Fall/Winter 1999

Conservation News

THOMPSON URGES MISSISSIPPIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN CONSERVATION - On October 3, 1999, Congressman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi's Second Congressional District hosted a conservation program workshop in cooperation with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service at the City Hall in Metcalfe. The goal of the workshop was to inform elected officials, community leaders and citizens about the wide array of conservation programs offered. Overviews of the programs included the Conservation Reserve Program, Forestry Incentives Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wetland Reserve Program and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. Thompson also held workshops in Lexington and Indianola.

GUIDE TO AGING DEER Available - it is no secret that Mississippi State University's Extension Service and the Forestry and Wildlife Research Center do good work. And "A Hunter's Guide to Aging and Judging Live White-Tailed Deer in the Southeast" is no exception. This booklet describes the physical characteristics associated with bucks and does at all ages. With the anterless harvest possibilities hunters have today it is quite possible to mistake a yearling buck for a doe. With more and more clubs managing for quality rack bucks the need for a hunter to judge antler size has become important. In some cases stiff penalties are enforced on the hunter who shoots a buck smaller than the club limit. The booklet (publication 2206) is available from Mississippi State University's Extension Service, Division of Wildlife & Fisheries, Attention: Rachael Josey, P.O. Box 9690, Mississippi State, MS 39762. The cost is $2 and includes shipping and handling.

AMERICAN CYANAMID OFFERS DEER MANAGEMENT BROCHURE - A few decades ago, the sight of a whitetail deer along a rural road in Mississippi was rare. In the last 10 years, the whitetail deer population in the United States has nearly doubled to approximately 26 million. Many wildlife experts believe there are more deer today than when Columbus arrived in America. Seeing a deer along a rural roadside is no longer uncommon. What can be done to control the deer population explosion? Scientific deer management programs involving regulated hunting appear to have the best chance for success. An increasingly popular approach being adopted by biologists, landowners and hunters is called Quality Deer Management. A good complement to management is controlling low-quality brush in the forest with high-tech selective herbicides. For a free brochure on deer management, call the Quality Deer Management Association at 1-800-209-DEER or visit their web site at www.qdma.com. A free brochure, "Managing Timberland for Wildlife," is available from American Cyanamid Company. For your copy, call 1-800-545-9525, extension F2063, or visit www.forestryfacts.com.

DOMBECK RECEIVES AWARD - Dr. Michael P. Dombeck, the fisheries biologist who is Chief of the USDA Forest Service, was selected the American Sportfishing Association's Man of the Year. The presentation was made in Washington, D.C. on June 8, as part of the National Fishing Week activities. Dombeck is a former Legislative Fellow for Senator Thad Cochran.

SHELL AWARDS $50,000 GRANT TO SOUTHERN - The University of Southern Mississippi has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Shell Marine Habitat Program. The grant will foster a total investment of $132,000 to develop and interactive, computer-based training module on invertebrate species in the Gulf of Mexico. That program will be incorporated within the Center's Project Marine Discovery Program, a highly regarded, hands on education program for middle and high school students designed to raise awareness and understanding of marine conservation. The interactive multi-media guide will be available to other education institutions, including museums and aquaria, throughout the Gulf of Mexico states and will facilitate coordination between institutions.

MUSEUM TO GET COASTAL EXHIBIT - The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Foundation will get help from the Shell Marine Habitat Program in funding a permanent exhibit focusing on the habitats of the Gulf of Mexico. The $50,000 in funding was announced this month by Shell Oil Co. and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The exhibit will be housed in the new $16 million museum, expected to be open in February, 1999.

FIRE ANT'S HOSTILITY EXTENDS TO ENVIRONMENT - They are chemists, architects, engineers – and invaders. According to David Pettry, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station agronomist, "I don't know of anything that has been such an unstoppable force in the South like fire ants. Not only are they harmful to humans and animals, they are changing our environment." Pettry has researched the impact of fire ants on the environment. Their mounds alter soil characteristics, damage crops, and interfere with cultivation, grazing and harvesting, Pettry said. Pettry and Mississippi State University scientists William Green and Richard Switzer have examined the impact fire ants have made on a wide variety of Mississippi soils. Research showed that any beds are composed of excavated soil and plant material mixed and assembled by the ants. The mounds are higher in clay, phosphorous and potassium, and lower in organic matter, sand and silt than the surrounding undisturbed topsoil. Perhaps the most obvious long-term effect of fire ants is the blending of the upper soil, which changes its nutrient content and water retention. As colonies relocate, die or develop, ants may alter 100 percent of a given landscape in less than 100 years. Pettry said imported fire ants have taken hold of soils that have never before experienced such destructive forces. He said they also are changing soil composition and format. "We don’t yet have an environmentally friendly way to control imported fire ants," Pettry said. "In their native habitats of Central and South America, the ants are controlled by naturally occurring mechanisms. The more we know about fire ant lifestyles and habitats, the closer we will be to controlling them and saving our environment."

MIRANDA RECEIVES OUTSTANDING RESEARCH PROJECT AWARD - Dr. Steve Miranda, of Mississippi State University's Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, recently received the Outstanding Research Project award from the Fisheries Administrators Section of the American Fisheries Society for his comprehensive research on crappie regulations conducted for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks during 1992-1997.

CHARITABLE GIFT FUNDS OFFERED - With a charitable gift fund, you invest money for charity in a portfolio of mutual funds that matches your investing goals and dole out amounts to your favorite charities, such as the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, whenever you choose. The gift fund sends quarterly statements, so you don't have to keep track of receipts or checks. Because the Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund and the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program are public charities, you can deduct from your income tax the full fair market value of cash or securities whenever you make a contribution. You can also avoid paying capital gains taxes on any appreciated securities you contribute. Fidelity's fund (1-800-682-4438) has a $10,000 minimum initial contribution and minimum grant of $250. Vanguard's fund (1-888-383-4483) requires $25,000 initially and $500 minimum grant. Vanguard's fees, at 0.65% to 0.75%, are slightly lower than Fidelity's 1%. The growth investment pool returned 23% for Fidelity's fund and 20.6% for Vanguard's fund in 1998.

WOMEN'S PUBLICATION LAUNCHED — The Women's Shooting Sports Foundation (WSSF) and Petersen, Inc., have joined forces to produce Petersen's Outdoors for Women, a new quarterly publication that will introduce and educate women about hunting and target shooting as well as other outdoor pursuits. As the official publication of WSSF, Petersen's Outdoors for Women will feature association news, schedules and event coverage in addition to broader editorial topics pertaining to hunting, shooting, and the outdoors. Founded in 1993, the Women's Shooting Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing more women into hunting and target shooting and serving as the collective voice of female hunters and shooters.

GODWIN SELECTED STATE DIRECTOR OF WILDLIFE SERVICES - Kristina Godwin has been selected as the State Director of Wildlife Services in Mississippi. She replaced Phil Mastrangelo, who recently transferred to North Dakota. Kris has a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology from the State University of New York and an M.S. in Wildlife Management from Mississippi State University. She began her wildlife management career as a wildlife biologist on the Biloxi Ranger District of the USDA Forest Service in 1991. Godwin has worked on numerous wildlife management projects and served in a Congressional liaison role for the Forest Service. Godwin has served as President of the Mississippi Chapter of The Wildlife Society and is currently President Elect of the chapter.

DISABLED SPORTSMEN TO FORM CLUB IN LAUREL - The Wheelin' Sportsmen of America (WSA) is the largest organization of its kind. It was founded in 1996 by Kirk Thomas. To date, it has given over 2,500 people the opportunity to hunt and fish. WSA is now in eight states with Mississippi recently receiving its charter. A Laurel chapter is being led by Clint Smith. Over 14,000 acres of hunting land in Mississippi have been donated to the organization and plans are being made for a deer hunt.

MISSISSIPPIAN COMPLETES PRESIDENCY - Mississippians continue to excel in leadership positions throughout the world. Leland Speakes, Jr., of Bolivar County has recently completed his term as the President of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep. Some of Speakes' accomplishments include the commencement of a capital campaign to raise a $7 million endowment, the completion of a book on wild sheep in conjunction with the Boone and Crockett Club. The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep is a premiere wildlife conservation group dedicated to the enhancement of wild sheep populations on the continent. Mississippi has the luxury of having Leland Speakes, Jr., remain on the Foundation's Board to continue to offer his valuable ideas and counsel.

LARGEMOUTH BASS VIRUS UPDATE - Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) has been found at various levels in largemouth bass collected from Sardis, Bay Springs, Columbus, and Enid Lakes, according to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The virus has been found only in largemouth bass. Samples from seven other lakes across the state showed no LMBV, indicating that the virus is either absent or present at very low levels in these lakes. LMBV was first seen in Mississippi after significant number of largemouth bass were found dead at Sardis Lake in September 1998. The only other fish kill known to be caused by LMBV occurred in 1995 at Santee Cooper Reservoir in South Carolina. The best available information indicates that largemouth bass carrying the virus are safe to handle and eat. Fisheries biologists say that anglers should take the following measures to help prevent disease and reduce the likelihood of spreading LMBV, to include: (1) Reduce stress on bass by handling them gently, using barbless hooks, and reducing the length of time they are held in live wells during tournaments or other outings; (2) Hold bass tournaments during cool weather; (3) Do not transfer fish from one body of water to another; (4) After dressing fish, don't discard the remains back into lakes or streams, and; (5) Wash and dry live wells between fishing trips. According to Fisheries Biologist Bubba Hubbard of Mendenhall, "Right now, the best thing anglers can do is to be aware of this potential problem and encourage others to use caution when handling and moving fish. The only known fish kills from LMBV occurred in hot weather and in lakes receiving a lot of bass fishing. However, LMBV is a new phenomenon, and there is much to be learned about the disease."