Duck Numbers Dip Slightly

THE U.S. FISH and Wildlife Service (FWS) today released its report on 2019 Trends in Duck Breeding Populations, based on surveys conducted in May and early June by FWS, Canadian Wildlife Service, and other partners of Ducks Unlimited (DU).

Total populations are at 38.9 million breeding ducks in the traditional survey area, six percent lower than last year’s estimate of 41.2 million and 10 percent above the long-term average (since 1955).

“Overall both total ponds and total populations of breeding waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole Region were down slightly,” DU Chief Scientist Dr. Tom Moorman said.

“However, important breeding areas in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan were much drier than last year, which contributes to reduced numbers of breeding waterfowl observed in the survey. Fortunately, eastern North Dakota and South Dakota saw an increase in both ponds and breeding waterfowl, especially mallards, blue-winged teal, gadwalls, northern shovelers, and northern pintails.

“Typically, when the Dakotas are wet and southern Alberta, and Saskatchewan are dry, we see the aforementioned species settle in the Dakotas,” Moorman said. “This reminds us that we must conserve habitat across the prairies because it is rare for the entire Prairie Pothole Region to be wet.

“Ultimately, however, hunting success and numbers of birds observed will vary with the onset of fall and winter cold fronts and the arrival of winter conditions necessary to force birds to migrate, and also with regional habitat conditions.”

…

Wardens Catch Poaching Ring

GAME WARDENS in Smith and Wood counties recently put a halt to a massive poaching network involving 12 individuals responsible for the illegal killing of at least 28 white-tailed deer and 50 feral hogs. The investigation began in February with information about a deer that had been shot off a county road at night.

Game wardens conducted interviews and soon learned this was not an isolated incident. By the summer, investigators had documented evidence that a dozen subjects collectively committed more than 600 violations during the last two years. All the deer and hogs had been killed on private property at night; shot from public roadways with the aid of spotlights. The dead animals were left to rot where they fell. Cases are pending.

—from TPWD

 

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