Wild Over Wood Ducks (WOW) and it’s Eagle Scout Service Program (ESSP) is venturing East to Mansfield, Massachusetts, where Jeremy S Ham is diligently working to finalize his Eagle Scout Service Project with the WOW Program.
Jeremy Spends the day with The DuckMan, learning the various aspects to the success behind the nesting boxes in the WOW ESSP.
Animal rights activists continue working tirelessly against hunters, often times with self serving blinders on. Given the multitude of issues at hand caused by the reintroduction of wolves, I find it mind numbing that we continue to be led astray by federal wildlife agencies and their antics. Take for instance where consideration is being taking to introduce wolves into the
Baca and Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge in Colorado. The Baca, a mere 80,000 acre refuge system, is considering wolves as a management tool for their over populating elk herd…are they NUTS? Do they really believe that these wolves are going to be well mannered neighbors, only taking what they can eat, and not roaming? Perhaps these federal bureaucrats have dawned their timely blinders with the west’s current four legged transient that continues to be in the western regions spotlight, tagged as OR-7, originally from Oregon. This Apex Predator left his pack in Oregon last fall, wandering into California’s northern region by the end of December.
Just last week OR-7 came as close as 15 miles away from Nevada’s border sparking attention from Nevada’s wildlife officials. The California media has given so much attention to this wandering lone wolf, that he has become a celebrity of sorts, known in the news as “Journey”. With all the attention he has drawn, some folks are quoted as deeming this wandering adventurer as “romantic”…ROMANTIC? Perhaps a photo is in order to illustrate just how far from romantic these K-9 killing machines are.
To the distant northeast, in Michigan, the locals have been forced for nearly forty years to deal with the aftermath of these ravenous killers that prey on their livestock. Michigan’s upper Peninsula hosts a wolf population of over 600. Can you imagine how many animals it takes to withstand those kind of numbers? To the left is a graph showing Michigan’s wolf population and it’s growth over the last 15 years. Estimated at only 20 animals in 1992, the upper Peninsula wolf population had grown to approximately 687 during the winter of 2010-2011 – an all-time high since the population began to recover in the early 1990s.
Now, with the recent D-listing of wolves, the state wildlife agency is now faced with managing these wolves in Michigan. Brian Roell, a biologist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said, ” We want to show that we are capable of managing a healthy wolf population”. As a part of the D-listing of wolves there in Michigan, ranchers and livestock owners will now have the right to kill attacking wolves.
GreenBayPressGazette.com Article, Farmers eager to kill attacking wolves
Read Article>>> CLICK HERE
With the increased numbers of wolves within the surrounding states, dog predation has become a reality. Here is a real eye-grabbing-read: Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources has this link posted on their website so that public may be aware of potential threats to dogs by wolves.
Dogs Depredated by Wolves in Wisconsin-2011>>> CLICK HERE
So now that we have a greater understanding that wolves have a sever impact upon local ranchers as well as the states big game, why then would we introduce them into a tiny 80,000 acre refuge system in Colorado, believing that this time things might be different?
Further south, Arizona and New Mexico wildlife officials struggle to find a means of managing the areas mexican gray wolf population of fifty. These “50” wolves has these two states demographically barren states on the ropes? Consider the potential for issues on an 80,000 acre parcel.
Another full page article, full of issues caused by these so called romantic creatures. In short, look at the capital that is lost or has to be spent, and at who’s expense it comes.
The Washington Examiner reports this story on Tuesday, January 31:
Wolves senses tapped to keep them clear of cattle.
Read more>>>. CLICK HERE
In closing this weeks review on wolves, how can we even consider allowing these apex predators to propagate and freely cause so much destruction? The view of the animal rights groups has become so obscured, and their rational so dysfunctional…I have to ask, have we lost our minds?
Carl B. Taylor
While some California residents are showing excitement about the prospects of lone wolf OR-7 wandering into northern California from Oregon, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last month removed wolves from the federal endangered species list, De-listing them in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. Starting Friday, these three states will begin managing their wolf populations on their own.
TMJ4 article: DNR To Allow Hunting of Wolves Next Week.
Read More>>>CLICK HERE
While wolf numbers have grown enough to allow this De-listing, Wisconsin state Department of Natural Resources is telling landowners they can start hunting problem wolves next week. In another story in California, Patrick Valentino of the California Wolf Center was quoted as saying “Historically and statistically there’s no evidence of wolves being a threat to people. He goes on to say that there are only two known wolf attacks in the past 100 years in the U.S. or Canada.
With the idea that wolves do not have a history of “being a threat to people”, in Wallace, Idaho this story line hit the mainstream media: “A possible wolf attack in North Idaho has left one dog dead and some neighbors on edge.”
KXLY reporter writes this story.
Read more>>>CLICK HERE
Last week, Oregon wildlife officials believe a wolf was responsible for killing a mule. “This is the first we’ve had a probable for anything like a mule or horse,” said Michelle Dennehy of Salem, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Oregonlive.com reporter writes: Wolf probably killed mule near Joseph, state wildlife officials believe
Read More>>>CLICK HERE
There is compelling evidence that suggests that as wolves continue to increase in numbers and range, they are having a significant impact on the local wildlife and cattle. Now, several chapters later in this wolf debacle it is acceptable for these wolves to attack backyard pets? How can we be so blind as to allow these ranging predators to freely roam, destroying various wildlife populations that conservationist have worked tirelessly to restore? Moreover, this all seems to suggest the notion that wolves are far more important than our public safety and the cattleman’s means of livelihood. Left unchecked, this paradigm is beyond my comprehension.
Reading from KXLY’s report, The following quote has to be the most mindless statement I think I have read on the subject of wolves and their De-listing…(referring to the Wallace resident’s rottweiler that was attacked and killed in their back yard). “I think the key thing for people to think about is to keep their dogs confined,” said Cooper. “If your dog is confined in a building or kennel they are less vulnerable to attack from other dogs and wolves.”…..REALLY??? So in other words, this attacks are to be accepted as something that could happen again? What will be said when a “Janie Homeowner” goes out to see what the ruckus is in her backyard and she is mauled are killed? Is this threat not eminent? However, Cooper also said it’s legal in Idaho to shoot a wolf if it’s threatening you, your family, livestock or pets.
The subject of wolves and their propagation continues to stir controversy at every level. As each of us form an opinion “for” or “against” the presence of these wolves, has society stooped to the point where forcing our personal beliefs from afar and the many consequences coming at the personal expense of others, be socially acceptable?
Carl B Taylor
Wolf propaganda heats up in Wyoming where there is consideration wolf hunting in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway.
Writer Cory Hatch of the Jackson Hole News & Guide gives us the inside.
Read More>>>. CLICK HERE
U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today issued the following statement about recently released guidelines from the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Agency involving special protections for the Sage Grouse:
“Yet again, the BLM is trying to muscle its way into a situation where the State of Utah, private landowners, private industries and other stakeholders have already taken action. This type of one-size-fits-all environmental policy may be good for bureaucrats in Washington but it sure doesn’t work for Utah. Utahns don’t need any more direction from the BLM. The BLM needs to let Utahns continue to do their jobs and for the BLM to stop standing in the way of the economic and recreational opportunities that make Utah great.”
Read More….CLICK HERE
Related Article…
As part of a national strategy to evaluate greater sage-grouse conservation measures in land use plans, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are asking the public to help identify issues to be addressed in an environmental impact statement by attending open house meetings scheduled across the state.
Read More…CLICK HERE
Hello: Here is an invitation to attend meetings to discuss Utah BLM’s Land Use Plan changes to address greater sage grouse conservation. Please forward to interested stakeholders. Hope you can attend one of the meetings.
Greater Sage-Grouse Scoping Meetings Scheduled for Utah
As part of a national strategy to evaluate greater sage-grouse conservation measures in land use plans, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are asking the public to help identify issues to be addressed in an environmental impact statement by attending open house meetings scheduled across the state.
The open house meeting format allows the public to arrive at any time between 5:30-7:30 p.m. Agency staff and resource specialists will be available to answer questions, and written comments can be submitted at the meetings.
Scoping Meeting Schedule
Price
January 17
5:30-7:30p
Carbon County Event Center
310 South Fairgrounds Road
Vernal
January 18
5:30-7:30p
Western Park Convention Center
300 East 200 South
Salt Lake City
January 19
5:30-7:30p
Hampton Inn & Suites – SLC
307 North Admiral Road
Randolph
January 23
5:30-7:30p
Randolph Senior Center
5 North Main Street
Snowville
January 24
5:30-7:30p
Snowville Town Hall
20 West Main Street
Richfield
January 30
5:30-7:30p
Sevier County Clerk (Auditorium)
Room #B46 – 250 North Main
Kanab
January 31
5:30-7:30p
Kanab City Library
374 North Main
Cedar City
February 1
5:30-7:30p
Heritage Center – Festival Hall
105 North 100 East
Spent the day with The Duckman at the Bear River Bird Refuge Visiter Center, and the Venture Academy of Slaterville Utah, learning about wood ducks. During this two day program, 3rd, 4th & 5th graders were given the opportunities to work with the Wild Over Wood Ducks (WOW) nesting program in a hands on environment.
The Wild Over Wood Ducks (WOW) program celebrates It’s 75th Eagle Scout Service Project. Sean Diepeveen of Lehi has completed his ESSP of twelve boxes, bringing the total number of boxes produced in the WOW program to a whopping total of 900 boxes.
For more information on the WOW Program, visit wildoverwoodducks.org
MORE INFO>>> CLICK HERE
Four years running, the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival has invited me to participate, introducing people to the Wild Over Wood Ducks (WOW) program, and working with the kids.
In this, there is a golden opportunity as I am given the opportunity to work with these young kids in a hands-on-environment, whereby these kids are introduced to building wood duck boxes that will serve as nesting cavities.
These activities provide a golden opportunity for the youth, introducing them to the outdoors in a conservation minded atmosphere.
I am always impressed whenever I see scouts and their leaders taking advantage of these types of events and their resources.
Retired UDWR Northern Regional Office leader, Jack Renzel extended an invite for me to be the keynote speaker at the quarterly meeting of the Wasatch Audubon Society, speaking on Utah’s wood duck population and the WOW program.
Prepared to give 30 minutes of informative discussion, the audience was extremely interactive and the time flew by, nearly an hours time pasted and the questions continues…
In the interest of time and not wanting to run to long, I gave in to the the clock, leaving opportunity for informal discussion afterward, which led to great company and and new acquaintances with truly great people.
Afterwards, I was pleasures to be presented with a signed addition from Keith Evans, of his book Utah’s Featured Birds And Viewing Sites. Keith and his book are a valuable resource to our feathered friends here in the state…the evening was truly an honor to be in such great company.