Wildlife News Related Information - Archive Search April 9, 2010 - Public Advisories - Outdoor Calendar ● Every dollar counts: Remember Arizona’s wildlife at tax time - Call for Comments ● Snow conditions may hinder some spring turkey hunts ● Time to start watching for venomous critters ● International Migratory Bird Day celebration to be held this Saturday ● Calling all photographers ● Commission to consider fall hunt orders on April 17 ● Records broken for spring ferret spotlighting effort ● Loving, caring homes needed for desert tortoises ● Game and Fish Outdoor Expo draws 32,000 ● Open houses continue for 2010 fall hunt recommendations

Every dollar counts: Remember Arizona’s wildlife at tax time “Make a mark” on your state tax return

If you have yet to file your tax returns this year, you can make a significant difference in conserving our state’s bald eagles, black-footed ferrets, California condors, desert tortoises, native fish, and other wildlife. Taxpayers can “make a mark” for wildlife with a donation on their state income tax form.

The Arizona Wildlife Fund is a voluntary program that allows Arizona taxpayers to make a donation to help imperiled and endangered wildlife and other nongame species. Nongame wildlife are those animals that are neither hunted nor fished in a traditional sense.

“While we recognize that economic times are difficult for many residents right now, we hope that people will recognize the value of protecting our wildlife during these critical periods,” says Mike Senn, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s assistant director of wildlife management. “The cumulative effect of even a small donation has tremendous impact on conserving the state’s wildlife resources, which provide a variety of low-cost recreational opportunities for residents to enjoy and real economic benefits to local communities.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Department does not receive general tax dollars, so donations to the Arizona Wildlife Fund provide an important funding source for wildlife conservation.

Arizona is one of 41 states that allows taxpayers to make a contribution to worthwhile causes. Since Arizona started the program more than 25 years ago, taxpayers have donated more than $5 million to the conservation of nongame animals. In 2007, the most recent year for which figures are available, the average donation was more than $21.

“Every dollar counts, and donations help ensure that the public has opportunities to view and enjoy one of Arizona’s greatest natural treasures – it’s diverse wildlife,” says Senn. The Arizona Wildlife Fund box can be found under the “Voluntary Gifts to:” section of the state’s income tax form.

For more information on the Arizona Wildlife Fund, visit www.azgfd.gov/makeamark.

To learn more about the conservation and reintroduction efforts the fund supports, visit www.azgfd. gov/w_c/nongame_species.shtml.

Snow conditions may hinder some spring turkey hunts Mentored youth turkey camps will still go on

With more than a decade of prolonged drought conditions throughout Arizona, any moisture is a welcome blessing across our state’s landscapes, from low-lying deserts to high-elevation forests. However, for those sportsmen and women who live for the trials and tribulations of out-foxing a cagey, wild gobbler in Arizona’s pine forests, this past winter’s snowfall has produced some inconveniences that hunters need to be aware of before they embark on their upcoming spring adventure.

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials in the Pinetop and Flagstaff regions advise that the snow pack is still significant in areas above 7,300-feet elevation in the White Mountains, North , San Francisco Peaks and Mogollon Rim country, resulting in many roads being impassable or closed due to snow or muddy conditions.

Most of the closures are on roads accessing higher elevation country in Game Management Units 1, 3C, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7, 8, 12A and 27; the southern parts of Units 4A, 4B and 5A; and the east portion of Unit 9.

Higher-than-average winter snow and rainfall caused Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino and Kaibab National Forests’ personnel to close numerous roads across the forests to prevent road damage and off-road damage to meadows and sensitive habitats. Many of these roads access traditional turkey-hunting areas. While department personnel are working with Forest Service staff on when and which roads are opened, the forests will make the final decision on these matters.

Despite conditions in some areas, sportsmen and women will find there is still plenty of country in which to find birds, especially if one is willing to walk into an area currently closed to vehicle traffic.

Department officials also suggest that because the spring turkey hunts have a lengthy season, closing on May 20 this year, it may be a good option to consider venturing afield later in the season rather than on the opening weekend. With warmer weather, wind and fewer fronts coming through, the higher country will dry up quickly.

Contacts for the latest updates on road closures and conditions in a particular area are:

● Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests at (928) 333-4301 or www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/contact/ ● at (928) 527-3600 or www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/conditions/index.shtml#districts ● at (928) 635-8200 or www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/contact/

Officials have some notes of caution for turkey hunters this spring. Do not attempt going around barricades or locked gates. Not only have many people gotten themselves stuck by doing so, they can also be cited for such action. Plan for nighttime and early morning temperatures to be below freezing, and dress appropriately.

Finally, because of the potential for getting stuck and poor weather conditions, leave a detailed itinerary with a family member or friend, including specific hunting and camping sites and an arrival time back home.

The department in cooperation with the National Shooting Sports Foundation Heritage Partnership and the National Wild Turkey Federation are hosting three mentored youth turkey hunting camps. Juniors-only spring turkey tags are available for purchase over-the-counter at any license dealer or department office. For a listing of camps and to register, visit www. azgfd.gov/hunting on the right side under "Mentored Hunting & Juniors-only Events."

Arizona Game and Fish contacts:

● Bruce Sitko, (928) 367-4281, Public Information Officer, Pinetop Regional Office ● Shelly Shepherd, (928) 214-1241, Public Information Officer, Flagstaff Regional Office

Time to start watching for venomous critters Rattlers, scorpions, lizards ready to feed

Welcome to springtime in Arizona; home to the most dangerous rattlesnake, spider, lizard, and scorpion in the nation.

The temperatures are rising and those slithering, crawling, burrowing, and web-spinning critters are ready to eat.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds the public these venomous insects and reptiles become active this time of year. People who take the time to learn and educate themselves, and their children, can minimize the likelihood of a dangerous encounter.

“It’s just about time,” said Zen Mocarski, public information officer at the Game and Fish Kingman office. “After a winter of inactivity, they’re ready for their first meals of the year.”

“Spiders, scorpions, rattlesnakes, the Gila monster, and a variety of other critters are part of life in Arizona. As it warms up, they’ll become increasingly more visible.”

Mocarski worries most about young children who have a natural curiosity of their surroundings.

“Parents need to teach children not to pick up any type of wildlife,” he said. “Teach your kids to come and get you when they see something.”

The most commonly encountered rattlesnake in Arizona is the western diamondback, which also accounts for the most bites. And, while there is no such thing as a typical rattlesnake bite, the Mohave is accepted as the most dangerous, although the potency of its venom can vary from region-to-region.

“What’s the most dangerous rattlesnake?” Mocarski asked. “The one that bit you.”

Mocarski said accidental bites are rare, and many incidents involve alcohol. However, if bitten, the rules to follow are simple.

“Remove any restrictive clothing and jewelry and get to a medical facility as quickly as possible,” he explained. “Forget what you’ve seen in movies and get treatment with anti-venom.

“Do not cut open the bite area and try to suck out the venom, don’t submerge the bite area in ice, and do not tie off the area with a tourniquet.”

While approximately 30 percent of rattlesnake bites are considered dry bites – those that do not require anti-venom treatment – a medical professional should make that determination.

In addition, do not spend time trying to capture or collect the rattlesnake. Identification is not necessary for treatment.

Understanding wildlife behavior can go a long way in avoiding bites and stings.

Rattlesnakes are cold blooded and have to work to try and maintain an ideal body temperature. During cooler times, such as evening hours, rattlesnakes will seek out a heat source such as pavement. During the heat of the day, they will seek shade.

Mocarski added that it is a myth that rattlers will always rattle before a strike.

“It’s our jobs to take certain precautions,” Mocarski said. “Keep a close eye on the sides of trails and never place your hands and feet in an area you can’t see.”

As for dogs, Mocarski said encounters with rattlesnakes can be dangerous.

“Dogs tend to be bitten around the face and neck,” he explained. “Training can help, but keeping your pet on a leash and close to your side will help avoid bites that occur as a result of a dog’s natural curiosity.”

For scorpions and spiders, Mocarski said to wear gloves when working around wood or rock piles and to shake out shoes that have been left outside. He added that open-toed shoes provide little protection.

Most scorpion stings are comparable to that of a bee. However, the sting of the bark scorpion can be more severe. Its sting can be harmful to young children, the elderly, and individuals in poor health.

While all spiders are venomous, two factors must exist to be considered a threat to humans: the venom must be strong enough to do damage, and their jaws must be able to break human skin. With these factors in mind, two spiders in the area are considered dangerous to humans: the brown (a relative of the brown recluse), and the black widow.

The Gila monster is the only venomous lizard in North America. Its bite is extremely painful and can result in vomiting and convulsions. The Gila monster is also notorious for not letting go, and victims have been known to show up at an emergency room with the lizard still attached.

“A Gila monster bite is not something an individual wants to experience,” Mocarski said. “The good news is that if people leave them alone, they’ll leave the people alone. I’ve never heard of an accidental Gila monster bite.”

Mocarski added that the Gila monster is protected and it is illegal to disturb, capture, or kill one. It is rarely seen, spending much of its life underground.

“All these animals are important parts of the ecosystem,” Mocarski explained. “Rattlesnakes help keep rodent populations under control while scorpions and spiders feast on a number of different types of insects.”

“They’ve been here a long time. It’s our job to learn to live with them, not their job to learn to live with us.”

For information about Arizona’s rattlesnakes, visit www.azgfd.gov/rattlesnakes. For information about some of Arizona’s reptiles, visit www.azgfd.gov/w_c/nongameandendangeredwildlifeprogram/reptiles.shtml.

International Migratory Bird Day celebration to be held this Saturday

Each year at this time, migratory birds make their valiant journey to nesting sites in Arizona. On Saturday, April 10, families and birders can celebrate this amazing annual event during the International Migratory Bird Day Festival at the Nina Mason Pulliam Río Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix. The center is located at 3131 S. Central Ave.

The festival is free and features a number of nature activities that will be both fun and educational. Included are guided bird walks through the Center’s Sonoran Desert and wetland habitats, binocular and photography clinics, and a kids’ zone. Visitors will also get a close-up view of birds of prey from Liberty Wildlife and the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center.

All of this is part of a celebration that will be happening around the world. International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) is the only international education program that highlights the migration of nearly 350 species of migratory birds between nesting habitats in North America and non-breeding grounds in Latin America, Mexico and the Caribbean. This theme for this year’s event, The Power of Partnerships, honors the significant bird conservation successes made possible through collaborative efforts of individuals, government agencies and conservation organizations.

One of those success stories is Phoenix’s 600-acre Río Salado Habitat Restoration Area. Adjacent to the Nina Mason Pulliam Río Salado Audubon Center, the site was until recent years a place of landfills and heavy industrial use. Today the restored and revitalized habitat hosts over 200 bird species, many of them migratory.

The Nina Mason Pulliam Río Salado Audubon Center International Migratory Bird Day Festival is a partnership of Audubon Arizona, the City of Phoenix and the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Calling all photographers

Spring is in the air, wildflowers are blooming, and Arizona wildlife is ready for its close-up. So pull out your camera gear and lace up your hiking boots — it’s time to start taking pictures for the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s annual wildlife photo contest.

Winners earn a coveted spot in the 2011 Arizona Wildlife Calendar, plus courtesy copies of the calendar and cash prizes. All pictures must be of Arizona wildlife and must be taken in Arizona. We’re looking for images of birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and mammals; no insects (including butterflies), please!

To make the contest super-easy to enter, we’ve gone completely digital. No need to make prints, and we don’t accept slides! We’re looking for high-quality photographs, so we encourage people to use a digital camera that is 6 megapixels or larger. Get familiar with your owner’s manual to set your camera at the highest level of quality possible (on some cameras, this setting is called “super fine”).

The deadline for submissions to this year’s wildlife photo contest is July 9 at 5 p.m. MST. There is no fee to enter, so mark your calendar and start shooting.

For complete contest rules and an entry form, visit www.azgfd.gov/photocontest.

Commission to consider fall hunt orders on April 17

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission’s next regularly scheduled meeting is Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17 at the Game and Fish Department headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix (1.5 miles west of I-17). The commission will consider the fall hunt recommendations during the Saturday portion of the meeting.

The Friday, April 16 portion of the meeting begins with an executive session at 8 a.m., followed by the public meeting. Some of the agenda items include:

● A briefing of the status of state and federal legislation issues. ● Briefings on the department’s activities related to: information, education and wildlife recreation programs; lands and habitat programs; and nongame subprograms. ● Consideration of approval of an Interagency Service Agreement with the Arizona State Parks Board for the continued operation of Roper Lake State Park. ● Hearings on license revocations for violation of Game and Fish codes, time certain at 2 p.m. ● Consideration of proposed commission workshops, dates, topics and locations for 2010. ● Updates of the 2010 director’s goals and objectives.

The Saturday, April 17 portion of the meeting begins at 9 a.m. Some of the agenda items include:

● Consideration of proposed hunting recommendations for the 2010-11 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations, including, but not limited to, deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall buffalo, fall bear, mountain lion, and small game animals. ● Consideration of the proposed 2010 hunt-permit application schedule (draw deadlines). ● A briefing on the department’s activities related to shooting sports programs, shooting ranges, and shooting range development. The public can view the meeting any of three ways: (1) attending the meeting in person in Phoenix; (2) viewing it via video stream at any of five Game and Fish regional offices (Flagstaff is unavailable at this time due to office construction); or, (3) viewing it over the Web at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam.

Those wishing to submit “blue slips”, to present oral comment during the meeting, must do so either at the Phoenix meeting or at the regional Game and Fish offices (again, Flagstaff will be unavailable). For office addresses, visit www.azgfd.gov/offices.

For a complete agenda, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the commission agenda link.

Records broken for spring ferret spotlighting effort Black-footed ferrets continue to make progress in uphill climb

They may not hold the same fascination as with professional sports, but to those working toward the recovery of black-footed ferrets, the records established in March hold more meaning.

Game and Fish personnel along with a record 103 volunteers (including 61 in one night) worked from dusk to dawn from March 25-29 spotlighting for the nocturnal black-footed ferret.

“It’s exciting news,” said Jeff Corcoran, supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s black-footed ferret recovery effort in Seligman. “The results and the interest level provide hope for the continued success in the recovery of this endangered animal.”

The crew had 54 captures overall (42 individual ferrets with 12 being captured more than once), and 17 were captured in one night. All established new highs for the project. Of the 42 individuals, 29 had never before been trapped.

“We’ve never caught that many ferrets before, and we did so before this year’s breeding and reproduction,” Corcoran said.

A total of 60 never previously captured wild-born ferrets, were trapped in two spotlighting efforts in 2009.

“I’m excited about the numbers,” Corcoran said. “You think about this one spotlighting effort and compare it to where the ferrets once were and you can’t help but be pleased.”

The black-footed ferret was twice thought to be extinct, until a small population was discovered in 1981. After a disease outbreak, a mere 18 of the black-footed ferrets remained in the world. Those final 18 were captured and captive breeding efforts began in 1985.

In 1996, Arizona’s Aubrey Valley, outside Seligman, was selected as a reintroduction site, and it was five years before the first documentation of wild-born ferrets. The reintroduction is funded primarily through Arizona’s Heritage Fund, a voter- initiative derived from the Arizona Lottery.

“From where this animal was to where it is now is a testament to the dedication of Game and Fish personnel and the volunteers who have braved the cold and long nights to bring this animal back from the brink of extinction,” Corcoran said.

The latest spotlighting effort – which involves backpack-spotlighting from dusk until dawn – was a success, in large part, because of those willing to volunteer their time.

“Volunteers have played a critical role in the reintroduction process since Day One,” Corcoran said. “Without their dedication, I’m not sure we’d have as good an understanding of where we stand in this reintroduction effort.”

A fall spotlighting effort will take place in October. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the black-footed ferret field station at [email protected] receive more information.

Loving, caring homes needed for desert tortoises Economic crisis has led to overwhelming number of tortoises looking for homes

The current economic crisis hasn’t only taken a toll on people, but on wildlife too. The number of relinquished desert tortoises has grown, and now the Arizona Game and Fish Department is looking for good, approved homes for these fun family pets.

Contrary to many people’s initial assumptions, desert tortoises can be interactive pets that provide companionship without as many demands as a cat or dog. Tortoises can teach many of the same life lessons to children, including responsibility, compassion and commitment.

“Unfortunately, as more people have been displaced from their homes during these tough times, the number of desert tortoises surrendered to our adoption program has grown,” says Cristina Jones, Arizona Game and Fish turtle biologist. “The Department and its partners are running out of room to house all of these animals, as they cannot be returned to the wild once they’ve been in captivity.”

Those interested in adopting a tortoise will need to have an enclosed area in their yard free from potential hazards, such as a dog or pool. The enclosed area must include a burrow for the tortoise to escape Arizona’s extreme temperatures. Tortoises are only available for adoption to residents living within the species’ native range, which includes the Phoenix, Bullhead City, Kingman, , Tucson, and Yuma areas. Desert tortoises cannot survive the severe winters that occur in the northeastern and southeastern regions of the state.

A desert tortoise adoption packet, which includes the adoption application, can be downloaded at www.azgfd.gov/tortoise. This Web site also offers information on feeding, care, and creating a habitat for a tortoise, as well as frequently asked questions.

Because there are more tortoises than qualified homes to adopt them, breeding captive tortoises is discouraged. There is a limit of one tortoise per household.

Tortoises are marked with identification and pass a health check before being available for adoption. State law prohibits taking these creatures from the wild. Federal law bans the transport of them across state lines.

Desert tortoises are native to the southwestern desert and can live up to 100 years. They grow to be about 15 pounds and hibernate in the winter months. Desert tortoises eat plant material, including grasses and wildflowers.

Captive desert tortoises cannot be released back into the wild as they can pass an upper respiratory disease to wild tortoise populations. It is also illegal and harmful to desert tortoise populations to collect tortoises from the wild.

Game and Fish Outdoor Expo draws 32,000

The numbers are in, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 2010 Outdoor Expo drew 32,000 people over the March 27-28 weekend at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix.

The event offered the public an opportunity to learn about wildlife- related and outdoor recreation activities, including wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, archery, shooting sports, camping, and off- highway vehicle and boating recreation.

“We offer this event each year to introduce or reconnect people with the amazing outdoor resources and activities available in our state,” said Assistant Director Ty Gray. “About 60 percent of our visitors this year were first-time attendees.”

People were also able to visit with more than 100 exhibitors, including sportsmen’s and conservation organizations, government agencies and commercial vendors of outdoor products and services.

The Gold Sponsor for this year’s Outdoor Expo was the American Red Cross, Chapter. Silver Sponsors were Weatherby Foundation International, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, White Flyer Targets, Winchester Ammunition, and Diamond Ridge Development Corporation (Diamond Ridge partner contributors include Eagle Plumbing Services, Kat CSI Construction Services, Sunshine Painting, and Valleywide Plumbing).

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is operated on a “user pay, user benefit” business model, and the Outdoor Expo promotes wildlife-related and other outdoor activities to current and future customers who support the department’s mission and funding through their engagement in those activities. The department receives no Arizona tax dollars, and no tax dollars were used in conducting the Expo.

Next year’s Outdoor Expo will be held March 26-27, 2011, at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. More information will be posted at www.azgfd.gov/expo as it becomes available.

If you want to learn more about the many opportunities and programs that you might have enjoyed at the Expo, visit www.azgfd.gov/getoutside to "Get Outside Arizona."

Open houses continue for 2010 fall hunt recommendations

The proposed recommendations for the 2010 fall hunting regulations will be available for public review at five remaining regional open houses in April:

● Monday, April 12, 3-5 p.m. – Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd. ● Monday, April 12, 3-5 p.m. – Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road ● Monday, April 12, 3-5 p.m. – Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th St. ● Monday, April 12, 3-5 p.m. – Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive ● Wednesday, April 14, 3-5 p.m. – Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road

No formal presentation will be made at the open houses. However, a knowledgeable staff person will be available to discuss regional hunt recommendations.

One open house was already held in Kingman on April 7.

A PDF version of the recommendations is available on the Game and Fish Department's Web site at www.azgfd. gov/huntguidelines.

Each year, the department makes recommendations to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the management of game species for the annual hunting and trapping regulations, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas, and hunt permit-tag allocations based on the framework of the hunt guidelines set by the commission every two years. This year’s recommendations were developed with consideration given to input gathered at six public forums held around the state in February and March.

The final proposed recommendations will be presented to the commission for consideration during its April 16-17 meeting in Phoenix at the department headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix (1.5 miles west of I-17). The agenda will be posted at www.azgfd.gov/commission under “commission agenda.”

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Director's Office, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Director's Office as listed above.