Wisconsin Wildlife Update: Snowy Owls And How Animals Survive Extreme Winter Weather

Air Date:
Heard On The Larry Meiller Show

Larry Meiller learns to what extent Snowy Owls are again present in Wisconsin this winter, as well as how animals survive the extreme weather we are all experiencing.

Featured in this Show

  • Wildlife Ecologist Recaps Wildlife News Of 2013

    At the start of a new year, it’s a good opportunity to look back and assess the year that just ended.

    Scott Craven, an emeritus wildlife specialist with the University of Wisconsin Extension, looked at both national and state wildlife news and found a mix of hopeful and less encouraging developments. The Wildlife Society published their Top Ten Wildlife Stories for 2013, which took a look at the national level. Craven pointed out a few on that list that caught his eye.

    One is hopefully something that won’t ever happen in Wisconsin. That was, as Craven called it, “trying to deal with Burmese pythons slithering all over Florida.” Another significant event was the large number of sea lion deaths in California.

    Craven also pointed out the steep decline in amphibian populations nationwide as causing concern. The impact of the federal shutdown and sequestration on the country’s national parks also garnered a lot of attention, even though the shutdown was resolved relatively quickly.

    One story that the Wildlife Society zeroed in came from north of the border. In the Canadian province of British Columbia, the killing of Barred owls was authorized in a desperate attempt to save the seriously endangered northern spotted owls. While this did not occur in the U.S., Craven said it could certainly form the basis for future management decisions here.

    In similar situations, Craven said that “the public has proven not very tolerant of killing or removing one animal to benefit another, even if the one being benefited is in deep trouble.”

    On a state level, Craven pointed out that the state Department of Natural Resources also published an extensive look back at the natural resources issues and highlights of 2013.There were quite a few positive notes that Craven referenced, but one that gave him a lot of satisfaction was the first returning Kirtland’s warbler fledgling documented in Wisconsin in June.

    “It was a significant milestone in boosting the population of that federally endangered bird,’ Craven said. “So, that was kind of a big deal.”

Episode Credits

  • Larry Meiller Host
  • Judith Siers-Poisson Producer
  • Scott Craven Guest

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