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Wildlife News - Jan. 30 Wildlife News Jan 30, 2008 This Week’s Stories
Larry Voyles named new director of Arizona Game and Fish Department Voyles has been with Game and Fish for nearly 35 years and is currently supervisor for the department’s Yuma region, which handles field operations in southwestern Arizona. “We’re thrilled to hire someone with Larry’s depth of experience and accomplishments,” said Commission Chairman Bill McLean. “He brings more than three decades of experience in wildlife management to the director’s position, as well as the respect of colleagues and the public.” Voyles joined the department in 1974 as a wildlife manager (game ranger), serving over the next 10 years in the Wellton, Wickenburg and Prescott districts. He subsequently served as the wildlife enforcement program coordinator and as the department's training coordinator before being promoted to supervisor of the Yuma region in 1988. “This is truly a great honor,” said Voyles. “The Arizona Game and Fish Department is recognized as one of the world’s leading wildlife management agencies, and I look forward to continuing our tradition of innovation and dedication to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.” Voyles was one of two finalists considered by the Game and Fish Commission in today’s public session. The commission received more than 30 applications after conducting a nationwide search. Initial interviews were conducted with six people. “We were fortunate to have several qualified candidates to choose from,” said McLean. “The process has been arduous, but we’ve found what we’re looking for—someone with a proven record of strong management skills and an in-depth understanding of Arizona’s natural resource issues.” Voyles, of Yuma, will lead an agency that employs more than 600 employees and is funded at more than $80 million per year from multiple funding sources, primarily the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, federal assistance from an excise tax on hunting and fishing gear, and several other sources such as the Heritage Fund (lottery proceeds), Wildlife Conservation Fund (tribal gaming revenue), watercraft licensing, and state wildlife grants. He will work side-by-side with Shroufe until the latter’s retirement in order to ensure a smooth transition and will fill out the remainder of Shroufe’s original five-year contract through January 2009. In December, Shroufe requested, and was granted, commission approval to retire early this coming March after serving as director for nearly 20 years. “You don’t just replace a Duane Shroufe,” said Voyles. “He led the agency through an amazing period of growth, quality improvement and accomplishment. He set the bar high, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to continue that legacy.” Voyles holds a B.S. in wildlife biology from Arizona State University. The Arizona Game and Fish Department director is appointed by and reports to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The director serves as the department’s chief administrative officer and is responsible for the general supervision and control of all activities, functions and employees of the department. Kids – come catch a trout during the Super Bowl festivities The Arizona Game and Fish Department, in cooperation with Bass Pro Shops and Cast for Kids, will be operating a kids fishing pond loaded with feisty rainbow trout at the Forever Resorts Outdoor Village from Thursday, Jan. 31 through Sunday, Feb. 3. The hours for the fishing pond are: Thursday, noon to 6 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once the event is over, the 300 pounds of trout stocked in the fishing tank will be taken to Saguaro Lake. So in a way, Saguaro is getting a Super Bowl trout bonus. This is a great opportunity to hone your fishing skills. Thanks to recent runoff and well above average snow pack, this is shaping up to be a great fishing year in Arizona. The Outdoor Recreation Village 2008 will be filled with interactive activities and displays of outdoor recreation, national parks, camping, boating, fishing, mountain biking and a lot more. Take a ride on the “wildlife” side Riders are invited to participate in the family-friendly “Bikers Soar for Wildlife Poker Run” on Feb. 17. The fundraiser helps with the care and rehabilitation of animals at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center, and is hosted by the Wildlife Center’s Auxiliary. “This event is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy a day with your family, all while helping raise money for wildlife rehabilitation,” says Sandy Cate, coordinator of the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center. “The whole family is sure to have fun with a variety of activities, including the poker run, plus wildlife exhibits, a live band and a raffle for prizes.” Riders will enjoy 120 miles of scenic Arizona, beginning at the Steel Horse Saloon at 1818 W. Bell Road in Phoenix and ending at the Pioneer Living History Village at 3901 W. Pioneer Road in Phoenix. Pioneer Living History Village is a reproduction of an old Western town from the 1800s. Throughout the route, riders will stop at designated locations to collect a playing card, with the best hand of five cards winning a prize at the end of the ride. Even the non-riders in the family can partake by joining riders after 1 p.m. to enjoy the activities at the final destination. The tax-deductible cost to participate is $20 per rider or $30 per rider and passenger, with a ride pin and lunch provided to all registered riders. This reduced pre-registration cost is offered through Feb. 1. The first 300 registrants will receive a free event T-shirt. Registration begins at 8 a.m. For more information and to register, visit the Wildlife Center’s volunteer auxiliary Web site at www.azwildlifecenter.org/events or call (623) 587-0139. Founded in May 1983, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center treats more than 1,000 sick and injured animals annually, and provides wildlife education to local schools and outreach to community groups. The center’s mission is carried out with a small budget from the state’s Heritage Fund, making fund-raising an important contributor to the care of the animals. Game and Fish Commission agrees to continue voluntary lead reduction program The commission was encouraged by the growing participation rate of hunters using non-lead ammunition during the 2007 fall hunt season. Surveys show that more than 80 percent of hunters took measures last year to reduce the amount of available spent lead ammunition in the California condor’s core range versus 60 percent in 2006. Lead poisoning has been identified as the leading cause of death in condors and the main obstacle to a self-sustaining population in Arizona. Studies show that lead shot and bullet fragments found in game carcasses and gut piles are the main source of lead in condors. The Arizona Game and Fish Department, and its partners the Arizona Deer Association, Arizona Elk Society, Arizona Antelope Foundation, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, and the Arizona Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, have encouraged hunters to continue sportsmen’s proud tradition of wildlife conservation by using non-lead ammunition in condor range (Game Management Units 9, 10, 12A/B, and 13A/B). The department started offering free non-lead ammunition in 2005 to hunters drawn for hunts in the condor’s core range, which includes Game Management Units 12 A/B and 13A. While these efforts have significantly reduced the lead available to condors, challenges still remain. Access to non-lead ammunition poses limitations on the success of hunters’ voluntary efforts. Ammunition manufacturers were unable to meet the demand last year for non-lead ammunition, as well as it is not available in all calibers. Many hunters were unable to find the non-lead ammunition needed for their rifles. The condor is the largest flying land bird in North America. The birds can weigh up to 26 pounds and have a wingspan of up to 9 1/2 feet. Condors were first reintroduced in Arizona in 1996, and they now number 57 in the state. Visitors at the Grand Canyon and Vermilion Cliffs may be able to observe the birds, especially during the spring and summer. For more information on condors and lead, visit www.azgfd.gov/condor. Deadline rapidly approaching for elk and antelope applications If so, the deadline is rapidly approaching to submit applications for elk and antelope hunt permit-tags; the deadline is 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12. Applications must be received by mail or be hand-delivered. Postmarks don’t count. Don’t forget that there is currently no online application process. Another thing to keep in mind is that the Game and Fish Department headquarters has moved to 5000 W. Carefree Highway, which is1.5 miles west of Interstate 17. Applications and the 2008 Arizona Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information booklet should be available at all license dealers, including all seven Game and Fish Department offices in the state. You can also download a copy of the application and/or the booklet from the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw. Something to keep in mind when purchasing a license is that this is also shaping up to be a great year for fishing in Arizona, thanks in large part to well above average snowpack and runoff so far. This is a great year to obtain a combination license. Youth less than 21 years of age really get a great deal – a youth combination license for residents and nonresidents alike is just $26.50. That is almost $6 dollars less than just purchasing a general resident hunting (Class G) license. Don’t forget that by purchasing licenses, tags and hunting equipment, you are helping fund wildlife management efforts. Wildlife conservation and management of game animals by the Arizona Game and Fish Department is made possible in large part by funding generated from the sale of hunting licenses, hunt permit-tags, and matching funds from federal excise taxes hunters pay on guns, ammunition and related equipment. A weekend of outdoor fun the whole family will enjoy Clear your calendar for Saturday and Sunday, March 1 and 2, to experience a fishing pond, canoeing, 3D archery, small-caliber and shotgun firearm safety and shooting, and small game hunting for those that are interested. The event will be held at the Powers Butte Wildlife Area in Buckeye. Powers Butte is approximately 60 minutes west of central Phoenix. Adjacent to the Gila River and comprising approximately 1,681 acres, Powers Butte offers a mixture of desert upland, agricultural, and wetland/riparian habitats. The area attracts a variety of wildlife species, including migratory birds and waterfowl like dove, ducks, geese, rails, and egrets. The uplands are inhabited by javelina, rabbit, mule deer and quail, as well as numerous reptile species. Chandler Rod and Gun Club has an outstanding history of introducing families to the outdoors and is known throughout Arizona for its exciting family and youth outdoor programs and events. Over the last few years the club has served over 3,000 families each year with information, education and opportunities to help citizens better understand and enjoy the wild outdoors. For more information and maps of Powers Butte Wildlife Area, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/wildlife_area_powers_butte.shtml. Sulfur Springs Valley draws a record 36,708 sandhill cranes Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists said the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, which is operated by the department, also set a record this year with 22,367 sandhill cranes, versus the record set last year of 21,236 birds. Mike Rabe, a migratory bird biologist with the department, said this year’s high count is probably a combination of factors. “One reason for the increasing number of cranes in the Sulfur Springs Valley is the consistent habitat (meaning water) that the Game and Fish Department has provided the birds through pumping water at Willcox Playa and at the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area. Because of those habitats, many cranes that used to continue south into Mexico now stop in Arizona. “ Rabe said another factor is the amount and type of agriculture in the valley. “There is a lot more corn being grown this year than last. Corn production is likely to increase because increasing ethanol production is causing corn prices to go up. Corn is excellent crane food.” Those factors add up to superb news for wildlife enthusiasts. Seeing hundreds or even thousands of cranes taking to the skies, feeding in the fields or coming in to land is a thrilling sight. Sandhill cranes are large birds; adults have about an 80-inch wingspan and can stand about 47 inches tall. “With the record numbers of sandhill cranes estimated, there is still plenty of time to see and hear thousands of sandhill cranes. The cranes shouldn’t be leaving the Willcox Playa or Whitewater Draw until mid-late February,” said Joe Yarchin, the department’s watchable wildlife program manager. Both the Willcox Playa Wildlife Area near Willcox and the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area near Douglas offer visitors good viewing facilities, including bathrooms. Crane watching has become an eco-tourism mainstay in southeastern Arizona. In fact, during the Martin Luther King holiday weekend, a popular birding festival called “Wings Over Willcox” attracted participants from 22 states (including Alaska) and three Canadian provinces. “There is no question that sandhill cranes, and other species of birds, have a direct impact on the economy from tourists coming to watch wildlife,” said Homer Hansen with the Willcox Chamber of Commerce. Hansen said that just from the Wings Over Willcox event alone, surveys show that an estimated $60,000 to $80,000 comes into the local economy from hotel, gas, restaurant, and gift purchases. “We also know that many people come to see the cranes before and after the festival, so this number is only representative of that weekend,” he said. Another positive economic factor in the area is hunting for waterfowl in general and for sandhill cranes. There is a limited hunting season in November, by draw only, for sandhill cranes. Hunting has a negligible effect on the crane population. The hunt is conservative, well coordinated among the Western states where the cranes migrate, and is designed to minimize disturbance at roosting areas. Sportsmen’s dollars have also been used to help purchase and maintain crucial wetland habitats for cranes, waterfowl and other wildlife. Rio Grande turkey is now an Arizona resident All the Rios were released on BLM land at Black Rock Mountain in the far northwest corner of the state on the Arizona Strip (approximately 15 miles south of the Utah border). This terrain is similar to where the birds were transplanted from and their native habitat. The Rios were donated from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources as part of a cooperative effort. Utah’s turkey population is doing very well and has areas where reductions are needed. Arizona on the other hand, is gaining a turkey population in an area that is more suited for the Rio Grande subspecies than for the more common Merriam’s subspecies. This translocation will enhance the diversity of wild turkeys in Arizona and the areas in which they can be experienced. The Gould’s subspecies has been reintroduced into the southeastern portion of the state and is doing well. Arizona Game and Fish Department Wildlife Manager Luke Thompson was on hand for the capture and release. “I am proud and excited to report that we have written another chapter in the history of wild turkey management for the state of Arizona,” he said. “Efforts such as this will ensure that the residents of this state can enjoy diversified habitats with full complements of wildlife species for many generations to come. It also exemplifies the department’s efforts on being a leader in progressive wildlife management.” All 55 birds were given identifying wing tags and eight were fitted with radio tracking collars to help monitor and manage the flock’s movements and population progress. The transmitters are unique in the fact they attach much like a backpack. Nylon cord is looped over the bird’s shoulders, allowing the compact transmitter to rest comfortably in the center of the bird’s back. The Rio Grande subspecies is very similar to the Merriam’s turkey, and it would take a side-by-side comparison to notice the differences. The Rio is slightly smaller and the banded accent tail-feathers are slightly darker. However, the most notable differences are the primary wing feathers. The Rios are mainly black with small white accent bars, while the Merriam’s are white with small black accents. This turkey subspecies prefers areas with drainages and stream beds in relatively open brush and scrub country up to 6,000 feet in elevation. The Merriam’s prefers habitat that is a drier forested area reaching elevations up to 10,000 feet. Turkeys make excellent candidates to be introduced to new areas of the state. They have little or no impact on habitat nor do they conflict with other wildlife species for food and territory. They capture, transport and introduce well with low mortality rates. In return, they bring viewing opportunities, expanded range and offer desirable hunting opportunities. Turkey hunting in Arizona is regulated by a draw system. Demand far exceeds available permits – some years as much as a three-to-one ratio. However, hunters interested in harvesting each of Arizona’s turkey subspecies will have to patiently wait. Populations for the Rio Grandes will not be self-sustaining for three to five years, and hunts will then be limited at best. For additional information about wild turkeys, visit these resources: No whirling disease found in trout samples from Lees Ferry However, said Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists, last spring some trout sampled at Lees Ferry had tested positive for whirling disease. There are several possible explanations for these two results. “The most likely explanation is that either whirling disease is present in the population at a very low incidence, and therefore occurrence in our samples is rare, or Lees Ferry trout were exposed to whirling disease, but the disease did not establish,” said Fisheries Branch Chief Kirk Young. Young said time will tell whether whirling disease is permanently present and if it represents a threat to trout at Lees Ferry. “Certainly the October sampling results are promising. We will continue monitoring fish for possible whirling disease infection and conducting outreach efforts to anglers at the Ferry.” Meanwhile, Young said, it’s crucial for anglers and others to continue treating Lees Ferry as being positive for whirling disease so that this debilitating trout disease is not spread to other fisheries. Lees Ferry is the only water in Arizona suspected of harboring the microscopic parasite that causes whirling disease. Whirling disease affects fish in the trout and salmon family. By damaging cartilage, whirling disease can kill young fish directly, or cause infected fish to swim in an uncontrolled whirling motion. This can make it impossible for them to escape predators or to effectively seek food. Whirling disease has no known human health effects. * Never transport live fish from one water body to another (this is illegal in Arizona). Temporary boot cleaning stations are available at the three lodges in the Lees Ferry area, and anglers are encouraged to use them. The National Park Service is also working on plans for more extensive equipment cleaning facilities at Lees Ferry. Anglers interested in ways to best treat their equipment should visit http://www.whirling-disease.org/files/wd_prevention.pdf for more tips. Whirling disease is caused by a microscopic parasite called Myxobolus cerebralis. The parasite was introduced to the United States from Europe in the 1950s and has spread to many streams across the United States. The whirling disease parasite has been found in wild fish and fish hatcheries in 25 states. Once established in a stream, the whirling disease parasite cannot be eradicated, nor can its worm host, without significantly damaging the ecosystem. More information on the disease can be obtained from the Whirling Disease Foundation http://www.tu.org/site/c.kkLRJ7MSKtH/b.3596607/ or at the Whirling Disease Initiative home page. http://whirlingdisease.montana.edu/ Winter surveys indicate breeding activity for Arizona’s bald eagles The department recently conducted its annual bald eagle winter count to assess the population and monitor early breeding activities. The winter count survey showed six bald eagle pairs incubating eggs, with an additional 23 pairs demonstrating breeding behaviors, including repairing nests and defending territories. It is expected that these 23 pairs will lay eggs soon. In total, biologists expect as many as 45 pairs of bald eagles to breed in Arizona this year. “Game and Fish’s early monitoring shows a promising level of breeding activity for the bald eagles, so we are encouraged,” says Kenneth Jacobson, head of the Arizona Game and Fish Department Bald Eagle Management Program. “Even so, we will continue to closely monitor the nests to help prevent any failed breeding attempts.” Bald eagles are sensitive to human activity during the breeding season. It can take only 30 minutes for a breeding attempt to fail if a bald eagle leaves the eggs unattended. Outdoor recreationists are asked to help protect important breeding areas by honoring the closure of 16 areas across the state. Various land and wildlife management agencies close the breeding areas from December through the spring to protect the state’s 48 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Some of the closure areas are located near popular recreation sites. For a list of closure areas, visit www.azgfd.gov. Game and Fish biologists are also busy protecting bald eagle breeding efforts following the recent rainstorms. Nests are being monitored as water levels rise, possibly jeopardizing bald eagle eggs. Biologists are prepared to remove eggs from any nest that is in danger of flooding. The eggs would be incubated and hatched at Liberty Wildlife, a local rehabilitation center. |
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The Arizona Game and Fish Commission on Jan. 28 announced it has hired Larry Voyles as the new director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, effective when current director Duane Shroufe retires in March.
Kids can come catch a trout at the Outdoor Recreation Village in the Westgate City Center adjacent to the Super Bowl XLII at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
Want to go elk or antelope hunting in Arizona during 2008?
Arizona has a new winter visitor record of the feathered kind -- the Sulfur Springs Valley of southern Arizona has drawn an estimated 36,708 sandhill cranes this year, eclipsing the previous record of 31,443 birds set in 2004.
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