Picking up young wildlife can do more harm than good, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. It’s also against the law. VTF&W photo by John Hall
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Watching wildlife is enjoyable, especially when young animals appear in the spring. But it is best to keep your distance. Picking up young wildlife can do more harm than good, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and it is also against the law.
When people see young animals alone, they often mistakenly assume these animals are helpless or lost, in trouble or needing to be rescued. Bringing young wildlife into a human environment often results in permanent separation from their mothers and a sad ending for the animal.
Handling wildlife could also pose a threat to the people involved. Wild animals can transmit disease and angry wildlife mothers can pose significant dangers.
Department scientists encourage wildlife watchers to respect the behavior of animals in the spring and early summer, and to resist the urge to assist wildlife in ways that may be harmful. Here are some helpful tips:
- Deer and moose nurse their young at different times during the day, and often leave young alone for long periods of time. These animals are not lost. Their mother knows where they are and will return.
- Young birds on the ground may have left their nest, but their parents will still feed them.
- Young animals such as fox and raccoon will often follow their mother. The mother of a wildlife youngster is usually nearby but just out of sight to a person happening upon it.
- Animals that act sick can carry rabies, parasites or other harmful diseases. Do not handle them. Even though they do not show symptoms, healthy-looking raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bats may also be carriers of the deadly rabies virus.
- Many wildlife species will not feed or care for their young when people are close by. Obey signs that restrict access to wildlife nesting areas, including hiking trails that may be temporarily closed.
- Keep domestic pets indoors, leashed or fenced in. Dogs and cats kill many baby animals each year.
- Avoid projects that remove trees, shrubs and dead snags that contain nests during the spring and summer.
For information about rabies and wildlife conflicts, or truly orphaned wildlife, call the Vermont Rabies Hotline at 1-800-4RABIES (1-800-472-2437).
For the safety of all wildlife, taking a wild animal into captivity is illegal, even one you suspect is sick, injured or has been abandoned.
Evaluating a New Rainbow Trout Strain for Vermont
MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is stocking a new strain of rainbow trout this spring and is looking for help from anglers to evaluate its performance.
“Vermont stocks about 115,000 rainbow trout annually into inland rivers and lakes to provide recreational fishing opportunities for the public,” said State Fisheries Biologist Lee Simard. “We are evaluating the new Eagle Lake strain of rainbow trout against our traditionally stocked Erwin-Arlee strain to ensure we are providing the highest quality fishery possible with these stocked trout. The Eagle Lake strain is currently stocked in many states including Maine and Michigan and could be a great fit for Vermont as well.”
The two strains are the same species, but genetic differences can impact their behavior and performance. Both strains will be stocked side-by-side into 11 waterbodies across Vermont and will be compared based on their catchability, survivability and growth to see if the Eagle Lake Strain performs better after stocking.
The two strains look very similar but can be identified by a clipped ventral fin, the paired fins found on the underside of the fish about halfway along its body. A missing left fin indicates the new Eagle Lake strain while a missing right fin indicates the Erwin-Arlee strain.
“To help us evaluate the new Eagle Lake strain, we are asking anglers to report to us the rainbow trout they catch from the waterbodies included in this evaluation,” said Simard. “Take a picture of the trout that clearly shows the missing fin. Then submit that picture and catch report on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department website or by using the Vermont Outdoors app on your smartphone. The data submitted by anglers will directly influence our management of stocked rainbow trout in Vermont.”
The two strains will be stocked each spring through 2024. A final decision about which strain will continue to be stocked in Vermont will be made by 2025.
Additional information and a complete list of the waterbodies included in the evaluation can be found on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website https://vtfishandwildlife.com/rainbow-trout-strain-evaluation.
Increased Trout Stocking for Anglers in Chittenden, Pittsford, Leicester and Dorset This Summer
Continued Safety Enhancement Work on Goshen Dam Re-routes Fish to Other Waterways
Sugar Hill Reservoir, as seen in this April 2022 photo, will be maintained at reduced water levels and will not be stocked with trout this season. Public access will mostly be restricted due to ongoing repairs on the dam. VTF&W photo by Margaret Murphy
GOSHEN, Vt. – The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has announced that trout originally planned for the 2022 stocking season at Sugar Hill Reservoir, also known as Goshen Dam, in Goshen will be diverted to other area waterways for anglers. The shift is being made to ensure there are plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy Vermont’s waterways, while on-going safety enhancements are made to the Goshen dam.
“Goshen Dam has always been a popular place for anglers. The yearling and trophy-sized brook trout we stock there attract anglers from all over the area,” said Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department fisheries biologist Shawn Good. “It’s in a beautiful setting in the Green Mountain National Forest, and the fishing platform and access facilities Green Mountain Power and the National Forest provide and maintain make it a great fishing destination.”
The reservoir was slated to receive an April stocking of 1,350 yearling brook trout averaging nine inches and 450 two-year old “Trophy Brook Trout” averaging thirteen inches in length, according to Good.
The trout are being reallocated to Lefferts Pond in Chittenden, Smith Pond in Pittsford, Silver Lake in Leicester, and Prentiss Pond in Dorset.
A drawdown for dam improvements on the 58-acre waterbody will be in place again this summer. This important dam safety project is expected to be completed during the 2022 construction season with refill beginning potentially by the end of the summer. Water levels this year will be similar to those in 2021.
“Obviously, these important safety repairs will make it impossible for normal trout stocking to occur there this year, and it will also eliminate fishing opportunities in general. In the meantime, trout normally destined for Goshen Dam will provide anglers with increased opportunities at other area waterways,” said Good.
Good says that state and federal agencies will be working with Green Mountain Power to develop a plan to restore Sugar Hill Reservoir and its aquatic and fish communities for 2023 and beyond once repairs are completed and the reservoir is refilled.
In the meantime, most facilities at Sugar Hill Reservoir will be inaccessible this season, including the roundabout at the reservoir, the access road across the dam, and the road to the plunge pool area due to contractor parking, vehicle traffic, equipment operation, and for safety reasons.
U.S. Forest Service biologist Jeremy Mears says local anglers can still find plenty of fishing opportunities in the area’s National Forest.
“There are still many places for anglers to enjoy fishing on the National Forest,” said Mears. Stream fishing for native brook trout is abundant throughout the area, and there also are opportunities for shore fishing at Chittenden Reservoir, Blueberry Lake or Silver Lake. Please be sure to check the Green Mountain National Forest website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/gmfl/home) for updates before you go.”
For helpful information on finding fishing locations near you, visit the department’s access area and family fishing pages at:
https://vtfishandwildlife.com/fish/boating-in-vermont/fishing-access-areas
https://vtfishandwildlife.com/fish/fishing-opportunities
Deer Ages Available on VTF&W Website
RUTLAND, Vt. -- Hunters who provided the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department with a tooth from their deer can now find out how old their deer was by visiting the department’s website.
A total of 2,018 usable deer teeth were received from successful hunters in 2021. When added to the 1,076 deer examined by biologists during the youth and regular November seasons, the department was able to get accurate ages for 3,094 deer.
“We are thankful to the thousands of hunters who supported our deer management efforts by providing us with a tooth from their deer,” said Deer Project Leader Nick Fortin. “This age information helps us estimate deer population size and assess the health of deer. It is also critically important for understanding the effects of new hunting regulations on the deer population and buck age structure.”
The oldest deer harvested was a 16-year-old doe taken in Fairfax. The oldest buck was 11 years old and was taken in Sunderland.
The deer ages can be found on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website with a link from the home page.
MONTPELIER, Vt. – Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
"fish" - Google News
May 05, 2022 at 02:18AM
https://ift.tt/FVNZ8fJ
Vermont Fish & Wildlife News: Keep the wild in the wild, new trout, aging deer, stocking - Vermont Biz
"fish" - Google News
https://ift.tt/UTw2J8Y
https://ift.tt/30dnhmA
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Vermont Fish & Wildlife News: Keep the wild in the wild, new trout, aging deer, stocking - Vermont Biz"
Post a Comment