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4/25/2006
SD GFP NEWS FOR 4-24-06 * New Fish Conservation Plan Launched New Fish Conservation Plan Launched WASHINGTON, D.C. - Leading national conservation officials gathered on the banks of the Potomac River on Monday, April 24, to announce a bold new initiative designed to help South Dakota and other states stop a national trend in decline in the populations of many fish and other aquatic species. The initiative has been titled the "National Fish Habitat Action Plan," and it includes strategies to protect, restore and enhance watersheds and waterways across the country. "This is great news for South Dakota," said John Cooper, Secretary of South Dakota's Department of Game, Fish and Parks and also serves as president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. "By acting now to help protect the many fish and other plants and animals that live in these waters, and by restoring the waterways in need that are vital to our heritage, we are promising our children and grandchildren that these national treasures and resources will always be here for them to benefit from and to enjoy." The plan supports many existing fish habitat partnerships, and it will foster new national and local efforts to address, measure, and communicate the status and needs of aquatic habitats. It serves as a blueprint for South Dakota based actions. "We know if we want more fish in South Dakota, we need better habitat," Cooper said. "The National Fish Habitat Action Plan is the first-ever blueprint that addresses this reality on such a grand scale." The action plan is focused and targeted toward fisheries protection, restoration and enhancement in key watersheds. It is based on a consolidation of the best scientific expertise on fisheries and habitat management. "This is a historic event for Game, Fish and Parks," said Division of Wildlife Director Doug Hansen. "We are dedicated to making sure we have healthy fish and other aquatic creatures for years to come. It is no secret that the same South Dakota waters where these aquatic animals and plants live are the same waterways that people need and use. Clean water and healthy habitat are essential for people and wildlife, and with this announcement we've re-dedicated our local and national energy to achieving both." Although fish habitat improvement programs are and will continue to be implemented locally in South Dakota and other states, each will be linked nationally to facilitate coordination and evaluation of nationwide progress. The action plan encourages sustainable actions and accountability, recognizing the need for long-term investments and real results. To date, the action plan has more than 450 national and local organizations supporting its efforts. The National Fish Habitat Action Plan was released on Monday morning during "Congressional Casting Call 2006," an annual outreach and educational event on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. For more information about the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, visit www.fishhabitat.org. -GFP- S.D. Youth Selected to Leadership Council ST. PAUL, MN - A South Dakota boy is one of 19 youth selected to the Pheasants Forever National Youth Leadership Council. Thirteen-year-old Nate Iverson of Chamberlain is one of the youth from around the country that will sit on the Council. The National Youth Leadership Council is the brainchild of Cheryl Riley, Pheasant Forever's youth program coordinator. "At Pheasants Forever, we believe kids are able to speak and think for themselves. They have valuable things to say about the outdoors and we are eager to listen to them and learn from them," reported Riley. Participants in the Council will be asked to offer content ideas for the Pheasant Forever youth magazine, "Upland Tales," as well as content suggestions for the group's website. The participants will also discuss outdoor youth activities and youth-related initiatives for Pheasants Forever chapters and national headquarters. "It is our hope that this new Youth Leadership Council will provide us with the tools to engage today's youngsters in conservation, camping, fishing and our hunting heritage," Riley said. Pheasants Forever is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant, quail, and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, and education. -GFP- Program Donates 39,000 Pounds of Meat PIERRE - The South Dakota Sportsmen Against Hunger (SAH) program arranged for hunter donation of approximately 39,000 pounds of wild game meat to people in need across the state during the 2005 hunting seasons. Jeff Olson, Rapid City, was one of the founding members of the SAH program in South Dakota and has served on its board of directors since its inception. He noted that, "Sportsmen Against Hunger is a great program with two worthy goals. We can help landowners with depredation problems by encouraging the harvest of more big game, and we can feed the needy." The donation of game by hunters during the past hunting season correlates to 950 deer, and was around 10,000 more pounds than donated in 2004. "We want to thank all those hunters who went the extra mile to harvest more deer and to take the meat to one of the 36 processors we worked with across the state," he said. Now Olson said the group is looking for an even bigger push in 2006. "I am truly amazed at the demand for burger from our program," he said. "We are not coming close to meeting the need to feed the hungry families in our state. According to the Community Food Banks of South Dakota, one in seven people in this state is at risk of not having sufficient resources to obtain enough food." Olson added that an overpopulation of deer provides an excellent opportunity for hunters to take more deer for the SAH program. "Ranches are still having trouble with too many deer and a larger harvest of does would feed many more needy families." A new feature to the SAH program in 2006 will allow big game hunters to make a tax-deductible donation to the program while making application to big game seasons. An optional check box on both online and paper applications will provide an easy way for individuals to make a monetary contribution to the program. The money raised will go to reduce processing fees. "It is apparent that one of the major roadblocks in encouraging hunters to make contributions of game animals has been the processing cost," Olson said. "We are now working out details that will enhance our program by lowering and perhaps even one day covering the costs of processing." Olson also noted that there are other ways for individuals to contribute to the SAH program. "Take an extra day or two in the field and harvest an extra doe or two that you normally would not take," he said. "Donate some cash by filling in the little box on your hunting applications. Donate some time and work for a "Clean Out Your Freezer" food drive. Call our toll-free number at 1-800-456-2758 or go online at the GFP website (www.sdgfp.info) to find participating processors." --GFP-- GFP Offers Migratory Bird Workshop for Educators PIERRE - On May 12-14, 2006, South Dakota State University's Oak Lake Field Station will host educators at the WILD About Migratory Birds workshop. This training opportunity is open to teachers, scout leaders, youth group leaders, and anyone else who has an interest in teaching children about birds. "We're planning a fun-filled, hands-on workshop that will provide a lot of great information to the participants," said Chad Tussing, Education Services Coordinator for Game, Fish & Parks. Some of the workshop topics include participating in an annual spring bird count, experimenting with a computerized bird identification program, and experiencing several educational activities from the Flying WILD curriculum. Participants will receive a copy of this curriculum guide and will also build their own birdhouse to take back to their school, home, or facility. Tussing says, "While the activities we'll be doing are fun for the participants, they are also very educational. Project WILD activities are easily correlated to state and national content standards. They also fit very well into existing lesson plans." The workshop will be held at the Oak Lake Field Station, about 22 miles northeast of the SDSU campus. There is no charge for the training and materials, but a $35 fee is charged for meals and lodging for the workshop. College credit will be available from Dakota State University for those who desire it. For more information, or to register for the workshop, contact Chad Tussing at (605) 773-2541. Information is also available online at http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Education/Projwild/workshops.htm. Project WILD is an internationally recognized curriculum, which promotes wildlife conservation through education. In 2006, over one million educators will have participated in Project WILD training since 1983. Game, Fish & Parks is the state sponsor of Project WILD in South Dakota. Over 6,000 educators have been trained in South Dakota since 1989. Project WILD workshops and materials are funded by the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. -GFP- Bald Eagles Proposed for Removal from the Federal Threatened List PIERRE - Once considered near extinction, the bald eagle has made a remarkable recovery since it was first federally protected in 1940. Now the US Fish and Wildlife Service is considering removing the bald eagle from the Federal Threatened Species List. Even after bald eagles are removed from the Threatened Species list, two laws will protect them: the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It will still be illegal to disturb eagles, either at nesting or sites where they congregate in winter. Bald eagles are found throughout the continental United States. Hunting and development pressure dropped their numbers to such an extent that Congress passed the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act in 1940. The widespread use of the pesticide DDT, which made eggshells so thin that they cracked when incubated, continued the species' decline. The population rebounded after DDT was banned in 1973, and habitat rehabilitation projects have allowed the population to increase further. Today there are an estimated 6,500 eagles in the contiguous United States, with an additional 140,000 in Alaska and Canada. In South Dakota, 41 active nests were documented in 2005, producing approximately 47 eaglets. Bald eagles are currently sitting on this years' eggs which are expected to hatch in late April or early May. The female generally lays three eggs, but often only one chick survives. Both parents work to incubate the eggs and feed the chicks. Most chicks will leave the nest by early July, although their parents will continue to care for them for several more weeks or months. Many bald eagles congregate in South Dakota in winter, especially in areas that do not freeze such as below the dams on the Missouri River. The proposed change can be viewed at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/baldeagle.htm. This website also gives information for those who want to comment on the rule. The comment period runs through May 17. -GFP-
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