Posted 7-19-08

Summer 2008 Species Challenge Lists Two Birds, Two Mammals

Cheyenne—The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has named four more species for the 2008 Species of the Season Challenge, a program to help the agency gather information about distribution and abundance of some of Wyoming’s wildlife.

The species on the list for this summer are the white-tailed prairie dog, Abert’s squirrel, burrowing owl and the Lewis’s woodpecker. Outdoor enthusiasts encountering these species are asked to report their sightings to the Game and Fish Department.

As the name implies, white-tailed prairie dogs have a short tail with a white tip as opposed to the black-tailed prairie dog, which has a black-tipped tail. The white-tailed prairie dog is the most common of the listed species, occupying the western two thirds of the state.

The burrowing owl is generally found in open, dry grasslands and basin prairies. This small (7”-10”) ground dwelling owl is often associated with burrowing animals such as prairie dogs, badgers and ground squirrels.

The Lewis’s woodpecker is fairly large, (9”-11”) dark colored for the most part, and prefers open ponderosa pine forests, open cottonwood riparian woodlands and burned stands of Douglas fir and mixed conifers. It is found below 8,500 feet.

The Abert’s squirrel is probably the least common of this year’s species. It occurs in the Harriman area of the Laramie Range in the southeast portion of the state. Sometimes called the tassel eared squirrel, the Abert’s squirrel has tufts of hair extending beyond the tips of its ears, and is associated with ponderosa pine forests.

The species challenge is part of a Game and Fish effort to gather more information on the 278 species listed in Wyoming’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. The CWCS is the state management plan for Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Most of the species are included in the listing because of a lack of basic information on their status and distribution.

Game and Fish supervisor of biological services Reg Rothwell said the Species of the Season Challenge enables citizens to help document locations and abundance of the 278 species of concern. “The species on the list are there not necessarily because they are few in number,” Rothwell said. “Many are there because we don’t know that much about them. Hopefully, the information we gain will help increase our knowledge about them and prevent some from federal listing in the future.”

Rothwell said the CWCS will be updated in the next two years and information will be provided to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by 2010.
To participate, wildlife viewers can go to the Game and Fish Web site http://gf.state.wy.us, and click on Species Challenge in the “What’s hot” box. After locating one of these species, participants can return to the Web site and record their findings.

Game And Fish Commission To Set Wolf, Mountain Lion Seasons

Cheyenne – Setting hunting seasons and quotas for mountain lions and wolves are on the agenda for the July 30-Aug. 1 Wyoming Game and Fish Commission meeting in Dubois. Furbearing animal trapping seasons as well as regulations governing taxidermists and hunter safety will also be established. .

The commission will also hear presentations regarding the elk reduction hunt on the National Elk Refuge and Teton National Park and the Governor’s Sage Grouse Implementation Team. Details on Wyoming’s new Hunter Mentor Program and a review of the Game and Fish Department’s financial condition will also be presented.

Events of July 30 consist of a tour of several areas in the Dubois region. Possible locations include the Spence/ Moriarity and Inberg/Roy wildlife habitat management areas and the Dubois Fish Hatchery. The tour will begin at the Trail Lake Conservation Camp at 8:15 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. at the same location. The Trail Lake Conservation Camp is located off highway 26/287 about 4.3 miles southeast of Dubois and turning south on county road 257. Follow the graveled road for 7.6 miles to the conservation camp. Members of the public and media are welcome to follow the commissioners on the tour and are advised to bring food and water.

The meeting continues at 8 a.m. July 31 at the Trail Lake Camp and will conclude Aug. 1 at the Headwaters Arts and Conference Center in Dubois. Anyone who would like a complete agenda or requires auxiliary aids to attend should contact Connie Coleman at (307) 777-4501.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department supports the Americans With Disabilities Act. Every effort will be made for reasonable accommodations.

New Bird Checklist Available

Cheyenne – Birders, take note. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has issued a new bird checklist containing 426 species of birds that have been known to occur in Wyoming. It is designed to enhance opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts to view and understand Wyoming’s wildlife and wildlands.

Compiled into a booklet format, the checklist divides the state into six regions and lists distribution information for various species within those regions. Information on abundance or status and seasonal information and preferred habitats is included. In addition, it helps increase awareness of birds occurring in the state and provides an organized method for recording observations.

The checklist is free and is available at all Game and Fish regional offices and Game and Fish headquarters in Cheyenne or by calling (307) 777-4600.

“Drive Fore Wildlife” Golf Tournament Recheduled For Aug. 15

Cheyenne – The Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming (WHFW) has rescheduled the “Drive Fore Wildlife” charity golf tournament to Aug. 15. The tournament date was changed from June 6 due to heavy thunderstorms in the area on that date.

“Drive Fore Wildlife” will be held at the Golf Club At Devil’s Tower in Hulett. Entry forms and tournament details can be found on line at www.whfw.org or by calling (307) 777-4529. Together with WHFW, the tournament is hosted by Wildlife Management Services of the Rockies, LLC. Proceeds are used to fund wildlife projects in Wyoming.

Game And Fish T-Shirt, Souvenir Sale July 21-25

Cheyenne – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is holding its third annual t-shirt and souvenir sale during the week of Cheyenne Frontier Days at the Cheyenne office July 21,22, 24, 25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sale will not be held July 23 due to the Cheyenne Day holiday.

The sale will be held in the Elk Room located just inside the front doors of the Game and Fish headquarters building and will feature overstocked and discontinued items, many at savings of 50 percent or more. The discounted prices are only available for over-the-counter sales. For more information contact Alternative Enterprises at (307) 777-4570. Funds from purchases are used to help fund wildlife programs. (Contact Jackie Beck or Jerry Pieper)

Ask the Game and Fish

Q. Where can I find waters with bass and crappie?

A. While Wyoming is best known for trout, the state does have a number of waters with bass, crappie, catfish and a variety of panfish species. A call to Game and Fish headquarters in Cheyenne or your regional Game and Fish office will help you get the info you want for your area.