All sorts of animals – big and small – live in your backyard. Some fly, some crawl, some jump, and some slither. They live under rocks, logs and leaves; up in bushes or trees; near water; and in holes in the ground and cracks in your house.

For your first Backyard Safari, look under a plant’s leaves, especially if they look as if something chewed on them. This is where caterpillars hang out. They look like worms with many legs. Some caterpillars look hairy, while others are smooth. Caterpillars change into pretty butterflies or moths. Leaves hide caterpillars from birds that might want to eat them for lunch.

Unless you know what kind of caterpillar you are looking at, do not touch it. Sometimes the ones that look furry are prickly. They could be poisonous.

Ask an adult to help you turn over a log or large stone (be sure to turn the log toward you in case there is a snake hiding underneath). It is not hard to find a beetle because there are many different ones. In fact, they are the largest group of insects on Earth. Look for the bugs with biting mouths and hard front wings that protect them.

Some beetles help people by using their jaws to eat tiny critters that chew on flowers or dine on vegetable gardens. Other beetles are pests because they eat the food people grow.

Beetles lay their eggs in dead, fallen trees or logs. When you turned the log over, did you also see tiny, white, squishy “worms” wriggling around? These grubs are baby beetles. Other animals and bugs that call logs and fallen trees home are pill bugs (roly-polies), ants, salamanders, lizards, frogs, earthworms, termites and centipedes.

Held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City, the Wildlife Expo is Oklahoma’s largest outdoor recreation event, offering guests the chance to shoot shotguns and archery equipment, ride mountain bikes and ATVs, catch fish in a fully-stocked pond, experience kayaking, attend seminars and more for free.

At this year’s Expo, wild game meat will be served at the popular Taste of the Wildlife booth, where last year more than 1,000 pounds of fried catfish, more than 1,000 pounds of venison and about 220 gallons of buffalo chili were served to Expo visitors. Dutch oven demonstrators also served samples of deserts, stews and other delicious camp foods cooked right on site and provided seminars on the basics of Dutch oven cooking. Visitors were able to learn secrets of the trade, including what tools are needed to make camp cooking easier and how many coals to use when cooking with a Dutch oven.

“Visitors to the 2009 Wildlife Expo should make it a point to try each of the foods they can sample at the Taste of the Wild booth,” said Rhonda Hurst, Expo coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “They should also be sure to attend a Dutch oven seminar to learn a new recipe or even learn about this style of camp cooking for the first time.”

In addition to sampling game meat and camp food, visitors also can attend a cooking seminar with renowned chef, restaurant owner and wild game cook Michael Fusco. Owner of Michael Fusco’s Riverside Grill in Tulsa, Fusco shows the ins and outs of handling and preparing wild game with culinary expertise every year at the Expo.

“Michael Fusco has partnered with the Wildlife Expo from its beginning and has always been a favorite among Expo visitors,” Hurst said.

The Wildlife Expo is hosted by the Wildlife Department in partnership with a wide range of other state agencies, private individuals and outdoor-related companies to host Expo. The huge event is designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities for all types of outdoor enthusiasts while promoting and instilling an appreciation for Oklahoma’s wildlife and natural resources.

Whether catching a fish for the first time, designing a personal fishing lure, or building a birdhouse to take home with them for free, visitors to the Expo get the chance to soak up a full weekend of free outdoor knowledge, skills and experiences as hundreds of volunteers and Wildlife Department employees work to keep the event exciting, educational and entertaining.

“If you want to try over a hundred outdoor activities, then be at this year’s wildlife Expo Sept. 25-27,” said country music star and outdoorsman Blake Shelton of Ada, who has made an appearance at the Expo in the past. “If you love to hunt and fish like I do, then take someone to this year’s Wildlife Expo.”

The Wildlife Expo will be held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City. Expo hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Sept. 25-27. Log on to wildlifedepartment.com regularly to stay up to date on this year’s Expo activities.

This year’s Expo will again feature “School Day” Sept. 25, when busloads of school students from across the state will arrive and enjoy a day at the event. For more information about School Day or the Wildlife Expo, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.

“The economic recovery investments that the Department of the Interior is making will create jobs by building trails, restoring habitat, upgrading visitors’ centers, and protecting national treasures in communities across America, while leaving a lasting legacy for our children and grandchildren,” said Secretary Salazar.

Located on the western shores of Lake Michigan, the property – now called the Forest Beach Migratory Preserve – was recently purchased by the Ozaukee-Washington Land Trust with the intention of restoring wetlands and native plant communities to help protect Lake Michigan water quality and provide habitat and refuge for native and migratory birds. The Lake Michigan Flyway connects Canada and the Arctic Ocean to South America and is a critical migration route for birds such as black–billed cuckoo, eastern meadowlark, solitary sandpiper and golden–winged warbler.

“The Midwest Region has a long tradition of enjoying the fish, wildlife, lakes, rivers and prairies we are so fortunate to have,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Deputy Regional Director Charlie Wooley. “The projects we will undertake in the Midwest as part of ARRA will provide jobs, increase the energy efficiency of government buildings, protect and enhance our natural resources, provide greater opportunities for people to enjoy those natural resources, and perhaps most importantly, help current and future generations understand and share our passion for the natural world.”

Wooley joined Shawn Graff, director of the Ozaukee-Washington Land Trust, and the Land Trust’s many partners, neighbors, and volunteers at the site to break ground for the habitat restoration project. When restoration is complete, the site will feature a significant amount of critical migratory stopover habitat within a major migratory corridor. These habitats may be expected to make a significant contribution to the conservation of numerous migratory bird species.

“This migratory preserve will provide a great opportunity for adults and kids alike to learn about and observe a great diversity of migratory birds on their journeys between northern breeding areas and southern overwintering areas, Wooley said. “And, we’re putting dollars into the local economy by creating jobs as we work to restore the Lake Michigan ecosystem.”

Funding for these projects and hundreds more across the nation comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Of the $3 billion appropriated to the Department of the Interior, the Act provides $280 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – which includes $115 million for construction, repair and energy efficiency retrofit projects at Service facilities, and $165 million for habitat restoration, deferred maintenance and capital improvement projects. The Service will benefit from an additional $10 million, which is administered by the Department of Transportation and is not included in the Service’s $280 million appropriation that will be used to rebuild and improve roads on several national wildlife refuges. Projects will immediately create local jobs in the communities where they are located, while stimulating long-term employment and economic opportunities for the American public.

Recovery Act projects address long-standing priority needs identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through its capital planning process. The Service worked through a rigorous merit-based process to identify and prioritize investments meeting the criteria put forth in the Recovery Act: namely, that a project addresses the Department’s highest priority mission needs; generates the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time; and creates lasting value for the American public.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Department of the Interior is making an investment in conserving America’s timeless treasures – our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage – while helping middle class families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, employing youth and promoting community service.

For a full list of funded projects nationwide, go to the Department’s Recovery Web Site at http://recovery.doi.gov/. For a list of Service projects, click on the Service’s logo at the bottom of the page. Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department of the Interior’s economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on the recovery web site, which will include an interactive map that enables the public to track where and how the Department’s recovery dollars are being spent. In addition, the public can submit questions, comments or concerns at recoveryact [at] fws [dot] gov.

Secretary Salazar also has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force. Henderson and the Task Force will work closely with the Department of the Interior’s Inspector General to ensure the Recovery Program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility and transparency that President Obama has set.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov

“Public involvement is important to successfully achieve a balance between the protection and use of California’s valuable marine environment,” said Don Benninghoven, chair of the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force, a policy body that oversees the planning process. “Our goal is to help the state implement the law through an open and transparent planning process where all members of the public are invited to participate.”

The open houses will be held in the MLPA North Coast Study Region, the coastline stretching from the California border with Oregon to Alder Creek near Point Arena in Mendocino County. The three public events are scheduled for:

Eureka on Monday, July 20, 2009: 5 – 8:00 p.m., Wharfinger Building, #1 Marina Way

Fort Bragg on Tuesday, July 21, 2009: 5 – 8:00 p.m., Dana Gray Elementary School, 1197 Chestnut St.

Crescent City on Wednesday, July 22 2009: 5 – 8:00 p.m., Cultural Center, 1001 Front St.

Using an “open house” format, attendees may choose to visit at any time during the three hours and walk through informational stations, including an overview of the MLPA Initiative, a description of existing marine protected areas in the study region, how the science of MPAs is applied in the planning process, and how the public can become involved. Staff will be available at each station so that attendees may ask questions and provide feedback on the process for the north coast.

“This is a stakeholder-driven process that is dependent on local knowledge of the marine environment,” said Ken Wiseman, executive director of the MLPA Initiative, a public-private partnership designed to help the State of California implement the MLPA. “We hope to see a large turnout of local residents who want to bring their ideas to the table.”

The MLPA, enacted into law in 1999, directs the state to reexamine and redesign California’s system of MPAs, which are discrete geographic marine or estuarine areas designed to protect or conserve marine life and habitat. The goals of the act are to increase the coherence and effectiveness at protecting the state’s marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems, and marine natural heritage, as well as to improve recreational, educational and study opportunities in marine ecosystems that are subject to minimal human disturbance. MLPA Initiative staff seek to ensure that the planning process includes input from scientists, resource managers, experts, stakeholders and members of the public.

The next steps in the planning process will be to appoint a science advisory team, a panel of highly-distinguished science advisors who will provide scientific support for the MLPA Initiative in the north coast study region process. The science team will be appointed in September by the director of the California Department of Fish and Game.

A regional approach is being used in the MLPA Initiative process, where California’s 1,100- mile coastline has been divided into five study regions. In September of 2007, regulations for the first of the five study regions were implemented for the central coast (Pigeon Point in San Mateo County to Point Conception in Santa Barbara County). In the second study region, four proposals for redesigning MPAs in the north central coast (Alder Creek in Mendocino County to Pigeon Point in San Mateo County) were submitted to the California Fish and Game Commission in December 2008 and specific regulations are expected to be adopted by the commission next month.

The MLPA Initiative’s south coast study region planning process (Point Conception in Santa Barbara County to the California border with Mexico, including offshore islands) is expected to result in a set of alternative MPA proposals by late 2009. The fifth and final study region, San Francisco Bay (from the Golden Gate Bridge northeast to the Carquinez Bridge), is expected to begin following the north coast process.

The MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force will make a final recommendation regarding north coast MPA proposals to the commission near the end of 2010.

For additional information about the MLPA Initiative, visit www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa.

###

California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 654-1885

According to Brandwein, an additional nearly $30,000 in Recovery Act funding enabled the Refuge to double the size of its Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program this summer. Through the YCC program, the Service hires high-school students at national wildlife refuges throughout the U.S. to offer job experience in the field of wildlife conservation. Two crews – a total of twelve YCC enrollees and three leaders – are busy rehabilitating trails and fences, planting trees and shrubs, and thinning reforestation sites. They are also receiving valuable training in environmental education.

“The project funding for Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge will both preserve this area as a sanctuary for the thousands of wildlife and endangered species, and expand the Refuge’s successful Youth Conservation Corps summer program,” said U.S. Senator Jim Webb (D). “At the same time, the funds will help support Virginia’s ecotourism and spur economic development in the Virginia Beach area.”

“These investments and energy improvements at the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge will provide jobs to high school students through a national service program while also supporting efforts to preserve our state’s wildlife population,” said U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D). 
 
“Back Bay is a national treasure, and it’s a great example of how economic recovery funds can help create jobs and protect the environment here in Hampton Roads,” said U.S. Representative Congressman Glenn C. Nye (D-2nd). “I’m proud to have supported the recovery act that provided this funding for Back Bay, and I look forward to the new office space once it’s complete.”

The Service purchased the property on Sandbridge Road in 2004 with an allocation from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Friends of Back Bay were instrumental in advocating and securing funding for the acquisition, according to Brandwein.
 
“After working with Congress for 20 years and receiving over $23 million to purchase and preserve land around Back Bay, I am delighted to see stimulus money being used to renovate the ‘Rightmeyer House’. This facility will serve the public and staff at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge well, as they enjoy and protect this national treasure,” said Molly P. Brown, president of the Friends of Back Bay.
 
TTR, L.L.C., (Casa Builders) will make a number of improvements to the former Sandbridge Road residence, named the “Rightmeyer House” for the locally famous architect who designed the building. The work will entail weatherproofing and stabilizing its exterior by replacing the roof and cedar siding, windows, and doors; replacing the building’s heating and cooling systems; providing accessible ramps and restrooms required for public buildings; and other improvements.

Funding for these projects and hundreds more across the nation comes from the Recovery Act passed earlier this year. Of the $3 billion appropriated to the Department of the Interior, the Recovery Act provides $280 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – which includes $115 million for construction, repair and energy efficiency retrofit projects at Service facilities, and $165 million for habitat restoration, deferred maintenance and capital improvement projects. Projects will immediately create local jobs in the communities where they are located, while stimulating long-term employment and economic opportunities for the American public.

The Service will invest nearly $2 million of Recovery Act funding in economic stimulus projects at national wildlife refuges in Virginia, including Back Bay.

Recovery Act projects address long-standing priority needs identified by the Service through its capital planning process. The agency worked through a rigorous merit-based process to identify and prioritize investments meeting the criteria put forth in the Recovery Act: namely, that a project addresses the Department’s highest priority mission needs; generates the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time; and creates lasting value for the American public.

For a full list of funded projects nationwide, go to the Department’s Recovery Web Site at http://recovery.doi.gov/. For a list of Service projects, click on the Service’s logo at the bottom of the page. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on the recovery web site, which will include an interactive map that enables the public to track where and how the Department’s recovery dollars are being spent.  In addition, the public can submit questions, comments or concerns at recoveryact [at] fws [dot] gov.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

People are seeing black bears as they camp and hike in Utah’s backcountry. Justin Dolling, game mammals coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says the DWR has responded to about 12 black bear incidents, most of them sightings, in various parts of Utah this summer. Spotted by campers and hikers, those 12 bears represent a small fraction of the 3,000 to 4,000 bears that biologists estimate live in the state.

“As far as bear sightings go, this is a pretty typical year,” Dolling says.

He says two things happen in the summer that tend to increase the number of bear sightings reported to the DWR.

“The hot weather draws people into the backcountry, so there are more ‘eyes’ out there to see bears,” he says. “At the same time, mother bears are kicking out the cubs they gave birth to a year ago. They kick the cubs out so the females can prepare for another breeding season.”

Dolling says these young bears tend to wander as they look for food and explore their new world. “If you see a bear in the summer, it’s probably a younger bear,” he says.

Even though these bears are young, they’re just as wild and dangerous as older bears. “You don’t need to be scared of bears, but you do need to respect them,” Dolling says.

Dolling says you can do several simple things to lessen the chance that a black bear visits your campsite this summer:

• Don’t leave food and scented items, such as deodorants and tooth paste, out where a bear can get them.
• Keep your campsite and cabin area clean. Don’t toss food scraps and other trash around.
• Don’t keep any food in the same area where you’re sleeping.
• If an item has a strong smell to it, consider leaving it at home. 
• Never feed a bear.

“If you follow these rules, you’ll not only help yourself, you’ll help other people too,” he says.

“A bear may not visit your campsite while you’re there, but the food you leave out and the litter you leave behind could bring a bear to that same area after you leave. And that could create a serious problem for people who camp in the area after you.”

Keeping your camp clean

Dolling says strong smells—and the food that’s usually associated with those smells—are what attract bears to people. You can do a few simple things, though, to cut those smells down. Cutting the smells down will greatly reduce the chance that a bear visits your camp or cabin:

• Don’t leave food out. Instead, lock your food and coolers inside your vehicle. You can also suspend them at least 12 feet high between two trees, so bears can’t reach them.
  You can also store your food in a bear-proof container. But please remember that most containers, including plastic food coolers, are NOT bear proof. You can find containers that are bear proof at various sporting goods stores and outdoors stores.
• Don’t scatter garbage, food scraps and fat drippings around your campsite. And don’t leave them in your fire pit, either. Instead, place them in an airtight container, lock them securely in the trunk of your car or inside your trailer and take them home with you. If bear-proof garbage cans are available in your campground, you can also leave them in the cans.
• After you’re done cooking and eating clean your cooking grills immediately. And clean anything you used to prepare, eat or clean up food.
• Don’t keep any food in the area where you’re sleeping.
• Cook away from your tent or sleeping area. And don’t sleep in the clothes you wore while cooking or the clothes you wore while cleaning fish. Leave those clothes at your cooking area, along with utensils, rags and anything else used to prepare, cook, eat or clean up food. Or, better yet, seal the items inside a vehicle or in a bear-proof container.
  If you’re camping in the backcountry, hang your food and the clothes you used while cooking between two trees and at least 12 feet off the ground.
• Don’t bring items with you that have a strong odor. Bears have very sensitive noses. Anything that has a strong smell to it, including deodorant, perfume and certain soaps, could draw a bear to your campsite.
• Never feed a bear.

Bear safety tips

More tips on how to stay safe in bear country, including what to do if you encounter a bear while hiking, are available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/bearsafety.

“It’s a natural partnership. We encourage outdoors photographers to watch the award-winning PBS show ‘Nature’ on North Carolina Public Television as a great way of learning about the wonderful world around us,” said Greg Jenkins, Wildlife in North Carolina editor. “And, in turn, the photo competition aims to foster greater understanding and appreciation of North Carolina’s wildlife and wild places.”

All winners will be published in the January 2010 issue of Wildlife in North Carolina magazine, with the grand prize image placed on the cover, and also exhibited at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. Winners will also receive a print of their winning entry from JW Photo Labs of Raleigh and prizes from sponsor Great Outdoor Provision Co.

Other co-sponsors are the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh and the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, which manages state parks.

Photos will be judged in 8 categories, with youth divisions for 12 and younger, and 13 to 17 year olds:

• Birds
• Mammals
• Reptiles and Amphibians
• Invertebrates
• Peaks, Valleys and Plains
• Wild Plants (including mushrooms and other fungi)
• Outdoor Recreation (such as hunting, fishing and hiking)
• Animal Behavior

Winners will be selected by a panel comprised of staff of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and professional wildlife photographers.

All photos must be entered electronically at www.ncwildlife.org. No slides, negatives or prints will be accepted by mail. Click on the “Photo Competition” link for rules, to enter photographs and to see last year’s winners. Photographers can enter up to three photos in each category.

Visit www.ncwildlife.org, www.unctv.org, the Museum of Natural Sciences, any of North Carolina’s 39 state parks, or any of the eight statewide locations of the Great Outdoor Provision Co. for more information about the competition.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the release of the “State of the Hudson 2009 Report” and the “Draft 2010-2014 Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda” during the Hudson River Estuary Program Summit at the Hotel Thayer, West Point, on the Hudson River.

The State of the Hudson 2009 is an illustrated report that describes progress and identifies ongoing problems. It looks at water quality, habitat and fish and wildlife of the estuary, as well as biodiversity, tributary health, and land-use patterns in the Hudson’s watershed. The State of the Hudson 2009 is available on the DEC website. The Draft Action Agenda 2010-2014 helps set the course for estuary management for the coming five years. Both documents also are available by calling the Hudson River Estuary Program office at 845-256-3016.

“Fittingly, we are issuing this report during the Quadricentennial celebration of the Hudson. But as we are celebrating 400 years of Hudson River history, we’d be wise to remember the river’s recent past,” Commissioner Grannis said. “The river has made a remarkable come back over the last 40 years, from the days it was regarded as an open sewer. Yet more work is needed – from keeping toxics out of the estuary to upgrading water infrastructure to increasing citizen stewardship. The State of the Hudson Report gives us a sense of where we are and what we need to do to continue the comeback.”

In cooperation with Historic Hudson River Towns and others, the DEC-led Hudson River summit takes stock of priority issues confronting the Hudson River Estuary. Participants focus on their vision for the future and examine how partnerships can be expanded to achieve common goals for the river. More than 170 people were slated to attend the summit, including local partners who provide valuable services for protection and management of the Hudson River Estuary and its watershed.

“The river shaped our past. We now shape its future,” said Fran Dunwell, DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Coordinator. “Our power to alter the Hudson must be informed by understanding of the vital role the river plays in our lives.”

DEC’s Draft Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2010-2014 is the blueprint for cleaning and protecting the Hudson River and its watershed, while increasing public access, conserving vital natural resources, improving educational programs, and protecting open space along the entire estuary. The Draft 2010-1014 Action Agenda focuses on priorities such as restoring and maintaining signature species and the ecosystems that support them; assisting communities to prepare for climate change, including sea level rise and flooding of tributary streams; maintaining the resiliency of the Hudson watershed ecosystem and its world-famous landscape; achieving the goal of swimmable water quality and maintaining the water quality New York has achieved by upgrading wastewater infrastructure.

Led by the DEC, the Draft 2010-2014 Action Agenda is an inter-agency effort undertaken cooperatively with the Department of State, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Hudson River Valley Greenway, the Office of General Services and others.

Written comments on the draft are due by July 31. Comments can be sent via e-mail at hrep [at] gw [dot] dec [dot] state [dot] ny [dot] us (please include the words “Hudson River Action Agenda” in the subject line) or by mail addressed to: Frances F. Dunwell, NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program, 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY 12561.

There will be additional public comment opportunities in fall 2009. A final Action Agenda is targeted for release in January 2010.

Jason and Sarah Geisel completed this year’s event last weekend when they found their final cache at Zippel Bay State Park in northern Minnesota.

“We love being outdoors seeing animals, interesting plants, and all the beautiful sites Minnesota has to offer,” said Sarah. “It’s great exercise and a wonderful experience.”

The Geisel’s finished third in last year’s Geocaching History Challenge and were  determined to improve on that finish this time around.

Courtland Nelson, director of the DNR’s Division of Parks and Trails, will congratulated the Geisels and recognized their accomplishment on June 8 at Fort Snelling State Park.

The Geocaching Wildlife Safari, which began May 2, will offer three more years of treasure-hunting fun. All Minnesota’s state parks and recreation areas have its own geocache, also known as a Critter Cache.

The geographic coordinates indicating the specific location of each cache are posted online. When geocachers enter these coordinates into a GPS device, they can see which direction to go to find the cache.

Critter Caches contain Critter Cards featuring Minnesota mammals, fish, insects and other critters native to the state. Note: All caches were placed above the ground in relatively well-traveled areas, so there is no need to disturb natural features to find a cache.

Cachers have already logged more than 2,335 finds at geocaching.com. Since many people geocache in groups, and not everyone logs their finds, this is likely only a portion of the participation in the program.

To help beginners learn the basics of geocaching, 25 Minnesota state parks have been designated as “GPS Demonstration Parks.” These state parks will loan out GPS units free of charge and offer periodic free “Geocaching 101? programs.

Upcoming “Geocaching 101? programs in the metro area include:

10 a.m. Saturday, June 20, at William O’Brien State Park (participants are asked to register in advance by calling 651-433-0500).

• 10 a.m. Thursday, June 25, at Fort Snelling State Park.
• More dates and a map of all the GPS demonstration parks are available online.

The Geocaching History Challenge, a special Sesquicentennial event, ended Dec. 31, 2008. Some 20,000 geocache finds were recorded last year.

A larger photo of the Geisel’s is available by clicking here.

In making the announcement, Secretary Salazar said, “The ecological, social, and economic values of the Upper Mississippi River make it one of the crown jewels of this nation’s wetlands. This marks the 27th U.S. wetland designated under the Convention on Wetlands. The U.S. became a party to the convention in 1987, which now includes 150 countries. It’s certainly fitting that this area has now officially received international recognition.”
 
The designation includes just over 300,000 acres of federal and state lands and waters of the Upper Mississippi River floodplain from near Wabasha, Minn. to north of Rock Island, Ill. The designation includes all of the 240,000-acre Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge headquartered in Winona, Minn. and the adjacent 6,226-acre Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin.
 
Other designated sites in the U.S. include such wetland icons as Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia and Florida, Everglades National Park in Florida, and Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin.
 
Don Hultman, refuge manager of the Upper Mississippi River refuge, said designation is aimed at strengthening public awareness and appreciation of the role wetlands play in sustaining environmental health, economic enterprise, and recreational well-being.
 
“The upper reach of the Mississippi River is an ecological treasure,” Hultman said.
 
Hultman said the refuge and surrounding public lands in the site support more than 200 nesting pairs of bald eagles, 120 species of fish, 42 species of mussels, and provide migration habitat for up to 50 percent of the world’s population of canvasback ducks.
 
He said the site also serves as a major navigation highway for commerce and provides millions of citizens abundant hunting, fishing, and other recreational opportunities.
 
Hultman said a Wetland of International Importance designation has no effect on current jurisdiction, authorities, or management responsibility of federal, state, or local governments that partner on management of the river. He stressed that designation does not affect current river uses.
 
“All commercial and recreational uses currently allowed or allowed in the future are not affected. Designation does not dictate land and water use of any kind,” Hultman said.
 
The designation proposal was endorsed by the Department of Natural Resources of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and seven members of Congress from the respective states.
 
With Fish and Wildlife Service approval, the designation package now goes to the Ramsar Secretariat located in Gland, Switzerland, for technical review and formal addition to the international list of wetlands which now numbers more than 1,600 sites. Formal designation is expected early in 2010.
 
For more information on the Wetlands of International Importance program, go to www.ramsar.org.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

-FWS-

Contacts
Contact: Vanessa Kauffman, 703-358-2138, vanessa_kauffman [at] fws [dot] gov
Charles Traxler, 612-713-5313, charles_traxler [at] fws [dot] gov

Hunting licenses will increase from $23 to $25, while the popular Super Combo all-inclusive license increases from $64 to $68.

Non-resident hunting licenses increase by $15 from $300 to $315, which also reflects a five percent hike.

Fishing packages will also increase by $2. The resident freshwater fishing package increases from $28 to $30 and the saltwater fishing package increases from $33 to $35.

The biggest increase in license fees approved by the commission affects lifetime licenses. The resident lifetime fishing and hunting licenses will increase to $1,000 and the lifetime combination license increases to $1,800.

“We have not increased the cost of a lifetime license for 12 years,” said Gene McCarty, TPWD deputy director of administration. “Frankly, these licenses have been undervalued and could represent significant lost revenue over time if not adjusted.”

Boat owners in Texas will also see increases in boat registration and titling fees. Boat registration, which are valid for two years, for vessels less than 16 feet in length increase from $30 to $32 and those in the 16-26 foot range go from $50 to $53. Boats 26-40 feet increase from $70 to $110 and boats greater than 40 feet increase from $90 to $150.

Other miscellaneous increases are primarily in the category of commercial licenses, including commercial shrimp boat captain’s license ($20 increase), resident commercial oyster boat ($21 increase), wholesale fish dealers truck ($28 increase), resident commercial crab fishermen’s license ($30 increase), non-resident commercial oyster boat ($84 increase) and non-resident commercial crab fisherman’s license ($120 increase).

The department received less than 400 comments related to the fee increases during the public comment period, the majority of which came from the TPWD online survey and by email, with only 16 comments resulting from a series of 19 public meetings scheduled around the state. Overall, comments ran more than 2-to-1 against the increases, citing bad economic times as the primary reason.

“Initially we considered a 10-15 percent increase but in this economy we know that is unrealistic and counterproductive,” said McCarty. “But, it’s important to mention that this will just keep us even.”

McCarty noted the fees for none of the special endorsement stamps were increased.

In addition to the fee increases, the commission approved a new administrative fee of $100 for reinstatement of any recreational or commercial license that has been revoked or suspended.

The commission also authorized staff to implement a drawing for a package that includes a lifetime hunting and fishing license and one-year subscription to Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine. Entry fee for the drawing will be $5 and will go on sale Aug. 15 wherever licenses are sold.

“Seeing a wild animal in a populated area is not necessarily cause for alarm,” said DFG Environmental Program Manager Doug Updike. “There are some common-sense precautions that people should be aware of should they come across wildlife, but it’s important to realize that animals in or around subdivisions are very unlikely to attack and are likely to flee.”

During the spring months bears may roam backyards or irrigated landscapes in search of grasses, forbs, berries, acorns and other plant life. Herbivores such as deer and rabbits will do the same, followed by their predators, mountain lions and coyotes.

Humans are encouraged to take measures to minimize interaction with wild animals in search of food to decrease the chance of confrontation. DFG’s Keep Me Wild campaign offers important precautionary information for outdoor enthusiasts or anyone who lives in or near wildlands. Tips to discourage wildlife include:

Do not feed wild animals.

Pick up fallen tree fruit as soon as possible.

Do not leave pets outside unattended.

Keep pet food inside.

Humans are also advised to stand tall and back away slowly if confronted by any large wild animal. In an emergency situation, call 911. For more advice specific to each species, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild.

The contest, sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), was open to the public. Entries could be produced in any artistic medium, as long as the piece depicted an image of a northern shoveler, the waterfowl species chosen by the Fish and Game Commission for the 2009 duck stamp.

In addition to having his or her design featured the stamp itself, the winning artist will be able to produce signed limited edition prints valued by art collectors.

DFG sells about 70,000 duck stamps annually. Since the California duck stamp program began in 1971, it has raised more than $22 million in revenue for waterfowl-related conservation projects.

California has the oldest state duck stamp program in the country; however, this will be the first time since 1994 that the image on the Duck Stamp has been selected by a public competition. For the last 15 years, stamp art was either commissioned or selected through a competitive bid process.

The duck stamp entries will be judged by a panel of citizens selected for their expertise in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing. The judging, which is open to the public, will include first, second, third, and honorable mention placement. The top five entries will be displayed in July at the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association’s art show in Sacramento.

The event is free and open to the public but space is limited, so those interested in attending are asked to call Lorna Bernard at (916) 322-8937to secure a place on the guest list.

For more information about the California Duck Stamp program, please visit the DFG Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/about/duckstamp.

Volunteers are needed to help hand pull garlic mustard, an invasive nonnative plant, at several parks. These activities will help protect and restore the unique natural areas in these southeast Michigan state parks. Volunteering for these workdays is a great way to “GO-Get Outdoors” and enjoy spring.

Dates, times and locations of the workdays are as follows:

• Saturday, April 4, at Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, April 5, at Algonac State Park (St. Clair Co.), 1 to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, April 11, at Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland Co.), 9 a.m. to noon
• Saturday, April 18, at Brighton Recreation Area (Livingston Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, April 19, at Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday, April 25, at Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw Co.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, April 26, at Highland Recreation Area (Oakland Co.), 1 to 4 p.m.

Volunteers should bring appropriate clothing for outdoor work, including long pants, boots, gloves, eye protection and drinking water.

For more information about the specific tasks at each location and to obtain directions, visit the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnrvolunteers and link to the Calendar of Volunteer Stewardship Workdays. All volunteers are asked to register using the forms available online. A special form for all seed collecting activities is available at the top of the calendar listing. Any questions should be directed to Laurel Malvitz-Draper at (248) 359-9057 or malvitz [at] michigan [dot] gov.