Family-Outdoors

Wolves have been nearly driven to extinction, and then carefully re-introduced as part of the natural ecosystem. They are loved by many, but hated by some...especially ranchers in the West.  Here's the latest in their saga. From SD GFP... Gray Wolf Returns to Federal Endangered Species List PIERRE, S.D. – On February 10, 2022, a District Court decision ruled that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) must re-instate wolves under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections, with the exception of wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Therefore, the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) no longer has management authority over gray wolves, and they can no longer be hunted or trapped in South Dakota. On January 4, 2021, the gray wolf was delisted as a federally protected species following 45 years of protection under the Endangered Species Act. This action allowed GFP to manage wolves as a predator as defined in state law.  Under GFP’s management a...

MADISON, Wis.  – Wisconsin residents and visitors that are passionate about protecting waters from aquatic invasive species know the impact they can have on state waters and native species. For nearly 15 years Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) boat inspectors and educators have met boaters at lake and river launches to remind them that by taking simple preventative steps, they play a vital role. This summer, hundreds of launches will be staffed as usual by these friendly folks in their blue CBCW T-shirts, but most will also have on a cloth CBCW mask and maintain physical distancing. “We know that the prevention guidance of inspect, remove, drain, never move is effective at preventing the spread of invasive aquatic plants and animals,” said Erin McFarlane, the Statewide CBCW Educator with the University of Wisconsin-Extension Lakes Program. “Taking a minute or two to remove all the plants, animals, mud and debris from your boat and trailer while draining water from the bilge and live...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The message from Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) biologists and Conservation Police Officers (CPOs) is clear: Leave the black bear currently passing through western Illinois alone. IDNR biologists and CPOs have been closely monitoring the bear since it crossed into Illinois from Wisconsin June 10. The bear then crossed into Iowa and came back into Illinois in southern Rock Island County June 18. Since then, then bear has traveled through northwestern Illinois mostly unbothered until it passed through northwest Henderson County Father’s Day weekend, where more than 300 people gathered to view, follow and harass the bear. It was last seen June 21 headed south toward Stronghurst in southern Henderson County. “For the most part, we’ve not seen conflicts between the public and bear until recently and, unfortunately, those conflicts were caused entirely by people,” said Stefanie Fitzsimons, district wildlife biologist, IDNR. “It’s a novelty to see a bear i...

This is a news release from  Backcountry Hunters and Anglers , an organization, along with  Conservation Federation  here in Missouri, that help us protect the public land outdoor resources that we enjoy. Pleas consider supporting these organizations, and please consider contacting your Senators to solicit their support for this legislation. In a show of bipartisan and bicameral solidarity, Sens. Manchin (D-WV) and Gardner (R-CO) and Reps. Joe Cunningham (D-SC) and Mike Simpson (R-ID) and many other senators and representatives introduced legislation, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), addressing maintenance backlogs on public lands and ensuring full, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the nation’s most popular and successful access and conservation program.    GAOA would appropriate the full $900 million annually allocated to LWCF in addition to providing $1.9 billion annually through fiscal year 2025 to address the National Park S...

Midwest Regional Director, Tom Melius (back center) with Missourians for Monarchs partners. Photo by Kate Miyamoto/USFWS. On August 11, 2016, Midwest Regional Director, Tom Melius signed a memorandum of understanding with Missourians for Monarchs to further signify the Service’s commitment to save the monarch butterfly, and be on the fore-front with Missourians for Monarchs. Missouri Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program State Coordinator, Kelly Srigely-Werner is working on the ground with communities and organizations to make a difference. In 2015, a state summit in Missouri of federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses, landowners and others, united to bring greater focus to reverse the plight of the monarch butterfly and pollinators in Missouri. The group, Missourians for Monarchs, transformed from a grassroots organization to the moniker assigned to a statewide initiative – with an optimistic goal of restoring 300,000 acres of monarch habitat. “The signif...

2016 is shaping up to be a groundbreaking year for endangered Great Lakes piping plovers in Lower Green Bay. This summer, for the first time in more than 75 years in Lower Green Bay, piping plovers successfully nested at the newly restored Cat Island Chain and fledged three chicks. Local UW-Green Bay Researcher Tom Prestby, who routinely monitors the site, spotted the nest in late May. Adult male piping plover from Lower Green Bay showing his support for the Green Bay Packers with green and yellow leg bands. Photo courtesy of Joel Trick. "Piping plovers have used the site increasingly since it was created, including multiple males throughout the summer of 2015 but they were unsuccessful attracting a mate. We knew breeding was likely if a female found them and we’re pleased that it happened this year," Prestby explains. Piping plovers once nested on the wide beaches of sand and cobble along the shores of all the Great Lakes. Loss of habitat caused numbers to dip below 2...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia) Seeking to expand opportunities for young girls nationwide to experience nature and explore careers in wildlife conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Girls Inc. has signed a historic partnership agreement. The agreement commits the two organizations to work together to help girls, particularly those from communities of color and urban areas traditionally underrepresented in natural resource conservation fields, to explore conservation and natural resource management. Service Deputy Director Steve Guertin, who signed the agreement on behalf of the agency, called it an enormous step forward in the organization’s efforts to reach new audiences and introduce the next generation of young Americans to their natural heritage and the importance of conserving it. “We face enormous conservation challenges as we work to protect and sustain the world’s wildlife and natural landscapes for future generations. To meet these challenges we must enga...

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that $1.58 million in federal funding has been awarded under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act grant program to restore sustainable populations of fish and wildlife resources, and their habitats, in the Great Lakes Basin. One regional project and seven research and restoration grant projects funded will provide $535,234 in non-federal partner match contributions. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to a collaborative vision for conservation in the Midwest Region envisioned in the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act. In the spirit of cooperation and collaboration, I am pleased that we can continue to support the valuable work of our partners through this legislation,” said the Service’s Midwest Regional Director, Tom Melius. Since 1998, the Restoration Act has provided more than $24.4 million dollars in federal funding to 157 research and restoration projects. When combined with required mat...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia) In our increasingly urban society, studies have repeatedly shown that access to nature and the outdoors makes us healthier and happier. This is particularly true for children and young adults. The opportunities for residents of major urban areas across the country to gain that all-important access just received a substantial boost thanks to new and expanded partnerships led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through its  Urban Wildlife Conservation Program . This initiative connects city residents with nature and engages thousands of volunteers in restoring local environments. These programs were made possible by the 2016 Five Star grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which generated over $2 million in direct contributions and matching funds from local partners. “It’s becoming more difficult for our children to grow up healthy amid the treeless concrete-scape of our burgeoning cities,” said Dan Ashe, Director of the U.S. F...

DES MOINES RIVER – Southeastern Iowa’s Des Moines River is now 40 tons of trash lighter, thanks to the efforts of 329 volunteers. This July, 329 volunteers took part in the 14th annual Project AWARE, traversing 52 miles of the Des Moines River through Wapello, Davis, Van Buren and Lee counties from Eldon to Croton. Project AWARE, which stands for A Watershed Awareness River Expedition, involves hundreds of people who spend anywhere from one to five days exploring Iowa’s rivers and picking up trash. "We were so surprised and impressed at the large number of volunteers who helped all week cleaning the trash from our river,” said Stacey Reese, Executive Director of Villages of Van Buren. “There were even a few locals who helped out. I think the magnitude of this event helped make a lot of people more aware of how important it is to be good stewards of our waterways. So now, it's up to us to keep it clean." Items removed included a motorcycle, boat, Dumpster, severa...

“To form a perfect conception of the beauty and elegance of these Swans, you must observe them when they are not aware of your proximity, and as they glide over the waters of some secluded inland pond. On such occasions, the neck, which at other times is held stiffly upright, moves in graceful curves, now bent forward, now inclined backwards over the body. Now with an extended scooping movement the head becomes immersed for a moment, and with a sudden effort a flood of water is thrown over the back and wings, when it is seen rolling off in sparkling globules, like so many large pearls. The bird then shakes its wings, beats the water, and as if giddy with delight shoots away, gliding over and beneath the surface of the liquid element with surprising agility and grace. Imagine, reader, that a flock of fifty Swans are thus sporting before you, as they have more than once been in my sight, and you will feel, as I have felt, more happy and void of care than I can describe.” More than 1...

Service biologist helping an elementary student plant. Photo by USFWS. In early June, students from Orchard Lake Elementary School in Lakeville, Minnesota learned about the decline of pollinators and decided to do something about it. Collectively, the School’s Impact Academy, which includes more than 150 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, got their hands dirty making a difference for pollinators and learned a lot about these invaluable native pollinating insects in the process! Private Lands Biologist educating students about pollinators. Photo by USFWS. Orchard Lake’s Impact Academy includes a service-learning component, which is a learning strategy that involves community service and connects learning to real world problems. For their spring service learning project, the students decided they wanted to help wildlife on the school property. Their first step was figuring out what group of animals or plants most needed their help right now, and how they could help th...

On July 12, 2016 Dr. Brad Strobel received the 2016 Midwest Region Biologist of the Year Award while visiting the Regional Office. A highly respected scientist nationally, Strobel has led the way this past year bringing to life his vision for the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership. This included initiating efforts at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge to both study and increase whooping crane productivity, collaborating across boundaries with the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership Science and Research Committee. “Congratulations to Brad on a well-deserved honor. His success reaches even beyond whooping crane efforts. He is driven to incorporate the latest science into our National Wildlife Refuge System and is recognized for his outstanding leadership as a biologist.” Regional Director Tom Melius said. “Brad is highly respected within the Service and by others across the country as he is sought after for his expertise by colleagues, partners and universities.” At the station level...

Much of the remaining prairie in the Midwest Region is fragmented and surrounded by agriculture or threatened by urban sprawl. Along with our counterparts with state agencies, we have been working to replace or restore our prairies for several decades. Unfortunately, tall warm-season grasses are often dominated when trying to emulate a native prairie restoration. Early prairie seed mix contained more grasses like Indian grass, big bluestem and switchgrass than forbs like blazing star, aromatic aster and beardstongue. This is one reason why prairie restorations often result in nothing more than tall grass monocultures. We recently have moved away from seeding that results in monolithic stands of grass to providing an increase of diversity in prairie seed mixes. We currently plant seed mixes with less than five pounds per acre of grass seed and as many forbs as we can afford for that project. However, these plantings, many of which were not supposed to contain any tall grasses, ca...