“The breeding population of greater snow geese has grown from approximately 50,000 birds in the mid-1960s to 714,000 birds today,” said David Sausville, Vermont’s waterfowl project biologist. “This increase has resulted in damage to agricultural crops and marsh vegetation in staging and wintering areas from Quebec to North Carolina. Hunting pressure to date has aided in reducing the population from its high point of just over one million birds during the period of 2000-2010. The Atlantic Flyway has established a goal of 500,000 greater snow geese to bring populations in balance with their habitat and reduce crop depredation.”
2020 fishing license sales best in 28 years
Anglers spent an estimated 2.1 million days fishing in 2019, and fishing quality throughout the state was rated higher in 2019 than in 2009, according to a Vermont Fish & Wildlife fishing survey.
Deer season reaps 3.6 million servings of venison
Thanks to a best-ever bow season, the final tally for the 2020 deer season will be around 18,000 deer, the second-highest total since 2000. Those deer will provide approximately 3.6 million servings of local, nutritious venison.
VT hunters had record bear season
Preliminary numbers show that hunters took a record 914 black bears during the two-part early and late bear seasons. The previous highest harvest ever recorded in Vermont was 750 in 2019. Fish and Wildlife also says there were no hunting-related shooting incidents.
Frustrated landowner says he will clear cut proposed Hardwick cell tower site
Days after public outcry prompted AT&T to petition the Public Utility Commission to dismiss its bid for a tower on Buffalo Mountain, landowner Gary Bellavance posted to a forum: “I’ve decided to clear cut Buffalo mountain.” The Bellavance property, he said, spans 40 acres of the Mountain. He wrote “What bothered me most was the fact that people can tell you what to do and how you need to manage your land. This is land I pay taxes on.”
Roxbury fish hatchery rebuilt
The renovated facility will produce 25,000 pounds of fish — approximately 60,000 brook and rainbow trout annually for stocking in state waters. These fish will provide opportunities for anglers and play an important role in Vermont’s economy. Previous studies from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have shown the Roxbury Fish Culture Station has contributed about $2.4 million dollars in annual economic impact to the state.
Bullhead tumors topic for talk in Newport
Surveys found 20-30 percent of brown bullhead had skin lesions or tumors. The prevalence of lesions and tumors in wild fish has been used as an indicator of environmental quality for many decades.
Buy your hunter or angler a license gift certificate
Finding a gift that will continue to give for a full year is a challenge, but the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has a solution on their website — a license gift certificate for hunting and fishing licenses.
Beavers slain because bureaucrat feared blocked culvert
The demise of the semiaquatic rodents and the damage to their dam is the result of an onsite visit from a representative from Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, an entity which advises Vermont towns on land management.
Thankful for Vermont’s Wild Turkeys
One of our native wildlife species historically played an important role on Thanksgiving Day. North America’s native wild turkeys were the ancestors of the Thanksgiving turkey on our dinner table, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. reports.
