Trout Survival After the Floods

 

Posted by: Drew Price  

Date: 09/12/11

 

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When you see a trout stream transformed into a frightening, raging torrent—as the
Williams River was—you have to wonder how a trout could survive such power.

photo by Len Emery

My home state of Vermont was recently ravaged by flooding from the rains of Tropical Storm Irene. Tiny creeks became rushing torrents, midsize rivers hit record levels, and the state’s largest rivers flowed over parts of their floodplains that rarely see water. The devastating impacts of this flooding on the residents of the Green Mountain State have been widely broadcast, and recovery will take a great deal of time. I wondered about the impacts of this flooding on the local fisheries, so I began to research what happens to fish during floods.

Eminently Adaptable
Fish are incredibly adaptable animals. Stream-dwelling trout, for example, live in an environment that has a tendency to change a fair amount. Spring flooding is part of the normal cycle for these and other animals, and they have learned to make it through this annual event for millennia. A flash-flood event is somewhat similar, albeit far more abrupt.

READ MORE http://www.orvisnews.com/en/FlyFishing/Survival-After-the-Floods.aspx

A Better Way To Save Your Catch

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Unique Fish Portraits by Josi Etter

Here is the alternative to a plastic mount of your fish. The modern way of fish taxidermy: Have Your fish painted!!!

From your photograph or description we create an original and unique watercolor painting of your fish.

Send us your fish photograph...

...and we create an exact life-size replica:

FWP schedules fishing reg meetings across Montana

 

Proposed fishing regulation changes for 2012-15 will be the topic of a series of open houses held by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks this week and next.

The changes, which would go into effect March 1, 2012, include regulations in the Western, Central and Eastern fishing districts. Details on the proposals are available for review on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov. Click "Proposed Fishing Regulations for 2012-2015".

Locations, dates and times for the open houses include:

• Glasgow - Sept. 7, 7-9 p.m.: Cottonwood Inn, Highway 2 E.;
• Hamilton - Sept. 7, 6-9 p.m.: USDA Forest Service Office, 1801 North 1st St.;
• Billings - Sept. 8, 7-9 p.m.: FWP Region 5 Headquarters, 2300 Lake Elmo Dr.;
• Havre - Sept. 8, 7-9 p.m.: Duck Inn; 1300 First St.;
• Missoula - Sept. 8, 6-9 p.m.: FWP Region 2 Headquarters, 3201 Spurgin Rd.;
• Helena - Sept. 12, 7-9 p.m.: Montana Wild Outdoor Learning Center, off Hwy 12/Euclid at 2668 Broadwater Ave.;
• Plentywood - Sept. 12, 7-9 p.m.: Sheridan County Library, 100 W. Laurel Ave.;
• Darby - Sept. 14, 6-9 p.m.: Community Clubhouse, 106 N. Main St.;
• Miles City - Sept. 14, 7-9 p.m.: Miles City Community College, 2715 Dickinson St.;
• Bozeman - Sept. 15, 7-9 p.m.: FWP Region 3 Headquarters, 1400 S. 19th St.;
• Great Falls - Sept 15, 7-9 p.m.: Region 4 Headquarters, 4600 Giant Springs Rd.

Comments must be received by Sept. 19. Send comments by mail to: 2012-15 Fishing Regulations; FWP Fisheries Bureau, P.O. Box 200701; Helena, MT 59601.

The FWP Commission will take final action on the proposals on Oct. 13 in Helena. For more information, contact your nearest FWP office or call Don Skaar at 406-444-7409.

NY seeks stop to wild hogs; may ban captive hunts

NY seeks stop to wild hogs; may ban captive hunts

By MARY ESCH - Associated Press | AP – 20 hrs ago

• 

  In this Aug. 24, 2011 photo, feral hogs walk in a holding pen at Easton View Outfitters …

• 

  In this Aug. 24, 2011 photo, a feral hog walks in a holding pen at Easton View Outfitters …

VALLEY FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — Wildlife officials in New York may ban captive boar hunts as they try to curb a growing feral hog population before it gets as bad as it is in Southern states, where roaming droves have devastated crops and wildlife habitat with their rooting, wallowing and voracious foraging.

Feral swine are breeding in three counties in central New York, according to a federal study done last year with funding from New York's Invasive Species Council. The wild population statewide is likely in the hundreds , said Gordon Batcheller, head of the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Bureau of Wildlife.

That's small compared with Texas, where biologists estimate the feral hog population at around 2 million, but Batcheller said any number is bad because they're certain to multiply. Damage becomes more noticeable when the population reaches the thousands and the hogs stake out home territories rather than wandering widely.

Eurasian wild boars have become popular on private hunting ranches throughout the U.S. in recent years as an addition to deer and elk. Ranch owners deny they're the source of the free-roaming pigs, but Patrick Rusz, director of wildlife programs for the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, said the animals started showing up in the wild soon after hunting preserves began importing them. Their distribution is clustered near preserves, he added.

"We're not talking about Porky Pig getting loose from the farm," Rusz said. "These are Russian wild boars. Those animals are Houdini-like escape artists and they breed readily in the wild. We've had domestic pigs for centuries and never had a feral hog problem until the game ranches started bringing these in." READ MORE:

http://news.yahoo.com/ny-seeks-stop-wild-hogs-may-ban-captive-163701421.html

NOTEWORTHY

• Recent Rockland County Deer Deaths Diagnosed.
  DEC has confirmed that the death of approximately 100 white-tailed deer reported two weeks ago in the Town of Clarkstown, Rockland County was caused by Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD)(http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/39767.html). EHD is a virus that is transmitted to white-tailed deer by a biting midge, commonly known as a "no-see-um" or "punkie." The virus was last confirmed in New York in 2007 and does not infect humans. DEC asks the public to report any sightings of sick or dying deer to the nearest DEC Regional Office(http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/558.html) or to an Environmental Conservation Officer(http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/50303.html). Check out the DEC Press Release for more details(http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/76929.html) on this recent EHD occurrence.
• Trail and Campground Closures Follow Hurricane Irene.
  Due to damage caused by Hurricane Irene, and more recently, Tropical Storm Lee, many trails and roads leading to the trails are closed across the Catskills and Eastern Adirondacks for safety measures. Advisories for these closures are on the Adirondack Advisories(http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html) page on the DEC website or on the Catskill Advisories(http://www.nynjtc.org/news/postirene-message-hikers-trail-maintainers) page on the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference website. This information along with details on cleaning and disposing of debris is located on the DEC Safety and Cleanup Information(http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/76659.html) web-page.

Wyoming's Elk season opens with herds flush near Jackson

 

Associated Press | Posted: Saturday, September 10, 2011 4:20 pm

 

BOB ZELLAR/Gazette Staff

Elk hunting begins south of Jackson for those who hold special licenses for cow and calves. Most other areas around the Jackson Hole open Sept. 26

JACKSON — Elk rifle season begins with regulations focusing hunters on herds that don't face predators while protecting wapiti migrating from Yellowstone and the Teton Wilderness to avoid a future license lottery.

Hunting begins south of Jackson in the Fall Creek Herd for those who hold special licenses for cow and calf elk. Most other areas around the Jackson Hole valley open Sept. 26, when hunters will largely target branch-antlered elk in the Jackson Herd.

Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/article_db5c6c4c-dbfb-11e0-9fc1-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1Xf9827RN

Check station discovers zebra mussels on trailer

 

• Gazette Staff | Posted: Sunday, September 11, 2011 12:00 am | No Comments Posted

 

Juvenile zebra mussels were discovered on vegetation on a Billings boat trailer at a watercraft check station on Fort Peck Reservoir on Aug. 27.

Zebra mussels are a small, nonnative freshwater mollusk that have been invading rivers, lakes and streams across the nation. They are prolific breeders; each female mussel can produce up to a million eggs a year.

Eileen Ryce, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Aquatic Nuisance Program coordinator, said Valley County’s traveling inspection station was set up at the Duck Creek fishing access site south of Glasgow when the vessel was examined.

Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/lifestyles/recreation/article_66077af2-b401-53b0-a70f-a9499f43afd5.html#ixzz1Xf2pbpp5