Outdoor News Releases

[Outdoor Talk Network by Jim Slinsky]

Send your Outdoor News Release to: OTN Webmaster

Release #047-08

GAME COMMISSION SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON FISHER PLAN

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking public input on a draft fisher management plan, which can be reviewed on the agency's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) by clicking on "Draft Fisher Management Plan" in the center of the homepage.

"We are seeking public comment on the draft fisher management plan to ensure the resulting final management plan considers the thoughts and concerns of Pennsylvanians about this species," said Calvin W. DuBrock, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director. "As written, the plan is science-based, progressive and promotes responsible management. We're interested in hearing from Pennsylvanians who would like to offer comments, and to see if we've missed something or if they share our management vision for the future."

Developed by Dr. Matthew Lovallo, agency Game Mammals Section supervisor, the fisher management plan provides a comprehensive and current summary of fisher biology; historic and current status in Pennsylvania; population recovery; economic significance; public interest; and regional population and harvest management approaches. The plan also provides supporting objectives and strategies to achieve species-specific goals related to: population monitoring; habitat assessment; population enhancement; and development and implementation of a harvest management program.

Public comments on the agency's fisher management plan will be accepted until June 1, via the website or by mail to: Fisher Management Plan, Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797.

For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=174128

Release #048-08

ONLINE APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR ELK LICENSE DRAWING
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has started accepting applications from those interested in entering the public drawing for one of 45 elk hunting licenses (17 antlered and 28 antlerless) to be made available for the Nov. 3-8 elk season. The public drawing is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, and will be conducted as part of the 2008 Elk Expo.

To better serve its customers, the Game Commission has enabled hunters to complete and submit applications online through the agency's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). Just click on "2008 Elk Application" in the center of the homepage and then "Apply Online."

ELK APPLICANTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF VIDEO OFFER
Applicants for this year's elk license drawing can take advantage of a special video offer from the Pennsylvania Game Commission. For $16.25 an individual can apply for the elk hunt and receive a copy of the agency's award-winning video, "Pennsylvania Elk: Reclaiming the Alleghenies." This video offer is not available through "The Outdoor Shop."

For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=174135

Release #049-08

WHITE NOSE SNYDROME: IS PENNSYLVANIA NEXT?

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has found itself on a new frontier: it is working with several states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to sort out what is killing bats in New York and New England.

Although White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) has not been found in Pennsylvania - and agency officials hope it stays that way - the state is fast becoming an integral player in regional and national efforts aimed at learning more about this unprecedented threat to bats.

Just mentioning the words White Nose Syndrome (WNS) to Pennsylvania Game Commission biologist Greg Turner brings concern to his face. He knows WNS is just over the border in New York, as well as Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, and recognizes it's not something that Pennsylvania's bat population can endure without negative consequences. In many northeastern hibernacula where it has struck, WNS has decimated wintering bat colonies with mortality that ranges from 80 to 100 percent. Now there are symptoms in Pennsylvania bat hibernacula that have heightened concern among agency bat biologists, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"We found fungus on bats' ears and wings - similar to that on bats afflicted with WNS in Vermont and New York - at sites in Fayette, Luzerne and Blair counties," said Turner. "One of the sites, Hartman Mine, at Canoe Creek State Park in Blair County, is the state's largest hibernaculum for Indiana bats, a federally endangered species.

"The good news is no dead bats have been found to date in Pennsylvania, and the bats we captured in mist nets leaving hibernacula were not grossly underweight, a noticeable condition observed in many bats affected with WNS. But with WNS surfacing only 11 miles away from our New York border, it now seems that it might just be a matter of time. That's why the Game Commission is gearing up to try to identify the progression of WNS and shed further light on how this mysterious disorder kills bats."

"This spring, New York and New England sustained terrible losses," Turner said. "The Fish and Wildlife Service has projected tens of thousands of bats may be lost to WNS in New York and New England in 2008. Should Pennsylvania - with more than 4,000 mines and 1,000 caves - become the next hotbed, we could sustain even larger losses."

To read more about this subject, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=174142

Release #050-08

GAME COMMISSION REMOVES PROTECTION ON FERAL SWINE

At the unanimous direction of the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners, and in response to a recent state Supreme Court ruling, Carl G. Roe, agency executive director, today issued an order removing protection on feral swine in 64 of the state's 67 counties. Counties where protection remains in effect are Butler, Bedford and Cambria counties.

"We are maintaining protection on feral swine in Butler, Bedford and Cambria counties to facilitate trapping by the U.S. and Pennsylvania departments of Agriculture," Roe said. "Trapping is the most effective way to remove feral swine from the wild, because it limits their dispersal into new areas. If funding is not available for trapping, we may consider lifting protection in these three counties, as well.

"The Game Commission has determined that the eradication of feral swine from Pennsylvania is necessary to prevent further harm to public and private property, threats to native wildlife and disease risks for wildlife and the state's pork industry. We are not seeking to establish a hunting season, but we are committed to rid Pennsylvania of this invasive species."

Roe noted that the Game Commission has launched a "Feral Swine" section on its website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), and includes links to the executive order and a map delineating the counties in which feral swine may be taken incidental to other hunting seasons.

For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=174170

Listen to our radio show online...

Windows Media Player

In the News

In the News provided by The Free Dictionary

Site Menu