  Midwest Region grant recipients include Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin and will receive a total of 6 grants. The Competitive State Wildlife Grant Program grants focus on large-scale conservation projects to conserve and recover Species of Greatest Conservation Need and their habitats. The Service awarded 15 grants, a total of $5.7 million to states across the country. This will be matched by more than $2.9 million in non-federal funds from states and their partners. “We appreciate the strong ties formed by state agencies and their partners to protect these imp...

In spring, biologists monitor adult and young of the year pike along the shores of Green Bay. Photo by Betsy Galbraith/USFWS. In the mid-20th Century, companies manufacturing carbonless paper discharged hundreds of tons of PCBs into Wisconsin’s Fox River. And for the past several decades, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other natural resource trustees have been working through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process to restore the fish, wildlife and habitat affected by the contamination. Several paper companies, paper recyclers, public treatment works and other parties have made agreements, through the NRDA process, to fund natural resource restoration projects in the Fox River Valley, Green Bay and surrounding areas. Among the completed restoration projects are wetland and stream restoration, land preservation, fisheries enhancements, and public outdoor recreational use projects such as trails and a nature center. On a recent trip to the area, Midwest Deputy Reg...

An annual spring tradition is set to resume in Wisconsin’s woods and fields. While turkey hunting may not quite rival deer hunting in popularity, it’s become one of the state’s true outdoor success stories. Some may find it hard to believe today, but until the late 1970’s seeing a wild turkey in Wisconsin was nearly impossible. Read More Related articles High court rejects Wisconsin appeal over tribal night hunts (fox11online.com)

Panorama view of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Pike Lake Unit near Hartford Wisconsin. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Cold weather to greet opening of Winnebago System sturgeon spearing season; cancels some candlelight events Northern Wisconsin once again received up to 2 to 3 inches of snow in the last week with the south again missing out, causing counties in the south that had opened snowmobile trails to close them. Trails remain open in the most northern counties with conditions ranging from fair to excellent on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's  Snow Conditions Report  (exit DNR). The new snow that did fall allowed parks and forests to touch up cross-country ski trails and they generally remain good to very good in the north and poor to fair through central and southern parts of the state.  The Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest and Blue Mound State Park continue to have some of the best conditions in the lower part of the state. Very cold ...

MADISON - Birders are grabbing their binoculars and getting ready to count birds for a good cause as Wisconsin launches its most comprehensive bird survey ever. The effort, known as Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas II, will last five years, enlist thousands of citizen scientists and help shape bird conservation efforts for the next generation, according to organizers. "This project represents a unique opportunity for citizens to be a part of conservation efforts in our state," said Nick Anich, breeding bird atlas coordinator with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "Anyone can participate in the survey. Whether they're an expert birder or just starting out, we'll provide them the tools they need to successfully document the birds across the state." The project, which runs through the end of 2019, is a cooperative effort between DNR and the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory, and the Wisconsin Bird C...

A Wisconsin game farm owner is now a felon due to his illegal commercialization of snow Long-eared owl. Photo courtesy of Steve Gifford. geese. United States Attorney James L. Santelle, announced that on October 20, 2014, Todd David Doughty, age 50, owner of the “Thunderbird Game Farm” in Chilton, Wisconsin, was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, and had his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges revoked for five years by Chief United States District Court Judge William C. Griesbach. According to the plea agreement and other documents filed with the court, Doughty illegally engaged in the sale of sausage containing snow goose, a migratory bird. While sentencing the defendant, Chief Judge Griesbach noted a litany of past wildlife offenses which, “spoke to the defendant’s character” and his “disregard for wildlife laws” which necessitated the lengthy revocation of hunting privileges. As a convicted felon, Doughty will never again legally possess a ...

Mississippi River at La Crosse, (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Fall colors are still pretty impressive in parts of southern and even central Wisconsin, but with the recent winds and several days of rain last week leaves are dropping rapidly. The rain has water levels on many river systems across the state remain high for early fall. With nicer weather this week, farmers are picking starting to catch up on the fall harvest, and lots of geese have been seen feeding in freshly picked corn fields. Musky have remained the highlight for anglers in the Northwoods, but with more stable weather in the last week walleye action also picked up a notch and a few more anglers were out trying to key in on the fall bite. High water was making fishing a little harder on the Wolf River but there walleyes were being caught there as well as on the Peshtigo, Fox and Wisconsin rivers. Walleye and sauger action was picking up on the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers and continued to be very good on Lake ...

WILD ROSE, Wis. -- Standing sentinel around artificial weeds in the rearing pond at the Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery, newly arrived spotted musky fingerlings from Michigan leave little doubt about their predatory instincts. When a minnow strays too close, the fish dart quickly from the artificial cover, showing off their ultimate potential to make a strong Wisconsin fishery even better. With a few months of steady feeding ahead, these fingerlings will soon gain the weight and size they need for a successful introduction into brood-stock lakes managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as well as the waters of Green Bay. This Great Lakes spotted musky fingerling is every inch the fighter. The fish are gaining size and weight thanks to a steady diet of minnows at Wild Rose. WDNR Photo "These Great Lakes spotted muskies represent an important step forward in our efforts to restore a strong and naturally reproducing population to the waters of Green Bay and Lak...