Learn to “Cook Like a Wild Woman”

LEARN TO “COOK LIKE A WILD WOMAN”
Registration for Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Cooking Workshop Starts June 15

Do you wish you could turn that venison, grouse, fish fillet or basket of berries into a delicious wild dinner? You’ll know just what to do with those wonderful wild foods after taking the new Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop called “Cook Like a Wild Woman” being offered August 22 – 23, 2009, at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Barry Conservation Camp in Berlin, N.H.

Come enjoy a fun, educational, relaxed weekend exploring wild ways to cook – no experience necessary! Participants will learn proper techniques of wild game and fish care and cooking, identifying edible wild plants, and foraging for and harvesting wild vegetables and berries. The weekend will incorporate hands-on preparation of luscious wild delicacies and cooking methods for a variety of wild game and fish. Participants will prepare their own Saturday evening dinner and Sunday morning brunch using wild ingredients. Recipes and menu planning will be included. This is not a vegetarian weekend!

The workshop costs $60, which includes all meals, lodging (rustic cabins, cots), instruction, recipes, menu planning and cooking materials.

A brochure and mail-in registration form for the “Cook Like a Wild Woman” course are now available to download at http://www.nhbow.com. You can also call (603) 271-3212 or email aquatic-ed@wildlife.nh.gov to request an application. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. We will begin accepting applications on Monday, June 15.

B.O.W. is co-sponsored by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (http://www.WildNH.com) and the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation (http://www.nhwf.org).

N.H. Weekly Fishing Report — June 12, 2009

Today’s report comes from Kyle Glencross, biological aide for Fish and Game, offering tips for catching trout on late spring evenings and chasing stripers on the coast.

FISH STOCKING STILL GOING STRONG: For a list of sites stocked last week, visit: http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fish_stock_current.htm.

Purchase your fishing license online at http://www.FishNH.com, or from any Fish and Game license agent. Kids under 16 fish free in N.H.! Don’t forget the camera: The Kids Fishing Photo Contest is underway, co-sponsored by Fish and Game and Kidz Rule USA magazine. Info: http://fishnh.com/Newsroom/News_2009/News_2009_Q2/kids_photo_contest_2009.html.

Also — Signups are on for the fall (Sept. 11-13) Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop. Lots of fishing and other wild workshops to choose from: http://www.fishnh.com/Newsroom/News_2009/News_2009_Q2/BOW_fall_reg_open_060809.html

Fish New Hampshire and relax… We have what you’re looking for.

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THE TROUT AND STRIPERS OF JUNE
By Kyle Glencross, biological aide, NH Fish and Game

You’ve got to love the month of June in New Hampshire, great fishing all across the state, from trout streams to stripers in the surf! This time of year allows many crazed anglers (such as myself) to sneak away in the evenings and get a couple of hours of fishing in during the week. The longer days and warming temperatures often make the last few hours of daylight the most productive.

June is a great time to try some of New Hampshire’s trout ponds. Try getting to your favorite pond a few hours before dark and casting or trolling small streamer fly patterns such as Brown Owls, Black Nosed Dace, 88′s, and the infamous Hornberg. As darkness approaches and trout start rising, I normally switch to smaller dry fly patterns, and also a wet fly pattern designed by Ellis Hatch (former Fish and Game Commissioner) called the Hatching Pupa — it’s a killer on tough-to-fool trout!

Anglers should keep their eyes open towards the end of the month for the start of the “hex” hatch. These giant mayflies bring not only some of the best dry fly fishing of the year, but also account for many anglers’ largest trout and smallmouth bass of the season. They are mostly limited to cool water lakes and ponds, and often only appear the last twenty minutes before darkness sets in. Stay on the lookout! The smaller trout streams and rivers in southern part of the state are best also just fished in the early morning hours and late evenings because of climbing water temperatures.

I can’t talk the start of summer and leave out the striped bass on New Hampshire’s seacoast. June is the real start of striper season. If you have never taken advantage of this great resource, you are missing out! The tidal creeks are often some of my favorite spots to hit; remember to fish these creeks on the first two hours of the outgoing tide and the last two hours of the incoming tide. Use soft plastics such as the Slug-Go in the Alewife or Arkansas Shiner. Fly patterns like the Half n Half, Cape and Island Minnow, and Mushmouths are top producers.

Remember to plan your tides right for stripers during the morning and afternoons, switch your gear and beat it to your favorite trout pond for a great end to your day. See you on the water!

P.S. Are you just getting started fishing, or want to check out some new Concord-area locations? My fellow Fish and Gamer, Mark Beauchesne, appears in “Go Fish,” a guide for fishing novices, in this morning’s Concord Monitor. Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/fishconcord0609.

Kids Fishing Photo Contest

CONCORD, N.H. — Got a great photo of a kid having fun fishing? Enter it in the 2009 kids fishing photo contest sponsored jointly by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and Kidz Rule USA magazine. The contest is open to children under age 13. With their parent’s permission, children are encouraged to send in their New Hampshire fishing photos. Winning photos may be the child with the biggest smile or the family having the most fun trying to catch a fish! All entries must be received by September 30, 2009.

To enter the contest, kids should email a photo along with: child’s name, age, parent/guardian’s name, address, phone, species of fish and where the fish was caught (if a fish is pictured), and a brief description of the fishing scene, to editor@kidzruleusa.com or mail to: Kidz Rule USA, PO Box 834, Milford, NH 03055. Your photos may appear in an upcoming issue of Kidz Rule USA. Each child may enter the contest only once. Employees of Kidz Rule USA and its affiliates or the N.H. Fish and Game Department, and members of their immediate families, are not eligible to enter.

For full contest details or more information on how to subscribe to Kidz Rule USA magazine, visit http://www.kidzruleusa.com.

One Grand Prize Winner and four First Prize Winners will be announced in Kidz Rule USA magazine. The grand prize will be a guided New Hampshire fishing trip in spring 2010 for the winner and a parent, which will be filmed for N.H. Fish and Game’s MyOutdoors TV, which airs on MyTV (TV Channel 50) on Saturdays at 6:30 a.m. and Mondays at 11:00 p.m. First prizewinners will receive a Wild NH T-shirt and have their photo published on Fish and Game’s website, along with possible selection for publication in N.H. Wildlife Journal and other Fish and Game publications, as well as appearing on the pages of Kidz Rule USA magazine and website.

Kidz Rule USA is a monthly family magazine that offers features on sports, outdoors, arts/crafts, party ideas, exercise and health, restaurant/movie/book reviews, facts on animals, as well as articles and photos submitted by local children. The magazine features many games and contests, creating an interactive print and online media resource for children and their families.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Fish and Game works to connect families with healthy outdoor recreational activities through community partnerships and programs such as “Let’s Go Fishing,” Barry Conservation Camp, youth programs at the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center and school programs such as Watershed Education and Wonders of Wildlife workshops for schoolchildren. Visit http://www.WildNH.com.

Spiny Dogfish Season and Trip Limits Set

DURHAM, N.H. – Commercial landing restrictions for spiny dogfish harvested in New Hampshire waters were announced today by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Marine Fisheries Division. Spiny dogfish may be harvested in state waters from July 1 through April 30 or until the northern region quota has been taken; there is a 3,000-pound trip limit for spiny dogfish. The restrictions are in accordance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan, one of the provisions of which addresses the need to control harvest in the fishery via regional quotas and daily trip limits.

The 2008 stock assessment for spiny dogfish showed that the resource was no longer overfished and overfishing was not occurring. With increased levels of abundance, the coast-wide quota for spiny dogfish is higher this year than in the recent past. Specifications set by the ASMFC for the 2009 fishing year increased the coast-wide quota from 8 million pounds to 12 million pounds and set the 3,000-pound trip limit. The northern region portion of the 2009 quota, which is shared by the states of Maine through Connecticut, has been set at 6,910,381 pounds.

“After several years of strict conservation measures, dogfish abundance levels have increased and the population is no longer overfished,” said Douglas Grout, chief of Marine Fisheries for N.H. Fish and Game. “With the corresponding increase in the quota available to commercial fishermen, we felt it would be reasonable to increase the season by one month while maintaining the 3,000-pound trip limit.”

For more information, call N.H. Fish and Game’s Region 3 office at (603) 868-1095.

Established in 1942, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission coordinates the conservation and management of the 15 Atlantic coast states’ shared near-shore fishery resources for sustainable use. N.H. Fish and Game is a central voice for New Hampshire’s interests on this regional board. Visit http://www.asmfc.org.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s marine, fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. The Department’s Marine Fisheries Division is located in Durham, N.H. Visit http://www.WildNH.com/marine.

Kayak Great Bay; Watershed Institute; Look for Tagged Bass

GREAT BAY DISCOVERY CENTER OFFERS KAYAK TOURS OF GREAT BAY
Looking for a summer kayak adventure? Join staff of the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for kayak tours in the Great Bay Estuary, where you can watch osprey diving for fish, herons gracefully glide overhead and learn what makes the Great Bay Estuary one of the most amazing and diverse places on earth! Tours start June 24. See full schedule and read more: http://www.huntnh.com/Newsroom/News_2009/News_2009_Q2/kayak_tours_GB_060909.html.

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WATERSHED ECOLOGY INSTITUTE: OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
Science teachers, conservation commission members and environmental educators interested in exploring watershed ecology can sign up for a ten-day course offered this summer on July 20-24 and 27-31, 2009, at the Meredith Community Center. The Watershed Ecology Institute is sponsored by an alliance of organizations, including N.H. Fish and Game and UNH Cooperative Extension. It can be taken on a noncredit basis, or for undergraduate or graduate credit. For registration forms, contact information and more, http://www.huntnh.com/Newsroom/News_2009/News_2009_Q2/watershed_ed_summer_wkshop_09.html.

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ANGLERS — LOOK FOR TAGGED BASS WHEN FISHING LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE IN 2009
Anglers fishing Lake Winnipesaukee are being asked to watch for largemouth and smallmouth bass tagged as part of a New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Warmwater Fisheries Management Program study. Data collected from tagged bass will allow biologists to examine bass movement after release from bass tournament weigh-ins held on Lake Winnipesaukee. This is the third year of the study. Read more:
http://www.huntnh.com/Newsroom/News_2009/News_2009_Q2/tagged_bass_2009.html.

Scholarships for NH Youth Natural/Environmental Leader Summer Program

CONCORD, N.H. — Registration is now open for a new environmental leadership program for youth between the ages of 13-17, sponsored by the NH Children and Nature Coalition and Kimball Union Academy’s EE Just Environmental Leadership Institute. The program starts this summer with a two-week residential experience in which youth get to work directly with scientists, as well as canoe, camp and hike; involvement will continue through the school year. Called NH Natural Leaders, the program seeks applications from New Hampshire youth who are interested in the environment and active in their community, and who want to further their knowledge and skills through active outdoor engagement in recreational and educational pursuits.

“One of the early experiences I had that put me on a path to becoming an environmental leader was attending a youth conservation camp. That intensive program helped inspire me to choose a career in the environment. We have high hopes that the NH Natural Leaders program will inspire youth of today to see themselves as lifetime stewards of the environment and to learn important community leadership skills,” said Tom Burack, Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

The residential portion of the program will run from July 19 – August 1, 2009. Participants will work with scientists and other environmental professionals as they travel to a variety of locations in the state, including the Mt. Washington Observatory, Hubbard Brook Experimental Station, Harris Center for Conservation Education and the Great Bay Discovery Center. Youth will canoe, camp and hike as they explore and increase their knowledge about New Hampshire’s natural resources.

There is a fee for the summer residential session. New Hampshire residents can apply for scholarships to reduce the cost of the program to as little as $500 for full tuition, (including room and board) for the two weeks. The program is open to kids from around the world for $2,200 and discounted for N.H. residents at a rate of $1,500 (before scholarship savings). The Natural Leaders program is committed to equal opportunity for all youth. To apply, visit http://www.kua.org (click on summer programs, then “In Action — Environmental Leadership”; be sure to use the N.H. resident discount code when applying), call 603-469-2109 or email summer@kua.org.

The two-week summer program will launch the Natural Leaders into a variety of recreational and educational opportunities to pursue throughout the year. Participants will be encouraged to do work on a capstone project in their community around an environmental and conservation theme.

New Hampshire’s conservation community is enthusiastic about the potential of the Natural Leaders program. A sampling of comments:

“It’s exciting to see this program get off the ground; it is an excellent opportunity for youth to learn new skills and be an active part of the conservation community.” — Glenn Normandeau, Executive Director of the N.H. Fish and Game Department.

“The NH Natural Leaders program is a great example of how combining resources from many different sectors allows us to actively engage youth in healthy, outdoor learning activities.” — Neal McIntyre, program director of the EE Just Environmental Leadership Institute.

“We believe it is important for our youth to learn about our environment and how to conserve it.” — Audra Bucklin, Kimball Union Academy summer programs director.

The NH Natural Leaders Program is a project of the NH Children in Nature Coalition and the national Children and Nature Network. The coalition has membership of over fifty New Hampshire organizations and several hundred individuals. Partners include the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, UNH Cooperative Extension, the Appalachian Mountain Club, The Harris Center for conservation Education, New Hampshire Student Conservation Association, Healthy NH Foundation, New Hampshire Audubon and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/ChildrenInNature/index.htm.

Register for 2009 Fall Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Workshop Starting June 8

The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman fall workshop brochure and mail-in registration form are now available to download at http://www.nhbow.com. You can also call (603) 271-3212 or email aquatic-ed@wildlife.nh.gov to request an application by mail. Starting Monday, June 8, applications will be accepted by mail, or in person, at the N.H. Wildlife Federation office at 54 Portsmouth Street in Concord, N.H.

Sign up soon if you are interested, because registration is first-come, first-served, and the weekend workshop fills up fast.

The 2009 fall B.O.W. workshop will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 11-13, at Rockywold/Deephaven Camps on Squam Lake in Holderness. You must be 18 years of age or older. It costs $295, which includes lodging, meals, instruction and equipment use.

Some scholarships are available; download a scholarship application form at http://www.nhbow.com, or call (603) 271-3212 for information.

The B.O.W. fall weekend includes more than 30 outdoor skills courses to choose from — including archery, fly-fishing, hiking, canoeing, handling firearms, outdoor survival, kayaking, campfire cooking and much more. Visit http://www.nhbow.com for a complete brochure.

B.O.W. is co-sponsored by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, http://www.WildNH.com, and the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation, http://www.nhwf.org.

Pheasant Hearing; Sunapee Update; Free Fishing Day; Youth Programs

HEARING ON PHEASANT HUNTING RULES JUNE 15, 2009
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will hold a public hearing on proposed wildlife rules on Monday, June 15, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, N.H. The proposal addresses pheasant hunting license fees and sporting club youth pheasant events. Read more: http://www.huntnh.com/Newsroom/News_2009/News_2009_Q2/Wildlife_Rule_Hrg_Pheasant_052909.html.

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SENATE VOTES NARROWLY TO ESTABLISH LAKE SUNAPEE ACCESS STUDY COMMITTEE
On Wednesday, June 3, 2009, the full State Senate voted 13 to 11 to support the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Economic Development to amend HB 45 to establish a committee to study the need and costs related to the proposal of the fish and game department to construct a public boat ramp on the former Wild Goose property located on Lake Sunapee in Newbury. Next, the House of Representatives must decide if they will agree; not agree; or not agree and request a committee of conference. That decision could come as early as Wednesday, June 10, 2009. Read more: http://www.wildnh.com/access/wildgoose/index.html.

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JUNE 6 IS FREE FISHING DAY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Saturday, June 6, 2009, is Free Fishing Day in New Hampshire, so make plans to get out and try your luck on New Hampshire’s ponds, streams and lakes. Read more: http://www.fishnh.com/Newsroom/News_2009/News_2009_Q2/free_fishing_day_09.html.

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FREE SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITIES AT OWL BROOK HUNTER EDUCATION CENTER, HOLDERNESS
There’s still room, especially for youth age 13-15 and girls 10-15, in several sessions of free summer workshops on shooting sports, bowhunting, and other outdoor skills. Read more: http://www.fishnh.com/Newsroom/News_2009/News_2009_Q2/Owl_Br_Youth_Reminder_060409.html.

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ADVISORY ON STRIPED BASS AND BLUEFISH CONSUMPTION
N.H. Department of Environmental Services, N.H. Fish and Game and six other east coast states have issued a fish consumption advisory for large bluefish and striped bass. http://www.fishnh.com/Newsroom/News_2009/News_2009_Q2/sw_fish_consumption_adv_060309.html.

N.H. Weekly Fishing Report – June 4, 2009

In today’s report, fisheries biologist Gabe Gries goes looking for largemouth bass in the Monadnock region, and offers some trout-fishing destinations for early June.

FISH STOCKING: For a list of sites stocked last week, visit: http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fish_stock_current.htm.

FREE FISHING DAY is this Saturday, June 6. Tell your friends!

Purchase your fishing license online at http://www.FishNH.com, or from any Fish and Game license agent. Don’t forget — kids under 16 fish free in N.H.!

Fish New Hampshire and relax… We have what you’re looking for.

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BASS QUEST: SOUTHWEST NH
By Gabe Gries, Fisheries Biologist, Region 4/Keene

I have been doing my best over the past month to reconnect with many angling friends and bass fish as much as possible before the busy upcoming field season. I started out fishing Thorndike Pond (Jaffrey) for smallmouth bass when water temperatures were still in the low 50s. While the bite was expectedly slow, we managed four nice bass on jerkbaits and caught a big yellow perch and pickerel as a bonus. Traveling up north two weeks later to Forest Lake (Whitefield) had me fishing similar water temperatures. A few nice smallmouths were it for the day. Just like the previous trip, all fish came on jerkbaits in 6-8 feet of water off rocky points.

One of my favorite spots, the Connecticut River, was next. Water temperatures were in the mid-50s and the water was up a bit that day (and muddy) as we fished in the Westmoreland section. The bass didn’t appear to be on the drop-offs just off shore, so we tried river mouths for a while and picked up a few bass at each, but nothing impressive in terms of size. We finally found them tight to the bank in scattered locations. Any fallen wood provided at least three good fish. We ended up catching over a dozen smallmouth with the biggest two going 4 lbs. Lures included tubes, jigs and crankbaits.

I still had yet to put a largemouth in the boat so we headed to a small pond in Richmond where even when water temperatures are low, there can be a surprisingly good topwater bite in some shallow coves. Well, we missed the low water temperatures on that trip, having the fish finder reading 63 degrees F, and quickly shifted tactics. We ended up fishing drop-offs with crankbaits and pitchin’ jigs into fallen trees. We managed a 3-lb. largemouth and another smaller one after a couple hours of fishing.

Catching the largemouth bug, I now wanted more, so we headed back to the Connecticut River’s setbacks in Hinsdale. These areas become quite vegetated by early summer, but when we fished them the vegetation was just below the surface, making for a terrific opportunity for some topwater action. Three fishing trips in 65-69 degree water yielded about 25 largemouths. Most fish came on buzzbaits, frogs, and Mann’s Wakebaits. The majority of fish were caught in scattered vegetation in 2-4 feet of water, while we caught some smaller bass tight to the shore by pitchin’ jigs and tubes. All fish were spawned out with the exception of one nice 4-lb. female.

A final mixed bag trip for smallmouth and largemouth to Monomonac Lake (Rindge) rounded out the month. We had a beautiful day in terms of weather, but not in regards to the fishing. Pickerel, perch and black crappie were abundant and couldn’t keep their mouths off the lures, but bass were harder to come by. The shorelines produced only a few small largemouths on tubes throughout the morning. Just before leaving, we decided to try drop-shotting off a sunken rocky reef in the middle of the lake. This tactic produced well, giving us several larger bass including a 3-lb. largemouth and 3-lb. smallmouth.

Don’t forget that at this time of year, walleye and bass can often be found in the lower reaches of larger rivers that flow into the Connecticut River. Some of my favorite spots include the Ashuelot River, Partridge Brook (Westmoreland), Mascoma River, and the Sugar River.

My top picks this week for trout-fishing destinations include: Dublin Lake (Dublin), Nissitissit River (Brookline), Frenches Pond (Henniker), S.B. Piscataquog River (New Boston), Granite Lake (Stoddard), Silver Lake (Harrisville), Stone Pond (Marlborough), and the Ashuelot River (Marlow, Surry).

We hope you enjoy fishing this year in the Monadnock/Upper Valley Region and don’t forget to take a kid fishing anytime you can. We are always happy to talk to you about fish and fishing so please contact us at Region 4 (352-9669; reg4@wildlife.nh.gov) if you have any questions. For a list of popular waterbodies to fish for by species, check out Suggested Fishing Locations for the Monadnock Region/Southwest N.H. at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing_forecast/Locations_Southwest.htm.

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All NH fishing page: http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fishing.htm.

If you know someone who might like to sign up for the Fishing Report, send them to http://www.fishnh.com/Inside_FandG/join_mail_list.htm.

Leave Young Wildlife Alone; Watch for Turtles Crossing Roads to Nest

LEAVE YOUNG ANIMALS ALONE — KEEP WILDLIFE WILD

CONCORD, N.H. — If you encounter wildlife, even young animals that appear to need help, the kindest (and safest) thing to do is to leave them alone and let nature take its course, officials from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said today.

This time of year, many people call Fish and Game reporting that they have picked up young animals, thinking they are orphans. “Picking up fawns, baby raccoons or young animals is an error in judgment,” says Fish and Game Lt. Robert Bryant. “People think they’re doing a good deed, but they are often removing the animal from the care of its parents and exposing themselves to the risk of disease. What’s more, these actions may result in the animal having to be euthanized for rabies testing.”

Young wild animals (including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians) have their best chance of surviving when they are in their own natural environment, says Fish and Game Wildlife Programs Administrator Mark Ellingwood. What should you do if you find a young animal? “Give wildlife plenty of space and leave them alone and in the wild, where they belong,” he said.

Seeing a fawn alone, for example, does NOT mean that it is orphaned or that it needs our help. Ellingwood explains that it is normal for a doe to leave her fawn alone while she goes off to feed in the early morning and evening hours. In many cases, the doe will not return until nightfall. “Fawns are not defenseless creatures. Their cryptic coloration, tendency to stay perfectly still and lack of scent, are all adaptations that help them survive,” he said. Does are easy to detect because of their size and scent, so they generally keep a distance from their fawns, except during brief nursing bouts, so that predators don’t key in on them. “This hands-off policy also applies to bear cubs and moose calves,” Ellingwood said.

“So, if you’re lucky enough to see a deer fawn, bear cub, moose calf or other wild animal, count your blessings and leave the area,” Ellingwood advises. “The majority of a doe’s time, for example, is spent away from the fawn. Persistent revisiting by sympathetic people only serves to prolong the separation and delay important feeding. If you know that the mother is dead, or if you have questions, call your local Fish and Game office.”

Only qualified people with special rehabilitator’s permits, issued through Fish and Game in Concord, may take in and care for injured or orphaned wildlife. Unless you have these credentials, it is illegal to have in your possession or take any New Hampshire wildlife from the wild and keep it in captivity. For a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators, go to http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/wildlife_rehabbers.htm.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Visit http://www.wildnh.com.

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TURTLE SHELLS NO MATCH FOR TIRES — GIVE TURTLES A BRAKE

CONTACT: Mike Marchand, 603-271-3016; Jane Vachon, 603-271-3211
June 1, 2009

CONCORD, N.H. — Spring is a welcome time in New Hampshire, and one of the signs of the season is turtles migrating to nesting habitat. We can help them survive by slowing down and keeping an eye out for turtles crossing the roads in coming weeks, says New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Wildlife Biologist Mike Marchand. Turtle nesting season in New Hampshire lasts from late May into early July, reaching maximum intensity in early to mid-June.

“Turtle nesting season provides us with a unique opportunity to see turtles moving on land, but it is an extremely vulnerable time for the turtles,” says Marchand. “Today, the biggest threat to turtle populations in New Hampshire is being struck by automobiles on roadways. While male turtles may choose to travel overland to reach a different wetland habitat during spring and fall, mature female turtles MUST leave the relative safety of ponds and wetlands to contribute to the development of future generations.”

To find an appropriate nesting habitat, female turtles may easily travel several hundred yards or more, seeking a sandy or other well-drained area that is open to sunlight. Female turtles dig a nest chamber, deposit eggs, cover the eggs with soil, and depart, leaving the turtle embryos and future young turtles to fend for themselves. Young turtles must cope with predators, primarily raccoons, which may dig up and destroy a large number of eggs. When turtles are small, everything eats them –raccoons, great blue herons, even a bullfrog on occasion. As turtles approach adulthood, they are less vulnerable to predators. Predators are generally not catastrophic for local populations, says Marchand, but the impact of development and the associated increase in amount and speed of traffic on our roads is taking a toll.

Turtles have coped with various threats by being able to live a very long time, with some local species of turtles possibly exceeding 70 years! But low survival of young isn’t the only reason why turtles must live a long time — female turtles of some species may not be capable of reproducing until they are 15 years of age or older.

Here’s a few things you can do to help New Hampshire turtles survive:

1) Slow down and watch for turtles in roadways!

2) Help turtles cross roads safely. If you see a turtle crossing a road, and it is safe for you to do so, help it cross in the direction it was traveling. Never create a dangerous situation for other motorists or yourself. Snapping turtles should be handled with care or allowed to cross on their own.

3) Don’t take the turtle home or move it far from where you found it. A turtle taken to your home is a turtle lost from the local population. (Also, all New Hampshire native turtles are protected by state law during nesting season).

4) If a turtle is injured, visit http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/wildlife_rehabbers.htm or call Fish and Game’s Wildlife Division at (603) 271-2461 for a list of wildlife rehabilitators in your area. For more on what to do if you find an injured turtle, visit http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/Nongame/injured_turtle.htm.

5) Report turtle sightings to N.H. Fish and Game’s Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Program (http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/Nongame/reptiles_amphibians.htm).

6) Work with land trusts and town officials to help conserve important natural areas in your community.

7) Another tip: Mulch piles can be attractive places for turtles to nest when located near wetland areas. Spreading mulch into gardens soon after delivery will reduce turtles from nesting in a mulch pile that is likely to be disturbed later in the season. If mulch will be in place for several weeks or more, covering with plastic will help reduce attractiveness for nesting turtles.

By taking these steps, we can all help to ensure that New Hampshire’s turtles stay abundant and healthy. So slow down and give turtles a brake this spring and summer!

Learn more about migrating turtles in New Hampshire and how you can help them survive by tuning in to wildlife biologist Mike Marchand’s podcast about turtles on the Fish and Game website at http://blog.wildnh.com (click on “Wild June in N.H.”).

See pictures of and learn how to identify New Hampshire’s seven native species of turtles at http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/Nongame/turtles.htm.

Find out more about the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program, supported by federal and state grants and individual donations, at http://www.wildnh.com/nongame.