ndowner assistance available through the u.s. fish and...

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)The WRP is a voluntary program to help private landowners restore wetlands previously altered for agricultural use.The program provides assistance for wetland restoration and wildlife habitat establishment on lands that have been owned for one year and can be restored to wetland conditions.Landowners may restore wetlandswith permanent easements,30-year easements or 10-year contracts.Permanent easements pay 100% of the agricultural value of the land and 100% restoration cost;30-year easements pay 75% of the agricultural value and 75% restoration cost;10-year contract pays 75% restoration cost only.Permanent or 30-year easements arerecorded with the property deed.Ten-year contracts are not recorded with the deed.Public access to restored lands is not required.

Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP)The purpose of WHIP is to develop or improve fish and wildlife habitat on privately owned land through prairie and savanna restoration and establishment,seeding towarm-season grasses,fencing,in-stream fish structures,livestock exclusion,and related practices.Almost any type of land is eligible,including agricultural and non-agriculturalland,woodlots,pasturesand streambanks.Applications are funded based on statewide ranking.Landowners agree to maintain practices for a minimum of 10 years.Costshare assistance is available for habitatdevelopment practices up to 75% of restoration costs and to a maximum of $10,000.

*Note:WRP and WHIP are competitive programs with only the most environmentally beneficial projects selected for funding.

Conservation Reserve Program and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CRP and CREP)CRP and CREP assist landowners or operators who set aside cropland (or pasture that is adjacent to surface water) with annual rental payments throughout the contractperiod.For conservation practices,cost sharing for practice installation is provided as well as other incentives.Management practices include tree planting,grass cover,small wetland restoration,prairie and oak savanna restoration and others.Land eligibility varies by soil type and crop history.Sign-ups are announced throughout the yearfor other practices.Contracts last for 10 to 15 years and are transferable with change in ownership.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)EQIP provides technical and financial help to agricultural producers for conservation practices that protect soil and water quality.Many practices are eligible for cost-sharing.Agriculturalproducers on agricultural lands are eligible.Projects are selected based on their environmental value.Contracts last one to 10 years.Producers may be eligiblefor up to 75% cost-sharing,up to $450,000 per producer for the life of the federal Farm Bill.

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) The GRP helps restore and protect grassland while maintaining the area as grazing land.The GRP offers eligible producers who own at least 40 contiguous acres severalenrollment options:Permanent Easements (USDA pays fair market value of the property less the grazing value);30-year easements (USDA pays 30 percent of what wouldbe paid for a permanent easement);rental agreements of 10,15,20 or 30-year duration (USDA pays nationally developed grazing rental rates by county);and restorationagreements.

Conservation Security Program (CSP)CSP rewards good land stewardship by providing payments to farmers who meet the highest standards of conservation and environmental management on their farmoperations.Eligible landowners in selected watersheds may receive annual payments based on their level of stewardship,through a 5-10 year contract.

For more information about these and other NRCS conservation programs,visit www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

A special thank you to Nina Leopold Bradley for donating her phenology data for this

calendar.Thank you to the following individuals who contributed their time and

expertise to this calendar:Jaime Thibodeaux,Rhonda Krueger-USFWS,Rachel

Mockler-USFWS,Becky Rudolph-USFWS,Mike Engel-USFWS,Bill Peterson-USFWS,

Greg Kidd-USDA,Rick Stel-Aldo Leopold Foundation,and Tiffany Short.A special

thank you to Jeffrey J.Strobel and Bruce Webendorfer of the UW-Extension

Environmental Resources Center for their assistance,and Jack Bartholmai and Jeffrey

J.Strobel for their photo contributions.Graphic design/production by Brooke Wentland & Lisa Zukowski,UW-Extension Environmental Resources Center

The U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the

basis of race,color,national origin,religion,age,disability,political beliefs,sexual orientation,or family status.

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for

communication of information (Braille,large print,audiotape,etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at

202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).To file a complaint of discrimination,write USDA,Director,Office of Civil Rights,

Room 326-W,Whitten Building,1400 Independence Avenue,SW,Washington,DC 20250-9410 or call (202)

720-5964 (voice or TDD).USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

The Partners for Fish and WIldlife Program assists private landowners in restoring wetlands,grasslands,oak savannas,pine and oak barrens,streams and endangered species habitat.Financial and/or technical assistance is offered to privatelandowners through voluntary cooperative agreements.Under these cooperative agreements,landowners agree to maintain the restored lands for the life of the agreement (at least 10 years).Landowners also retain full control of their land.

For more information on the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program,visit www.partners.fws.gov

The National Wildlife Refuge System,managed by the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service,is the only system of federal lands dedicated entirely to wildlife.The Refuge System consists of over 540 refuges,covering over 95 million acres.These protectedlands provide habitat for more than 200 species of fish and nearly 500 other animal species.Among the hundreds of wild species that call wildlife refuges home are 250 threatened or endangered plants and animals.More than 35 million people visit the wildlife refuges each year.

For more information about the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Refuge System,visit www.fws.gov

Landowner assistance available through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Landowner assistance available through the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

Wisconsin

Many of the events of the annual

cycle recur year after year in a regular

order. A year-to-year record of this

order is a record of the rates at

which solar energy flows to and

through living things. They are the

arteries of the land. By tracing

their responses to the sun, phenol-

ogy may eventually shed some

light on that ultimate enigma, the

land’s inner workings.

“

– Aldo Leopold, A Phenological Record forSauk & Dane Counties,Wisconsin, 1935-1945

”

Wildlife Phenology

Additional references:

Bradley, N.L., A.C. Leopold, J. Ross,W. Huffaker. 1999.Phenological changes reflect climate change inWisconsin. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol 96. 9701-9704.

Curtis, J.T. 1959. The Vegetation of Wisconsin.

Hopkins, A.D. 1918. Periodical events and natural law as guides to agricultural research and practice.U.S. Monthly Weather Rev. Suppl. No 9 (Weather Bull.No 643) Washington D.C. 42pp.

Leopold, A. and Jones E. 1947. A Phenological Record for Sauk and Dane Counties, Wisconsin 1935-1945Ecol. Monogr 17. 81-122.

Parmesan, C. G.Yohe. 2003. A globally coherent finger-print of climate change impacts across natural systems.Nature Vol 421. 37-42.

Whitson (also from Curtis):Whitson. A.R. and Baker,O.E. 1928. The climate of Wisconsin and its relationto agriculture. Wis. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 223. 46pp.

Cover photo: Jeffrey J. Strobel, Least bittern.Photos this page: Jack R. Bartholmai, Scarlet tanager;S. Nielsen, geese and moon; Jeffrey J. Strobel, lake scene.Leopold photo from the University of Wisconsin Archives.

The Aldo Leopold Foundation (ALF) was founded

in 1982 by the children of Aldo Leopold to promote

harmony between people and the land and foster

Leopold’s vision of the Land Ethic. ALF is the definitive

interpreter and advocate for Leopold’s legacy.

It has exclusive rights to A Sand County Almanac and

other writings and photographs, is owner and

caretaker of Leopold’s Shack and family farm, and

serves as a clearinghouse for information regarding

Aldo Leopold, his work and ideas. For more informa-

tion contact ALF at PO Box 77, Baraboo,WI, 53913,

608-355-0279, or on the web at

www.aldoleopold.org

Phenology is a branch of science focused on the relationships between climate and recurring natural events such as

flowers blooming and birds migrating. This calendar identifies phenological events gathered from a variety of sources throughout

the Midwest. Our main source of data has been collected by the Leopold family in Sauk County,Wisconsin. Since 1936,

phenological events have been recorded at the Leopold Family Farm and Shack, a tradition begun by Aldo Leopold, regarded by

many as the father of wildlife ecology. Many of these recordings in and around this landscape inspired Leopold’s seminal work on

conservation: A Sand County Almanac. We have taken 26 years of data (1974-2000) collected by Nina Leopold Bradley and

averaged the dates, thereby determining what date a phenological event may occur. In addition, we have used four Aldo-Leopold-

averaged phenology dates taken from 1936-1947. These events occur much earlier now than they did in 1940. Several studies1

have shown a significant trend for an earlier occurrence of spring phenological events, suggesting that some species are

changing their behaviors in response to climate change. The disparity of adaptation and change to warmer temperatures may

have an effect on ecosystems all over the world. Some scientists speculate that species without phenological adaptability may

experience greater stress or even extinction during extended climate change.

The dates used for this calendar correspond to data mostly collected in southern Wisconsin. To apply these dates to a different area, apply Hopkins Law,

which states that “phenological events vary at a the rate of 1 day for each 15 minutes of latitude, 1.25 days for each degree of longitude and 1 day for

each 100 feet of altitude.” This means there is approximately a 22-day difference between the southern border with Illinois and the northern border

with Michigan. Regarding the east and west sides of the state, there is approximately a 10-day difference between each, with Lake Michigan cooling the

eastern side and slowing the warm-up process.

Included in this calendar are monthly narratives discussing threatened and endangered species found throughout the state. The Federal Endangered

Species Act (ESA) defines endangered species as “any species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” Threatened

species are defined as “any species likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or

a significant portion of its range.” The ESA can help us to reverse a declining trend in a species through identification and

planning. Unfortunately, without our help, the next stop for species in peril is extinction, which cannot be reversed or

remedied at any cost. Extinct species such as the Passenger pigeon or the Ivory billed woodpecker may now be enjoyed

only in history books.

In the U.S. alone we have lost more than 500 species and subspecies since the 1500s. The initial threatened and endangered

list that came out with the 1973 Endangered Species Act contained 109 names; today it contains 1,265 (519 animals,

746 plants), with another 23 U.S. species of plants and animals currently proposed for listing as threatened or endangered.

Ten federally-listed animals live in Wisconsin, including the Karner blue butterfly and the Eastern gray wolf, as well as six plants including the Prairie bush

clover and the Eastern prairie fringed orchid. Wisconsin also has its own list of State threatened and endangered species. These species may or

may not be listed federally. Wisconsin has 134 state-listed endangered species (73 plants/61 animals) such as the Blanchard’s cricket frog and

105 threatened species (65 plants and 40 animals) such as Butler’s garter snake. In some cases, these species may be on the northern edge of their range

or have limited habitat in the state.

Specific species traits such as low reproduction rates, specialized diet or habitat requirements often make a species a natural candidate for threatened or

endangered status. However, many species are also threatened by human-induced factors such as exploitation, competition with non-native and invasive

species, disease, environmental threats and the biggest factor of all – loss of habitat. Although strict regulations can help in the effort to save species,

most threatened and endangered species spend some time on private lands and most land remains in private ownership. It’s easy to see, therefore, how

private lands and landowners hold the key to survival of many species. Indeed, Leopold himself said: “When land does well for its owner, and the owner

does well by his land; when both end up better by reason of their partnership, we have conservation. When one or the other grows poorer, we do not.”2

With care and protection, we can add to our list of success stories such as the Bald eagle, the bison, and the Trumpeter swan, species that once faced a

perilous future and have now recovered to sustainable population levels. Placing a value on any given species can be difficult. There are economic,

ecological, cultural, educational, medical and ethical values that can certainly be considered, but most importantly, in the words of Aldo Leopold: “What if

there be no more goose music?”3

Aldo Leopold

The phenology of reptiles and amphibians is highly dependent upon immediate conditions for reproduction.

Wood frogs, for example, first emerge when night temperatures are over 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore

amphibian phenology is highly variable as well as difficult to research. Also, few people record any phenological

data about reptiles and amphibians, other than frog call occurrence. This is mainly due to the tiny larval stages,

secretive lifestyle, and the relative unpopularity of these animals in comparison to more visible species.

1 Bradley et al 1999, Leopold and Jones 1947, Parmesan and Yohe 2003

2 Aldo Leopold, The Farmer as a Conservationist (1939),The River of the Mother of God, 255

3 Aldo Leopold, Goose Music (c. 1922); Round River, 173

A note on dates

New Year’s Day

Erect and clean Barred owl boxes

The earth is closestto the sun on this day

Female elk move to south-facing slopes forwinter

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

DecemberS M T W T F S

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FebruaryS M T W T F S

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Black bear cubs beingborn in dens

Martin Luther King Day

Black-capped chickadeesbegin spring courtship song

Aldo Leopold born onthis day in 1886

Fox and Gray squirrelsbegin mating

Great horned owls begincourtship activities

❍ Full (Wolf) moon

Beaver begin mating

Greater prairie chickenphoto: Robert Bennetts

photos: Jack R. Bartholmai, Cedar waxwing; below: Jack R. Bartholmai, Fox squirrel, Opossum & Oak leaf; Jeffrey J. Strobel, Bergamot

Sunrise 7:25 AM Sunset 4:25 PM

Greater Prairie Chicken

Tympanuchus cupido

The prairies of middle America began to change whensettlers began to push westward. Prairie chickens initiallybenefited from logging and farming, which created opengrasslands. However, the amount of open grasslandsdecreased as agriculture changed and dominated the landscape. In addition, market hunting increased, leadingto significant population declines. By the 1850s, theonce-abundant prairie chicken was becoming scarce.Wisconsin game laws were set in place, limiting the openhunting season to three months. From 1921 to 1955,brief hunting periods were permitted within the state.Prairie chicken populations declined to the point wherehunting was banned. In 1979, they were placed on theWisconsin State Threatened Species List. Today, the prairiechicken’s range is limited to an area in central Wisconsincalled the Buena Vista Grasslands.

Prairie chickens perform striking courtship dances oncommunal display grounds called leks. Males strut aboutand stamp their feet, uttering a deep cooing call with“horns” erect and yellow-orange sacs of skin inflated onthe sides of the neck.

Today, the primary cause of mortality to prairie chickens is predation on eggs and birds. Farm machinery, movingvehicles, electrical fences, and pesticides also impact populations.

Effective management includes manipulation of grazingpressure, providing dense vegetative cover, and establish-ment of preserves. The key to managing the Greater prairiechicken is preventing their populations from becoming toosmall and isolated, causing the loss of genetic integrity.To increase the population’s distribution, the reintroduc-tion of birds into formerly occupied territory may be necessary.

30 31Red fox begin mating

Canada lynx being mating

Wolves begin mating

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JanuaryS M T W T F S

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MarchS M T W T F S

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Horned larks beginmigrating north

Erect and clean out Woodduck and Bluebird boxes

❍ Full (Snow) moon

Coyotes begin mating

Erect Americankestrel boxes

Valentine’s Day

Northern cardinals beginspring songs

Great horned owlsbegin nesting

Canada geese spring arrival Mink begin matingBobcats begin matingPresidents’ Day

Canada lynxphoto: USFWS

photos: Jack R. Bartholmai, Eastern cottontail rabbit; below: Greg Vandeleest, Bobcat; Jeffrey J. Strobel, Birch tree; Jack R. Bartholmai, Frosted sumac & Robin; Jeffrey J. Strobel,White-tailed buck antler


Canada Lynx

Lynx canadensis

The Canada lynx is a short-tailed, long-legged wild cat,weighing 15-35 pounds with a height of two feet and alength of three feet. The lynx and the bobcat have similarappearances, but the lynx are larger, have longer ear tufts,and different tail markings. The Canada lynx is a nocturnaland solitary animal. Their paws are specialized for walk-ing on snow and capturing their prey such as snowshoehares and other small mammals and birds.

Lynx populations in Wisconsin have never been common,since the state forms the southern edge of even their his-toric range. It’s unknown today if lynx are breeding inWisconsin. Most lynx found in the state are thought to bemigrants from Canada.

The distribution of Canada lynx closely follows primarilythe northern boreal forests and that of the snowshoehare, its principal prey. Lynx populations fluctuate as aresult of the cyclic population of the snowshoe hare.

Human actions such as disturbance, over-harvesting,bounties, and destruction of the northern forest havereduced lynx populations throughout much of thespecies’ former range.

The Canada lynx is a federally threatened species and isdesignated a Protected Wild Animal under Wisconsin law.

It’s important that large tracts of northern forest bemaintained or restored in order for the Canada lynx tosurvive in Wisconsin. Increased human access in andthrough forests remain a significant threat to the futureof lynx in the state.

28

Maple sap flows when daytemperatures are above40 degrees

Woodfrogs begin calling/breeding the first day andnight over 50 degrees

Bald eagle migrationbegins

Snowshoe hares beginmatingErect bat boxes

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FebruaryS M T W T F S

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American robin springarrival

Eastern bluebird springarrival

Red-winged blackbirdspring arrival

Fox and Gray squirrelyoung bornTom turkeys begin gobbling

Sandhill crane arrivalbegins

Eastern meadowlark arrivalLeopard frogs emergingfrom their winter burrows

American woodcockfirst peent

Vernal Equinox 7:34 AM EST

First day of Spring

Pine marten young beingborn

Killdeer spring arrivalRed fox pups being born

Common grackle arrival;Eastern chipmunks emergefrom hibernation

Skunk cabbage beginsblooming

❍ Full (Worm) MoonGood Friday

Ring-necked pheasantsbegin crowing

Eastern phoebe springarrival; salamanders andnewts begin to emerge

Easter Sunday

Great blue heron and Foxsparrow spring arrival

Wood duck spring arrivalWolf pups being born

Hooded merganser springarrival

Canada Goose arrival(A. Leopold data 1936-47)

Red-winged blackbirdarrival(A. Leopold data 1936-47)

Canada geese beginlaying eggs

Opossum begin mating;Common garter snakescoming out of hibernation

Mallards begin to arriveLynx kits being born

Hermit thrush spring arrival;Chorus frogs and Springpeepers begin calling nowthrough first week of April

Timber Wolfphoto: MaNeil Lyons, National Park Service

photos: Jack R. Bartholmai,Wood duck; below: Jack R. Bartholmai, Eastern chipmunks & American woodcock


Timber Wolf

Canis lupus

The Timber wolf, also known as a gray wolf, is very adapt-able to different types of habitats. Wolves were historicallyfound to utilize forests, mountains, prairies and wetlands.Today, wolves thrive best in places where humans do notdisturb them and where prey is easily accessible andplentiful. In Wisconsin, they mostly make use of forestedareas and agricultural lands.

Before Wisconsin was settled by Europeans in the 1830s,wolves lived throughout the state. Explorers, trappers,and settlers killed wolves for their fur, to eliminate thethreat to livestock, and to eliminate the suspected impacton the white-tailed deer populations. A state bounty(1865 -1957), decline of key prey species, and habitat lossled to the extirpation of the wolf by 1960. During the1970s, wolves dispersed to northern Wisconsin from alarge population in Minnesota. The Timber wolf was listed as federally endangered in 1974. The establishmentof breeding wolf packs in the state prompted their statelisting in 1975. Wisconsin’s recovery plan goal of 80wolves was first achieved in 1995 without any active reintroductions.

In 2003, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service upgraded theTimber wolf in Wisconsin from Endangered to Threatenedin the Eastern Distinct Population Segment (DPS). Due to the increase of wolves, the USFWS is proposing the de-listing of the Eastern DPS. (As of fall 2004 there werebetween 373-410 wolves in Wisconsin.) If removed, thewolves would be monitored and managed by individualstates. In March 2004, the Wisconsin Natural ResourcesBoard approved removal of the gray wolf from the statelist. If approved by legislative committees, the wolf willbe listed by the state as a Protected Wild Animal.

For more information, please visithttp://midwest.fws.gov/wolf

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Trees susceptible to Oakwilt from now until hardfreeze; Belted kingfisherspring arrival

Big brown bat springarrival

Daylight Savings Time

Tundra swan arrival

Bald eagles begin nesting

Eastern phoebe arrival(A. Leopold data 1936-47) Tree swallow arrival Painted turtles are emerging

Yellow-bellied sapsuckerspring arrival; Pasqueflower blooms

Ruffed grouse begindrumming; Peak springduck migration

Lake Mendota opens(Dane Co.)

Sigurd Olson born in1899

Check bluebird boxesthroughout nesting season

Black bears leave their dens;Leopard and Pickerel frogsbegin calling

Upland sandpipers aresighted; Dutchman’sbreeches blooms

Eastern cottontailrabbits are born

Cowbird spring arrivalCoyote pups and Minkkits being born

John Muir born in 1838

Hognosed snakes areemerging

Earth Day

House wren spring arrival

Marsh marigold blooms;Little brown bat springarrival

❍ Full (Pink) Moon

Barn swallows returnWhooping crane beginlaying eggs

White-tailed deerbucks growing antlers;Prairie smoke blooms

Pasque flower blooms(A. Leopold data 1936-47)Hen mallards begin nesting

Bobwhite quail are mating

Arbor Day

Serviceberry blooms Goslings hatchingPurple martins beginto arrive

John Audubon born in 1785

Upper Trout Lake opens(Vilas Co.)

American toads begin to sing

Sunrise 5:32 AMSunset 6:18 PM

photos: Jack R. Bartholmai, Sandhill cranes; below: Jeffrey J. Strobel, Northern leopard frog; FWS, Pasque flower; Jack R. Bartholmai, Eastern painted turtle

Paddlefishphoto: USFWS

Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

The Paddlefish is an ancient fish species that lives morethan 30 years and weighs between 60-198 pounds with alength of approximately five feet. They are characterizedby a long paddle-like snout or rostrum extending to aboutone-third of their body length. It is believed that the rostrum assists the fish in maintaining position in rivercurrents and is a highly developed sensory organ used forlocating food and avoiding underwater objects. The adultPaddlefish uses comb-like structures called gill rakers(attached at the gills) to filter zooplankton (microscopicanimals), their primary food.

Historically in Wisconsin the Paddlefish existed in theMississippi, St. Croix, Chippewa, Red Cedar and WisconsinRivers, and also in lower portions of the Baraboo River.Today, surveys indicate that populations have disappearedabove the Prairie du Sac dam on the Wisconsin River. TheUpper Mississippi River populations are largely isolatedinto small, localized subpopulations.

Declines in the number and range of Paddlefish have beencaused by dams which have interrupted spawning sitesand migration, altered water flow, and eliminated back-waters that are important as nursery and feeding areas.Industrial contaminants, illegal fishing, and demand foreggs as caviar have also contributed to the decline.

Due to the decline in Paddlefish populations, the WisconsinDepartment of Natural Resources listed the species asthreatened in 1989. In addition, Minnesota and Wisconsinhave protected the Paddlefish from all forms of harvest.Anglers should immediately release fish that are accidentallyhooked to avoid exhausting the fish. Boaters can alsoreduce the number of injuries to Paddlefish by motoringslowly in known areas of Paddlefish congregation.

Ring-necked pheasantsnesting

Marsh Marigold blooms(A. Leopold data 1936-47)

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Eastern gray tree frogand Cope’s gray tree frogbegin calling(1st week of May)

Wood thrush and Scarlettanager spring arrival

Indigo bunting springarrival

Mother’s Day

Wild gooseberry blooms;Ruby-throated humming-bird spring arrival

Birdsfoot violet blooms;Northern oriole arrival

Warbler spring migrationbegins; Catbird springarrival; Blue-winged tealarrival

Whip-poor-will springarrival; Large trilliumblooms

Wild geranium blooms;Prothonotary warblerarrival; Gypsy mothspraying begins

Young eagles hatching;May apples bloom

InternationalMigratory Bird DayChoke cherry blooms;Mallards hatching

Wild lupine blooms; Gypsymoth caterpillars beginningto defoliate trees

Shooting stars bloom Columbine bloomsEastern wood peweespring arrival

Common loons beginnesting

Common nighthawkspring arrival Lilacs blooming

Veeries begin singing

Put out grape jelly andorange halves for orioles

Jack -in-the pulpit blooms;Look for Morel mushrooms

Sandhill crane chickshatching

Anemone blooms; Greenfrogs and Blanchard’scricket frogs begin callingat the end of May

Rachael Carson born onthis day in 1907

White-tailed deer fawnsare born now into June

First flight of Karner bluebutterfly adults emerge

Wild iris blooms; Beaverkits being born

American woodcockyoung hatching

Monarch butterfly arrival

Memorial Day

Ruffed grouse chickshatching


❍ Full ( Flower) Moon

First fire flies can be seenWhooping crane eggsbeing hatched

Pink prairie phlox bloom;Wild asparagus emerging

Karner Blue Butterflyphoto:T. Meyer

photos: Jack R. Bartholmai, Raccoons; below: Jeffrey J. Strobel, American coot; USFWS, Lupine

Karner Blue Butterfly

Lycaeides melissa samuelis

This quarter-size butterfly historically occurred across anarrow band from eastern Minnesota to western Maine.Due to the modification, destruction, and fragmentationof oak savannas, pine barrens, and prairies, populationshave declined dramatically in the last twenty-five years.In 1992 the Karner blue butterfly was listed as a federallyendangered species. Today the most abundant populationsof Karner blue butterflies are found in central Wisconsin.

As a larva it feeds only upon wild lupine. As a butterfly itfeeds on nectar from many flowers. The Karner blue butterfly can be seen during its two flight periods in areaswith dry sandy soil and wild lupine (central Wisconsin).The first butterflies emerge in mid-to-late May from eggsthat have survived throughout the winter. This flightperiod is complete by mid-June. Each butterfly livesapproximately one week. During this time they feed onnectar, mate, and the females lay eggs on or near lupineplants. These eggs hatch into larvae that feed upon thelupine, form chrysalis, then emerge as the second flight ofbutterflies. The second flight occurs from late Julythrough mid-August.

Karner blue butterflies are weak flyers, staying close totheir home lupine patch; flying as far as one mile is rare.Therefore, it is important to maintain and restore eventhe smallest habitat sites to help the butterflies disperse.Management activities that benefit the Karner blue butterfly include: planting wild lupine and a variety ofattractive nectar flowers; restoring oak savanna, pine barrens, and prairie habitat; creating corridors to connectisolated local populations; and modifying current land management to benefit the butterfly including timing ofmowing, prescribed fire, timber harvesting and controlling invasive species.

Ornate Box Turtle

Terrapene ornate

The Ornate box turtle requires habitat that consists ofsandy soils, oak savannas and dry prairies. In Wisconsin,this species is limited to the southwestern part of thestate. This strictly terrestrial turtle prefers southern andwestern exposures where temperatures are higher andsoils are drier. The loose, deep, sandy soils provide areasfor the turtle to burrow and hibernate. In order to avoidoverheating the turtle will use the shady oak savannasand edges of oak woods.

In 1972, the Ornate box turtle was added to Wisconsin’sEndangered Species List. Due to habitat fragmentation,habitat loss, automobile incidents and collection by thepet trade industry, Ornate box turtle numbers havedeclined. In addition, irrigation systems over the past 30years have allowed much of the previously unproductivesandy soil along the lower Wisconsin River floodplain tobe converted from dry prairie to productive agriculturalland, hence destroying the turtle’s habitat.

Several management options are in the works for the turtle. Some of these include translocation, in whichresearchers gather turtles from very small remnant populations and then transport them to a common site in hopes of building a larger population. A head startprogram using wild eggs that are incubated in captivityand released is also being tested. In addition, turtles from northern Nebraska are being brought to the state in hopes of creating new and viable populations.

Restoration and preservation of the turtle’s habitat along with public education about the importance ofleaving turtles in the wild will be great tools to increasethe Ornate box turtle population in Wisconsin.

Black bears begin matingTrumpeter swan eggsbegin hatching

Yellow hawkweed blooms;Mink frogs begin callingnow through July

Painted turtles beginlaying eggs

Wild quinine blooms

Ring-necked pheasantbroods appearing

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Daisy fleabane blooms Harebell bloomsIndian paintbrush bloomsYarrow bloomsBullfrogs begin calling

Wild parsnip blooms Flowering spurge bloomsBlack-eyed susan blooms

Father’s DaySt. Johns wort andCompass plant bloom

Blue-winged teal ducklings hatching Hoary vervain blooms

Goats rue and Commonmilkweed blooms;Wild lupine seed collection

❍ Full (Strawberry)Moon

Summer Solstice 2:46 AM EDT

First day of Summer

Prairie smoke seed collectionButterfly weed blooms

Rattlesnake masterbloomsLead plant blooms

Wild columbine seedcollectionMarsh milkweed blooms

Ornate Box Turtlephoto: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Endangered Resources

photos: Jeffrey J. Strobel,White-tailed deer; below: Barb Jansen, Compass plant; Jeffrey J. Strobel, Red fox, Rattlesnake master


Yellow coneflower blooms;June grass seed collection

Round-headed bushcloverblooms

White prairie clover blooms

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Purple loosestrife andCup plant blooms;Fall shorebird migrationbegins

Painted turtles begin tohatch; cicadas can be heard Wild bergamot blooms

Purple prairie clover andWhorled milkweed blooms

Canada goldenrod andCulver’s root blooms

The Earth is farthestfrom the sun on this day

Purple coneflower blooms

Independence Day

Queen of the prairie andMountain mint blooms

Turks cap lily bloomsShooting star seedcollection Ironweed blooms

Monkey flower blooms

Second flight of Karnerblue butterfly begins

Evening primrose blooms;Turkey hens molting

Prairie dock blooms;Common spiderwortseed collection

❍ Full (Buck) Moon

Purple martins beginto gather Joe-pye weed blooms Nodding wild onion blooms

Sandhill crane chicks learn to fly

Spotted jewelweed blooms;Rough blazing star blooms

Deer antler growth nearingpeak sizeBig bluestem in pollenBoneset blooms

Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchidphoto: Jim Lutes

photos: Mike Engel-USFWS, Karner blue butterfly; below: Jack R. Bartholmai,Tiger salamander, Piping plover & Dicksissel


Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid

Platanthera leucophaea

The Eastern prairie fringed orchid is an impressive flower-ing plant that grows in mesic prairies and wetland communities such as sedge meadows, marsh edges, andbogs. Flowers bloom just above the height of surroundinggrasses and sedges, allowing it to receive the full sunlightneeded for optimum growth and flowering. The nocturnallyfragrant flowers of this perennial orchid attract hawkmothsthat feed on nectar and transfer pollen from flower toflower. The orchids depend primarily on hawkmoths forpollination. Any threat to these insects, such as the use ofinsecticides, is a threat to the plant. Seed germination andproper plant growth depend on a symbiotic relationshipbetween the plants’ reduced root systems and a soil-inhabiting fungus.

The Eastern prairie fringed orchid has declined more than70 percent from original county records in the UnitedStates. Now only 59 populations exist in 6 Midwesternstates, including Wisconsin. Habitat destruction due tourban development, agriculture, railroad and highwaydevelopments, drainage of wetlands, fire suppression,competition with invasive plant species, and overgrazinghave contributed to its decline.

The Eastern prairie fringed orchid was added to the U.S.List of Endangered and Threatened Species in September,1989. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developedrecovery plans to benefit the species. In Wisconsin, waterlevel management makes it possible to provide optimumsoil moisture conditions for the orchid and soil fungusupon which it relies. In addition, the reintroduction of fireto the landscape, when properly timed, promotes the re-establishment of native prairie grass and forb species,removes dense mats of litter, and assists in the control ofinvasive species, such as reed canary grass, which competeswith the orchid.

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Cardinal flower blooms

Great blue lobelia blooms;Side-oats grama seedcollection

❍ Full (Sturgeon) Moon

Turtle head bloomsThimbleweed and Prairiecinquefoil seed collectionWild rice ripens

Black-eyed susan seed collection

Bottle gentian beginsblooming

Snapping turtle eggshatching

Sweet flag seed collectionSnowshoe hare matingending

Horsemint and Commonevening primrose seedcollection

New Jersey tea andBottlebrush grass seedcollection

Goats rue seed collection;Monarchs begin flight toMexico

Spatterdock Darner Dragonflyphoto: Jim Bangma

photos: Jeffrey J. Strobel, Pied-billed grebe; below: Jack R. Bartholmai, Snapping turtle; Barb Jansen, Side-oats grama


Spatterdock Darner Dragonfly

Aeshna mutata

The Spatterdock darner dragonfly is a large, brightly colored, clear-winged dragonfly ranging in size from 2.6 toalmost 3 inches in overall length. The Spatterdock darneris mostly deep blue in color including the very large eyes.It prefers shallow, peaty lakes with abundant floating vegetation. As its name implies, Spatterdock darners areusually associated with spatterdock (Nuphar spp. – alsoknown as yellow pond lily).

Listed on the Wisconsin State Threatened and EndangeredSpecies List in 1997, the Spatterdock darner is very rare.Currently, adults are found only on three ponds in MarquetteCounty. These darners typically first appear on breedingsites in early June and are on the wing into early July.

Very little is known about the factors limiting the distribution of Spatterdock darners. The greatest threat islikely to be the destruction of wetlands from developmentor the impacts of pollution. Also, the modification ofpond habitats to make ponds more suitable for fish areprobably detrimental to this species.

In general, dragonfly larvae hatch from eggs laid in water,or along the banks of rivers and ponds. Typically the eggshatch after several days, although some species will over-winter. The dragonfly larvae live underwater and, exceptfor fish, are the main underwater predators. Larvae growby shedding their skin usually 10-12 times during theirlife underwater – which varies in longevity from 1 monthto 5 years or more. Dragonfly larvae are indicators ofexcellent water quality.

Dragonflies are harmless to humans. In fact, they consumeenormous amounts of mosquitoes, biting flies and otherinsect pests.

Blackberries andElderberries are ripeningStiff goldenrod blooms

Gerardia blooms; Goldenalexander seed collection

Canada tick trefoil andFalse boneset seedcollection

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake

Sistrurus catenatus

The Eastern massasauga rattlesnake is one of two poison-ous snakes in Wisconsin, the other being the Timber rattle-snake. In 1975, the massasauga was listed on the WisconsinEndangered Species List. It is Wisconsin’s most endangeredreptile and is being considered for the Federal EndangeredSpecies List by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Massasauga” is a Chippewa word meaning “great rivermouth.” They frequent wet prairies and open wetlandhabitats associated with rivers in the southern half ofWisconsin, feeding mainly on small mammals, frogs, youngbirds, and other snakes. Unlike most snakes, they do nothibernate in mass groups, but instead one to three individuals may inhabit a crayfish or small animal burrow.

Until 1975, all rattlesnakes had a $5 bounty on their tails.Today massasaugas are increasingly rare as their numberssteadily decline. Over-harvesting by bounty hunters incombination with wetland habitat losses at the turn ofthe century drastically reduced their population size anddistribution. Today, habitat loss and fragmentation aremajor factors in reducing massasauga abundance. Themassasauga is not a forest-dwelling species and forestsimpede their movements and dispersal. Natural successionof woody vegetation is a leading cause of recent habitatdeterioration throughout its range. Intensive managementto impede woody vegetation growth is necessary tomaintain suitable habitat conditions.

Today, population levels of the massasauga in Wisconsinare uncertain. The massasauga is found only in isolatedlocalities in southeastern, central, and west-central partsof the state. Without the protection of its wetland habitatsby various government agencies, the massasauga mayhave no chance for survival.

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Prairie blazing star seedcollection

Clean out Purple martinboxes and cover holes New England aster blooms

Wool grass seed collectionFlowering spurge seedcollection

White-tailed bucks beginto shed velvet

Ruby throated humming-birds begin southernmigration

Fringed gentian blooms;Wild quinine seedcollection

Labor Day

Ruffed grouse broodsbegin to disperse

Stiff gentian bloomsMigrating Canada geesebegin to arrive

Hawks and Blue-wingedteal are migrating

Purple prairie clover seedcollection

Prairie dock and Culver’sroot seed collection

Autumnal Equinox 6:23PM EDT

First day of Fall Leaves are turning colors

Canvasbacks begin southern migration

Rattlesnake master andPasture rose seed collection

Sawtooth sunflower,Switchgrass, and Indiangrass seed collection

❍ Full (Harvest) Moon

Wild bergamot, Leadplantand Swamp milkweedseed collection

White wild indigo andRound-headed bushcloverseed collection

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakephoto: Bill Peterson

photos: Jeffrey J. Strobel, Great egret; below: Jeffrey J. Strobel, Canada geese; Jack R. Bartholmai, Blue-winged teal; NRCS, Sugar maple leaves


Trumpeter swan cygnetslearning to fly

Whooping cranes beginmigrating south

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Tamarack trees are turninggolden; Bottle gentianseed collection

Little brown bat departure;Dark-eyed junco fall arrival

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Compass plant seedcollection

Big bluestem and Bluevervain seed collection

White-tailed buck makingscrapes and rubs throughNovember

Purple finch arrival

Stiff goldenrod, Ironweed,Canada wild rye and Yellow coneflower seedcollectionFirst frost

Prairie dock seed collection

Frogs begin to burrowinto mud; Wood ducksmigrating south

Last Eastern phoebesighting; Sky blue asterand Little bluestem seedcollection

Eastern prickly pear cactus,Showy goldenrod andOld field goldenrod seedcollection

Columbus Day

Rough blazing star seedcollection

Ding Darling, conserva-tionist and designer ofthe Duck Stamp, bornin 1876

Redhead ducks migratingsouth

Red-winged blackbirdgather for departure

Canvasback peak fallmigration

Teddy Roosevelt bornin 1858 Black bears begin to den

White-throated sparrowdeparture

White-tailed bucksbegin rutHalloween

Whooping Cranephoto:Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership

photos: Jack R. Bartholmai, Rocky mountain elk; below: Don Blegen, Little brown bat; Rachel Mocker, Deer hoof prints; Jack Bartholmai, Redhead duck; Mike Engel,Whorled milkweed


Whooping Crane

Grus americana

Whooping cranes historically ranged throughout much ofNorth America. By 1941, the loss of wetland breedinghabitat and unregulated hunting had reduced the lastmigrating flock to 15 birds. This population has increasedto approximately 200 birds, which breed in Wood BuffaloNational Park, Canada and winter in Aransas NationalWildlife Refuge (NWR),Texas. With all the cranes concentrated in one small area, the population could bewiped out by disease, natural disaster, or human impacts.With this in mind, the Whooping Crane EasternPartnership (WCEP), consisting of public and privateagencies, was developed with a goal of establishing a second migratory flock in eastern North America. Thissecond migratory flock is currently being establishedbetween Necedah NWR,Wisconsin and Florida’s Gulf Coastvia an ultralight-led migration technique, implementedby WCEP pilots.

During the summer of 2001, a captive-reared flock ofWhooping crane chicks was taught to follow a costumedpilot in an ultralight aircraft at Necedah NWR. Later thatfall, the cranes were led on a 1,250 mile migration fromNecedah NWR to their wintering grounds at ChassahowitzkaNWR in Florida. In the spring of 2002, amazingly, thesecranes returned to Necedah NWR unassisted. In 2002 and2003,“Operation Migration” pilots guided a second andthird group of juvenile cranes to Florida. These craneshave begun returning to their summer home in centralWisconsin, and there are now 36 Whooping cranes in thewild in eastern North America.

Whooping cranes take nearly 5 years to reach maturity andhave a very slow reproductive rate, but WCEP is optimisticthat its population goal of 25 pairs of nesting Whoopingcranes in and around central Wisconsin will be met.

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❍ Full (Hunter’s) Moon

Trumpeter Swan

Cygnus buccinator

The state-endangered Trumpeter swan is the largestwaterfowl species native to North America, standing over4 feet tall with a wingspan of 7 feet. This snow-whitebird is often confused with the far more common Tundraswan, the only other native swan that occurs regularly inNorth America. The two birds can best be distinguishedby their calls; the Trumpeter has a deep, loud, trumpet-likecall, while the Tundra has a high-pitched, quavering callheard as it migrates across the state. A third swan, theMute swan, distinguished by an orange bill with a blackknob, is an undesirable, exotic species that often harassesnative waterfowl and uproots large quantities of aquaticvegetation.

Historically, the Trumpeter swan graced most of thenorthern United States and probably nested in all but thenortheastern forested regions of Wisconsin. By the late1800s, the Trumpeter had vanished from Wisconsin due tomarket hunting.

In 1987, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,along with various partners, implemented the TrumpeterSwan Recovery Program, with a goal of 20 breeding andmigratory pairs by 2000. Following an ambitious programof collecting eggs in Alaska for eight years and raisingcygnets (young swans) in captivity and in the wild,approximately 80 nesting pairs reside in the state. Overallthere are over 400 free-flying birds found in Wisconsin.Today population viability models are being developed todetermine future conservation measures.

The continued success of Wisconsin’s trumpeter swan program depends on funding and educational programsthat emphasize the impact of lead poisoning, swan identification to both prevent accidental shootings andreport observations, and the importance of undisturbedlarge, shallow wetlands.

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Veterans Day

Last of Sandhill cranesmigrating south

Peak mallard and scaupfall migration

Ring-necked pheasantsbegin to winter in cattails❍ Full (Beaver) Moon

Thanksgiving

Trumpeter SwanJack R. Bartholmai photo

photos: Jeffrey J. Strobel, Migrating Canada geese; below: Jack R. Bartholmai, Ring-necked pheasant; Jeffrey J. Strobel, Goldenrod; Jack R. Bartholmai, Canada goose


Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Long before Europeans landed on North American shores,majestic Bald eagles surveyed the land from high perchesand windborne wings. In the 1800s, European settlers –convinced that Bald eagles were a potential livestockpredator and hearing tales of eagles carrying away full-grown sheep – aimed their guns skyward. By the 1930s,people became aware of the diminishing Bald eagle population. At the same time DDT and other pesticidesbegan to be widely used. The DDT poison harmed boththe adult birds and the eggs they laid.

Until 1995, the Bald eagle was listed as endangered underthe Endangered Species Act in 43 of the 48 lower states,and listed as state threatened in Wisconsin, Minnesota,Michigan,Washington, and Oregon. In July of 1995, theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) upgraded the statusof Bald eagles in the lower 48 states to threatened.

Although eagles are now protected in the United Statesby the Bald Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Endangered Species Act, they are stillsusceptible to a number of threats including habitat loss,disturbance by humans, chemical contamination, decreas-ing food supply, and illegal shooting.

Federal and state government agencies, along with privateorganizations, have successfully sought to alert the publicabout the eagle’s plight and to protect its habitat. In 1986,a Bald Eagle Recovery Plan was introduced by the WisconsinDepartment of Natural Resources to increase the numberof birds and enhance their habitat. With these and otherrecovery plans, as well as habitat improvement and thebanning of DDT, Bald eagle populations have steadilyincreased. The USFWS proposed to remove the Bald eaglefrom the Endangered Species List in 1999. As of 2004, thede-listing proposal is still pending.

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Freeze line reaches theWI/IL border

White-tailed jackrabbitsfeeding on haystacks

Upper Trout Lake averagefreeze date (Vilas Co. ’62-’72)

Look for beaver prints andtail tracks in the snow

Look for otter slides alongcreeks and waterways

Look for snow fleas(springtails) on the snownear dead vegetation

Christmas

Winter Solstice 1:35 PM EST

First day of Winter

Lake Mendota averagefreeze date (Dane Co. )

White-tailed deer bucksbegin to shed antlers

Take part in the ChristmasBird Count

Bald EagleJeffrey J. Strobel photo

photos: Jack R. Bartholmai, Eastern wild turkey; below: Jeffrey J. Strobel, Ruffed grouse & beaver lodge


❍ Full (Cold) Moon

Look for mink slides alongcreeks and waterways

Wetlands Reser ve Program ( WRP)The WRP is a voluntary program to help private landowners restore wetlands previously altered for agricultural use. The program provides assistance for wetland restoration and wildlife habitat establishment on lands that have been owned for one year and can be restored to wetland conditions. Landowners may restore wetlandswith permanent easements, 30-year easements or 10-year contracts. Permanent easements pay 100% of the agricultural value of the land and 100% restoration cost;30-year easements pay 75% of the agricultural value and 75% restoration cost; 10-year contract pays 75% restoration cost only. Permanent or 30-year easements arerecorded with the property deed. Ten-year contracts are not recorded with the deed. Public access to restored lands is not required.

Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program ( WHIP)The purpose of WHIP is to develop or improve fish and wildlife habitat on privately owned land through prairie and savanna restoration and establishment, seeding towarm-season grasses, fencing, in-stream fish structures, livestock exclusion, and related practices. Almost any type of land is eligible, including agricultural and non-agriculturalland, woodlots, pastures and streambanks. Applications are funded based on statewide ranking. Landowners agree to maintain practices for a minimum of 10 years. Costshare assistance is available for habitat development practices up to 75% of restoration costs and to a maximum of $10,000.

*Note: WRP and WHIP are competitive programs with only the most environmentally beneficial projects selected for funding.

Conser vation Reser ve Program and Conser vation Reser ve Enhancement Program (CRP and CREP)CRP and CREP assist landowners or operators who set aside cropland (or pasture that is adjacent to surface water) with annual rental payments throughout the contractperiod. For conservation practices, cost sharing for practice installation is provided as well as other incentives. Management practices include tree planting, grass cover,small wetland restoration, prairie and oak savanna restoration and others. Land eligibility varies by soil type and crop history. Sign-ups are announced throughout the yearfor other practices. Contracts last for 10 to 15 years and are transferable with change in ownership.

Environmental Qualit y Incentives Program (EQIP)EQIP provides technical and financial help to agricultural producers for conservation practices that protect soil and water quality. Many practices are eligible for cost-sharing.Agricultural producers on agricultural lands are eligible. Projects are selected based on their environmental value. Contracts last one to 10 years. Producers may be eligiblefor up to 75% cost-sharing, up to $450,000 per producer for the life of the federal Farm Bill.

Grassland Reser ve Program (GRP) The GRP helps restore and protect grassland while maintaining the area as grazing land. The GRP offers eligible producers who own at least 40 contiguous acres severalenrollment options: Permanent Easements (USDA pays fair market value of the property less the grazing value); 30-year easements (USDA pays 30 percent of what wouldbe paid for a permanent easement); rental agreements of 10, 15, 20 or 30-year duration (USDA pays nationally developed grazing rental rates by county); and restorationagreements.

Conser vation Securit y Program (CSP)CSP rewards good land stewardship by providing payments to farmers who meet the highest standards of conservation and environmental management on their farmoperations. Eligible landowners in selected watersheds may receive annual payments based on their level of stewardship, through a 5-10 year contract.

For more information about these and other NRCS conservation programs, visit www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

A special thank you to Nina Leopold Bradley for donating her phenology data for this

calendar. Thank you to the following individuals who contributed their time and

expertise to this calendar: Jaime Thibodeaux, Rhonda Krueger-USFWS, Rachel

Mockler-USFWS, Becky Rudolph-USFWS, Mike Engel-USFWS, Bill Peterson-USFWS,

Greg Kidd-USDA, Rick Stel-Aldo Leopold Foundation, and Tiffany Short. A special

thank you to Jeffrey J. Strobel and Bruce Webendorfer of the UW-Extension

Environmental Resources Center for their assistance, and Jack Bartholmai and Jeffrey

J. Strobel for their photo contributions.Graphic design/production by Brooke Wentland & Lisa Zukowski, UW-Extension Environmental Resources Center

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the

basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or family status.

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for

communication of information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at

202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,

Room 326-W,Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202)

720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

The Partners for Fish and WIldlife Program assists private landowners in restoring wetlands, grasslands, oak savannas, pine and oak barrens, streams and endangered species habitat. Financial and/or technical assistance is offered to privatelandowners through voluntary cooperative agreements. Under these cooperative agreements, landowners agree to maintain the restored lands for the life of the agreement (at least 10 years). Landowners also retain full control of their land.

For more information on the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, visit www.partners.fws.gov

The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is the only system of federal lands dedicated entirely to wildlife. The Refuge System consists of over 540 refuges, covering over 95 million acres. These protectedlands provide habitat for more than 200 species of fish and nearly 500 other animal species. Among the hundreds of wild species that call wildlife refuges home are 250 threatened or endangered plants and animals. More than 35 million people visit the wildlife refuges each year.

For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Refuge System, visit www.fws.gov

Landowner assistance available through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Landowner assistance available through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

ndowner assistance available through the u.s. fish and...

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