Professional Documents
Culture Documents
June 2011
Note: The following reports have been contributed by staff from the WDNR wildlife management and research programs, is compiled and edited by Bill Vander Zouwen, and designed by Meaghan Proctor. This report is intended to raise awareness of DNR staff and stakeholders regarding wildlife management activities, accomplishments, challenges and plans. We are hoping that these reports will help build a broad coalition working toward our shared vision of producing abundant wildlife for all who appreciate how wildlife contributes to their quality of life.
Staff Notes
Introducing Melissa Keenan, New VPA-HIP Coordinator
Greetings! My name is Melissa Keenan, and I am excited to begin my new role as the Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentives Program (VPA-HIP) Coordinator. I grew up along the Mississippi River just outside the tiny town of Genoa, Wisconsin. I always loved the outdoors and spent a lot of time camping, hiking, and fishing with my family, but didnt realize I wanted a career in natural resources until I attended college. I earned my Bachelor of Science in biology with a zoology emphasis and chemistry minor from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in May 2006. Prior to coming onboard with the Wisconsin DNR, I worked as a private lands specialist with the Iowa DNR, was one of the five original farm bill biologists with Pheasants Forever, was a private contractor completing acoustic bat surveys for WDNR, and most recently a North American Wetland Conservation Act biologist with the US Fish & Wildlife Service. I am excited to be up and running with the Voluntary Public Access program and hope to meet everyone as I work towards implementing this new program. ***Welcome aboard, Melissa!***
Douglas
Burnett
Washburn
Sawyer
North
Oneida Price Forest Langlade Lincoln Taylor Clark
Polk
Barron
Rusk
Chippewa
41
Door
Trempealeau
Bu alo
La Crosse
Monroe
Waushara
Marquette
Washington
Vernon Crawford
Sheboygan
South
Winnebago
Calumet
Jackson
Wood Juneau
Portage Adams
10
41
Manitowoc
Iowa
Waukesha Racine
Rock
Walworth
Kenosha
Burnett
Washburn
Sawyer
North
Oneida Price Forest Langlade Lincoln Taylor Clark
Florence
Polk
Barron
Rusk
Chippewa
Milwaukee Ozaukee
41
Trempealeau
Bu alo
La Crosse
Monroe
Waushara
Marquette
Columbia Dodge
Iowa
Je erson
Waukesha Racine
Rock
Walworth
Kenosha
Douglas
Burnett
Washburn
Sawyer
North
Oneida Price Forest Langlade Lincoln Taylor Clark
Florence
Polk
Barron
Rusk
Chippewa
Milwaukee Ozaukee
Washington
Vernon
Richland
Sheboygan
South
Winnebago
Calumet
Jackson
Wood Juneau
Portage Adams
10
41
Manitowoc
41
Trempealeau
Bu alo
La Crosse
Monroe
Waushara
Marquette
Columbia Dodge
Iowa
Je erson
Waukesha Racine
Rock
Walworth
Kenosha
Milwaukee Ozaukee
Washington
Vernon
Richland
Sheboygan
South
Winnebago
Calumet
Jackson
Wood Juneau
Portage Adams
10
41
Manitowoc
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Kewaunee
Eau Claire
10
Kewaunee
Door
Eau Claire
10
Kewaunee
Door
Eau Claire
10
Because of delays at the federal level, it is not certain that these changes will be able to be implemented this year. Though the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has recently published the proposed rule to expand the duck hunting zone options, they are months behind schedule. We expect to know by the end of June whether this will move forward in 2011 at the federal level. The revised zone proposals are being reviewed by the USFWS, but since the boundaries are similar to previous proposals, we are moving forward to collect public input. It is important to remember that while season dates and splits can be debated annually, the zone structure must remain in place for a 5 year period. Comments can be submitted to James Christopoulos by mail at WI DNR, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, by phone at (608) 261-6458, or by email at james.christopoulos@wisconsin.gov. Please be sure to include your preference for zones, splits, and season dates for all zones (or if you dont have a preference let us know that as well), and also some background info such as where you live/hunt and why you selected your response. This will help us to develop a more complete picture of how to best meet the needs of Wisconsins diverse waterfowl hunters.
Other Surveys
Spring breeding surveys have been underway for other migratory game bird species including goose, woodcock, and mourning doves. These survey data are used by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Flyway Councils to make decisions on hunting regulations.
Steering committee members and guest speakers covered topics such as: - wetland history - wetland hydrology, soils, and vegetation - wetland restoration program: funding and direction - waterfowl ecology and research - restoration design - NRCS standard 657 and engineering basics
USFWS
- wetland-associated upland management - invasive species management - water management for wildlife
The workshop involved both classroom instruction and field exercises, culminating in the attendees breaking into teams that were taken to potential restoration sites at which they had to develop preliminary wetland restoration plans. The workshop continued ongoing efforts to provide wetland training to Wisconsin government staff and partner groups. It complements two training session provided in 2010 by world-renowned wetland expert Leigh Fredrickson.
DNR image
difficult decisions, as many more high-quality applications were received than could be supported with available funds. Fifty-two applications requesting over $936,000 for pheasant-related projects and 139 projects requesting nearly $2.9 million to support projects benefiting wild turkeys were received Recommendations from both committees will be presented to the DNR Wildlife Policy Team in June for approval.
Brood production during the summer of 2010 was 3% lower than in 2009 and did not hint at the increase observed during the spring drumming surveys in 2011. Wisconsins primary ruffed grouse range, the Central and Northern Forest regions, both showed increases in breeding grouse. Good brood rearing conditions often can set the stage for healthy grouse numbers come fall; however, observations from this summers brood counts will not be available until August.
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lease agreements with private landowners. Melissa will be meeting with Wildlife Management staff in each of the four focus areas to help determine where we will focus our efforts and whether or not additional on-the-ground staff is needed to implement the program in that area. This will provide for the most efficient utilization of VPA-HIP funds in Wisconsin, and ensure that access to VPA-HIP lands is distributed so as to best serve state hunters, anglers, and trappers.
Of the total VPA-HIP funding awarded to Wisconsin, an estimated $1.4 million will be committed directly to leasing private lands over the next two years (contingent on receiving the second round of funding for 2011-12). DNR staff involved in the VPA-HIP program development have tentatively proposed that these funds be distributed amongst the four focus areas as follows: Southwest Focus area - $150,000. The focus in this area will be to increase fishing access to the numerous high-quality trout streams present. West Central Focus area - $300,000 South/Southeast Focus area - $300,000 Northeast/Fox River Valley - $300,000 Upgrading current PHGs - $308,000. Wisconsin has an existing private lands leasing program (Public Hunting Grounds, or PHG, program), and it is hoped that landowners involved in this program will be willing to sign a VPA-HIP easement contract. The higher per-acre payments offered under the VPA-HIP lease should ensure that these lands continue to provide opportunity for access to hunters. Landowners wishing to do so may remain in the older PHG program. The funding distribution may be adjusted over time depending on need/demand within each of the focus areas. Wisconsins outdoor enthusiasts should prepare to take advantage of the new opportunities presented by the VPA-HIP program. Enrolled lands will be posted with appropriate signage, and maps of enrolled lands will be available via the DNR website at dnr.wi.gov.
Tim McCabe - NR CS
DEER PROGRAM
Contributed by Linda Olver
79
BAYFIELD Superior Z Port Wing
The Natural Resources Board approved Season Structure the proposed 2011 deer season structure. The season structure map is available on-line at the DNRs deer internet page: http://dnr. wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/HUNT/DEER/dmu. htm. In 2011, there will be 38 Regular Units, 74 Herd Control Units, and 22 Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone (CWD-MZ) Units. With the deer population increasing in parts of northeastern Wisconsin, there are fewer management units designated as buck only units. Ten of the 38 Regular Units will be buck only this year, as opposed to 18 buck only units in 2010. The October 4-day antlerless hunt, formerly held in Herd Control and CWD-MZ Units, will occur in the CWD-MZ only. As in 2010, there will be no Earn-A-Buck (EAB) requirements outside of the CWD-MZ. However, the EAB rules in place within the CWD-MZ will be different in 2011 than in 2010. In the CWDRegular Unit - Bucks and limited bonus antlerless permits available Herd Control Unit - Bucks and unlimited $2 antlerless permits MZ during the 2011 deer seasons, the EAB Regular Unit - Buck Only - No bonus antlerless permits available requirements do not apply to a persons one Non-Quota Area - No permits available Gun Buck Deer Carcass Tag or to a persons CWD Unit - 1 archery buck, 1 gun buck, additional bucks under one Archery Buck Deer Carcass Tag. All EAB rules, and unlimited antlerless deer subsequent buck deer taken in the CWD-MZ Unit 48 firearm season is for tribal members only - season set by Menominee Tribe must follow EAB rules that require a hunter to harvest a doe prior to being authorized to shoot a buck. Antlerless permits for Regular Units will go on sale at noon on August 20, 2011 for units outside of the CWD zone. As in the past, there is no fee for antlerless permits for use in the CWD zone.
Camp Amnicon Rd.
78
Madeline Island
2011 Deer
35 C A
13
Ashland
Moose Rd.
53
Hurley
27
DOUGLAS
Bad River
169
28
F
51
13
IRON
Presque Isle B
WASHBURN
77
77
63
SAWYER
77
FF
34
10
BURNETT 35
70
11
53
13
GG
13
47
51
ASHLAND
63
70
Spooner
12
27
14
29A
182
29B
70
35
VILAS
USFS 144
36
45
USFS 2176 70
253
15
17
F
70
70
USFS 132
ONEIDA
51
FR 2178
39
139
40
8
Florence
101
87
16
48
BARRON
63
53
48
18
19
20
8
13
30
31
27
37
8
17
Rhinelander
38
32
FLORENCE
50
52A
MARINETTE
141
57D
55
22
A
73
21
Riv er
53
RUSK CHIPPEWA
64
23
24
PRICE
D
25
13
86
LINCOLN
51
17
Crandon
Tomahawk
86
102
32
52
Q G
44
32
45
41
FOREST
81
17
63
60M
29
60B
170
40
73
Wisconsin
VV Houlton 64
64
22A
26
42
47
43
55
49B
49A
32
180
64
64
Merrill
64
45
141
LANGLADE
51A
Chambers Island
Parkway Rd.
TAYLOR
MARATHON
128
53
33
47
MENOMINEE
64
82
59B
Chippewa Falls
29
27
98
29
Wausau
46
45
48
AA
Marinette
Eau Claire
59A
R
13
Prescott
60A
CC
DUNN
PIERCE S
10
PEPIN
EAU CLAIRE
93
27
58
73
57
107
29
47
29
51B
47
HH
22
Oconto
80A
80C
153
51
Shawano
22
57A
10
39
62A
49
63B
12
Marshfield
TREMPEALEAU JACKSON
Maiden Rock
BUFFALO
10
10
23A
61
93
CLARK
73
57B
10
WOOD
PORTAGE A
SHAWANO WAUPACA
161
117
OCONTO
186
73
HH Stevens Point
66
62B
32
BROWN
Green Bay
DOOR
Ship Canal
KEWAUNEE
OUTAGAMIE
10
121
59C
27
55
53
ZZ
56
Wis. Rapids
57C
53
13
51
65B
22
63A
96
47
64M
96
80B
BB
141
29
41
41
MM
94
CALUMET
Black River
JUNEAU
ADAMS
73
39
AA
110
Appleton
55
MANITOWOC
80
65A
WAUSHARA
22
35
LA CROSSE
71
EW
173 21
49
State Park
35
90
59D
M O OA YY
Fort McCoy
21
21
66
64
X
42
Two Rivers
Manitowoc
90
Trempealeau
16 14
61
La Crosse
61
VERNON
12
54C
River
23
73
GREEN LAKE
59 M
27
33
72
94
54A
82
MARQUETTE
73
Oshkosh
44
MONROE
54B
33
51
82
39
67A
23
67B
23
n Wisco
SHEBOYGAN
sin
Lake Puckaway
Fond Du Lac
32
74A
82
82
RICHLAND
58
De Soto
61
CWD
54B
SAUK
136
70E
CWD
44
33
68A
69
Sheboygan
175
74B
130
River
CWD
70
Sauk City
COLUMBIA
Columbus
151
60
Prairie du Chien
sin on is c
73D
61
CWD
73E
130
70A
CWD
18
78
DANE 11 113 KM
67
175
MILWAUKEE OZAUKEE
CRAWFORD
CWD
71
154
12
CWD
70B
22
16
70G
CWD
73
68B
WASHINGTON A
144
57
A KW K
77E Kohler-Andrae
State Park State Park
51
77M
19
JEFFERSON
23
76M
CWD
69 92
Madison
16
WAUKESHA 74
90
73
Patch Grove
18
61
73B 80
CWD
81
Dodgeville
133
IOWA
75C
CWD
CWD
76
151
AB
76A
CWD
BB Waukesha
18
77C
Milwaukee
CC
MM
14
51
CWD
43
77C
164
36
45
69
59
Cassville
73B
59
WALWORTH
RACINE
80
75D
CWD
81
75A
CWD
104
CWD
77A
89
77B
CWD
Racine
78
94
GRANT
LAFAYETTE
T GREEN
Beloit
ROCK
14
Kenosha
KENOSHA
MEP 5/2011
June 2011
agencies met to discuss the current state of knowledge of CWD in both states and provide an opportunity for our new Secretarys office administrators to meet their Illinois counterparts.
Wildlife Health
Contributed by Tami Ryan and Wildlife Health Section Staff
Great Lakes basin including contributions from our WDNR wildlife toxicologist. This issue is expected to be published in the fall of 2011.
Wildlife Rehabilitation
The 2011 Directory of Licensed Wisconsin Wildlife Rehabilitators has been updated and is available on the WDNR wildlife rehabilitation web pages and on the Wildlife Management Intranet. Within the next couple of weeks, hard copies of the directory will be available and distributed to licensed wildlife rehabilitators, customer service centers, and to those who have requested a copy. Our Wildlife Rehabilitation Liaison toured wildlife rehabilitation facilities in the Southeast region, taking the opportunity to meet with licensed rehabilitators and discuss current issues or ideas for education and outreach to communities and the public. During this time a facility inspection for a new wildlife rehabilitation facility was conducted. Inspections are a critical step in the licensing process that helps ensure the wildlife species are provided with the necessary care before they are released back into their natural habitats. 12 Bi-Monthly Wildlife Management Report
Wildlife Research
Contributed by Jessica Kitchell and Other Research Staff
WDNR
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documented (5 suspected predation, 1 unknown). Currently, 22 radio-collared fawns are on air. Outreach has been very successful, with in excess of 200 individuals assisting with fawn capture. These include civilian volunteers, field staff, and DNR staff who have graciously donated their time to help in this historic effort. Additionally, citizens across the state have called in sightings of fawns, providing several quick and relatively easy capture opportunities. Field crews continue to monitor weekly movement and survival status of winter-captured deer, including 87 collared deer in the northern forest (54 males and 33 females) and 81 collared deer in the east-central region (split near equally among males and females). No mortality events have been documented since early May. For more information, visit online at: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/es/science/wildlife/deer/.
Big Game
Black Bear Damage and Nuisance Complaints White-tailed Deer Population Status Summer Deer Observations Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey Gun Deer Hunting Questionnaire Chronic Wasting Disease in Wisconsin Deer Spring Turkey Hunting Questionnaire Fall Turkey Hunting Questionnaire Wild Turkey Landowner Brood Survey 14
Small Game
Sharp-tailed Grouse Harvest & Hunter Survey Summer Wildlife Inquiry Ten Week Brood Observations
Nongame
Bird Banding Accomplishments Rare Mammal Observations Wisconsin Bald Eagle and Osprey Surveys Annual Mammal Survey Bi-Monthly Wildlife Management Report
FURBEARER PROGRAM
Contributed by John Olson and Shawn Rossler
WDNR
Bad River Band of Ojibwa Indians, Fur Takers of America, Wisconsin Trappers Association, and wildlife biologists from the Bureau of Wildlife Management, WDNR. Professional presentations included the following topics: marten research in northern Wisconsin and northern Minnesota, fisher research in northern Minnesota, river otter management in Kansas, bobcat management in northern Wisconsin, bobcat research in southern Wisconsin, bobcat genetic research in Ohio, cougar management in North Dakota and Missouri, Best Management Practices for Trapping in the United States, scat detector dogs and genetic analysis of lions in northwest Nebraska, trapper education in Kentucky, citizen science and endangered marten in Wisconsin, and furbearer management on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. This workshop was followed by a business meeting of Midwestern Furbearer Biologist with a formal report submitted to the Midwestern Fish and Wildlife Agencies Directors Group.
R. Town - USFWS
BEAR PROGRAM
Contributed by Linda Olver
WDNR
Forest Certification
Wildlife lands continue to be certified by Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) as part of a larger forest certification process for all land owned by WDNR. Certification is an independent, third-party verification system that evaluates and recognizes sustainable and responsible forest management and procurement practices. Sustainability includes maintenance of the ecological, economic, and social components of forests and surrounding communities. For the most part certification serves as a way for us to make sure we are doing the things that we said we are or should be doing anyway, by administrative rule, manual code and/or good public policy. Certified lands in Wisconsin include: Wisconsin State Forests - 517,734 acres Wisconsin County Forests - 2,353,897 acres in 27 counties Managed Forest Law - 2,239,205 acres under 41,875 orders with private landowners
PhotoGraphicBug
User Surveys
We are in the early stages of trying to develop survey methodologies to assess the users of state wildlife areas:
Lynn Betts - NRCS
Who uses wildlife areas What do they do when they visit When do they do it Where do they come from Bi-Monthly Wildlife Management Report
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Some measure of who isnt using our properties and why Influence where we buy land Shape our capital development project priorities Inform the objectives of our master plans Build broader support for what we do on wildlife areas, socially and hopefully financially.
Administrative Rules
Wildlife Management is working with Fisheries and Legal Services to revise our rulemaking processes with the passage of ACT 21 (Special Session Assembly Bill 8) which goes into effect on June 8. We will also need to consult with the Conservation Congress and interest groups once a new rule-making timeline has been developed. Rules will be on a longer time frame and will need an economic analysis. DNR is in the process of hiring an economist to help. Fish and wildlife rules now on a one-year cycle will likely go to two years. All other rules will likely require at least two years. Some rules that are currently being promulgated, including the 2011 Spring Hearing and migratory bird rules, should still be able to proceed mostly under the old timeline and be in effect this year.
hunting season. Because the rule making process will not be complete when regulations go to the printer, the regulations will contain a notice that archery hunting may be allowed and a recommendation that hunters contact the DNR or watch for media releases. The Department recommended repealing the blaze orange requirement during elk hunting seasons. Voting on this proposal was essentially tied it lost by just 22 votes out of 4,576 votes cast. The proposal was supported in 38 counties, lost in 28 and tied in 6. In deciding to recommend this proposal, the Department considered that there will be no more than five state licensed elk hunters for the foreseeable future. Each of those hunters will have recently taken an elk hunter class where they will be reminded about safe hunting techniques and identifying their target. This likely represents a very low safety risk considering that there are many more bear, small game, and archery deer hunters currently in the woods at the same time in September with no blaze orange and a good safety record. Under the proposal, blaze orange would still be required whenever a firearm deer season is open. Based on the results of voting, the Department did not recommend adoption of proposals that would have prohibited the discharge of firearms, except for legal hunting, on department managed lands in Pierce and St. Croix counties. Statewide voting was supportive but the proposal lost in those two counties. Because target shooting in those two counties is not a resource or opportunity of statewide significance, we looked more closely at the results of local voting in making this recommendation. The version of the Spring Hearing rule that is being sent to the legislature for review this summer includes the following provisions: 1. Repeal the sunset of a two-year trial period for the extended fall turkey hunting season so that this December hunt will become permanent. 2. Extend each of the six-consecutive five-day spring turkey hunting seasons by two days. New seasons would run from Wednesday through the following Tuesday. 3. Eliminate the archery deer hunting season closure during the traditional November nine-day gun deer season. 4. Repeal the requirement that elk hunters must wear blaze orange except when a firearm deer season is open. 5. Establish a September firearm and archery hunting season for elk. The season would run concurrently with the first 30 days of the archery deer hunting season. 6. Allow a landowner, lessees, or occupant of private land, or any other person with permission of the landowner, lessee, or occupant, to shoot a cougar that is in the act of killing, wounding, or biting a domestic animal and require that the carcass of the cougar be turned over to the Department. Department rules already allow landowners, lessees, or occupants to shoot a wolf in the same situation, although the authority is currently pre-empted by federal rule. These sections clarify that, in addition to the landowner, lessee, or occupant, the authority to shoot a wolf also applies to employees and family members should wolves be delisted at the federal level. 7. Allow normal hunting hours for pheasants on weekends at stocked properties that otherwise close at 2:00 p.m. 8. Require that, if asked, bear hunters must provide carcass samples to the Department at the time of harvest registration for purposes of research. 9. Allow the use of rifles, in addition to shotguns, for firearm deer hunting in all of Waupaca County. 10. Allow firearm deer hunting at Copper Falls State Park during the traditional nine-day and muzzleloader-only seasons. 11. Include Manitowoc in the list of counties where the discharge of firearms on Department lands is prohibited except while hunting, dog training, or at established ranges. 20 Bi-Monthly Wildlife Management Report
June 2011
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21
The Bird City Wisconsin Program (http://www.birdcitywisconsin.org/) is surging forward in its first full year of existence. This program has now recognized 20 communities around the state for their proactive efforts to conserve birds and create healthier communities. Communities need to meet criteria in a number of categories including education, habitat, species management, and outreach. The next deadline for sign-up is July 1. If you think your city would qualify, please contact Carl Schwartz at the website above.
Bird City
Mick Lobb
22
horrible for doing marshbird surveys. Despite this, volunteers and paid surveyors are slogging through wetlands statewide to try to detect rails, bitterns, coots, grebes, and other secretive marshbirds. New for this year is a collaborative project with Northwestern University to better understand habitat selection of marshbirds using this volunteer data. This information will help us to better plan and manage wetland restorations to increase populations of these wetland dependent species. Grassland Bird Monitoring: Volunteers in St. Croix County are piloting a new grassland bird survey to help WDNR and USFWS evaluate grassland restoration and management efforts in the Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area. Volunteers will be doing point counts on public land, looking for meadowlarks, grassland sparrows, and some savanna species like the Red-headed Woodpecker. You can view last years reports and keep in touch with bird monitoring issues and updates at: http:// wiatri.net/projects/birdroutes/index.htm.
WBCI Facebook
WBCI now has a Facebook page. You can keep up-to-date on all the latest bird conservation issues and happenings from around the state and nation by liking our page (click the badge at http://www. wisconsinbirds.org/).
Contributed by Mike Zeckmeister and Northern Region Wildlife Staff In the Northern Region, the Wildlife Management Program has been very busy with some new and exciting projects. In addition to working on these new projects, we have continued with high priority habitat management projects. The following is a highlight of these projects:
Elk Restoration
On May 18th, 2011 we opened up a 60 foot section of the fence (see attached photo) to release the 8 cows and 4 bulls held within. These animals were captured in January near Clam Lake and held in this acclimation pen until green up. We consider spring green up when ditches are comprised of 75 percent green, 50 percent of the aspens leafed out and 10 percent of the maples leafed out. The 12 elk are comprised of 4 yearling bulls, 4 yearling cows, 2 two-year old cows (soon to turn 3) and 2 three-year old cows (soon to turn 4). Both 3 year olds and one of the 2 year olds are pregnant. Since the original elk release of 25 elk on May 17, 1995 the herd has grown to about 150 animals, but has not expanded beyond about 10 percent of the 1,112 square mile elk range. This release of 12 elk is the first installment in a multi-year effort to assist the dispersal of the elk to unoccupied areas of the Clam Lake Elk Range. Yearling cohorts generally experience about a 23 percent mortality rate (8 year average, 24 of 106) and most of this occurs from January through mid May. The 12 elk in the acclimation pen and the more vulnerable 8 yearlings, in particular, were protected and fed from end of January until the present. To date, most of the elk that were moved are staying within a mile of the release site, and one calf was born within mile of the site. We are working with our partners, primarily the Chippewa Tribes, US Forest Service, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to evaluate additional translocation sites for 2012 pending success from the 2011 release. The next release will be within the designated elk range in Northern Wisconsin. Elk calf searching and collaring has been underway for the past several weeks and will continue for at least another week. We are expecting approximately 36 calves to be born in 2011. To date, we have found 10 calves, and the goal is locate 20 calves. Bi-Monthly Wildlife Management Report
WDNR
WDNR
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Wildlife Management staff in Northern Wisconsin have been working on the planning part of this project since August of last year. Landowners were contacted where baits were to be placed, and volunteers were recruited to assist in placing baits. We greatly appreciate the efforts of many members of the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association, who placed many of the tetracycline baits out in the woods across the bear range. Wildlife Management staff played a critical role in this survey as being the organizers of the project and worked hands-on in placing and retrieving baits. Approximately 2/3rds of the over 3,000 baits were placed in the Northern Region. Baits were placed beginning on April 23rd and were retrieved 2-4 weeks later. The tetracycline-based survey uses a well established wildlife technique known as capture-recapture. Capture-recapture studies have two parts. The first involves marking a subset of the population in some fashion. In this study, bears will be marked when they eat baits embedded with tetracycline tablets. Tetracycline is a common antibiotic which leaves pigmentation in bone tissue. The pigmentation is harmless but easily detectable when bone tissue is viewed under a microscope. The second part of the study involves recapturing a subset of the population. The recapture for this study will take advantage of the 2011 and 2012 bear harvests. All successful bear hunters will be asked to submit a rib sample from their bear. These ribs will be examined for tetracycline. When all rib samples have been processed, we will have three pieces of information: the number of bears that ate tetracycline baits, the number of bears harvested, and the number of harvested bears which had tetracycline in their bone tissue. With this information, we can accurately estimate the statewide bear population. Field staff will now be working with Big Game Registration Stations to ensure that we get a high return of ribs sampled during the upcoming 2011 Bear harvest season.
Wildlife Management staff in the Northern Region have played a critical support role in planning and implementing several key phases of this research project. The Northern Study Area extends from Park Falls, Winter, to Exeland. In addition to organizing and supplying physical resources, we have provided staffing to assist in winter captures and fawn searching. June 2011 Back to top 25
WDNR
During the spring of 2011, we captured and handled 49 birds. Eleven females were caught, radio-tagged, and relocated to Pershing. There were 13 new males captured; 5 recaptures from 2010 (one male was captured 6 times, 3 were captured 3 times, 5 were captured 2 times). Of the 14 males banded in 2010, 5 were recaptured and at least 1 other male observed, but not captured. One site was not trapped since it only had 2 dancing males. So, survival was at least 43% and probably higher. All males were released at the site of original capture. There were no mortalities during handling in 2011.
WDNR
We conducted another year of live trapping sharp-tailed grouse in Douglas County and trans-located captured females to the Pershing Wildlife Area. The purpose of this project is to live-capture sharp-tailed grouse in habitat that is declining in value and moving them to better habitat to improve population viability in the new location.
To get the initiative underway, WMI has been working with a number of partner agencies and organizations, including FWS, U.S. Geological Survey, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, the Ruffed Grouse Society, the Golden-winged Warbler Working Group, and Woodcock Minnesota to get the initiative underway. The effort is modeled on the Northern Forest Woodcock Initiative (NFWI), which currently is underway in the New England states. Wisconsin joins other states in setting up Demonstration Areas to showcase habitat management techniques benefiting woodcock and other young-forest wildlife.
Additional Work
A wet spring combined with warm temperatures resulted in a good spring green-up. This, however, did limit the window for prescribed burning resulting in fewer burns. We are working with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission on developing a Wild Rice Management Plan for the Ceded Territory. We work very closely with GLIFWC staff and local Tribes in implementing the wildlife management program in the Northern Region. The Northern Region hosted the 29th Annual Midwest Furbearer Workshop at the Crex Meadows Wildlife Education Center in Grantsburg. This was a very informative and educational event that covered fishers, martens, bobcats, otters, and mountain lion management in western states.
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WDNR