Conservation Affairs
By Larry Witte

The SCI-Michigan Involvment Committee (SCI-MIC) is comprised of representatives of the 11 Michigan SCI chapters. Pledges provided by Michigan SCI chapters along with matching grants from SCI Foundation enable SCI-MIC to participate with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) to provide funding support for a number of important wildlife activities and research projects.

SOUTHERN MICHIGAN BEAR PROJECT
A dart gun was purchased earlier this year to assist with collaring efforts. The gun is powered by compressed air. The pressure is adjustable allowing its use for close shots in a den and for shots at full power up to 50 yards. Hounds can be used to tree bear for darting. Once a bear is darted in a tree the hounds are removed and the tree is hit with a club causing the bear to back down. The bear is allowed to run off, is then tracked and recovered and collared.

Two bear were collared in Oceana County. One sow has three cubs which will be collared in their den.

WOLF POPULATION PROJECT
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has given notice that wolf populations warrant removal of the wolf from the endangered list. There is a 12-month period for comments. If the wolf was transferred to the threatened list DNRE could manage wolves and take care of problem animals. Currently DNRE can not use lethal methods to deal with problem wolves.

The wolf population in the U.P. is down a little this year. There are breeding animals in the northern Lower Peninsula. Three pups have been captured, given ear tags and released.

FURBEARER POPULATION ESTIMATE
Population estimates are difficult to get for bobcat, martin, fisher and otter. This can be done by sectioning the teeth of harvested animals to determine their age and backdating the birth year to estimate population when the animal was born. In addition data on reproduction and survivorship will be integrated to make better population estimates.

EPIZOOTIC HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE (EHD)
Earlier this year deer deaths from EHD were confirmed in Cass, Van Buren, Ottawa and Berrien counties. The virus, which causes internal bleeding and fever in infected deer, is carried by biting midges from infected deer to healthy deer. The virus is not believed to affect people or the eating of the meat. Hunters are always cautioned to cook venison properly.

The virus was first detected in Michigan in 1995 and has caused die-off over the intervening years. EHD typically continues in localized areas until a hard frost kills off the midges. Because the disease generally is confined to small groups of deer it is not as worrisome as some diseases.

GRADUATE STUDENT GRANT PROGRAM
Eight thousand dollars has been awarded this year to be shared by five masters and Ph.D. candidates from Grand Valley State University and Michigan State University. Grant project subjects include various aspects of predator/ prey relationships, Canada geese, black bear and coyotes.

FERAL SWINE
Legislation was introduced earlier this fall to regulate captive hog shooting ranches and wild boar breeding facilities. The legislation imposes standards for fencing and reporting. Feral hogs escaped from ranches, breeding facilities and domesticated pigs escaped from farms are prolific breeders in the wild. They damage habitat and pose a threat to wildlife.

Predator-Prey Project
The purpose of this continuing research project is to assess the role of predation on newborn white-tailed deer fawns to estimate their survival and determine the cause of predation.

During the winter of 2009-2010 wildlife biologists captured and collared 36 deer. With 16 surviving does from the previous year this provides a total of 46 does “on the air”. As of early June 33 fawns produced by these does were captured and collared. In addition a number of predators were also captured and collared. This includes 12 bear, 3 bobcat, 7 coyotes and 3 wolves. The collared wolves allow researchers to keep track of pack movement. Information obtained to date appears to confirm that coyotes have significant impact on white-tailed deer and fawns.

Study Partners: SCI-MIC, SCI Foundation, Mississippi State University, Michigan Technological University and DNRE Wildlife Division.

Wolf Population Project
The purpose of this continuing project is to monitor wolf population growth and expansion in order to defend removal of the wolf from the endangered list and provide for state management.

Wolf numbers are down slightly from last year’s estimates of 585 wolves in the U.P. DNRE will trap and collar a northern Lower Peninsula wolf to determine location and range of wolves in the Lower Peninsula.

The endangered status of Great Lakes wolves has been an off-again,on-again thing with delisting by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency followed by challenges from animal protection groups. Minnesota and Wisconsin, who have large wolf populations, have petitioned for delisting. At the time of this report Michigan has not joined the two other Great Lakes States in petitioning for removal of Michigan wolves from the Federal Endangered list. The only management authority the state has at this time is removal of wolves that pose a threat to humans.

Project Partners: SCI-MIC, Michigan Technological University and DNRE Wildlife Division

Southern Michigan Bear Project
The purpose of this project, which was delayed in 2009, is to characterize the movement and habitat use of bear in Southern Michigan generally south of a line from Muskegon to Bay City. Bear are moving south, some reported in Jackson County and almost down to the Ohio border. This is a regional issue in which the same thing is happening in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

DNRE has been trapping and fitting southern Michigan black bear with global positioning collars during spring and summer of 2010. Two Oceana County bear have been captured and collared and efforts are underway to locate bear in Midland County. Michigan and Wisconsin are collaborating on black bear studies to find out why bear are moving south and if the bear movement is a random event or a response to an increased population.

Project Partners: SCI-MIC, University of Wisconsin-Madison and DNRE Wildlife Division

HUNTING FERAL HOGS
Swine running loose may be taken at any time on public land and on private land with the permission of the landowner. A package of bills signed earlier this year by Governor Granholm allows land owners, licensed hunters, individuals with concealed carry permits, animal control officers and law enforcement officers to shoot loose free roaming hogs. Feral hogs are known vectors for diseases that can be transmitted to humans, livestock, and wildlife. In addition feral hogs damage habitat and are a threat to wildlife.

Department of Natural Resources,
March 11, 2009
Natural Resources Commission Votes to
Expand Crossbow Hunting Opportunities

New crossbow regulations recently approved by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission are designed to expand hunting opportunities, retain existing hunters and recruit new hunters, and offer a way for some hunters to continue hunting when facing physical limitations.

Under the new regulations, crossbows may be used:
· by anyone 50 years of age or older during the Oct. 1 - Nov. 14 bow hunting deer season statewide.
· by any hunter age 12 and older during any hunting season in Zone 3 (southern Michigan), including   the bow hunting season.
· during any season in which a firearm may be used, for both big and small game statewide.

Under the new regulations, 10- and 11-year-old hunters may not use a crossbow. Youth hunters must be at least 12 to use a crossbow.

A crossbow stamp will be required in addition to hunting licenses for those using crossbows. Stamps will be available at all license retailers starting March 15. The stamp, which is free, will help the DNR monitor and survey crossbow hunters over the next three years.

Crossbow hunters are required by state law to wear hunter orange while hunting. The DNR will pursue legislative changes to modify the hunter orange law for crossbow hunters.

Included in the regulations are limits on the velocity of the crossbow. Crossbows used for hunting are restricted to no more than 350 feet per second.

The regulations have a three-year sunset. Crossbow hunters will be surveyed over the next three years and regulations will then be reevaluated by the Department of Natural Resources and the NRC. Data will be collected that analyzes impact on the resource and the crossbow’s potential to recruit or retain hunters. The data also will be analyzed to determine if crossbow use should be expanded further in the future.

The crossbow changes do not affect hunters with disabilities who are currently hunting under the authority of a DNR-issued crossbow permit. The new regulations are designed to increase hunting opportunities in Michigan, especially in Zone 3, where the whitetailed deer population remains well above the DNR’s desired population goal. The new regulations also will provide hunters with more choices to continue hunting if they have been injured, have a disability or other physical limitation that affects their ability to hunt.

For more information on hunting opportunities in Michigan, visit the DNR’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr.

The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural resources for current and future generations.

Our Mid-Michigan Chapter, as a member of the Safari Club International-Michigan Involvement Committee (SCI-MIC), consults with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and provides funding for a number of important wildlife activities and research projects. The following topics were discussed at a recent meeting with MDNR Wildlife Division.

ACTIVITIES

Trapper Education Program:
This educational program is similar to the Hunter Safety Program in that it is intended to help develop an understanding and appreciation for the trapping sport. A Trapper Education Manual has been completed and is being printed with funding support from the Michigan Trappers Association, SCI-MIC, and the SCI Education Committee. Training of program trainers and presenters is underway.

“Pure Michigan” Hunt Drawing:
This fund raising project is being considered by the MDNR. The concept under discussion involves an annual lottery ($4.00) ticket with a limited number of winners (3) who would be permitted to buy any and all licenses/kill tags, including elk, turkey, bear they wished. There would be no limit on the number of lottery tickets a person could purchase. In the future a legislative change would be sought to provide the license/kill tags at no cost. Existing legislation requires the purchase of a license.

Graduate Student Grants:
Grants of $1000.00 each were awarded in 2008 to 5 graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in the fields of Wildlife and Biology.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Predator/Prey Research:
The project is intended to assess the role of predation on whitetail deer fawns in southwest Delta County and east central Menominee County in the UP. Does captured during the winter were subjected to ultrasound and blood and urine chemical analysis. Pregnant does were fitted with radio collars and an implanted transmitter that is expelled when the fawn is born and which helps locate the fawn for capture and collaring. As of early June 22 fawns were captured and radio collared. Collaring will continue until the initial target of 30 fawns has been reached. In addition 8 coyotes, 3 bobcat and 2 wolves representing 2 wolf packs have been captured and fitted with GPS collars. Bear trapping has been started. SCI-MIC has spent approximately $55,000.00 on high tech equipment for this project since mid-December, 2008. The study, including trapping, collaring, and monitoring, will continue for 5 years. Study Partners: SCI-MIC, SCI Foundation, Michigan Tech, MSU, MDNR Wildlife Division.

Gray Wolf Population Study:
Gray Wolf population growth and range expansion in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has been monitored since 1989. By 1973 the wolf population was estimated at 6 animals in the UP. Until 1991 there was no documentation of the birth of pups. Since that time the population has increased and expanded its range across all counties of the UP. Last winter 585 wolves were counted.

Wolves are collared to support population survey work and provide information of wolf-livestock and wolf-human conflict. Last year, of 47 collared wolves, 5 were killed illegally and 3 from automobile accidents. In 2008 wolves were involved in 14 livestock depredations on 9 farms resulting in the loss of 115 animals. Approximately 90% of the farm animals killed were small animals. (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, domestic rabbits and game birds.) Approximately $9000.00 was paid to farmers for livestock depredation caused by wolves in 2008 from funds administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and from a private fund. Non-lethal techniques were used at 6 of the 9 farms that experienced wolf depredation. During most of last year when wolves were managed under state authority, 8 wolves were killed in response to livestock depredation. Most wolf-human conflicts are solved by non-lethal methods. The MDNR and USDA Wildlife Services have killed 9 animals involving human safety since 2004. The wolf population study will continue for at least 5 years after federal delisting.

In May the wolf was taken off the federal and state endangered list and became a Michigan protected non-game animal. However, several environmental and animal protection groups sued the USFWS alleging that it had erred by not holding a legally required public comment period before taking action in May. The federal government on Monday, June 30th settled the suit by putting gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region back on the endangered species list. A 60-day comment period will be required if the USFWS tries again to remove the wolves from the endangered list. Study Partners: SCI-MIC, Michigan Tech, and MDNR Wildlife Division.