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DNR News

January 31, 2006

The DNR News is updated every Tuesday at noon. Click on the current issue link at left to reach the most current issue.
Previous DNR News are also available on-line.

Edited by Paul Holtan
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707
(608) 267-7517
Fax: (608) 264-6293
E-mail address: paul.holtan@dnr.state.wi.us

This Week's Articles

Lower Wisconsin River valley
bald eagle numbers rebound from last year

DODGEVILLE – Bald eagle numbers are back up to their five-year average along the Lower Wisconsin River corridor, according to an aerial survey conducted earlier this month by the Department of Natural Resources.

Agency biologists counted 244 eagles (154 adults and 90 immature birds) along the 180 mile survey route running from the Petenwell Dam spanning the Wisconsin River in Adams and Juneau counties to the river’s confluence with the Mississippi River in Crawford County.

“We saw the most eagles along the river between the Prairie du Sac Dam and the Village of Boscobel in Grant County,” said Bill Ishmael, DNR wildlife supervisor at Dodgeville.

This year’s total is up quite a bit from the 117 eagles counted during the 2005 aerial survey, but below the record 614 birds observed in the 2004 survey. However, the five-year average running from 2001 through 2005 was 264 eagles.

Also, the number of birds counted along the river corridor may be less than the actual population in the Lower Wisconsin River watershed.

“With warmer temperatures and more open water along the lower stretches of the river this year, eagles seem to be much more spread out in the river valley than in a more typical winter,” noted Ishmael.

Open water and snow-bare agricultural fields are providing eagles with many more places to forage this winter and birds are being observed in places other than the river valley. This could translate into more eagles wintering in the area other than just along the river corridor.

“Due to the wider-ranging foraging activities this year, I suspect we missed a significant number of birds on the survey that were not concentrated along the riverbanks as they normally are in a colder, more snowy winter. So the numbers we observed are likely much lower than what’s actually out there,” said Ishmael.

Eagle watching in the Wisconsin River valley has become a very popular winter activity and the number of eagles in the area this year “should provide excellent opportunities to view eagles at many locations along the river as well as farm fields and wetlands (in the river valley),” added the wildlife supervisor.

Bald eagles are listed by the federal government as a “threatened” species overall in the United States but within Wisconsin, the state has listed the bald eagle as a species of “special concern.”

Although the general population is doing well, there’s still concern as to what’s been causing unusual deaths of bald eagles along the Lower Wisconsin River corridor beginning in the mid-1990s, pointed out Sean Strom, a DNR wildlife toxicologist based in Madison.

During the winter of 1994-95, 16 dead or sick eagles with similar nervous system disease signs were collected along the Wisconsin River in Columbia and Sauk counties. Extensive diagnostic testing did not reveal the specific cause of these deaths.

After a five-year lull, the mystery illness appears to have affected five dead or sick bald eagles recovered along the Wisconsin River during the winter of 2000-01, 16 dead or sick eagles in 2001-02, three dead or sick eagles in 2002-03, and nine dead or sick eagles along the river corridor in 2003-04.

Only one eagle recovered along the river corridor in 2004-05 had symptoms consistent with the mystery nervous system syndrome, according to Strom.

Eight eagles have been recovered along the river corridor so far this winter. Three were found alive and transported to wildlife rehabilitators. One of these eagles has already been nursed back to health and released. Officials are awaiting the results of post mortem examinations on the others.

Many diagnostic tests are run on the eagles, including those for bacteria, fungus, botulism, viruses, heavy metals, organic and inorganic toxins. There have been no significant results from these tests to explain the cause of the mystery ailment.

Strom offered the following guidelines as to what the public can do if they find a sick or dead eagle:

  • Don’t attempt to catch a sick bald eagle. Their talons are extremely sharp. If the eagle is dead, use gloves or a shovel to pick-up the bird, and place it in a heavy garbage bag.
  • Call your local DNR conservation warden or wildlife biologist. Federal law prohibits the possession of live or sick bald eagles. They must be turned over to authorities within 48 hours.
  • Inform authorities of when and where you found the bird, and if found alive, any signs of injury or illness.

“Overall, we have a healthy bald eagle population in Wisconsin, but there appears to be a

localized and as yet undetermined factor which is affecting the health of bald eagles who winter along the Lower Wisconsin River,” said Strom.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Ishmael, DNR wildlife supervisor, Dodgeville – (608) 935-1918; Randy Jurewicz, DNR endangered resources, Madison – (608) 267-7507; Sean Strom, DNR wildlife toxicologist, Madison: 608-264-6121; or Kathy Converse, USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Madison - (608) 270-2445

Spring turkey hunt drawing completed

MADISON -- More than 160,000 permits have been issued through the spring turkey preference drawing for the 2006 spring Wisconsin wild turkey season. Another 40,000 spring turkey permits will be sold over-the-counter starting at noon on March 10.

This is the first season the Department of Natural Resources will have issued more than 200,000 permits to spring turkey hunters, and the first time the entire state will be open for turkey hunting. As Wisconsin’s turkey population continues to expand its size and range hunters can expect that number to increase. There were 193,316 permits issued for the 2005 spring season. Hunters harvested 46,159 turkeys for a success rate of about 24 percent.

Winter turkey survival should be good this year, according to Andrea Mezera, DNR upland wildlife ecologist.

“Snow cover and cold have been low to moderate and as long as there is access to ample food supply, turkeys can handle nearly any Wisconsin winter,” Mezera said.

The spring hunting season will run from April 12 through May 21. The season is divided into six 5-day (Wednesday through Sunday) time periods. A total of 46 zones, 12 state parks and Fort McCoy will be open for hunting.

Successful applicants should be receiving their permit notification via postcard. Postcard notifications are in the process of being mailed. Hunters who do not receive a postcard by mid-February may check their status on-line through the DNR Web site or call a DNR Service Center to find out the status of their permit application.

Fort McCoy runs a separate spring turkey hunting season, different from the State of Wisconsin spring turkey hunt. Hunters who do not receive an approval to hunt turkeys through the state drawing in a Wisconsin turkey hunting zone for the 2006 spring season are eligible to apply for a spring permit at Fort McCoy. Applications can be obtained from Fort McCoy by calling 608-388-3337 or visiting their Web site: http://www.mccoy.army.mil/ (Exit DNR).

Remaining permits to be sold over the counter for the first time

Remaining spring turkey permits will be sold over-the-counter on a first come, first served basis starting at noon on March 10. In the past if the number of spring turkey permits exceeded the number of applications for a specific zone and time period, remaining permits were issued through a preference drawing.

This year for the first time, permits will be available at any license sales location, over the phone (1-877-945-4236), or online. The fee for those permits will be $10 for residents, and $15 for nonresidents. All hunters will also be required to pay the spring turkey license and stamp fee, unless they have previously purchased the license and stamp, or are a 2006 Conservation Patron license holder.

“It’s great to give hunters this flexibility and option. We hope they will take advantage of it,” said Diane Brookbank, director of DNR customer service and licensing.

Residents and nonresidents will have equal opportunity to purchase these permits. Purchasing these permits will not affect preference status for future spring or fall turkey permit drawings. Purchases are limited to one permit per day until each zone and time period is sold out. A select number of disabled turkey permits for several state parks are also available for over-the-counter sales. Disabled hunters should note that these permits will only be available through DNR Service Centers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Mezera (608) 261-8458

Still opportunities to participate in candlelight skis or hikes

MADISON – Outdoor enthusiasts still have opportunities over the next few weekends to experience candlelight hiking or, if there is enough snow, cross-country skiing at a Wisconsin state park or forest this winter.

A total of 18 candlelight events are scheduled in February, with most being held Feb. 4 and 11. A complete list of events is available on the Department of Natural Resources Web site .

While a lack of snow has caused some properties to hold only candlelight hikes this winter instead of skis or snowshoe hikes, park and forest managers report that hasn’t deterred people from getting out and enjoying the trails that are lit by hundreds candles.

For instance, on Jan. 14, 700 or more people turned out for events at both Kohler-Andrae State Park and the Point Beach State Forest, even though neither property had snow for skiing.

“Mild temperatures, no wind, and a near full moon made for a great night of candlelight hiking,” said Jim Buchholz, superintendent of Kohler-Andrae State Park, who reported more than 750 hikers. “Volunteers from the park’s friends group were busy keeping snacks and refreshments flowing. We're hoping for some real snow for our Valentine candlelight ski and hike event on Feb. 11.”

Many of the nearly 600 people who headed out to Blue Mound State Park west of Madison in Iowa County on Jan. 8 came to hike, because most of the area didn’t have enough snow for skiing, according to Karl Heil, superintendent of the park. However, thanks to the park’s elevation, which helps it receive and retain more snow than the surrounding area, and some critically timed grooming of trails, the park actually was able to hold a ski and a hike.

“We had a successful candle event, even though most people came to hike because they didn’t think we'd have snow,” Heil said. “I heard lots of comments that ‘darn, I wish I would have brought my skis but I didn't think you'd have any snow left’...but people who brought their skis had a blast.”

Blue Mounds will have another event Feb. 4. If there’s not enough snow for skiing, the 1- and 2-mile loops will be lit for hiking.

More than 70 snowshoers turned out for a snowshoe hike Jan. 13 at the Chippewa Moraine Ice Age State Recreation Area near New Auburn in Chippewa County, where the Interpretive Center has 45 pairs of snowshoes.

“Many people brought their own, and some just plain hiked,” said Brenda Rederer, the recreation area naturalist.

Of the 10 events that are scheduled for Feb 11 – two of which have a pre-Valentines Day theme – at least three will take place at properties that currently have good snow conditions. Those are the Afterhours Ski Trail at the Brule River State Forest in Douglas County, the Raven Trail in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest in Oneida County, and the Peshtigo River State Forest near Crivits in Marinette County.

Because conditions can change quickly, park managers suggest people always call ahead for the most current reports. Some parks will cancel events if there is not enough snow, or if trails are icy. If an event is cancelled, the decision is normally made no later than noon that day.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Wisconsin State Parks - (608) 266-2181

Natural Resources Board approves 2006 deer season rules

MADISON – In a conference call arranged to address modifications to deer season hunting rules requested by the legislature, the state Natural Resources Board voted Tuesday, Jan. 31 to limit a proposed statewide December antlerless deer gun hunt to designated “Herd Control Units” north of Hwy. 8. All deer management units south of Hwy. 8 would remain part of the proposed December antlerless deer only gun hunt.

The board also voted to place the start of the 2006 youth two-day gun deer hunt on the Saturday closest to Oct. 8.

“We went back to the affected user groups last week and discussed all the possibilities. It was a frank, honest and candid discussion with all the groups making their desires known,” said Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Hassett. “This compromise is the best middle ground possible. It provides at least minimal deer herd control and only impacts those deer management units most in need of herd control hunts north of the Highway 8 line,” Hassett said.

“The ball is in the legislature’s court now,” Hassett said. “If we’re going to have new deer season rules for 2006, we must resolve this entire rule matter by Feb. 15 or we go back to the 2005 season rules. We cannot implement any changes for this year after that date and still get licenses on sale in March.”

“We value all forms of outdoor recreation,” said NRB member, Herb Behnke, “but our number one priority is wise management of our resources.”

Deer management units (DMU) can be designated as Herd Control Units when they are at least 20 percent over population goals set in administrative rules, and the normal nine-day November gun deer hunt would not bring the units to within 20 percent of population goals.

With these modifications, the youth deer hunt will fall on the fourth weekend of the archery deer season and the last weekend of the black bear hunting season in 2006. The rule modifications still require legislative concurrence. If the legislature concurs with these modifications by Feb 15, these season dates and changes could be in effect in time for the 2006 hunting season according to DNR wildlife officials.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Warnke (608) 264-6023

Four elk killed by vehicles this winter near Clam Lake

Motorists asked to slow down and prevent collision with elk

CLAM LAKE Wis. — Motorists in the Clam Lake area of north central Wisconsin are being asked to slow down to help prevent a collision with elk. This winter, four elk have been hit and killed by vehicles on State Highway 77. Fortunately the accidents have not caused any injuries to the drivers or their passengers.

“Even though we have put up elk crossing signs with flashing lights, people have been seen driving faster than the posted speed limit in these areas,” said Laine Stowell, the Department of Natural Resources elk biologist. “We are asking everyone to reduce their speed within a 10- to 15- mile radius around Clam Lake to help prevent any more accidents,” he said. All accidents have occurred within areas marked by the elk crossing signs.

Clam Lake is in southeastern Ashland County adjacent to the Bayfield and Sawyer county lines. In 1995, 25 elk were released 6 miles south of the village in the Chequamegon National Forest in an attempt to reestablish the animal in the state. The herd has since grown to about 108 animals.

“We want people to enjoy traveling through the Northwoods, but please protect yourself and our small elk herd. A collision with an animal the size of an elk is potentially deadly,” Stowell said. “We’re asking people to be vigilant, and comply with speed limits so we can give our children and grandchildren a Wisconsin landscape that includes a thriving elk herd.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Laine Stowell - (715) 634-9658 ext. 3527

New Web site provides clues to presence of wetlands on property

GREEN BAY– Landowners and prospective buyers can now go online to find information that that can help them understand whether a property has wetlands on it. Wetlands can bring a substantial tax break, recreation and other benefits but can also significantly affect what owners can do on that property.

“Wetland areas are not always obvious, so we’ve developed Web pages that give people easy access to advice and clues to the presence of wetlands on a property, which can help them make land purchase and project decisions,” says Kristy Rogers, the Department of Natural Resources aquatic habitat coordinator for northeastern Wisconsin.

“These web pages allow you to do some homework and it can save you from buying a property that doesn’t meet your needs.”

Activities in or near wetlands are regulated by an overlapping web of federal, state and local laws to protect remaining wetlands and provide incentives, such as a tax break on Wisconsin property taxes (pdf; 519 kb), for people to maintain and restore wetlands.

Half of Wisconsin’s original 10 million acres of wetlands have been drained or filled for agriculture, development and roads in the last 200 years, eliminating the benefits wetlands provide, including clean water, wildlife habitat, flood control, recreation, and education.

About 75 percent of remaining wetlands in Wisconsin are privately owned. To slow wetland loss in Wisconsin and the rest of the nation, federal laws in the late 1970s started requiring developers, local government, and others to seek permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for projects affecting wetlands.

Wetlands in Wisconsin were defined by the State Legislature in 1978 as "an area where water is at, near, or above the land surface long enough to be capable of supporting aquatic or hydrophytic (water-loving) vegetation and which has soils indicative of wet conditions."

Wisconsin rules starting in 1991 required permit applicants to demonstrate to DNR that they’ve tried to avoid harming wetlands. In 2001 the Wisconsin Legislature unanimously extended that requirement to small wetlands no longer under federal jurisdiction as a result of a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

The vast majority of permits for projects that could potentially impact wetlands are granted but often with modifications to avoid harming wetlands. These rules have significantly slowed wetland loss in Wisconsin to about one-quarter of 1990 levels.

Wetland officials hope education, technical assistance and incentives to private land owners, a key focus of DNR’s six-year strategy, “Reversing the Loss (pdf; 1,062 kb),” can help further protect against wetland loss and degradation.

Rogers started creating the “Locating wetlands” pages to help “people who weren’t aware there were wetlands on their property, and if they knew, wouldn’t have done what they did,” she says. “Our goal was to try to get more information out there so people aren’t spending tens of thousands of dollars on properties that aren’t meeting their needs.”

In addition to creating the “Locating Wetlands” web pages, Rogers has also secured funding to distribute fact sheets to counties, Realtors, and towns to distribute to people who are buying land or planning projects.

The “Locating Wetlands” Web site can be found by going to DNR Web site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristy Rogers (920) 662-5517; Mary Ellen Vollbrecht (608) 264-8554

Free angler education clinics offered

MADISON – People can assure Wisconsin’s good fishing legacy and the health and well-being of young citizens by attending one of the free angler education workshops that begin statewide Feb. 7. Teachers who want to be fishing instructors can mark their calendars for June multi-day workshops at which, for the first time, they’ll be able to receive stipends to help defray tuition for continuing education credits.

Department of Natural Resource angler education workshops train volunteer instructors to offer community programs to introduce children to basic fishing skills and knowledge of Wisconsin lakes and streams, says Theresa Stabo, DNR aquatic resources educator.

“Today’s children are tomorrow’s anglers and stewards of our aquatic resources,” Stabo says. “We’re looking forward to training more people who will take the angler education program into their schools and communities. When we get kids excited about fishing, they realize their connection to the resource.”

Adults who attend the day-long workshops receive free materials that they can use to teach their own angler education courses. Materials are aligned with Wisconsin state academic standards and link one of Wisconsin's most venerable traditions to science, math, social studies, language arts, fine arts and physical education. Fishing equipment and other materials are available on loan to instructors for their programs.

Last year, 156 enthusiastice volunteer instructors introduced more than 7,000 children and 300 adults to fishing and aquatic resources in DNR angler education workshops, Stabo says.

Because DNR relies on volunteer instructors to arrange and teach the angler education courses, people who already work with children are particularly good candidates to attend the workshops, even if they don’t have advanced fishing skills, Stabo says.

The one-day workshops are free but require a $15 commitment fee, which is refunded at the workshop, to assure good attendance. More information, including registration materials, are available on the DNR’s fishing Web site.

  • Feb. 7, Stevens Point, UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources, 5:30 to 9 p.m., contact Beth Bernhardt (608) 261-6431 or Adam Wolter (262) 844-6450.
  • March 21, Fitchburg, DNR Service Center, 3911 Fish Hatchery Road, contact: Beth Bernhardt (608) 261-6431.
  • March 25, Rhinelander, Oneida County Extension Office, 3375 Airport Road, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., contact: Jim Winkler (715) 365-2750
  • April 1, Milwaukee, Great Lakes Research Institute, 600 E. Greenfield Ave., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., contact: Mark Baldock, (414) 333-1183.
Workshops provide continuing education credits

Teachers are also invited to attend multi-day, one-credit, summer workshops that for the first time offer stipends to help teachers defray the cost of receiving continuing education credits. “Schools have fewer resources to provide their teacher training opportunities,” Stabo says. “We really want to encourage attendance at programs that will provide teachers with training and tools to foster environmental literacy in our citizenry, and introduce students to Wisconsin’s fishing tradition.” Attendees will receive training and materials for the Angler Education Program and nationally based water-curriculums including Project WILD, Project WET, Water Action Volunteers, and more!

Stipends are available to defer tuition for one continuing education credit from the UW-Madison or Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee.

  • June 13-15, Madison, UW-Madison campus and surroundings, details will be forthcoming.
  • June 19- 23, Milwaukee, Cardinal Stritch University, details will be forthcoming.
  • June 27- 29, Green Bay and surroundings, details will be forthcoming.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Theresa Stabo (608) 266-2272.

Urban wildlife damage grants awarded

MADISON -- Nine urban areas are receiving grants totaling $25,000 to assist the municipalities in addressing wildlife damage problems associated with white-tailed deer and/or Canada geese in urban areas of the state.

The Urban Wildlife Damage Abatement and Control Grant Program managed by the Department of Natural Resources provides 50 percent match grants to recipients that develop and/or implement a DNR-approved urban wildlife population control plan or project. Grant recipients include: City of Brookfield: $5,000; City of Cedarburg: $500; Village of Elm Grove: $1,500; City of Fond du Lac: $1,000; City of Marinette: $2,500; City of Middleton: $5,000; Milwaukee County: $5,000; City of Stevens Point: $1,500; and the City of Superior: $3,000.

The maximum matching grant award per applicant is $5,000 in any one fiscal year. To receive the full $5,000 award, a project would need $10,000 of DNR approved project costs.

Applications for the next grant cycle are due no later than Dec. 1, 2006. More information about this program can be found by visiting the DNR Web site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ricky Lien, (920) 892-8756, ext 3045 or Eileen Trainor, (608) 267-0848

Archery Tournament scheduled for Wisconsin school-age kids

Championship will take place Feb. 17 in Wisconsin Rapids

MADISON -- The first Wisconsin Championship Archery Tournament for school-age kids will take place Feb. 17 at the East Junior High School Fieldhouse, Wisconsin Rapids. The championship, which is expected to become an annual event, is an outgrowth of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP).

Kids will compete in target shooting in three divisions: elementary school (grades 4-6); middle school (grades 7-8); and high school (grades 9-12).

“The tournament is for kids in schools that are participating in the Wisconsin NASP,” said Mary Kay Salwey, DNR’s wildlife education and NASP coordinator. “NASP is relatively new in Wisconsin but the interest has been strong. In the program’s first year in Wisconsin we’ve certified more than 50 Level II teacher trainers hailing from 26 Wisconsin counties.”

“We feel that the NASP program is one of the best avenues to get kids involved in the life-long sport of archery,” said Bruce Trimble vice president of the state chapter of the Field Archery Association and event organizer. “In addition to state competition like this event there is a national tournament in March in Louisville where kids can also compete.”

The tournament is open to schools participating in the NASP program. Registration forms are available on the Wisconsin Field Archery Association Web site <www.wfaa-archery.com - Exit DNR>. Entries should be mailed to Jean Smith, 115 Anderson St, Holmen WI 54636. For online registration call (715) 421-9277 and leave both day and evening contact phone numbers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Kay Salwey (DNR) (608) 685-3477 or Bruce Trimble (Wisconsin Field Archery Association) (715 421-9277
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Last Revised: Thursday June 28 2007