Snow Goose Overpopulation

today, duck hunters were limited to harvesting less than half the birds allowed today. Mark Petrie

We looked first at the relationship between the wolf population and the moose population. From about 1960 to 1970, the wolf population remained fairly consistent at about 20 to 25 wolves. During this time, the moose population grew steadily from 500 to over 1200. The next 10 years saw a doubling of the wolf population to 50. This same 10 years saw a decrease of the moose population from over 1200 to over 800. Then in 1980 began a two year drastic decline in the moose population, which was brought down to 15. For the rest of the decade, the moose population remained quite low at numbers near 20. During the 1980s, the moose population doubled again from around 800 to

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have observed that approximately one million reindeer were alive in 2000, now in 2013 only 700,000 units remain. Also, scientists have recorded that many ranging deer herds are significantly smaller than they have been in the past several recorded years. In 2012 the International Fund of Wildlife’s according to the national geographic Jeff Flocked said, “There has been roughly a 60 percent decline from historical high levels, and that the decline was caused by suspected climate change”. Researchers in Finland have found that the grazing of a reindeer could help prevent solar heat absorption, which in the result; can lead to climate change temperature swings. Scientists have also found out that in areas where reindeer don't graze there are higher levels of heat radiation. Wooded areas are showing that the levels of shrubs and trees have also absorbed heat. Swedish scientists has found that reindeer can also prevent the climate change caused of a spread of invasive species in the Arctic Tundra. A study from Redlist Industrial Development and Human Activity shows that poaching animals are also major threats to the reindeers

The scaup nests in habitats of the Boreal Forests that spread into Alaska and into parts of Manitoba. Being one of the latest fall migrants of all waterfowl, scaup tend to migrate after freeze-up and settle on rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Throughout fall and winter the scaup primarily consume aquatic species. Due to their late migration scaup can be seen moving in flocks through Central Flyway Region in mid-May (Austin et al 1998). Forming new pair of bonds annually during spring migration every year they are considered a serial-monogamous species. Scaup tend to nest later in May through June. Unlike other diving ducks female scaup build their nests on the ground near or over water, and into parts of upland areas. Depending on female age, predation, and water conditions these variables will correlate with nest success (Austin et al

I have shown a variety of both livestock and general projects in my ten years as a 4-H member. My first livestock project was Mallard ducks and since then my waterfowl project has expanded. I showed my Mallard ducks for five years. Unfortunately a mink killed my entire flock. After I lost my flock, I was given a set of Giant African Dewlaps from a family friend which I named Linus and Lola. A few years later the same family friend offered to give me his pair of Giant Toulouse Dewlap geese. He was having difficulty finding someone to take care of them when he traveled and felt they could have a better home with me. I have shown these geese at the Illinois State Fair and have won Best Heavyweight Goose and Gander and Reserve Best Heavyweight

People can propose laws for mute swan hunting, support proposed ideas to help create new laws, or tell others about the mute swan problem. I believe that since adult mute swans have no predators to lower the population and are not native there should be a mute swan hunting season. Invasive species are a major problem and unless we try to stop them now their populations will grow and the problem will get worse. A hunting season for mute swans could be held every two years and have a maximum swan reduction limit of sixty nesting pairs. Even a small amount of swans reduced from the population can still help balance the mute swan population and start to solve the mute swan

The inuit have to understand the natural patterns of Arctic wildlife because of global warming. Global warming is causing problems because the number

Environmental changes due to our climate warming is causing terrible effects on the Marten population in the northern reaches of Wisconsin. What climate change is doing to the habit in which the Marten is living in is changing the amount of snowfall the regions in which the Martens are living in are acquiring. Looking at figure 3 you can see that the total snowfall in the two regions where Martens were reintroduced showed significantly less snowfall accumulation in present day compared to the 1980’s. This is extremely important to note because this change in snowfall can deteriorate the critical zone called the subnivium. The subnivium is the seasonal microenvironment underneath the snow (Pauli et al., 2013). This is a small zone where plants and small mammals thrive during the winter. It should be stated that the subnivium insulates the ground creating a pocket of warmth that allows these organisms to survive the harsh Wisconsin winters. The way a subnivium is formed is based on snow duration, density and depth (Pauli et al., 2013). But this is where climate change comes into play. It is causing snowfall to decrease, the time snow is present is decreased and the density of the snow is lower (Pauli et al., 2013). Having these three factor decline is getting rid of the refuge of the subnivium and killing organisms that thrive there. One such organism is the American Marten. These mammals are small enough to crawl down tree trunks where the snow is melted to gain access to the subnivium. This is where the Marten hunts mice and other small mammals to its heart's content. But with the loss of the subnivium Martens can’t hunt in their little paradise. They will have to find other places to hunt and find prey to satisfy their caloric needs. This is where the Fisher has the advantage, since they are too large to access the subnivium. The Fisher

The preferred habitat of a Canada goose is a dry, waterfront area rich in grass and vegetation. This includes environments

Where to hunt- Dove is one of the most complex waterfowl in my opinion. The have an unpredictable pattern where ducks do the same thing in repetition. Doves like short grass close to tall sunflowers and dead trees. Now with this being said they are not always their. On of the best ways to get doves is to walk down a gravel road. Ducks are more predictable they are fans of shallow about 3ft of water. They prefer this in a marsh like sanario. The marsh provides them with food so they will take it over most lakes.

This is why the inuit have needed to understand the natural patterns of the arctic wildlife

Populations of Canada geese display monogamy, forming pair bonds for life, only taking new mates after mate loss (Mowbray et al., 2002). Reaching sexual maturity by an average of 2 years old, Canada Geese search for mates (via honking) and copulate near bodies of water (2002). Males and females both select nesting sites near water and build nests using available nearby materials, usually dry grasses, twigs, and leaves (2002). Creating their nests near bodies of water, Branta canadensis can take advantage of abandoned nesting sites of birds and can also make their nest on top of mammal homes like beaver lodges, and mounds (2002). Clutch size depends on subspecies and if the nesting was late, usually ranging from 2-8 eggs (2002). Late nesting

It contains an expanse of tundra with many marshes and lagoons with rivers situated between foothills of the Brooks Range and the wide, icy waters of the Beaufort Sea. Environmentalists said that this area “is the most biologically productive part of the Arctic Refuge for wildlife and is the center if wildlife activity.” The importance of these resources is not measurable. The Arctic is home to such animals as caribou, polar bears, grizzly bears, musk oxen, whales, wolves and snow geese. This area is full of wildflowers and contains water of excellent, unpolluted quality and quantity. The Arctic Ocean costal plain is an area critical to the survival of many birds and mammals (‘Alaska Wild’).

One such species is the “Mallard”. According to the article, “Mallard” by an anonymous author, the Mallard duck happens to be the predecessor of almost all of the domestic waterfowl breeds. The male

Humans have a very influential relationship with waterfowl, theres two sides to it. On one side humans have completely changed waterfowls natural migrating path. With the modern expansion of cities, certain species have adapted and now use them as refuges, such as the Canada goose. Through climate change humans have disrupted waterfowls natural patterns of migration, and most species are un-able to adapt quickly enough to the rapidly changing temperatures. The other side of humans’ relationship with waterfowl is that through our modern agriculture practices waterfowl don’t necessarily need to migrate to get food, only to leave the cold. Most waterfowl species take advantage of the surplus grain left in agriculture fields, some of which have become overpopulated and harm other species of waterfowl. With the increase of agriculture fields, wetlands have been destroyed and consequently waterfowl have lost a significant number of habitat to breed and reproduce in. There is a overpopulation of certain species and a decrease in wetlands, it is important to stop both of these issues otherwise certain species will be taken over. Hunters and bird watchers are those who are primarily concerned with these issues, but other sportsmen and women such as fisherman should be concerned. As shown in “The Role of Waterfowl in Lower Great Lakes Aquatic Food Webs” by M. L. Schummer and S. A. Petrie, waterfowl play a important role in maintaining the food webs for fish. It is crucial that action