April 2006
Weather is responsible for widespread fish kills
Friday, April 28, 2006
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| Drought and unseasonably warm weather have contributed to a larger-than-normal number of spring fish kills reported the Conservation Department this year. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
JEFFERSON CITY-An unusual number of fish kills across Missouri has some anglers wondering what the problem is. Fish experts say the answer lies in the weather. And while fish die-offs are not good news, it is not cause for serious concern, either.
Resource Scientist Leanna Zweig oversees fish kill investigations for the Missouri Department of Conservation. She said she routinely receives reports of fish kills in the spring, but this year has been different.
"Most years, we might get one report of dying fish a week" said Zweig. "Right now it is more like five a week. They are coming from all over the state and from every kind of water body-private ponds, big reservoirs, rivers and creeks."
Zweig says every fish species has been affected, from crappie and largemouth bass to suckers and shad. Most kills have involved 50 to 100 fish. The biggest reported so far this year was in the Kings River, a tributary of Table Rock Lake. The first report came on April 18, and fish continued to die there for several days.
Conservation Department Fish Pathologist Devona Weirich said that while the number of fish kills this spring is unusual, the phenomenon itself is common.
"Fish experience a lot of stress in the spring," said Weirich. "They often haven't eaten very well during the winter, and they go right into spawning, which can be exhausting. Their immune systems are very weak, and this results in some fish dying."
On top of normal stresses, Missouri waters have been affected by an unusually dry, warm spring. Water temperatures are higher than normal for this time of year, and water levels in streams and reservoirs is below normal, especially in southwest Missouri. Water quality is worse than usual, and fish are crowded into less space. Weirich said it is no wonder a larger than normal number are succumbing.
In many cases, reports have involved what Zweig called "furry fish," dead fish with an advanced growth of bacteria or fungus covering their bodies. She said accurate determination of the cause of death is almost impossible when decomposition is that far advanced.
Spring fish kills usually happen when external parasites damage fishes' skin or gills. This leads to a bacterial infection, which kills the animal.
"That is what seems to be going on in all the reports we have received so far," said Weirich. "We don't have any reason to suspect pollution or other environmental problems. It's basically natural causes. We simply have a worse-than-normal case of what we see every spring."
Zweig emphasized that the Conservation Department needs people to report fish kills as quickly as possible. Fisheries workers can tell much more if they arrive when fish are still dying than after they are dead.
If you see dead or dying fish, look for unusual conditions, such as odor or signs of petroleum products on the surface of the water. Also look carefully at the dead fish before calling the Conservation Department. Zweig said she investigates several reports each year that turn out to be fish carcasses discarded by anglers.
To report fish kills, call the nearest Conservation Department office or contact Zweig directly at leanna.zweig@mdc.mo.gov, (573) 882-9880, ext. 3228.
-Jim Low-
Turtles out early this year, need motorists' help
Friday, April 28, 2006
Reptile expert says highway toll could have long-term effect on turtle numbers.
JEFFERSON CITY-It is a familiar sight; a box turtle struggles across a busy highway, unaware that the odds are against it. Visit the same spot an hour later and chances are good you will find a dead or dying turtle beside the pavement. Such sights are likely to appear earlier than usual this year, and the long-term consequences are not pleasant for turtle lovers to contemplate.
Jeff Briggler is a herpetologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. That makes him Missouri's top turtle caretaker. He loves spring, but he hates the carnage that accompanies the return of warm weather.
"It's hard to put an accurate figure on the number of turtles killed by cars every year," said Briggler, "but if the roads I travel are any indication, it must be in the thousands. Over time, that kind of mortality could take a toll."
Missouri's most common land turtle is the three-toed box turtle. It inhabits the southern two thirds of the state. The ornate box turtle is more common the farther west you go in Missouri. Both species are extra active in the spring, seeking mates and nest sites.
Wild box turtles have been known to live more than 60 years. Briggler said he and other experts think some might live more than 100 years. You might think that such long-lived species would have no trouble surviving, and indeed, turtles have been around for hundreds of millions of years. For box turtles, however, cars could turn out to be a sort of evolutionary catastrophe.
"The thing about long-living animals is that they typically don't produce many young in a given year," said Briggler. "Box turtles don't reach breeding age until they are six or seven years old. Any that get killed by cars before they reach that age are out of the gene pool before they get in. Even the survivors face an uphill battle to replace themselves."
Raccoons, opossums, coyotes and other predators raid turtle nests, and they will kill and eat young turtles before they get old enough to have hard shells. Disease, freezing and drowning claim some turtles each year, too. Turtles have adapted to these factors over millions of year. Cars, on the other hand, appeared in an evolutionary blink of the eye. And with the dramatic increase in the number of roads and highways in the past century, turtles now have much harder time reproducing without having to venture across a road.
"We don't know how many box turtles there were in Missouri before automobiles became common," said Briggler. "We don't know if turtles produce enough young to replace the number killed on highways. It would be really sad if these animals, which have been around for such a long time, started to disappear in our lifetimes."
Briggler noted that box turtles are moving around looking for mates earlier than usual this year on account of unusually warm weather. He suggested some ways Missourians can help reduce the number of turtles killed by cars.
--Steer around turtles on the road, but only if you can do so safely. Don't swerve to miss turtles.
--When you see one turtle, slow down and be extra watchful. Turtles are more abundant in good turtle habitat, and you may be seeing more soon.
--Help turtles across roads, but again only if you can do so safely. Do not stop on busy highways. Park your car well off the pavement to avoid being hit by other cars, and wait until there is no traffic to pick up turtles.
--Pay attention to the direction the turtle is traveling and move them forward, not backward. Otherwise they may try to cross the road again.
--Place the turtle several yards away from the pavement, and face them away from the highway.
While box turtles might not be high-profile species in terms of economic value, Briggler says they are an important part of the state's natural community. "Nature is so complex, you never really know all that one species does until it's gone," he said. "We don't know what the world would be like without box turtles because they have been here longer than we have. I really hope we never find out."
Briggler recommended against adopting turtles to protect them. They have special needs that can not be easily met in captivity, and most captive box turtles develop serious health problems.
"It's okay for a child to keep one in a box overnight to encourage their curiosity about nature," said Briggler, "but put them back where you found them the next day so they can go about their business, whatever that is."
To learn more about box turtles and the other 15 turtle species found in Missouri, write to MDC, "Missouri's Turtles," P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, pubstaff@mdc.mo.gov .
-Jim Low-
Opening-day turkey harvest down 23 percent
Friday, April 28, 2006
Conservation Department officials attribute the decline to poor hatches over the past three years.
JEFFERSON CITY-The number of turkeys checked by hunters on the first day of the 2006 firearms turkey hunting season dropped by nearly one-quarter compared to last year. The Missouri Department of Conservation attributes the decrease to poor turkey hatches the past three years.
This year's first-day harvest was 7,860, down from 10,119 last year. That is a decrease of 2,259, or 23 percent.
The top opening-day turkey harvest counties were Ste. Genevieve with 174, Callaway with 167 and Franklin with 161. One-year-old male turkeys, commonly called "jakes," made up 19 percent of the first-day kill.
Missouri's spring turkey harvest has set new records 29 of the past 45 years. This was the predictable result of a turkey restoration program that built the state's turkey flock from a few hundred birds to an estimated 800,000.
The spring harvest topped 50,000 in 1999. Since then it has hovered between 50,000 and 60,000, with an all-time high of 60,744 in 2004. Biologists say this plateau is the result of the state's turkey population reaching the maximum number the land can support.
Before the three-week season began, Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer predicted a total harvest in the neighborhood of 50,000. He said hunters still could reach this mark with favorable weather.
"There is no way around a reduced harvest after several years of below-normal reproduction," said Beringer, "but it's important to remember that our turkey flock is still one of the biggest in the nation. Our opening-day harvest is bigger than some state's annual harvest. This year's final tally will depend heavily on weather, as it always does, but Missouri turkey hunters prospects remain very bright regardless of whether this year's harvest is down a bit."
Missouri's turkey season begins on the Monday nearest to April 21 each year and runs for three weeks. The weather forecast for the first weekend of this year's season calls for scattered showers and temperatures in the low 70s. Beringer said these are fair conditions for turkey hunting.
-Jim Low-
Forest firefighters to gather in Jefferson City June 6-11
Friday, April 28, 2006
More than 500 firefighters from four states will sharpen skills at the Midwest Wildfire Training Academy.
JEFFERSON CITY-When woodlots or pastures catch fire, it is up to firefighters from the Missouri Department of Conservation and other conservation agencies to protect people's lives, homes and other property. That is why firefighters from across the Midwest gather in Jefferson City each June for the Midwest Wildfire Training Academy.
The academy, now in its fifth year, brings hundreds of volunteer and professional firefighters together for training in managing wildfires. It includes more than 30 specialized classes ranging from basic fire fighting techniques to overall supervision of a fire incident involving hundreds of workers.
Trainers come from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Their goal is to build a cadre of better-trained firefighters who can serve at the state, regional and national levels.
This year's academy will be June 6 through 11. Classroom instruction will take place at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Participants also will get hands-on experience at various locations off-site.
The event is the creation of the Big Rivers Forest Fire Management Compact, whose members are the Conservation Department, the Illinois, Indiana and Iowa departments of natural resources and the USDA Forest Service. The University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute also participates in the academy.
Visit www.brffmc.org for more information, .
-Jim Low-
Kids fishing events set for May
Friday, April 21, 2006
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| Youths age 15 and under are invited to special events at Missouri's four trout parks in May. For more information, call: Roaring River State Park, (417) 847-2430; Montauk State Park, (573) 548-2585; Bennett Spring State Park, (417) 532-4418; or Maramec Spring Park, (573) 265-7801. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
JEFFERSON CITY-Missourians looking for a chance to introduce youngsters to fishing can mark their calendars for May, when the Missouri Department of Conservation and the state's four trout parks will host Kids Fishing Days.
Events will be held May 20 at Montauk State Park near Licking, Roaring River State Park near Cassville and Maramec Spring Park near St. James. Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon will hold its event May 13. Each event will feature fishing instruction, games, contests and other activities to ensure an enjoyable fishing experience. Sections of each park will be set aside for exclusive use by anglers 15 and younger.
Bennett Spring State Park's Kids' Fishing Day event will last from 6:30 a.m. until 8:15 p.m. The area from the Hatchery Outlet through the Suzy Hole will be set aside for young anglers. Volunteers will be on hand to help youth anglers follow fishing zone regulations. Activities will include instruction in fly tying, fish cleaning and cooking, a virtual fishing simulator, shooting trailer, stream table and a display by the World Bird Sanctuary. Awards will be given for the first fish and other contests, plus random drawings for door prizes. For more information, call (417) 532-4418.
Montauk State Park's celebration will run from 6:30 a.m. until 8:15 p.m. Free trout fishing tags will be available at the hatchery office starting at 2 p.m. May 19. The section of the spring branch from the CCC Spillway to the Social Hole is reserved for young anglers. Volunteers will help new anglers and their parents get the hang of trout fishing. Anglers need to bring their own fishing equipment. A free lunch of hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks will be provided from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for participating children. Fishing seminars, exhibits, demonstrations and prize drawings will be held throughout the day. Organizers are seeking volunteers to help run the event. No fishing experience is needed. For details or to volunteer, call (573) 548-2585 or e-mail Tom.Whelan@mdc.mo.gov .
Roaring River State Park's celebration will include dozens of fishing and other outdoor-related classes from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Youngsters who attend at least two classes will receive prizes. A section of the stream will be stocked heavily with trout throughout the day for youths. Drawings for other prizes will take place at 5 p.m. Those who attend a fly-casting class will be entered in a drawing for a fly rod and reel valued at $300. Prizes also will be awarded for the biggest fish and biggest stringers in boys and girls divisions.
The girl and boy who catch the biggest fish at Roaring River will get free taxidermy mounts. Free hot dogs, chips and soft drinks will be served from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Some equipment will be available for loan, and volunteers will be on hand to help kids fish. Free youth fishing permits will be available all day May 19. Roaring River State Park also will hold a Back to School Kids Day Aug. 19. For more information about these events, call (417) 847-2430 or e-mail Jerry.Dean@mdc.mo.gov .
The entire upper half of the spring branch at Maramec Spring Park will be set aside for youths. The James Foundation, which operates the park, will waive the customary parking fee for cars with young anglers. The Conservation Department will stock the youth section of the stream with rainbow trout throughout the day. Kids need to bring their own fishing gear, and volunteers will be on hand to help those who need it. Fishing contests will run from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. A casting contest will take place at 11 a.m., and the winners will receive trophies. Free hot dogs and soft drinks will be provided, and prizes-including bicycles, rods and reels, fishing equipment and savings bonds-will be given out all day long.
Maramec Spring Park will have exhibits and activities, such as making fish-print T-shirts, critter stamping, taxidermy, flyfishing demonstrations, classes and games, will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors also can view up to 25 species of native fish and educational seminars at the 3,200-gallon Show-Me Missouri Mobile Fish Aquarium. Free youth permits will be available May 19 at the reception center and May 20 at the Millfield Shelter next to the fishing area. Kids will receive free fishing goody bags with their permits. For more information call (573) 265-7801 or e-mail Paul.Spurgeon@mdc.mo.gov .
- Jim Low -
Science can't answer all the questions about cougars
Friday, April 21, 2006
JEFFERSON CITY-Dave Hamilton's job as a resource scientist is to find answers. As Missouri's furbearer biologist, he has quite a few answers about mountain lions. But he admits that science can't answer the toughest questions, which concern the future of the mountain lion in the Show-Me State.
Hamilton has been fielding lots of questions since April 7, when the Missouri Conservation Commission, which sets policy for the Conservation Department, moved the mountain lion, Puma concolor, from the state's endangered species list to the list of "extirpated" species. One of the most frequent questions is whether removing the mountain lion from the state endangered list means it is open season on mountain lions.
"The answer is absolutely not," says Hamilton. "There is no hunting or trapping season for cougars in Missouri, and under Missouri's Wildlife Code that means they may not be killed. The only exception is that people can protect themselves and domestic animals if they are attacked. Neither the endangered nor the extirpated designation changes the protected status afforded the mountain lion in Missouri as it exists in the Wildlife Code book."
One of the hardest questions to answer is whether Missouri has a population of mountain lions, also called cougars or pumas. Hamilton's answer is a clear "no," but the explanation is not simple.
Cougars' secretive nature makes it hard to know exactly when and where they are present. All the same, there is a good deal of evidence on which to base an opinion about the animal's status in Missouri.
One of the Conservation Department's most valuable tools in evaluating mountain lion presence is citizen reports. The agency set up the Mountain Lion Response Team in 1996 to ensure that every report is recorded and timely investigations are conducted where physical evidence may be present.
All seven confirmed reports since 1994 came from citizens. These included motorists who accidentally killed cougars, hunters who encountered cougars in the field and people who captured cougars on film or video.
The two cougars killed by motorists in the Kansas City and Fulton areas both were young males. This is significant, because young males usually move out of the area where they were born to find new territories. These two animals' presence in Missouri fits the theory that mountain lions found here have moved in from other states, rather than being native to Missouri.
Missouri is not the only state that is experiencing mountain lion dispersal. Cougars-mostly young males-are wandering into parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma where they have not been seen in decades. Some of these animals had been fitted with radio-tracking collars and were known to have traveled up to 700 miles from their original capture sites.
At least one of three mountain lions captured on video tape showed an unnatural tolerance for human presence, remaining near homes long after wild cougars likely would have fled. This is consistent with the theory that some cougars seen in Missouri either escaped or were released from captivity.
Hamilton said the seven confirmed Missouri sightings represent a tiny fraction of the more than 800 reports received in the past 10 years. Some reports could not be confirmed but could be authentic. Most were found to be dogs, house cats, coyotes, deer, bobcats or other wildlife.
Hamilton noted the lack of photographic evidence of mountain lions in Missouri. The growing popularity of "trail cameras" to monitor deer and other wildlife increases the likelihood that cougars will be caught on film if they are present in significant numbers. These devices are placed beside wildlife trails and are triggered by motion or infrared radiation from warm-blooded animals. They regularly record the passage of deer, bobcats and coyotes, but so far no one has produced a trail camera picture of a cougar.
Some people might look at seven confirmed sightings and conclude that Missouri has an established cougar population. Hamilton says a careful examination of the facts leads him to the opposite conclusion.
"In areas with breeding populations of mountain lions, sightings are rare, but physical evidence is very easy to find," he said. "You see lots of tracks. You find deer carcasses with the unique signs of a mountain lion kill, and you see cougars of all ages, from cubs to adults, killed by cars. If we had an established population of mountain lions in Missouri, you would see multiple photos of them taken by trail cameras. We are not seeing any of those things in Missouri."
Most telling, says Hamilton, is the extremely small number of road kills here. He said even states with small mountain lion populations record frequent road kills. South Dakota, where the statewide population is estimated at 165 cougars, has had 20 road-killed in the past two years. In Florida, where the number of cougars is believed to be fewer than 100, five have died on roads since Jan. 1.
"All this points strongly to the conclusion that Missouri has a very small number of cougars that wander in from states with established populations, such as Texas, Colorado and South Dakota," said Hamilton.
What you do with that conclusion is less clear. The Conservation Commission concluded that Missouri has no established, viable mountain lion population of its own and mountain lions are more properly classified as "extirpated" than endangered.
A working definition of "endangered" is "in imminent danger of extinction." This, says Hamilton, doesn't fit the mountain lion, which already has been eliminated from Missouri, although it is thriving in some western states.
"Extirpated" means that an animal has been eliminated from part of its historic range, a definition that fits mountain lions in Missouri.
"There was a time between the 1950s and the 1970s when biologists thought small numbers of cougars might have survived or have become re-established in remote parts of Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma," said Hamilton. "With that assumption, the endangered classification made sense. I don't think it does anymore, in light of what we know today."
Arkansas removed the mountain lion from its endangered list in 2001 based on lack of evidence of a breeding population there. Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Iowa, all of which also have had a handful of confirmed mountain lion sightings, do not classify the species as endangered.
Hamilton acknowledges that different people have different ideas of what a population is. "I feel comfortable saying that Missouri does not have a permanent, self-sustaining breeding population of mountain lions today. All the evidence indicates that we have a few individuals wandering into Missouri from states that do have established populations."
On any given day, Hamilton cannot say with confidence whether there is even one mountain lion in Missouri.
“Removing the cougar from the state’s endangered list is not an acknowledgment that the species has recovered in Missouri, as some people have suggested,” said Hamilton. “In fact, declassification recognizes that we don’t have a remnant or re-established breeding population of cougars that would merit endangered status.”
At the same time, he says, cougars dispersing from other states create a real possibility that one or more might be somewhere in Missouri on a given day. This, along with continuing unconfirmed reports of mountain lion sightings are enough for some people to feel Missouri has a cougar population. This belief leads to reactions ranging from excitement to fear and dismay. It also raises questions that science cannot answer.
On one side are people who see cougars in Missouri as an opportunity to restore a species found here before European settlement. On the other are those who view the big cats as a danger to livestock, pets and people. Conservation Department Deputy Director John Smith said the Regulations Committee, which he chairs, tried to consider both sides when formulating its recommendation to the Conservation Commission.
"It is wonderful to see mountain lions thriving in other states," said Smith. "It is exciting, too, that Missouri once again has an abundance of deer, which are mountain lions' main prey. Conserving and restoring native wildlife is the Conservation Department's mission, but to practice conservation responsibly, we have to try to anticipate the effects of pursuing that mission."
That is why the Conservation Commission not only took the cougar off the endangered list, but adopted a policy statement that "it is not desirable to encourage re-establishment of a sustainable population of mountain lions in Missouri."
Smith said the mountain lion is not the only large animal once native to Missouri that has been extirpated here. The Conservation Department does not seek to restore some native animals because Missouri is different today than it was 200 years ago.
He noted that bison, elk and wolves once inhabited Missouri, but the Conservation Department has not tried to reintroduce those species for several reasons. For one thing, they all require lots of room. The growth of Missouri's human population in rural areas, livestock production and the state's extensive highway network would not make it desirable to bring back some animals due to habitat loss and potential conflict with human activities.
"The Conservation Commission began considering elk restoration in 1999 at the request of some citizens and conservation groups," said Smith. "We studied the idea and found it was biologically possible but dropped the idea two years later due to concerns from Missourians about restoring elk." He said emerging biological concerns about chronic wasting disease in elk herds in other states also figured in the decision not to restore elk.
"Conservation has to be practical and responsible. In Missouri, we are very proud of having a conservation program based on science, not politics. But managing wildlife is not purely a scientific matter, and science can't answer some of the toughest questions we face."
Nonscientific questions about mountain lions in Missouri concern human reactions. Would most people support a growing cougar population? Would some people kill cougars out of fear of attacks on humans or livestock?
"The Conservation Commission's decision not to support re-establishment of mountain lions relates more to these sociological questions than to science," Smith said. "Science can help with such decisions, but it isn't enough to know what is good for wildlife. We also have to ask what is good for Missourians."
More information about mountain lions in Missouri is available at www.mdc.mo.gov/nathis/mammals/mlion/reference/ . The booklet "Mountain Lions in Missouri" is available free on request from Missouri Department of Conservation, Distribution Center, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.
TRIM program helps communities maximize tree benefits
Friday, April 21, 2006
Towns, homeowners' associations and other groups can get help planting and maintaining trees.
GLADSTONE, Mo.-In some ways, this city north of Kansas City is typical of many small Missouri towns. People there love trees, but sometimes there just doesn't seem to be enough time or money to take care of aging trees and plant new ones to replace the old.
Unlike many towns, however, Gladstone has found a way of vastly improving the standard of tree care. The difference is the Missouri Department of Conservation's Tree Resource Improvement and Management (TRIM) Program.
On May 4, 2003 a powerful tornado swept through Gladstone, destroying 34 homes and damaging hundreds of others. Hundreds of residential trees and 17 trees in Gladstone parks were destroyed outright. Assessment after the storm showed that many other trees were damaged and dangerous.
"For two weeks after the storm event, volunteers and city employees with chainsaws worked side by side to clean up the tree debris," said Gladstone Administrative Assistant Rise McGarvey. "We saw the difference it made in a neighborhood to suddenly be without trees. It was very depressing. Even areas with houses still standing had lost most of their trees. It looked like a war zone. The shade, grace and beauty of some of our older neighborhoods had been destroyed."
Insurance did not cover the replacement of these trees.
McGarvey said around the same time beavers were damaging and killing trees in one of the city's main parks. The scope of the city's tree maintenance backlog was daunting. Furthermore, city officials knew that new tree plantings would have little chance of success as long as the beaver problem persisted.
Then Urban Forester Helene Miller got the City involved in the TRIM II program. A $10,000 grant allowed the City to hire a certified arborist to conduct a tree inventory and assess the hazard posed by damaged trees. The next year Gladstone received another $10,000 TRIM II grant to remove or trim dangerous trees. The City got more than 200 trees from Missouri ReLeaf, a St. Louis-based nonprofit group dedicated to enhancing urban tree resources, to help reforest our public lands.
The City also bought a federal surplus water trailer to water newly planted trees and arranged training to teach park workers how to prune trees properly. The City also offered tree planting and pruning classes to area residents and promoted a recommended tree list and good planting practices through local garden centers. Finally, the city hired a nuisance-wildlife professional to remove the beavers.
Gladstone began planting trees to replace those that had been lost. The Gladstone Rotary Club and Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, a St. Louis-based nonprofit group dedicated to enhancing urban tree resources, provided money to buy tree seedlings.
"We never had a tree maintenance program before," said McGarvey. "When they fell down, we would pick up the pieces. Occasionally we might plant one."
The new plantings did more than ensure that trees will continue to grace Gladstone's parks. McGarvey said the trees chosen for planting constitute an arboretum project of sorts
"We tried to plant two of each kind of tree that is on our recommended tree list for homeowners to plant," she said. "That way, people will be able to come and see what these trees look like and where they grow best."
McGarvey said trees planted include five species of oak, two kinds of ash, cedars, firs, alders, Kentucky coffee, hop hornbeam and many others. She said encouraging homeowners to plant a variety of trees will reduce the chances that some forest pest or disease will decimate the city's trees.
Gladstone is not the only community to receive this kind of help in the past year. Other 2005 TRIM grant recipients included:
--The City of Neelyville received $3,815 to remove six trees and plant 26 new ones.
--The City of Kahoka got a $10,000 grant to inventory all trees on public rights-of-way and to remove three trees threatening public safety.
--The Chillicothe Parks and Recreation Department got $5,000 to inventory trees in a popular park, remove several dangerous trees and prune several others.
--St. Charles City Parks received $9,945 to plant 10 new trees and remove invasive, non-native brush honeysuckle at Jaycee Park.
--The Timber Trace Homes Association, working in partnership with the City of Kansas City, received $10,000 to plant 81 trees along the street to replace those lost or damaged by storms, disease or development.
--The City of Carthage got $10,000 to plant 72 trees and to remove 25 others that threatened public safety at the popular Kellogg Lake Park.
TRIM is a partnership of the Conservation Department and the Missouri Community Forestry Council. It provides reimbursements of up to $10,000 to public schools, government agencies and non-profit groups for tree planting and management on public land.
Projects eligible for TRIM funding include tree inventory, removal or pruning of hazardous trees, tree planting and training of volunteers and city or county employees in tree care.
Applicants submit information about project cost and funding, site maps and drawings, management plans and a letter of approval from the governmental body that owns the proposed project site. The application deadline is June 1.
Grants are awarded competitively. A panel of judges assesses each proposal for value to the community, thoroughness of the tree management program, economic feasibility and the applicant's ability to promote, improve and develop a community urban forest.
Grant recipients receive up to 60 percent of total project funding. Communities with the National Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA designation are eligible for an additional 15 percent cost-share.
To receive a TRIM grant application and workbook, write to Community Forestry Coordinator, Forestry Division, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.
-Jim Low-
Missouri communities get Arbor Excellence Awards
Friday, April 21, 2006
The awards recognize contributions to urban tree resources.
SUNSET HILLS, Mo.-The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Community Forestry Council has recognized five communities, organizations and individuals for substantially improving their community's trees.
Missouri Department of Conservation Forest Management Chief Mike Hoffmann and Missouri Community Forestry Council Chair Martha Clark presented four Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence Awards and one Citation of Merit at the annual Missouri Community Forestry Council Conference March 8 in Sunset Hills.
Justine Gartner, Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence coordinator for the Conservation Department, said to win recognition applicants must outline how their care of trees contributed significantly to their town or area and show that their work is part of a sustainable long term effort.
"The overall health and attractiveness of any community's trees depends on many people practicing good tree stewardship on public and private property. Well designed tree plantings and sustained long term care of existing trees are an important part of assuring a healthy community forest."
Arbor Award winners this year were the City of Gladstone, the City of St. Peters, TreeLiberty of Liberty, and Polly Jaben, Plattsburg. The City of Hannibal also received a Citation of Merit.
The five honorees were selected from 25 applications received from across the state. Applications were evaluated based on sustainability, use of sound tree management principles, effectiveness, size of area affected and innovation.
For more information about the Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence, contact Justine Gartner, (573) 522-4115 ext. 3116, Justine.Gartner@mdc.mo.gov .
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Commission to meet May 18-19 in Jefferson City
Friday, April 21, 2006
JEFFERSON CITY-The Missouri Conservation Commission will hold its next meeting May 18 and 19 at Conservation Department Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd. Jefferson City.
The Commission will hold a closed executive session May 18. It will meet in open session at 8:30 a.m. May 19. Commission meetings are open to the public. Items to be placed on the agenda for presentations or other business should be sent in writing to Director, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, fax (573) 751-4467, at least 10 working days before the meeting date. The deadline for the next meeting is May 3.
People requiring special services or accommodations to attend Conservation Commission meetings can make arrangements by writing to the same address, or by phone at (573) 751-4115.
Commissioners are: Lowell Mohler, Jefferson City, chairman; Stephen Bradford, Cape Girardeau, vice-chairman; Cynthia Metcalfe, St. Louis, secretary; Chip McGeehan, Marshfield, member.
-Jim Low-
Turkey biologist predicts strong spring turkey harvest in spite of third year of below-average reproduction
Friday, April 14, 2006
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| Missouri still has a robust turkey population, in spite of three years of below-average reproduction. Missouri's turkey biologist predicts a harvest in the neighborhood of 50,000 for the three-week spring turkey hunting season. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
JEFFERSON CITY-Last year Missouri's wild turkey flock had below-average nesting success for the third year in a row. Yet experts predict a harvest of more than 50,000 birds. How does the Show-Me State do it? Missouri's turkey biologist says timing is the key.
Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer with the Missouri Department of Conservation predicts that Missouri's 2006 spring turkey harvest will not break the record of 56,882 set in 2004. He expects it to be closer to the 53,798 bagged during last year's three-week season. The actual harvest will-as always-depend heavily on weather, but previous year's reproduction also plays a role.
Beringer says 2005 was not a banner year for turkey reproduction. He tracks turkey's nest success through a network of thousands of citizen cooperators. They record observations of hens with young turkeys, called poults, throughout the spring and summer. The more poults they see per hen, the better the reproduction.
Over the past 10 years, the number of poults per hen has averaged about 2. The ratio dropped to 1.6 for 2003 and 2004. Last year it fell again, hitting 1.2 poults per hen.
Beringer attributes last year's turkey reproduction fall-off to a week of wet, unseasonably cold weather during the incubation period. Poult-to-hen numbers rebounded during the summer. This led him to believe that hens that lost clutches during the spring had tried again, making up some lost ground.
"Honestly, I thought they would do better than we ended up seeing," said Beringer, "but when we ran the numbers at the end of the season it was still pretty low."
After three years of below-average reproduction, you might expect hunting to be poor. Beringer says this is far from true.
"What you have to remember is that Missouri starts every year with a very large flock," he said. "We estimate a total statewide turkey population of 600,000 birds. About 60 percent are hens, and if each of those hens produces 1.2 poults, that's 432,000. We can have a poor hatch and still make a lot of birds."
Another factor in Missouri's favor is the way the Show-Me State sets its turkey season. The opening day of the spring turkey season is the Monday nearest to April 21. The formula is intended to start the season at the point where nearly every hen has had an opportunity to mate with a gobbler and is sitting on a nest. This reduces the chances of hunters accidentally killing hens.
Missouri's spring turkey season framework also keeps hunters out of the woods during the time when hens first become receptive to gobblers' amorous advances. Mature gobblers-those two years and older-are particularly vulnerable to hunters during this flurry of mating activity. Hunting them then would disrupt nesting activity and increase the number of mature gobblers shot by hunters.
Under Missouri's turkey management plan, hunters harvest 30 to 50 percent of mature gobblers each year. In states with earlier season openers, the mature gobbler harvest sometimes exceeds 70 percent.
"If we opened our season two or three weeks earlier we could have fantastic hunting for a couple of years, until we burned through our mature gobblers," said Beringer. "After that, the quality of hunting would be much poorer, and each year's harvest would depend much more heavily on the number of jakes-male turkeys hatched the previous spring. I'm pretty confident that if we had a tradition of an early-April opener we would not be harvesting 55,000-plus turkeys following three years of poor hatches."
Missouri's late-April opener puts hunters in the woods just when hens become unavailable to gobblers. This period sees a second peak in gobbling activity as gobblers compete for the few remaining receptive hens. The flocks seen earlier in the spring have broken up.
Beringer said he expects the number of two-year-old gobblers to be down slightly this year due to the smaller-than-average 2004 hatch. He said the number of jakes, which usually make up one-fifth to one-quarter of the spring turkey harvest, will be a little lower, too. However, compared to other states, Missouri will continue to have superb hunting.
"There are only a handful of states that have turkey harvests anywhere close to ours," he said. "The fact that we could still break 50,000 after three poor years of reproduction tells you something about the stability of Missouri's turkey flock."
Spring turkey season opens April 24 and runs through May 14. This is the latest possible timing under Missouri's formula. This and the warmer-than-usual spring may cause turkeys to mate and nest a little earlier than usual this year. However, Beringer said the wild turkey's breeding season lasts much longer than most hunters realize.
"The most intense mating occurs from late March through early April, but mating continues on through May. Hens that have nests destroyed by predators or bad weather renest and mate again. The last time we had an April 24 opener we also had a record harvest."
- Jim Low -
Turkey regulations unchanged, but awareness still important
Friday, April 14, 2006
The basics rules of turkey hunting have not changed for a few years, but hunters still might not be aware of all the details.
JEFFERSON CITY-Hunters will find bag limits, season length and other details of Missouri's spring turkey season unchanged from 2005. There still are ways to trip up, however, and the Missouri Department of Conservation recommends that hunters pick up and read the 2006 Spring Turkey Hunting Information booklet before picking up shotguns.
The guide is available wherever hunting permits are sold. It outlines important details of the spring turkey season, which runs from April 24 through May 14. Hunters can take one bearded bird the first week of the season. After that, they are allowed to take one bearded bird per day, up to the season limit of two. Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.
One change in this year's regulations is the requirement to check all turkeys killed using the Telecheck electronic checking system. The 2005 spring turkey season was the last time hunters could take birds to check stations in person.
Telechecking turkeys can be accomplished by phone or via the Internet. Details are provided in the turkey hunting information booklet and are printed on the backs of turkey hunting permits.
Baiting is another subject with which hunters may not be familiar. It is illegal to hunt turkeys where grain or other food has been scattered to attract them. Once baiting has occurred, you can not hunt that area for at least 10 days after the last of the food has been removed.
Scattering bait where others will be hunting is illegal. Hunters can be in violation of the rule against baiting even if they do not know the area was baited, so it is important to be alert to signs of baiting.
Remember, too, that corn and other grains are not the only kinds of food that can qualify as bait. Just because a feed or discount store sells blocks of compressed grain or other nutritional supplements doesn't mean you can hunt over them legally. If you are uncertain whether a particular wildlife attractant is "food" in the legal sense, call a conservation agent or the nearest Conservation Department office for advice.
One regulation indirectly related to turkey hunting involves the only other upland game hunting season that is open in the spring. It is illegal to hunt coyotes during daylight hours from April 1 through April 23, and they may not be hunted at all during the spring turkey season. This rule is designed to discourage illegal turkey hunting under the guise of coyote hunting and give turkey hunters a chance to ply their sport without disturbance.
Coyote hunters have from May 9 through March 31 for their sport. The 2006 Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet has incorrect wording concerning this season. It should say that coyotes "may be hunted all year, except they may not be hunted during daylight hours from April 1 through April 23, and may not be hunted at all during the spring turkey season."
-Jim Low-
Turkey hunting safety is about more than guns
Friday, April 14, 2006
Hunters properly focus attention on firearms-related hunting accidents, but they would do well to consider other hazards, too.
JEFFERSON CITY-Missourians headed out to hunt wild turkeys should be watchful of other hunters. At the same time, they should feel at least as safe in the woods as they would in a car. They also might want to take precautions against less well-known dangers.
Turkey hunters wear camouflage clothing and try to attract gobblers by making turkey sounds. Consequently, there is always a chance that another hunter will mistake them for game or unintentionally fire in their direction, not knowing they are there.
Smart turkey hunters wear hunter orange clothing when moving through the woods. Tying an orange vest or cloth to a nearby tree trunk while calling also enhances safety.
Other safety tips for turkey hunters include never creeping up on a gobbling turkey and always sitting with your back against a tree trunk when calling to protect your blind spot. Also, you should always call out to approaching hunters instead of waving, which can be mistaken for turkey movement. When hunting with a partner, stay together. Many accidents occur when companions lose track of one another's location.
Hunting accidents are not the only risk associated with being in the woods in spring. Hunters always have run a small risk of contracting tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever or other tick-borne diseases. In recent years, the list has grown to include Ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease.
Tips for avoiding tick bite include:
--Wear high-topped boots, long pants and long-sleeved shirts.
--Tuck shirts into pants, and tuck pants legs into boots or roll them up and secure them with elastic bands.
--Wear light-colored clothing that makes ticks easy to see.
--Carry a piece of adhesive tape to make it easy to capture and dispose of ticks.
--Use a permethrin-based repellant on clothing and check for ticks as soon as possible after hunting.
Ticks that remain attached to the skin for only a few minutes or hours have a much smaller chance of transmitting disease. Proper removal techniques include:
--Clean the area around the tick with disinfectant.
--Grasp the tick firmly near the head to avoid squeezing the body.
--Use tweezers, a tissue or rubber gloves to avoid direct contact with the tick
--Dislodge the tick with a slow, steady pull. Avoid twisting or jerking.
--Disinfect the bite site again.
Never apply heat, turpentine or other irritants to ticks in an effort to dislodge them. This will cause them to regurgitate blood into the victim, increasing the chances of infection.
Have a physician check any tick bite that becomes infected or causes a rash. The classic symptom of Lyme and Lyme-like diseases is a rash that spreads out from the bite like a bulls-eye. Some people have allergic reactions to tick bites. When these occur on the neck near the base of the skull they can, in rare instances, lead to "tick paralysis."
Treatment of tick-borne diseases is more effective the sooner it is started. If not caught early, these diseases can cause permanent disability or even death. Other symptoms to watch for include swelling at the site of the bite and flu-like complaints such as fever, headache, body aches and dizziness.
Mosquitoes also can carry serious disease. West Nile virus has spread across North America in recent years, making mosquito bites more than an uncomfortable inconvenience. Repellants with the active ingredient DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) are the most effective topical agents for warding off mosquitoes. Follow label instructions for use and reapply at the first sign of decreased effectiveness.
The ThermaCELL repellent system also has proven very effective at keeping mosquitoes at bay and is a useful alternative for outdoors people who dislike putting chemicals on their skin or clothing.
Health officials point out that the benefits of outdoor exercise outweigh the danger of tick- and mosquito-borne diseases. With proper precautions there is no reason to let fear of disease keep you indoors.
To get an idea of how safe spring turkey hunting is, consider the following statistics from the Conservation Department and the National Safety Council. Two of Missouri's spring turkey hunting accidents in the past five years have been fatal. That is .4 fatalities per year. With 160,000 turkey hunters, the average hunter's chances of dying in a spring turkey hunting accident in a given year were one in 400,000. The average American has approximately one chance in 18,000 of dying in a car accident each year.
-Jim Low-
Youth turkey harvest second largest in six-year history
Friday, April 14, 2006
Youngsters still have a perfect safety record for their exclusive season.
JEFFERSON CITY-Young hunters killed 200 fewer turkeys during Missouri's 2006 youth spring turkey hunting season this year than they did last year, but maintained their perfect safety record.
Hunters 15 and younger killed 3,694 turkeys during the April 8 and 9 season. That is 5 percent fewer than last year's youth harvest. It is the second-largest harvest since the youth season began in 2001.
As in the five previous years of the youth season's history, the Missouri Department of Conservation recorded no firearms-related turkey hunting accidents.
Callaway and Franklin counties tied for the largest number of turkeys bagged by youths, with 75 each. Second place went to Benton and Osage counties, where youths checked 63 turkeys, and Cedar County was third with 62. Nineteen counties had 50 or more turkeys harvested during the youth hunt.
Past year's youth season harvest totals are:
--2001 - 2,530
--2002 - 3,102
--2003 - 3,660
--2004 - 3,258
--2005 - 3,894
Adult gobblers made up 74 percent of the youth harvest statewide. That is up from 70 percent last year.
County-by-county harvest figures are available at mdc.mo.gov/hunt/turkey/. This site also will have opening-day, first-week and final harvest figures for the regular spring turkey hunting season.
-Jim Low-
Register now for Missouri's Outdoor Women event
Friday, April 14, 2006
Learn outdoor skills from experts in a friendly, social setting.
CAMDENTON, Mo.-If you are a woman with an interest in outdoor recreation but no one to show you the ropes, the Missouri's Outdoor Women event June 9 through 11 could be your big opportunity. Whether your taste runs to hiking, canoeing, camp cookery, hunting, fishing, nature photography or wildflower identification, you will find something on the program for you.
The setting for the three-day gathering is the Windermere Conference Center, a modern facility on 1,300 acres at Lake of the Ozarks. Workshops will cover basic outdoor skills for women of all skill levels. Registrations will be accepted until June 2. For more information, contact Regina Knauer, (417) 895-6880 or (573) 751-4115, Regina.Knauer@mdc.mo.gov or Jackie Keller, (573) 522-4115, ext. 3292, Jackie.Keller@mdc.mo.gov .
-Jim Low-
Hummingbirds poised for Missouri comeback
Friday, April 07, 2006
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| Curious about when hummingbirds will return to your locale? Visit www.hummingbirds.net/map.html for daily information about the ruby-throated hummingbird migration. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo) |
It's time to get out nectar feeders and binoculars.
JEFFERSON CITY-Missourians who treasure hours spent watching ruby-throated hummingbirds should get out their nectar feeders, binoculars and cameras. If they have not seen a hummingbird yet, they will soon.
The hummingbird migration tracking Web site www. hummingbirds.net shows a wave of tiny feathered jewels moving slowly northward across North America. The wave's leading edge crossed the Show-Me State's southern boundary around April 1. The first Missouri sightings came from southeast Missouri and the St. Louis area April 2.
Hummingbirds.net is the brainchild of Lanny Chambers of Fenton. He updates the migration map daily with reports from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada. He has been tracking ruby-throated hummingbird migration since 1997 and relies on reports from visitors to the Web site for information about first sightings of the spring.
The earliest sighting reported for Missouri in the past nine years is March 26. The latest is April 9. The birds typically are seen about 3.5 weeks sooner in southern Missouri than near the state's northern border. In the past, the period between southern and northern Missouri reports has varied from 18 to 34 days. This year, first sightings in southeast and northeast Missouri occurred on April 2 and April 4, respectively.
The only hummingbird commonly seen in Missouri is the ruby-throated, which ranges from the Atlantic Coast to the Rocky Mountains. Both sexes have iridescent, emerald-hued plumage on their backs. Mature males have a jewel-like red patch, called a gorget, on their throats.
Ruby-throats are easy to see, even in many parts of cities. They are strongly attracted to anything colored red, orange or yellow, which they associate with their primary food, flower nectar. Commercial or home-made feeders with a splash of these colors will attract hummers.
A nourishing substitute for natural nectar can be made by dissolving one part granulated sugar with four to five parts boiling water. Let the mixture cool before filling feeders. Artificial color is not needed as long as the feeder has red, orange or yellow on it.
Artificial nectar feeders are most attractive to hummers when located near wildflowers or cultivated flower gardens. Having trees where the tiny birds can perch helps, too.
Placing feeders near windows makes watching the birds easier. If you notice a bird repeatedly flying in a U-shaped pattern near a feeder, you are witnessing the male ruby-throat's courtship display. Somewhere nearby he and his mate will build a walnut-sized nest of lichens, spider webs and plant fluff. These often are constructed 15 to 20 feet above ground, near the tips of a branches where they are concealed by leaves.
Female rubythroats incubate their two white, peanut-sized eggs. The eggs hatch in about two weeks. Fledglings leave the nest two to three weeks later.
Although most of hummingbirds eat mostly nectar, they do need protein. They get this by eating insects and spiders.
Other interesting hummingbird facts include:
--Their wings beat 75 times a second.
--They can fly up to 60 mph.
--Their wing muscles are larger in proportion to their bodies than any other birds.
--They are the only birds able to fly upside down and backwards.
--In spite of weighing only about one-eighth of an ounce, some ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico each spring and fall.
--They live up to nine years, much longer than most animals their size.
Hummingbirds.net has a wealth of information beyond migration reports.
-Jim Low-
Experts predict average dogwood display
Friday, April 07, 2006
Weather could still affect the timing and intensity of the natural event, but conditions seem to favor a good showing.
JEFFERSON CITY-If you have been wondering when dogwood trees will burst forth in full floral display, the answer is "soon." Although a more detailed answer is still blowing in the wind, Missourians can expect the usual beautiful dogwood spectacle, perhaps a little earlier than usual.
Dogwoods normally reach their peak of beauty around the second week in April in extreme southern Missouri. Trees bloom about a week later for every 100 miles they are farther to the north. Dogwoods near the Iowa border often don't reach their peak until late April. Many cultivated varieties of dogwood bloom earlier than wild trees, and the blooming date generally is earlier in cities, which tend to be slightly warmer than rural areas.
Regardless of tree type or location, the exact time of dogwood blooming depends on weather. Below- or above-average temperatures can shift the peak blooming period as much as two weeks. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's long-range weather forecast (available at www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/forecasts/) predicts above-average temperatures for Missouri through April 18. This, along with a relatively mild winter, leads foresters with the Missouri Department of Conservation to predict this year's peak could occur a week or two sooner than normal.
Besides affecting dogwood blossom timing, weather can nip the event in the bud. A hard freeze just as blossoms are emerging can drastically reduce the quality of the dogwood display.
Drought also can reduce flowering intensity. However, this does not seem to be a problem this year. Although a long-term drought continues in much of the state, recent rains probably will ensure good conditions for flower development in most areas.
Several parts of the state are known for their abundance of dogwood trees. Driving through these areas during the peak blooming period can be a visual feast. Scenic dogwood drives include:
--Highway 19 between Montgomery City and Thayer;
--Highway 5 between Versailles and Gainesville;
--Highway 142 between Doniphan and Bakersfield;
--Highway 72 between Cape Girardeau and Rolla;
--Highway 63 between Kingdom City and Thayer;
--I-44 between Eureka and Rolla;
--Highway 50 between Eureka and Jefferson City;
--Highway 60 between Poplar Bluff and Springfield.
Some communities take dogwood season as a reason to celebrate the arrival of spring. Camdenton's Dogwood Festival is a good example. For more details, call (573) 769-1004 or visit www.camdentonchamber.com.
-Jim Low-
Campers, hunters will find changes at Thomas Hill CA
Friday, April 07, 2006
Areas open to camping and hunting at this popular north-Missouri lake have changed recently.
JACKSONVILLE, Mo.-Hunters and campers at Thomas Hill Conservation Area need to note changes in areas open to public use. A new lease agreement between the Missouri Department of Conservation and the lake's owner, Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI), has closed some areas but opened new opportunities in others.
Most of Thomas Hill CA's more than 9,000 acres remain open to a variety of recreation, from hunting and fishing to camping and hiking. However, some areas have been closed. Visitors should watch for newly posted boundary signs around areas where recent changes have occurred.
One important change that visitors to Thomas Hill CA need to note is that all campsites at the north and south primitive campgrounds have been closed. The Highway T campground with 10 improved sites remains open, and overflow camping will be available there on weekends during the camping season. Other areas that now are closed include:
--Some narrow strips of land with limited access, areas near housing developments and areas with unclear boundaries. This includes the Wisdom Point area.
--Fifty acres of strip-mined land on the lake's warm-water arm.
Rules for building duck blinds have not changed. Hunters are allowed to build blinds along the shoreline, even in recently closed areas, such as Wisdom Point.
AECI has assumed responsibility for regulating private boat docks on the lake and is contacting dock owners to inform them of new regulations.
Additional camping facilities are available nearby at Long Branch State Park and at private campgrounds in the surrounding area.
For more information about areas open to hunting and camping, call (660) 385-4920. For information about boat docks, call (660) 261-4221, ext. 331.
-Jim Low-
