GFP News - November 24, 2014
Single Adult Zebra Mussel Discovered at Lewis and Clark Lake
PIERRE, S.D. - On Nov. 14, 2014, a single adult zebra mussel was discovered at the Midway boat ramp on Lewis and Clark Lake near Yankton. As a result of the discovery, the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) has classified the lake as ‘suspect’ for contamination by zebra mussels.
“Inspections of 11 boat docks and shorelines yielded no additional zebra mussels in or near the lake,” stated John Lott, GFP chief administrator of aquatic resources. “The hulls of some boats being stored for the winter were also inspected and no mussels were found, though many boats are power-washed prior to storage.”
Lewis and Clark Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project and the fishery is jointly managed by the states of South Dakota and Nebraska. South Dakota aquatic resource staff will continue to work in partnership with Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff to monitor the lake and determine appropriate steps to protect the important aquatic resources of both states.
“The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission water samples from this summer were negative for the presence of larval-stage zebra mussels; which are called veligers. Finding other adults or veligers in the lake during the next three years would result in the classification being changed from ‘suspect’ to ‘positive,’” stated Lott.
Zebra mussels are a small invasive mollusk (clam) that originated in Eastern Europe and first arrived in the U.S. in the mid-1980s. Although usually less than an inch in size as adults, they can rapidly spread under the right conditions. It is not known if those conditions exist in Lewis and Clark Lake at this time. Zebra mussels are closely related to quagga mussels. Quagga mussel veligers were discovered in Angostura Reservoir (Fall River County) earlier this fall.
Current aquatic invasive species (AIS) management efforts in South Dakota include monitoring for AIS in selected waters across the state and balancing information and education efforts with regulations to prevent new introductions and slow the spread of existing AIS populations.
“The documentation of quagga mussel veligers in Angostura Reservoir and a single zebra mussel in Lewis and Clark Lake will result in a detailed evaluation of how GFP will manage AIS in the future. Currently, we are evaluating multiple management options including restricting the movement of water among lakes, requiring all drain plugs to be removed during watercraft transit, requiring boat inspections and increasing outreach efforts. Our goal is to determine which options will have meaningful results in stopping or slowing the spread of AIS in our state,” concluded Lott.
For more information on AIS and how to reduce the spread, please visit sdleastwanted.com.
2015 South Dakota Mountain Lion Season Applications Available
PIERRE, S.D. - Applications are available for the 2015 South Dakota mountain lion hunting season. While there is no application deadline for the mountain lion hunting season, if you want to apply for a Custer State Park access permit, you must submit your application by Dec. 10 at 8 a.m. CST.
The mountain lion hunting season begins Dec. 26, 2014, and ends on March 31, 2015. The harvest limit is set at 75 total lions or 50 female lions; whichever comes first. If either harvest limit is reached, the season then closes in the Black Hills Fire Protection Unit. However, the statewide mountain lion hunting season runs year round, with no harvest limits. Custer State Park (CSP) will have eight separate hunting intervals; four of which will allow the use of dogs. Licensed mountain lion hunters can apply for a free CSP access permit, drawn in a lottery process.
To apply for a mountain lion hunting license or the Custer State Park access permit, visit: http://www.gfp.sd.gov/licenses/general-hunt-fish/license-open.aspx. For more information on the South Dakota mountain lion hunting season, visit: http://www.gfp.sd.gov/hunting/big-game/mountain-lion.aspx.
GFP Reminds Hunters to Register for Potential Winter Depredation Hunts
PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) reminds resident hunters of a unique hunting opportunity that assists in managing wildlife during the winter months.
“Winter depredation hunts are a valuable management tool used in certain situations to alleviate wildlife damage to landowners’ stored-feed supplies,” said Keith Fisk, GFP wildlife damage program administrator. “Depredation hunts are largely dependent upon the severity of the winter, snowfall accumulations and the number of animals involved."
Starting Dec. 1, 2014, South Dakota residents can register online for deer, antelope and turkey potential depredation hunts at http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/depredation-hunts.aspx . Once registered, hunters are put into a random drawing to determine eligibility once a depredation hunt is authorized.
“Hunters may register for a maximum of 10 counties,” said Fisk. “Depredation hunts are time-sensitive and winter weather can make travel difficult for participating hunters. For a successful hunt, GFP needs participating hunters to be available at the hunt location almost immediately; therefore we encourage hunters to register for hunts in counties near their home or within close driving distance."
The GFP Wildlife Damage Management Program assists private landowners with wildlife depredation abatement techniques. Occasionally commonly used methods are ineffective and GFP must utilize willing hunters to help reduce damage caused by wildlife. During mild winters, few hunts are conducted. However, in extreme winter conditions depredation hunts are used more commonly because wildlife tend to congregate near farmsteads and damage stored livestock feeds. Winter depredation hunts focus on assisting private landowners with wildlife damage, but can also provide hunters with another opportunity after the regular hunting seasons have closed.
For more information, please visit http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/depredation-hunts.aspx.
-GFP-