Snow geese numbers stabilizing after population boom

Posted on June 3, 2015 by admin

Bob Weber The Canadian Press

May 31, 2015

 

AppleMark
AppleMark

 

Jordan Stead/The Canadian Press Thousands of snow geese take flight over fields near the annual “unofficial” La Conner Daffodil Festival, Tuesday, March 24, 2015, near La Conner, Wash.

 

After more than a decade of devastating huge swaths of Arctic tundra, booming populations of snow geese may have finally stabilized.

But scientists say the teeming flocks, which have turned fertile grasslands into salty mud flats, are still at unheard-of levels and have forced wildlife managers to consider a whole new problem. Continue reading →

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F&W Board Votes to Ban Natural Deer Urine Lures

Posted on May 6, 2015 by admin

 

VERMONT FISH & WILDLIFE Press Release

For Immediate Release: April 28, 2015 Media Contacts: Commissioner Louis Porter, 802-828-1454 Scott Darling, 802-786-3862; Mark Scott, 802-777-4217

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board has voted to ban the possession and use by hunters of natural lures based on deer urine or other fluids beginning in 2016. By doing so the board hopes to reduce the threat of chronic wasting disease (CWD) entering the state, which has the potential to devastate Vermont’s deer herd. Continue reading →

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Experimental vaccine partially successful at preventing CWD in deer

Posted on January 5, 2015 by admin

deer cwd story 12-23-14

Journal Sentinel files

In a scientific milestone that could have human health implications, an experimental vaccine was partially successful at preventing chronic wasting disease in deer, according to a recently published U.S. study.

By Paul A. Smith of the Journal Sentinel

Dec. 23, 2014

In a scientific milestone that could have human health implications, an experimental vaccine was partially successful at preventing chronic wasting disease in deer, according to a recently published U.S. study.

The finding represents the first time a treatment has prevented the deadly prion infection in deer. Continue reading →

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Early migration shows loon flight path

Posted on December 17, 2014 by admin

December 16, 2014

By: Chelsea Mongeau

Loon study pic

Geolocator tag on a common loon. Image: Kevin Kenow, USGS

When it comes time to take a winter vacation, even 4-month-old common loons from the Great Lakes region waste no time flying to warmer climates.

These birds began making their way down to the Gulf of Mexico between late October through the beginning of November – a few weeks earlier than usual – because of the early cold, according to U.S. Geological Survey researchers.

The researchers tagged 20 of the birds in Minnesota and Wisconsin in August with satellite transmitters and geolocators to monitor their migration to the Gulf of Mexico. The transmitters track the pressure, light levels and temperature of where the birds happen to be. Continue reading →

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Cornell University scientists accidentally create ‘buck magnets’ in effort to control deer population

Posted on October 23, 2014 by admin

Nick Canedo on October 16, 2014 at 2:39 PM, updated October 16, 2014 at 4:47 PM

Cornell University launched a program in 2009 aimed at satisfying all Ithaca residents by controlling the area’s deer population in an innovative way. Fast forward to 2013, and scientists were left puzzled: deer pregnancy rate was down, but the population remained the same.

How did this happen? Turned out the scientists had unknowingly created “buck magnets.” The Washington Post recently chronicled the university’s program that led to this surprising result. Continue reading →

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