June 22, 2007 - TOP STORIES
Subscribe and get the full week of news delivered to your mailbox every week!
Creek near Mall of America becomes trout stream
Oakdale, MN man wins FLW walleye event on Mille Lacs
Americans spent $120 billion on wildlife related recreation in 2006
Fur trapper receives hefty state sentence; now faces federal charges
North Dakota waterfowl licenses available for purchase
Creek near Mall of America becomes trout stream
Minnesota DNR stocks Bloomington stream with 1,450 rare brook trout
By Chris Niskanen, St. Paul Pioneer Press
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) – The Mall of America got the most unlikely eco-neighbor Friday – a stocking of rare native trout.
A previously unknown trout stream – with headwaters just 800 feet from Bloomingdale’s at MOA – was stocked by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources with 1,450 ecologically sensitive brook trout.
About two dozen volunteers carried 2-inch trout in pails from a special truck and gently released them into the chilly stream, which gurgles out of the ground near Old Shakopee Road and travels eight-tenths of a mile to the Minnesota River.
While jets roared overhead, the volunteers – many of whom helped clean up and study the creek – expressed amazement that a cold stream could still exist in an urban jungle.
“To be able to rehab a trout stream in a metro area is a big deal,” said Josh Tierney, a teacher at Groves Academy, a St. Louis Park school that surveyed plants in and near the stream. “And trout fishing is a big deal to me.”
The creek officially has no name, but it’s popularly called Ike’s Creek after the Izaak Walton League conservation group that raised fish in nearby ponds in the early 1900s.
The city of Bloomington and a handful of private landowners own the creek’s upper half. The lower half is part of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
Two years ago, refuge biologist Vicki Sherry was surveying the creek when she noticed the water was unusually cold and saw watercress – a plant that thrives only in cold, clean water – growing abundantly.
Students at nearby Trinity School at River Ridge had collected stream water data for years, and when fisheries experts looked at the data and tested the stream, they were startled to find it pristine enough to support trout. One thing that spared the stream was Bloomington’s decision to direct its stormwater pipes away from the deep, tree-lined ravine.
The creek is fed year-round by 60-degree groundwater from limestone aquifers. It begins as a trickle, but widens to about 15 feet with small riffles and pools.
Historical documents show it supported 6- to 10-inch brook trout until the 1940s, but they disappeared for unknown reasons.
Brian Nerbonne, the DNR’s stream habitat specialist, said it is one of only 12 viable trout streams remaining in the seven-county metro.
“It’s my job to protect these streams from being lost to development,” he said. “It’s the first time I’ve been able to re-create one. It’s a pretty exciting.”
The stream is not open to public fishing, but the lower portion in the wildlife refuge is open to the public. The stream was stocked with “heritage” brook trout, a species native to Minnesota since the last ice age. They should reach 8 inches in about two years. It is unknown whether the stream will ever be open to fishing.
Employees of nearby Cypress Semiconductor have picked up trash along the banks, while the Twin Cities chapter of Trout Unlimited plans additional improvements to the fish habitat.
The next step is to officially designate the creek as a trout stream, which means further development restrictions. DNR and Bloomington officials are hopeful they can reach an agreement.
“I think those issues with designation are not insurmountable,” Nerbonne said.
Oakdale, MN man wins FLW walleye event on Mille Lacs
ISLE, Minn. – Chad Nissen of Oakdale, Minn., caught five walleyes that weighed 12 pounds, 15 ounces and earned $6,230 Saturday as winner of the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League Minnesota Division event on Lake Mille Lacs. The victory placed Nissen one step closer to qualifying for the Walleye League Finals on the Mississippi River in Moline, Ill., Sept. 13-15. Nissen’s co-angler, Glenn Keller of Annandale, Minn., earned $3,115 for the win.
Rounding out the top five are:
• Geoff Bradt of Osceola, Wis., who earned $2,670 plus a $400 contingency bonus, and co-angler Dan Pfeifer of Ramsey, Minn., who earned $1,335 (five walleyes, 9 pounds, 9 ounces)
• David Domonoske of Waterville, Minn., who earned $2,670 and co-angler Craig Sholts of Alexandria, Minn., who earned $1,335 (five walleyes, 9 pounds, 9 ounces)
• Don Marx of Rockford, Minn., who earned $2,670, and co-angler Todd Wiedmann of Audubon, Minn., who earned $1,335 (five walleyes, 9 pounds, 9 ounces)
• Greg Rudisill of Woodbury, Minn., who earned $1,780 and co-angler David Schultz of Farmington, Minn., who earned $890 (five walleyes, 9 pounds, 8 ounces).
Three FLW Walleye League divisions – Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin – each feature three one-day events during the regular season. Every angler who receives weight credit earns points, with 100 points awarded to the winner, 99 for second, 98 for third, and so on. These points determine angler standings.
The top 35 boaters and 35 co-anglers from each FLW Walleye League division advance to the $116,900 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League Finals, set for Sept. 13-15 on the Mississippi River in Moline, Ill. Anglers finishing in the top 10 in each division also receive priority entry into the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour for 2008, and the points champions from each division will also advance to the 2007 Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship in Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 27-30.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.
Americans spent $120 billion on wildlife related recreation in 2006
USFWS Reports
America’s passion for wildlife and the outdoors continues to be a major engine of the nation’s economy, according to preliminary survey data released Monday by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In 2006, more than 87 million Americans, or 38 percent of the United States’ population age 16 and older hunted, fished or observed wildlife. They spent $120 billion that year pursuing those activities – an amount roughly equal to Americans’ total spending at all spectator sports, casinos, motion pictures, golf courses and country clubs, amusement parks and arcades combined.
“This very important survey shows in real economic and participatory terms the impact that wildlife has on the nation’s economy, but simply talking about dollars and cents doesn’t fully capture the importance of wildlife to our nation. Wildlife related recreation rejuvenates our spirit and gets us outside pursuing healthy activities,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall at the Outdoor Writer Association of America’s annual conference in Roanoke, Va. “Americans should be proud that the outdoor tradition continues to be such a prevalent part of our lives.”
The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation has been conducted every 5 years since 1955 and is one of the nation’s most important wildlife recreation databases. It is considered to be the definitive source of information concerning participation and expenditures associated with hunting, fishing and other forms of wildlife recreation nationwide.
The Survey is conducted at the request of State fish and wildlife agencies and is funded by grants from the Multistate Conservation Grant Program. A wide range of individuals and groups depend on the Survey to analyze participation rates, economic impacts of expenditures, demographic characteristics, and trends in participation and activities.
“This expenditure of $120 billion highlights the benefits of these activities on national and state economies,” said Survey economist Jerry Leonard. “It is roughly equivalent to one out of every one hundred dollars of goods and services produced in our economy. And much of this activity occurs in places which rely significantly on wildlife-related recreation expenditures for their economic well being.”
After losing ground in the early 1990s, wildlife-related activities such as bird watching and photography increased 13 percent over the last decade. In 1996, 62.9 million Americans observed wildlife; 66.1 million did so in 2001, and 71.1 million in 2006. Wildlife watchers spending increased 19 percent, from $37.5 billion in 1996, $43.7 billion in 2001 to $44.7 billion last year.
The preliminary data shows decreases in both angling and hunting participation from 1996 to 2006. In 1996, 35.2 million anglers fished compared to 34.1 million in 2001 and 30.0 million in 2006, representing a 15 percent decline in participation of the ten year span.
“Participation levels in 2006 were likely reduced due to several factors: higher gas prices, hurricanes, the increasing age of baby boomers, and continuing urbanization,” said Leonard.
Anglers spent $40.6 billion last year, which is similar to 2001 but 16 percent lower than 1996. While overall spending—including trips, fishing equipment, special equipment, and other related items—was flat from 2001 to 2006, spending on fishing equipment such as rods and reels and travel-related items such as food and lodging were up.
For hunting, there was a 10 percent decline in participation from 1996 to 2006. In 1996, 14.0 million Americans hunted compared to 13.0 million in 2001 and 12.5 million in 2006. Hunters spent $22.7 billion last year, 3 percent lower than 2001 and 14 percent lower than 1996. Similar to fishing, while overall spending was down, expenditures on hunting equipment such as rifles and ammunition were up 3 percent since 2001.
It is important to note that the National Survey is a snapshot for the specific year in which it is conducted and does not necessarily represent the total number of anglers, hunters, and wildlife watchers in the U.S. because they do not consistently participate every year. For example, examination of survey data shows that over the five year period from 2002 to 2006, cumulatively over 44.4 million fished and 18.6 million hunted. However, this information serves as a valuable tool to gauge general trends in the participation of Americans in wildlife related activities and related expenditures.
Preliminary data from the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation shows the importance of wildlife-related recreation to the American people. Of all Americans age 16 or older:
· 30 million or 13 percent fished and spent $41 billion on their activities
· 12.5 million or 5 percent hunted and spent $23 billion
· 71 million or 31percent observed wildlife and spent $45 billion
The report is available at http://library.fws.gov/nat_survey2006.pdf
Fur trapper receives hefty state sentence; now faces federal charges
A northeast Minnesota trapper’s legal nightmare may just be beginning.
Roderick “Rick” Kottom, sentenced June 4 in St. Louis County District Court on a bevy of state charges for illegal trapping activity, now faces federal charges.
The longtime trapper from Chisholm was found guilty of state charges of possession of a prohibited wild animal, misdemeanor failure to check traps/snares, petty misdemeanor failure to provide identification of traps/snares, and misdemeanor unlawful storage of protected wild animals.
State conservation officers had been tracking Kottom’s activities since 2002. In 2004, conservation officers using a search warrant seized a number of fisher and pine marten pelts from Kottom’s home.
Kottom initially faced over $11,000 in fines and restitution, and more than three years jail. However, for the conviction of possession of a prohibited wild animal, Kottom received 1 year in jail and a $3000 fine with a stay of execution for 2 years on the following conditions: 2 years supervised probation; $962 fine and surcharge; $200 restitution (2 fisher @ $100 each); report as directed to probation; remain law abiding; no same or similar; subject to random searches.
For the misdemeanor failure to check traps/snares, Kottom was fined $320.
Kottom was also fined $132 for petty misdemeanor failure to provide identification of traps/ snares and $362 for misdemeanor unlawful storage of protected wild animals. Both are to run concurrent to the
$962 fine and surcharge.
However, Kottom’s legal problems may be far from over. An Internet sting set up in 2003 lead a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent to an advertisement on the Web placed by someone calling himself “Papa Fisher” who was offering to sell fisher and pine marten pelts that had been trapped in Minnesota.
Email and telephone calls led the agent to Kottom, who now faces federal charges of illegally buying and selling animals over the Internet and a violation of the endangered species act (possession of a Canada lynx). The federal court proceeding is scheduled to begin in July in Duluth.
North Dakota waterfowl licenses available for purchase
Nonresident waterfowl licenses for the 2007 hunting season can be purchased online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, by calling the state’s instant licensing telephone number, or by mail through the department’s Bismarck office.
Hunters who want to buy their license online and print out their own license should access the department’s website, gf.nd.gov. Those wanting to get instantly licensed by using a telephone and having their license mailed may call 800-406-6409. Hunters who want to request an application through the mail should call 701-328-6300, or send an email to ndgf@nd.gov.
Options to consider when purchasing a 2007 nonresident waterfowl license:
• Hunting statewide on a 14-day license for $125. Hunters are able to hunt anywhere in the state as zones do not apply to this option.
• Hunting in either zone 1 or 2 for seven days, and selecting zone 3 for the same 7-day time period for $85.
• Hunting in either zone 1 or 2 for seven days, and selecting zone 3 for a different 7-day time period for $85.
• Hunting in only zone 3 for 14 days for $85.
Zone 1 is U.S. Highway 281 from South Dakota to Jamestown; U.S. Highway 52 from Jamestown to Carrington; N.D. Highway 200 from Carrington to Hurdsfield; and N.D. Highway 3 from Hurdsfield to South Dakota.
Zone 2 is N.D. Highway 36 from Wilton to Tuttle; N.D. Highway 3 from Tuttle to Hurdsfield; N.D. Highway 200 from Hurdsfield to U.S. Highway 52 east of Bowdon; north on U.S. Highway 52 to N.D. Highway 97 south of Velva; west on N.D. Highway 97 to N.D. Highway 41; south on N.D. Highway 41 (south of Velva) to N.D. Highway 200 at Turtle Lake; west on N.D. Highway 200 to N.D. Highway 200A; south on N.D. Highway 200A to Washburn; and south on U.S. Highway 83 to Wilton.
Zone 3 is the remainder of state.The tentative date when nonresidents could begin to hunt waterfowl in North Dakota is Sept. 29. Finalized season details will not be available until August after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides the federal framework and the governor signs the proclamation.
The nonresident waterfowl license package includes a $2 certificate, a $13 general game and habitat stamp, and either the $85 (zones) or $125 (statewide) waterfowl license. The waterfowl license is good for 14 consecutive days or two 7-day periods, and a nonresident cannot purchase more than one waterfowl license per year.
© 2007 Outdoors Weekly Corporation