Hunters in Colorad Encouraged to Submit Deer and Elk for CWD Testing
October 9, 2008
Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) offices will be open extended hours during the 2008 deer and elk rifle seasons to answer hunter’s questions, sell licenses and offer testing services for chronic wasting disease (CWD). Â
In addition to normal weekday hours, many DOW offices will be open Columbus Day, Veterans Day and opening Saturdays during the main deer and elk rifle hunting seasons. Many high-demand locations also will be open on Sundays or offer “on-call” phone numbers for hunters who wish to drop off heads for testing on Sundays.Â
For a listing of office locations and hours, visit the DOW website at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/BigGame/
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Ultimately, the DOW hopes to continue to collect testing samples from deer and elk to increase knowledge about CWD infection rates and locations.  Â
“The more samples we receive, the more information we have to examine CWD prevalence across the state,” explained Brain Dreher, a senior terrestrial biologist from Colorado Springs.
CWD testing costs $15 per animal in most units across Colorado. Test fees are waived for animals harvested in units 591 and on JeffCO open space properties in Jefferson County; Heads collected at check stations in GMU 70 and GMU 60I are also exempt from the $15 fee.  Â
Every deer and elk license includes a detachable tag labeled “CWD Head Testing Tag.” The tag includes a bar code that can be scanned to speed up processing. Hunters should bring this tag in with the head and be prepared to provide detailed information about when and where the animal was harvested.
For a complete list of CWD collection locations, addresses, and hours of operation, visit the chronic wasting disease page on the DOW Web site at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/BigGame/CWD/CWDSubmission.htm.
The DOW’s goal is to provide test results within 10 to 14 working days during the regular rifle seasons. Hunters whose results are not available more than three weeks after submission should call the nearest DOW office for assistance.
Results are also available 24 hours a day through the CWD page on the DOW Web site by clicking on the CWD Test Results option at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/BigGame/CWD/.  Â
Test results can also be obtained by calling 1-800-434-0274. This number is available 24 hours a day and hunters can get results for up to three heads per call by keying in the head submission numbers on their CWD testing receipt.  Â
Out-of-state hunters should check with their home state’s wildlife agency to determine if there are special carcass importation restrictions in those states. Many states require hunters to bone out or process all deer and elk meat being returned to their home state from states with CWD.
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Monitoring Finds Quagga Mussel Larvae in Jumbo and Tarryall Reservoirs of Colorado
October 9, 2008
A State initiative to gather more information on the presence of aquatic invasive species in Colorado confirmed the presence of quagga mussel larvae in Jumbo Reservoir in Logan County, and Tarryall Reservoir in Park County.
Veligers, the larval stage of quagga mussels, were initially identified by a microscopic analysis of water samples. An independent lab confirmed the presence of quagga mussel DNA in the samples.
Earlier this summer, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) implemented mandatory boat inspections at Tarryall and continues to inspect all boats entering and exiting the reservoir. The DOW and the Julesburg Irrigation Company will be discussing an appropriate response for Jumbo Reservoir.
Public awareness and participation is the best weapon in the containment of invasive species. Invasive mussels endanger water quality and natural resources. Boaters are reminded to take the simple precaution of making sure that they Clean, Drain, and Dry their boat when they leave the lake. All boaters should remember to follow these steps to ensure they are not spreading the mussels to clean waters:
DRAIN the water from the vessel, live well and the lower unit of the engine.
CLEAN the hull of the vessel.
DRY the vessel, fishing gear and other equipment.
INSPECT all exposed surfaces.
REMOVE all plant and animal material.
“Boaters need to remain extremely vigilant in following the ‘Clean, Drain and Dry’ protocol,” said Elizabeth Brown, DOW Invasive Species Coordinator. “We need the help of boaters to prevent the spread of the mussels in Colorado. There are hundreds of uninfested lakes and we want to keep them that way.”
Jumbo Reservoir Boating Restrictions:
Under existing regulations, recreational boating on Jumbo Reservoir is prohibited October 1st through the last day of regular goose season on February 15th. Shoreline waterfowl hunters may use hand-propelled craft to set and pick up decoys, and to retrieve downed waterfowl. Waterfowl hunting from motorized vessels is allowed by reservation only and only hunters with reservations are exempt from the October 1 boat closure. Reservations may be made by calling 1-800-846-9453. Â
Tarryall Reservoir Restrictions and Inspection Procedures:
Trailered boats are allowed on the lake from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Monday. No night boating is allowed. Before launching, trailered boats must be inspected at the north ramp off Park County Road 77. Hand-launched craft such as float tubes, canoes and non-motorized rowboats are permitted at all times.
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Alaska Joins Cooperative Effort to Protect Nation’s Wildlife
September 19, 2008
On September 8, Alaska became the 30th state to join the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC) in a cooperative effort to protect the nation’s wildlife resources.
Founded in 1989 by charter states Colorado, Oregon and Nevada, the IWVC is a multi-state program that provides law enforcement agencies greater authority and improved resources to enforce wildlife regulations across state boundaries.Â
In part, the Compact creates an agreement that allows member states to reciprocate regarding the suspension or revocation of licenses resulting from violations of hunting, fishing and trapping laws. Any person whose license or permit privileges are suspended or revoked in one member state are subject to suspension or revocation in all member states.
“Alaska is a prime destination for fishing and big game hunting, and their membership in the IWVC provides a tremendous deterrent to potential offenders,” said Bob Thompson, Colorado Division of Wildlife acting chief of law enforcement. “If a poacher or other violator has their hunting or fishing privileges revoked here in Colorado, they also will lose their privilege to hunt or fish in Alaska, as well as all other Compact member states. This helps to ensure that nonresident violators can’t ignore a citation or summons simply by fleeing to their home state.”
The Compact also improves interstate communication among law enforcement agencies by providing access to suspension information stored in the IWVC database.
“The IWVC brings together a cooperative effort that enhances the State of Colorado’s ability to protect and manage our wildlife resources for the benefit of all residents and visitors,” said Thompson. “We are excited this program continues to grow, and Alaska is a great addition and asset towards this effort.”
Member states include:Â Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and its habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation. The Division is funded through hunting and fishing license fees, federal grants and Colorado Lottery proceeds through Great Outdoors Colorado.
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CWD Undetected in Massachusetts Deer
July 3, 2008
Based on data gathered during this past year, no evidence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) was detected in Massachusetts deer or moose. MassWildlife recently received results from a federally certified veterinary diagnostic laboratory that indicate that all the brain, lymph node, and tonsil samples taken from deer during last fall’s hunting season tested negative for the disease. In late 2007 and early 2008, MassWildlife collected 487 samples from hunter-harvested and car killed deer from across the state for CWD monitoring and testing. This was the sixth year of sampling in Massachusetts as part of a nationwide CWD monitoring and surveillance program. One moose sample from a roadkill was also submitted and did not test positive for CWD.
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disorder known to affect white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. The World Health Organization has concluded that there is no evidence that people can become infected with CWD. CWD was first identified in the late 1960’s in Colorado and remained located in Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska for over two decades. In the past decade, CWD has been found in parts of the Midwest, several Canadian provinces and most recently in the eastern states of New York and West Virginia.
As stewards for wildlife in the state, MassWildlife has implemented strict regulations to prevent the disease from entering the Bay State and affecting the health of both wild and captive deer populations. It is unlawful to import all species of live deer, including European red deer, sika deer, fallow deer and reindeer, all species commonly raised commercially. It is also illegal for anyone to import, process or possess whole carcasses or parts of deer or elk (from wild or captive deer herds) from states and Canadian provinces where CWD has been detected. The only exceptions to the regulation are meat that is deboned, cleaned skull caps, cleaned hides and finished taxidermy mounts. By restricting importation to these specific deer parts, the importation of neurological tissue –which is where the disease-causing prions are located — is prevented, while sportsmen and sportswomen hunting in states with CWD can still safely use the deer they harvest. For more CWD information, go to: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/wildlife/diseases/cwd_info.htm
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April Means Bears Emerge From Hibernation
April 19, 2008
Mid-April, 2 a.m. — A woman hears a loud noise and looks out the window to see a black bear sniffing around her trash can. She secured the lid on the can with a bungee cord. She watches as the bear lifts the can and throws it. The lid flies off and the bear has found something to eat.
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It’s that time of year when Colorado’s bears emerge from hibernation. Male bears come out first. Depending on the weather and elevation, they start coming out in early to mid-April. If they don’t find green grass or new plant growth to eat, they might go back into the den. Females with cubs come out later, but they will all be out by May.
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Every year, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) receives phone calls from residents concerned about bears visiting their property. It ran through my yard! It knocked over my trash! It was on my deck! The stories usually end with a question, “What should I do about it?”
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In communities located in bear country, residents often have conflicting views about what to do. Most people say, “learn to live with them,” but some want bears moved “back where they belong.”Â
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A hundred years ago, there were places in Colorado where bears could live without coming in contact with people, but today there are few places left in bear habitat where people haven’t built subdivisions, campgrounds, or summer homes.Â
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Given a choice, bears would just as soon avoid people, but there are not many far-away places to move bears “back where they belong” anymore. Bears are territorial. Sometimes, bears return to where they were captured within days.
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As a result, the one of the best options left today is for people to take precautions and learn to co-exist with bears, and other wildlife.Â
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To keep bears out of trash cans, garages and homes, people should reduce the chance that bears find easy food by removing attractants. Once a bear finds food in a location, it becomes programmed to continue looking for food in similar places. If that location is near people, the desire for easy food will replace its fear of humans.
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In all likelihood, the bear that was determined to get inside the trash can found food in a similar trash can before. Leaving garbage out overnight - even one time - is a tempting invitation to bears. A mother bear that eats trash teaches her offspring to do the same.
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On the other hand, if a bear wanders through a community and does not find anything to eat, it will keep moving and go back out of town looking for natural foods such as seeds, insects, edible plants, nuts, or berries.
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Changing human behavior and removing common attractants discourages bear visits that put both humans and bears at risk.Â
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The DOW encourages residents to make property “bear-resistant” by cleaning or removing any items a bear might consider potential food sources.
   Keep garbage in airtight containers inside a garage or storage area.
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   Clean trash cans with ammonia to reduce odors that attract bears.
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   Place garbage for pickup outside just before collection and not the night before.
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   Use a bear-proof can or dumpster - if not available, ask your trash-removal company for options.
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   Take down bird feeders when bears are active. If a bear finds a birdfeeder, it will look around the neighborhood for other easy food within reach.
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   Do not leave pet food or dishes outdoors at night. Store pet food inside in airtight containers.
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   Clean outdoor grills after each use. The smell of grease can attract bears, even when no food is present.
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   Never intentionally feed bears to attract them for viewing. It is illegal to feed bears in Colorado.
Remember, “A fed bear is a dead bear.” By making food available to a bear, even a single time, teaches the bear to associate humans with food. Once a bear learns this association, it can become a returning nuisance and wildlife officers must destroy the bear.
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An ounce of prevention is truly worth 200 pounds of cure.
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