Fawns are arriving; leave them alone urges the Outdoor Scene

Posted  by Wayne G. Barber

 photo by Wayne Laroche

The New England  Fish &Wildlife Departments says deer fawns are being born this time of year and asks that people avoid disturbing or picking them up. 

 

Most deer fawns are born in late May and the first and second weeks of June, according to Vermont deer biologist Nick Fortin. 

 

Fortin says it is best to keep your distance because the fawn’s mother is almost always nearby.  When people see a small fawn alone, they often mistakenly assume it is helpless, lost or needing to be rescued. 

 

Fawns do not attempt to evade predators during their first few weeks, instead relying on camouflage and stillness to remain undetected.  During these times, fawns learn critical survival skills from their mothers.  Bringing a fawn into a human environment results in separation from its mother, and it usually results in a sad ending for the animal.

 

Fortin encourages people to resist the urge to assist wildlife in ways that may be harmful, and he offered these tips:

 

• Deer nurse their young at different times during the day and often leave their young alone for long periods of time.  These animals are not lost.  Their mother knows where they are and will return.

 

• Deer normally will not feed or care for their young when people are close by. 

 

• Deer fawns will imprint on humans and lose their natural fear of people, which can be essential to their survival. 

 

• Keep domestic pets under control at all times.  Dogs often will kill fawns and other baby animals. 

 

For the safety of all wildlife, taking a wild animal into captivity is illegal in Vermont.

 

“It’s in the best interest of New Englanders and the wildlife that live here, for all of us to maintain a respectful distance and help keep wildlife wild,” Source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife

Vermont bans Coyote killing contests.

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Vermont has become the second state in the nation to ban coyote killing contests, following in the footsteps of California.

The tournament ban was included in a general fish and wildlife bill, H.636, which Gov. Phil Scott allowed to become law on Tuesday, but declined to sign.

Scott said he saw the ban as unnecessary and confusing, since coyote hunting remains legal in the state.

“This bill sends a mixed signal to hunters, farmers and landowners that hunting coyotes is a bad thing when, in fact, that activity is likely a major reason coyotes remain wild and wary of people, which keeps human-coyote conflicts to a minimum,” Scott wrote in a letter to the House clerk on Tuesday.

Scott called the bill an example of legislative overreach, and said the Fish and Wildlife Board, a 14-member governor-appointed board that votes on the state’s fish and wildlife regulations, would have been the appropriate authority for deciding upon and enacting a ban.

“Further, I am concerned that once the Legislature has taken this path, it will begin to revisit all other wildlife hunting and fishing competitions in the state,” he wrote. “These competition are enormously popular among sportsmen and encourage our Vermont youth to take part in permitted fishing and hunting activities.”

But, he wrote, “I am reluctant to veto this bill, as it does make significant improvements to fish and wildlife law.”

Vermont still has an open season on coyotes, dating back to the days when coyotes were considered “vermin” by white settlers of the state, according to a report prepared by Department of Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter.

Porter said in an interview on Thursday that the department did not regard the ban as necessary from a wildlife conservation perspective. Coyote tournaments have not been nearly as popular in Vermont as they have been in other states.

Porter said that without another act of the Legislature, the Fish and Wildlife Board would not, in fact, have had the authority to ban coyote tournaments.

After two days of debate on the House floor last February, the possibility of a prison sentence for organizing or participating in coyote killings contests, was replaced by a fine of $400 to $1,000 for first-time offenders. Second-time offenders would face fines of $2,000 to $4,000.

Those caught participating in a coyote tournament would lose their hunting license for at least a year, depending on whether there had been previous wildlife offenses; organizers of tournaments would face longer license suspensions.

Brenna Galdenzi, president of Protect Our Wildlife, said her organization began to push for the coyote killing contest ban after learning of a statewide contest planned for last February.

“This isn’t hunting for sustenance – this isn’t taking an animal to eat it,” Galdenzi said in an interview Thursday. “This is thrill killing.”

Protect Our Wildlife and other activists succeeded in shutting down the February contest and in getting the Legislature to take up the ban.

Galdenzi said she had felt that convincing the Fish and Wildlife Board to ban coyote killing contests would have been a futile effort.

“If you’re not a hunter or a trapper, they don’t listen to you,” said Galdenzi. “They report to no one.”

Rep. Brian Smith, R-Derby, proposed an amendment to delete the coyote contest ban from the fish and wildlife bill in February. The amendment was defeated on the House floor, 100-38.

Smith said in an interview on Thursday that he felt the ban unfairly singled out one kind of hunting contest. The state allows organized turkey hunts, he said, and the Orleans Rod and Gun Club’s annual rabbit hunt also remains legal.

“The ban singles out a very small amount of hunters that enjoy going out and making a sport of it,” said Smith. “It’s not about watching the bloodshed.”

Galdenzi said her group is not seeking to ban competitions like fish derbies or deer pools. Protect Our Wildlife has already been contacted by activists in New Hampshire who want to ban their state’s coyote killing contests, she said.

Some opponents of the ban, like Smith, suggested that eliminating organized hunting of coyotes would have a negative impact on the state’s deer population. In the report prepared for the Legislature, Porter said that habitat availability is a far more significant factor in the health of the state’s deer population, as it is for other prey animals.

“Winter deer habitat is the ‘critical’ factor that limits and controls total deer numbers in the longer term,” wrote Porter. In addition to the ban on coyote contests, H.636 makes various improvements to state fish and wildlife laws including: Source: Vermont Digger Elizabeth Gribkoff

Michael Scott is Vermont’s Warden of the Year

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

VTF&W photo by Mary Smith

Vermont State Game Warden Michael Scott is shown here receiving Vermont’s Warden of the Year Award from Governor Phil Scott.  Pictured (from left) Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter, Governor Phil Scott and Warden Scott.

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Michael Scott of Barton is Vermont's State Game Warden of the Year.  A game warden since 2014, Scott received the award in recognition of his excellent service from Governor Phil Scott on May 23 in Montpelier.

 

"I want to thank Michael for his outstanding performance in protecting Vermont's fish and wildlife resources and serving the people of Vermont," said Governor Scott.  He added that Warden Scott was chosen for “his professionalism, his strong work ethic and because he is highly liked and respected by the people who live in his area, including the teachers and students in local schools he has visited.”

 

“Warden Scott effectively enforces hunting, fishing and trapping laws,” said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter, “and in 2017 he arrested the offender in the notorious ‘moose dragging’ case in which a violator shot and killed a lactating cow moose, likely orphaning her calf, and dragging the carcass 12 miles behind his truck -- leaving it to waste beside the road.  This case drew national attention and, as a result, the largest monetary donation to Vermont’s “Operation Game Thief” in history.”

 

Warden Scott previously was honored for his heroism in attempting to save the life of an angler who had fallen through the ice on Lake Willoughby and drowned.  Scott ran across thin ice with a rescue line before breaking in himself and held the angler while bystanders pulled them to shore. 

 

Warden Michael Scott’s district includes the towns of Lowell, Albany, Irasburg, Glover, and Barton.

 

Shikar-Safari Club International, a private wildlife conservation group, sponsors a warden of the year award in each state and Canadian province to help promote and encourage the enforcement of wildlife conservation laws.  Scott received a colorful framed certificate honoring his selection as Vermont’s State Game Warden of the Year, provided by Shikar-Safari Club International.
Source: John Hall Vermont Fish and Game Media Press Release

Native Plant Sale

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

NWTF participates in roundtable with Secretary Zinke

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation was honored to be a part of Wednesday's roundtable discussion with Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, senior Department of Interior officials and other conservation organizations in Washington, D.C.

NWTF CEO Becky Humphries and Joel Pedersen, NWTF director of government affairs, attended the discussions on behalf of the NWTF.

Topics of discussion covered the proposed reorganization of the Department of the Interior as well as secretarial order 3362, which will improve habitat quality and western big game winter range and migration corridors.

“For years, agencies within the Department of the Interior have collaborated with the NWTF and other like-minded conservation organizations to carry out projects benefitting wildlife and habitat,” Humphries said. “We encourage the DOI to look to these examples during their reorganization to identify how the department can more effectively and efficiently bring about on-the-ground conservation efforts."

The meeting was a great way to open up dialogue between Zinke and conservation organizations so they are better able to communicate conservation priorities and collaborate on shared goals with the DOI.

Twenty-two conservation and environmental groups were invited to participate in the roundtable discussions.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation
When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters’ rights. The NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to raise $1.2 billion to conserve and enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting. For more information, visit NWTF.org.

Maine: First Statewide Eagle Survey Since 2013 Underway

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists and Game Warden pilots are in the midst of the largest statewide survey of bald eagles since 2013.

Bald eagles were listed as endangered and nearly vanished from the state in the seventies when only 39 pairs remained when restoration efforts first started. Since then, the bald eagle is now the symbol of conservation success with over 634 nesting pairs of eagles counted in Maine in 2013. 

Biologists began counting nesting eagle pairs from a plane this past March. Eagles were the focus of annual nesting surveys when listed as endangered, but since 2008 are monitored in five year checkups. Biologists hope to conclude aerial survey flights by the end of this month.

Eagles are loyal to nests. They relocate nearby only out of necessity.  MDIFW is checking more than 1,800 sites over an eight-week period, checking nesting sites that were used as far back as the 1960s. Searches occur in other areas that offer potential eagle habitat not previously used by nesting eagles along lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.

Survey timing is staggered throughout the state to match periods in the breeding cycle when eagles are mostly at nests. Nesting dates can vary by six weeks among neighboring eagle pairs. The statewide range of egg-laying dates range from February 25 to May 7 statewide. An adult eagle must incubate its eggs nearly full time for a five-week period, and nestling eaglets remain in the nest for at least three months before they can fly.

Biologists are looking to determine the current eagle population; determine whether the eagle population has increased, slowed, or stabilized; evaluate changes in breeding abundance and occupancy rates and compare occupancy rates in traditional eagle nesting territories based on habitat protection. 

Early surveys in March reflected the difficulty of nesting and maintaining nests during a Maine spring. Some eagles were incubating eggs while surrounded in snow, one nest was abandoned with an egg visible in the nest, and many nests were missing likely due to the March nor’easters Maine experienced this year. 

Generations of bald eagles will use the same nesting territory sequentially over decades. In fact, the same nest is often reused if its ever enlarging size does not harm the tree. A Sagadahoc County nest found in 1963 measured 20 feet vertically; biologists conservatively estimated it had been in use for at least 60 years.

The findings of this study will also be used to re-evaluate the future needs for monitoring of Maine’s breeding eagle population or determine whether to modify the 5-year aerial survey census that has been ongoing since 2008. 

Funds for this project come from the US Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Restoration Program, which are derived from an industry excise tax paid on hunting equipment. These funds support a wide variety of projects and programs including wildlife population management, research, surveys, habitat management, land acquisition, hunter safety programs, and construction and maintenance of shooting ranges.

William Chambers, Sr., Founder of Zoom Baits

Posted by Wayne G, Barber

Founder of Zoom Bait Company William Edward Chambers Sr. passed early Tuesday morning. Chambers, an iconic lure designer, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called mantle cell lymphoma. 

Chambers started Zoom in his backyard as a hobby, which included countless hours after his day job. It began in a one-horse barn with sawdust floors. This became the foundation and backbone of Zoom Bait Company, which was founded in 1977.

Zoom was family owned and operated since day one. As the saying goes, behind every man is a great woman. Faye Chambers stood by his side making countless sacrifices in the early days as the company was just getting started. Often, she was found on the living room floor bagging worms and loading their station wagon, so she could deliver them to UPS.

The company began to grow with the help of close friends and fellow fishermen from the Athens Bassmasters. Eddie Wortham, while still in high school, was the first employee hired by Chambers. Today, Wortham still works at Zoom as General Manager.

Shortly after Chambers started the company, Zoom experienced another growth spurt. Chambers son, William Edward Chambers Jr., while still in school, stepped in and began running routes delivering worms with Wortham, across the southeast.

In 1988, Chambers realized that his hobby had turned into a big business. At this point, Chambers believed it would take the entire family to make this work. Eddie Jr., graduated from UGA and returned to the family business, while younger sister Kym pursued a nursing career. Kym graduated from college and worked as an RN for several years. Eventually, she joined Zoom to fill her mother’s shoes, when Faye decided to retire.

Chambers was a humble man, who never saw himself as famous, according to the company obit. He was completely content working seven days a week seeking constant perfection. This was evident in his second hobby, making handmade balsa crankbaits. W.E.C. Custom Lures was his passion. W.E.C. was born around 1992 and, by the mid 90’s, was in full swing. With the help of close friends, Chambers developed many crankbait models that are highly sought after to this day.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced when they become available.

RI DEM Stocks Ponds With Golden Rainbow Trout

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

The six ponds include Barber Pond, Silver Spring Lake and Upper Melville

From the Rhode Island DEM: The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces that Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6, are Free Fishing Days in Rhode Island. Rhode Islanders and visitors alike can fish in the state's freshwaters on both days for all species of freshwater fish, without a fishing license or trout conservation stamp. The free fishing weekend does not apply to saltwater fishing or saltwater licenses.

"We hope families will take time to venture outdoors and head out to a favorite fishing spot during free fishing weekend to experience the excitement of reeling in a trout," said DEM Director Janet Coit. "We're proud to support freshwater fishing through our stocking program so that anglers can experience our beautiful freshwaters and have fun catching beautiful hatchery-raised trout. You might even catch one of the gorgeous golden trout stocked specially for this free event!"

DEM is stocking over 6,000 rainbow trout for this special fishing weekend. For the ninth year, DEM is offering anglers the chance to catch a golden rainbow trout on free fishing days; more than 4,800 golden rainbow trout are being stocked in the following six ponds:

• Peck Pond, Burrillville
• Silver Spring Lake, North Kingstown
• Upper Melville Pond, Portsmouth
• Shippee Sawmill Pond, Foster
• Barber Pond, South Kingstown
• Olney Pond, Lincoln Wood State Park, Lincoln
• Lucky anglers who catch a golden trout during Free Fishing Weekend and throughout the season will receive a free golden trout pin. Take a picture of your catch and send it to Jessica Pena at Jessica.pena@dem.ri.gov.
  The free fishing program was established in 1995 to encourage Rhode Islanders to experience freshwater fishing as a new outdoor experience and highlight some of the state's premier freshwater fishing areas. As part of a larger network of recreational opportunities in the state, fishing plays an important role in connecting people with nature, promoting health, attracting tourism, and supporting a treasured tradition for Rhode Island families. Freshwater fishing generates over $37 million a year in Rhode Island.
• Freshwater fishing regulations on size and creel/possession limits apply on May 5 and May 6. The daily creel and possession limit for trout is five from April 14, 2018, through November 30, 2018; and two from December 1, 2018, to February 28, 2019. The creel /possession limit for trout taken in the Wood River between RT. 165 and Barberville Dam at Arcadia Road is two fish from the second Saturday in May (May 12, 2018) through the last day of February (February 28, 2019).

  
  

  Information about stocked freshwaters and size and creel limits for all freshwater fish species is available in the 2018 Freshwater Fishing Abstract, or by calling DEM's Great Swamp Field Office at 789-0281, or the Aquatic Resource Education office 539-0037.

  
  

  In order to prevent the spread of invasive organisms such as Didymo and other harmful aquatic "hitch hikers," Rhode Island strictly prohibits the use of external felt soled or any natural or synthetic porous material capable of absorbing water in any freshwaters in the state. This includes any waters shared with adjacent states in which Rhode Island fishing regulations apply.

  
  

  Follow DEM on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) or Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM for more information on recreational opportunities in Rhode Island as well as other timely updates.

  
  

  Did You Know that the biggest rainbow trout ever recorded in RI is an 11-pounder taken on the Pawcatuck River in 1991? The angler is DEM's own Marty Wencek, Supervising Environmental Scientist, Freshwater Wetlands, Office of Water Resources. "I do catch some fish; I have to admit," said Wencek.