• Put a smile on dad’s face: Treat him to a fishing trip for Father’s Day
• New wind and solar power guidelines aim to help Arizona’s wildlife
• Yuma man receives fine, civil sanctions in bighorn sheep poaching case
• Next commission meeting is June 25-26
• Arizona’s only satellite-tracked bald eagle returns to the sky
• Game and Fish offices will be closed on state furlough days
• Fire restrictions mean increased need for OHV spark arrestors
• Raffle offers chance at dream hunt for bighorn sheep, elk, deer and more
• Game and Fish and Alpha Energy cut a “green” ribbon
• Good news: Few arrested at checkpoint
• Arizona Wildlife Views TV wins Outdoor Writers awards
• Game and Fish participates in second annual Operation Dry Water campaign
• Celebrate the wonder of hummingbirds in Flagstaff with regional experts
• Learn about bighorn sheep at workshop and Canyon Lake boat tour

 

Put a smile on dad’s face: Treat him to a fishing trip for Father’s Day

Want to put a smile on dad’s face this Sunday – treat him to a surprise fishing trip on Saturday. He won’t expect a thing until the alarm goes off at O-dark-30 and you hand him a cup of freshly brewed coffee and a bakery-fresh bagel.

Can you imagine his wide-eyed surprise?

Just in case, you might want to chat with dear old dad beforehand just to find out what he likes to fish for the most – trout, bass, catfish, crappie or sunfish. Already know? So much the better.

Cool so far -- got you’re thinking cap working?

Okay then, here’s some possibilities to mull over.

Trout: Believe it or not, you don’t have to go far to catch some trout. Try the Lower Salt River below Stewart Mountain Dam (Saguaro Lake). Our Game and Fish hatchery folks stock rainbows at the Water Users area, where the tubers put in. Hey, maybe dad will want to go tubing and fishing. Be sure to get an extra tube for the ice chest and a wheelbarrow to carry his grin.

It’s really not all that far to some of our gurgling trout streams. Oak Creek is stocked weekly. Wet Beaver Creek is a ball. West Clear Creek is an adventure (dad like to hike?). Christopher Creek is the place to bring out the Tom Sawyer in good ol’ dad. Canyon Creek is THE place if your dad is an ardent fly angler. Sheeps Crossing along the Lower Colorado River in the White Mountains is full of golden surprises – native Apache trout.

Or better yet, you might want to go all out and maybe give your dad the best trout fishing gift of all time – a guided fishing trip to Lees Ferry. It doesn’t get much better than that for wild rainbows – anywhere, anytime. Go for it.

Bass: For bass, you really need a boat this time of year (there are a couple of other alternatives). If you don’t have one, there are boat rentals at Lake Pleasant, Bartlett, Roosevelt, Saguaro, Apache and Canyon lakes. Imagine the smile on dad’s face when you take him to one of these desert jewels and there is a boat waiting. Keep a camera handy.

If you don’t want a boat, no sweat, try Tempe Town Lake. Texas-rigged lizards (4- or 6-inch) can work great.

Does dad know how to drop-shot? No sweat, got it covered.  Visit a local sporting goods store and have the pro staff show you how – then you can teach dad. Cabelas, Bass Pro, Sportsman’s Warehouse and Fisherman’s Choice are some of the places with pro fishing staff to help you out.

Wouldn’t that be something for the photo album (or screen saver)? Maybe take a photo with your cell phone and send it to all the relatives.

Another superb fishery for bass is the lagoons at Papago Park. Go to the Phoenix Zoo and look to the left while facing the entrance. Those lagoons used to be the Game and Fish hatchery ponds. Got the picture? They are now a unique blue ribbon urban bass fishery. So catch a few fish, and visit the zoo or maybe the Desert Botanical Gardens.

Catfish: For catfish, well, you can just take your pick. Cats are plentiful in all our fun desert lakes, are simple to catch, and you don’t need a boat or fancy gear. By the way, our award-winning urban lakes are stocked with channel catfish.

Just cozy up to a relaxing piece of shoreline at some lake, take some hot dogs, a couple cans of corn, and maybe some chicken liver (try soaking it in garlic over night), and you are good to go. Use the corn to chum. Cold ones in the cooler are optional.

Crappie: Now for crappie, it’s boat time. In fact, the best fishing will be at night. Try Roosevelt, Bartlett or Alamo lakes. Get a bucket of live minnows, some small crappie jigs, and ultra-light fishing poles and you are all set.

But if you don’t have a boat, life is still good. Go for sunfish – especially bluegill. It’s Huck Finn time – bobbers and worms. Find a nice cove with submerged boulders or rock in the back, then toss out the bobber and bait, and simply wait. When the bobber bobbles, it’s signaling bluegill time.

By the way, bluegill fillets lightly dusted with flour or corn meal and flash cooked in hot oil is a superb dad’s day meal. Or any day, for that matter.

Some places for bluegill include Canyon Lake in the Boulder Recreation area (there is a fishing pier), Saguaro Lake at any of the fishing piers in the Keyhole Area or the Butcher Jones Recreation Area, or any urban lake.

Need any more tips? Visit the Arizona Game and Fish’s weekly fishing report at www.azgfd.gov. You’ll find fishing tips galore. There’s an interactive fishing location map to help figure out where to go and you can even buy your fishing license while you’re online.

New wind and solar power guidelines aim to help Arizona’s wildlife 

The Arizona Game and Fish Department recently announced the availability of newly-developed wind and solar power guidelines aimed at helping alternative energy developers consider wildlife conservation in their project planning.

The new guidelines will assist energy developers in identifying potential impacts to wildlife and wildlife habitats from their proposed project development and potential alternatives to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate for these negative impacts.

“Game and Fish recognizes the importance of renewable energy and supports the development of these facilities in Arizona,” says Game and Fish’s Habitat Branch Chief, Josh Avey. “However, as the department tasked with managing and conserving the public’s wildlife resources, it was important that we prepare these recommended guidelines to help developers consider and minimize their project’s impacts to wildlife during the early planning phase.”

While wind and solar energy are “green” in many respects, they have the potential to significantly impact wildlife. Wind turbines pose threats to birds and bats as they fly near the blades. Solar facilities require large areas of land and generally have impervious surface areas that block or reroute surface water flows. The facilities may also use significant amounts of groundwater to operate. The resulting changes in drainage patterns, storm water runoff, and depth to groundwater could result in significant negative impacts to wildlife and their habitats.

“Wildlife populations need large areas of interconnected habitat to survive. We are hopeful that by considering wildlife in the early planning stages, renewable energy developers can design projects that impact wildlife in the smallest way possible,” says Avey. “We encourage developers and planners to use these guidelines early in the planning process.”

Habitat loss and fragmentation are leading causes of species extinctions. The department is working to protect interconnected networks of large natural areas in Arizona that support viable populations of wildlife, while providing ample opportunity for people to enjoy and benefit from the presence of wildlife. 

To view these and other development-related guidelines, visit www.azgfd.gov/hgis/guidelines.aspx.

Yuma man receives fine, civil sanctions in bighorn sheep poaching case
Tip through Operation Game Thief hotline helps solve case

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials report that a Yuma man has pleaded guilty to the December 2009 poaching of a bighorn sheep ram near Yuma, Ariz., and has also received civil sanctions from the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.

Angel Garcia Perez, 30, of Yuma, pleaded guilty in Yuma County Justice Court in January to the misdemeanor charge of unlawful possession of a bighorn sheep ram and received a fine of $617.00.

Additionally, during a civil hearing at its May meeting, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission revoked Perez’s hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for five years and assessed him $8,000 for the loss of the ram. Arizona is part of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, which means that Perez’s hunting, fishing and trapping privileges will be revoked in all the member compact states, which includes most of the western United States.

Game and Fish officials said a second suspect, Gonzalo Guillen Bravo, 19, of Yuma, has also been charged with unlawful possession of the bighorn sheep ram and currently has a warrant out for his arrest for failure to appear.

The department received a tip in December through its Operation Game Thief hotline, a silent witness line the public can use to report wildlife violations confidentially. The bighorn sheep was killed during the closed season in the Laguna Mountain range located in the Gila Valley near Yuma. 

Officers from the Game and Fish Region 4 (Yuma) office quickly investigated the case and obtained a search warrant on Perez’s residence. Officers found several evidentiary items, including bighorn sheep meat, a sheep hide, a sheep head, and the weapons used in the offense, and they subsequently cited the two suspects. 

Officer Richard Myers, the investigator for the Yuma office, commended the public for its support in this case.

“Without the public’s help and watchful eye, we would have never solved this case,” said Myers. “With limited manpower and officers, the public’s assistance is a must to combat poaching and other wildlife law violations that occur here in Arizona.”

Myers added, “Poachers aren’t hunters, and the public should not confuse the two. Poachers steal from everyone because wildlife is managed in the public trust for all citizens to enjoy.”

Anyone who observes a wildlife law violation is encouraged to call the Operation Game Thief hotline toll-free at (800) 352-0700. Caller identities may remain confidential upon request. You can also report online at www.azgfd.gov/thief. 

Next commission meeting is June 25-26

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting on June 25 and 26 at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix (1.5 miles west of I-17).

The Friday, June 25 portion of the meeting begins with an executive session at 8 a.m., followed by the public meeting. Items on Friday’s agenda include:

• Update on state and federal legislation.
• Update on the director’s performance evaluation process.
• Budget requests for Fiscal Years 2012, 2013 and remainder of Fiscal Year 2011
• Update on extension of the rulemaking moratorium and its impact on the commission’s rules (informational presentation only).
• Request for approval to submit requests to the Governor’s Office for permission to initiate rulemaking to implement HB 2601 (Eagle scouts; complimentary fishing license) and amend R12-4-422 (Sport falconry license).
• Hearings on license revocations for violations of Game and Fish codes and civil assessments for the illegal taking and/or possession of wildlife (2 p.m. time certain).
• Law enforcement program briefing.
• Consent agenda items:
• Request for approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BHP Copper on mutually beneficial wildlife projects.
• Request for approval of an MOU with New Mexico State University for collaborative research.
• Consideration of request by an individual to renew a road closure on State Trust Land approximately five miles north of China Valley.
• Request for approval of an MOU with the City of Phoenix to outline cooperation between the two agencies for implementation of those portions of the Tres Rios Project that will take place on commission-owned or managed property.
• Request for approval of acquisition of two rights-of-way from the Arizona State Land Department for the purpose of providing legal access into Silver Springs Wildlife Area.
• Request for approval to renew Interagency Agreements (IGAs) for the Urban Fishing Program between the department and the cities of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Payson, Peoria, Phoenix, Sahuarita, Scottsdale, Surprise, Tempe and Tucson.
• Request for approval of a Cooperative Agreement between the department and the National Park Service (Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument).
• Request for approval of a Memorandum of Agreement among the ASARCO settlement trustees for the expenditure of restoration funds obtained through natural resource damage claims and in connection with the commission-owned San Pedro River properties located in Pinal County.

The Saturday, June 26 portion of the meeting begins at 8 a.m. Saturday agenda items include:

• Consideration of applications from organizations for Special Big Game Hunt License Tags for antelope, bighorn sheep, black bear, buffalo, elk, javelina, mountain lion, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and turkey for 2011-2012.
• Consideration of proposed Commission Order 29 for Special Big Game Hunt License-Tag Seasons for mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, buffalo, black bear, and mountain lion for the 2011-2012 Special License Tag hunting seasons.
• Consideration of proposed Commission Orders 19 (dove), 20 (band-tailed pigeons) and 24 (sandhill cranes) establishing seasons and season dates, bag and possession limits, and open-closed areas for the 2010-2011 hunting season.
• Updates on lands/habitat program issues and activities, shooting sports activities, and information/ education and wildlife recreation program activities.
• Update on the department’s planning and development of enterprise architecture and e-commerce activities.
• Consideration of proposed dates and locations for commission meetings in 2011.
• Update on 2010 Commission Awards.

The commission may vote to take action or provide the department with direction on the agenda items.

The public has three options for viewing the meeting: (1) Attend the meeting in person in Phoenix; (2) View it via video stream at one of five Game and Fish regional offices (Note: The Flagstaff office is temporarily unavailable for viewing the meeting due to office construction); (3) View it over the Web at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam.

Those wishing to submit “blue slips” to present oral comment during the meeting must do so either in person at the Phoenix meeting or at one of the five Game and Fish regional offices showing the video stream.

For a complete agenda, visit www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam and click on the meeting agenda link.

Arizona’s only satellite-tracked bald eagle returns to the sky

After months of rehabilitation and preparation, Arizona’s first adult bald eagle fitted with a satellite GPS transmitter was released June 7 at Watson Lake near Prescott.

The 7-year-old male was found east of Prescott with a wing injury and elevated lead levels and has spent the last two months being treated and rehabilitated at Wild At Heart in Cave Creek.

When the bald eagle was found, it was still carrying a transmitter fitted when the bird was a nestling in 2003. The non-functioning transmitter was replaced with a new solar-powered GPS transmitter prior to the release. The transmitter is lightweight and does not interfere with the bird’s flight or activities.

“This is the first time biologists will have the opportunity to track a non-breeding adult bald eagle in Arizona and learn more about its year-round habits, migrations and possible future breeding activity,” says Kenneth Jacobson, head of the Arizona Game and Fish Department Bald Eagle Management Program. “Most of our data and information has come from young bald eagles and breeding adults, and we have very little tracking data on adult bald eagles prior to breeding or when they are away from their breeding areas.”

Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists and rehabilitation specialists from Wild At Heart released the bird.

Wild At Heart received the bird in March. After recovering from its injuries, rehabilitators there worked with the bird to rebuild muscle strength for flying and ensured it was ready to kill live prey upon release. Now after completing rehabilitation, the eagle was ready to return to the wild and to Arizona’s treasured bald eagle population.

“It’s always exciting to have the opportunity to work with our national symbol, and it will be even more exciting to be able to follow this bird’s movements through the transmitter data,” says Bob Fox of Wild At Heart. “We are honored to have been able to play a role in returning this bald eagle to good health, so that it could return to the wild population.”

Delisted nationally and on the verge of being removed from the endangered species list in Arizona, the state had 52 breeding pairs of bald eagles this year.

The bald eagle population in Arizona has grown nearly 600 percent since it was originally listed on the federal Endangered Species list in 1978, thanks in part to management efforts supported by the Heritage Fund. The Heritage Fund is a voter-passed initiative that was started in 1990 to further wildlife conservation efforts in the state, including protecting endangered species, through Arizona Lottery ticket sales.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department, a leading partner in recovery efforts for the bald eagle, attributes the success to cooperative on-the-ground management, including monitoring and survey flights; recreational area closures during the breeding season; banding and visual identification; contaminants analysis and a nestwatch program to protect breeding activities. Through the Southwest Bald Eagle Management Committee (SWBEMC), a broad coalition of 23 government agencies, private organizations and Native American tribes, a plan is in place to help ensure the continued success of the bald eagle population in Arizona. To complement the management plan, laws are in place to help abate threats to the population, including the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act

Through its partnerships with other public agencies, non-profit organizations and the science community, the department’s wildlife recovery program aims to prevent species from becoming endangered and conserve them in a more cost-effective manner. State-level involvement provides closer oversight of wildlife species on a day-to-day basis. Specific emphasis is placed on identifying and managing the wildlife and habitat of greatest conservation need, or those species that are no longer abundant and facing increasing threats from habitat degradation, disease, introduction of non-native species and climate change.

Adaptive management of these species helps ensure their continued presence in Arizona and protects the delicate balance of the ecosystem for future generations.  

Game and Fish offices will be closed on state furlough days

As part of the State of Arizona’s budget-balancing effort, state employees will be required to take six unpaid furlough days for each of the next two fiscal years under a schedule set by the Arizona Department of Administration.

Accordingly, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Phoenix headquarters and regional offices in Pinetop, Flagstaff, Kingman, Yuma, Tucson and Mesa will be closed on the following days over the next year:

• Friday, July 23, 2010
• Friday, Aug. 20, 2010
• Friday, Sept. 17, 2010
• Friday, Nov. 26, 2010
• Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010
• Friday, June 10, 2011

These particular days were chosen based on the state’s analysis of walk-in and telephone customer traffic so as to minimize customer inconvenience and disruption of services while maximizing utility savings. 

The department will be conducting law enforcement activities on those days, and the Operation Game Thief program will be active. Those department wildlife areas that are normally staffed will be closed. Fish hatcheries will be staffed to ensure the health of hatchery fish but will not be open to the public. The Ben Avery Shooting Facility will be open during normal range hours on those days.

Fire restrictions mean increased need for OHV spark arrestors

Fire season in Arizona is once again upon us. With dry weather and high winds forecast for the state, several land management agencies have declared burning bans on their lands, with potentially large fines and even jail time for violations.

The Arizona State Land Department implemented a burning ban on May 26, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has had a burning ban in effect since Memorial Day weekend, and the Tonto National Forest implemented a burning ban on June 11. You should always check with the land management agency before you go riding.

These bans no longer allow for campfires or charcoal use in those management areas. If you happen to start a wildfire, you can be fined as much as $5,000 and face up to six months in prison, and in some cases you may have to pay for the cost of fighting the fire, which could run into the millions of dollars.

Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) have been seen in some instances to have the ability to start fires. Some fires have been caused by hot engine and exhaust system parts, but most fires attributed to OHVs were started due to the lack of a working spark arrestor. By law, in order to operate in Arizona, all OHVs must have an operational United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved spark arrestor to curb that fire-starting ability.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds OHV users to check their vehicle and make sure it does in fact have a working spark arrestor. The easiest way to check for a spark arrestor is to simply look at the muffler and read if the vehicle muffler includes a “USDA approved” spark arrestor. Some spark arrestors include a physical shield you can see just inside the muffler. Other spark arrestors use a spinning air method to stop sparks from leaving the vehicle. Both are clearly marked as USDA approved spark arrestors.

Another tip to avoid starting a fire with your OHV is to not drive through tall, dry grass or dry ground cover. Sometimes the heat of the engine, muffler or other parts can cause dry grass to catch fire. In some cases you might not even know a fire was started until after your ride. The best rule is simply to always stay on roads and trails.

For more information about possible fire restrictions, go to the U.S. Forest Service website at www.fs.fed.us, the BLM website at www.blm.gov, the Arizona State Land Department website at www.land.state.az.us, or the Arizona State Forestry Division website at www.azsf.az.gov.

For more information about OHV use in Arizona, go to www.azgfd.gov/ohv. And remember, Nature Rules! Stay on roads and trails.

Raffle offers chance at dream hunt for bighorn sheep, elk, deer and more

The Arizona Big Game Super Raffle brings 10 special big game tags (issued by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission) to raffle for the purpose of raising funds for the conservation of each specific species. Every dollar raised by these tags goes directly toward management projects that benefit that species in Arizona.

Hunts available through the raffle include antelope, black bear, buffalo, Coues white-tailed deer, desert bighorn sheep, elk, turkey, javelina, mountain lion and mule deer. Winners will be able to hunt for 365 days almost anywhere in the state of Arizona during the 2010-2011 special commission order 29 hunting season.

To cover the costs of the raffle, there is an incredible Swarovski optics package valued at $9,500 also being raffled.

Tickets range from $5-25, or buy an “all eleven” package for only $150. This gets you one entry for each of the 10 species hunts, the optics package, and a free entry for a trophy New Mexico elk hunt package (valued at $6,500).

The deadline to purchase a ticket by mail is July 9. Online ticket sales end on July 11. The public drawing will be held July 15; you do not need to be present to win. Winners will be contact by phone.

For more details, visit www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com.

Game and Fish and Alpha Energy cut a “green” ribbon

The Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters on Carefree Highway in Phoenix is now officially partially solar powered. Approximately 20 percent of the power used by the building is being supplied through an array of solar panels on the roof.

“Being a natural resources conservation organization, using renewable energy sources is very much in line with the goals and mission of the department,” said Game and Fish Director Larry Voyles. “It is especially satisfying for the department to be able to use one of Arizona’s most plentiful resources, its abundant sunshine, to help power our headquarters building and simultaneously save money for wildlife conservation.”

(Pictured: Larry Voyles, Director, Arizona Game and Fish and Landis Maez, National Sales Director, Alpha Energy cut the green ribbon.)

When the building was being built back in 2008, a Governor’s directive required that all new state government buildings meet at least the Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating. With the solar array installed and running, the Game and Fish headquarters building now meets the Platinum LEED rating.

“Working with the Game and Fish Department has been a very good partnership for our company,” said Landis Maez, national director of sales for Alpha Energy, Inc. “Cutting the ribbon with Game and Fish and kicking off the official use of the solar array is a huge milestone for both organizations.”

According to Alpha Energy statistics, since the system was turned on in September of last year, the solar system has generated more than 187,000 kilowatt-hours. This has prevented the emissions of more than 232,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, 384 pounds of nitrogen dioxide and 635 pounds of sulfur dioxide. Those emissions savings are similar to leaving your television on for 1.2 million hours, or powering 1,436 computers and 10 homes for one year, or driving an average passenger car for more than 23 years.

The grid-tied solar power system consists of 1,092 photovoltaic panels connected to four inverters. A complete web-based interface and weather monitoring system features auto alerts to help ensure optimal system performance at all times.

For more information about solar power systems, go to www.alpha.com.

For more information about the Arizona Game and Fish Department, go to www.azgfd.gov.

Good news: Few arrested at checkpoint
But many still cited for equipment shortcomings

Five law enforcement agencies recently worked together to help provide a safe boating environment for watercraft users along the Colorado River.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department, Nevada Department of Wildlife, National Park Service, Bullhead City Police Department, and Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department recently conducted an OUI (Operating Under the Influence)/Safety Checkpoint at Katherine’s Landing in Bullhead City.

Two arrests were made for exceeding the blood alcohol limit of .08, down from nine in 2009, and overall compliance with required safety equipment was 78 percent, up from 73 percent in 2010.

Velma Holt, west sector supervisor for the Game and Fish Kingman office, believes an outreach effort that has reached 6,000 boaters over the last three years may have played a role in the higher compliance rate.

“I’m pleased to see more boaters operating with the required equipment,” Holt said. “The regulations are in place for a reason. There are a lot of potential dangers on our waterways, not the least of which is the sheer number of boats using a limited amount of space.”

Holt also mentioned cold water temperatures, alcohol, and inexperienced boaters as other potential safety issues.

“Boat Safe, Boat Smart, and Boat Sober,” Holt said, referring to the safety slogan. “Game and Fish also offers free boating education, which covers safety issues, regulations, and the required equipment prior to launch.”

While compliance improved and arrests were down, Holt did point out some concerns. A total of 72 citations were issued, 31 of which were for not having a Type IV throwable on board.

Holt explained these throwable floatation devices are critical because one person jumping in the water to try and save another simply puts two people at risk.

An additional 15 citations were written for not having a fire extinguisher, 13 for insufficient PFD’s (Personal Floatation Device), four were written for expired registration, four for having a child under 12 not wearing a life jacket, two for possession of drugs and paraphernalia, and one for an overloaded boat.

“Everyone on the water needs to understand how many scenarios on the water can quickly turn into a life-or-death situation,” Holt said. “If you are going on a boat, take a few minutes to learn what is required prior to launching.”

For those interested in taking a boating education class, visit the Game and Fish website at www.azgfd.gov/boating.

Arizona Wildlife Views TV wins Outdoor Writers awards

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s television show, Arizona Wildlife Views, was honored with several awards last week by the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA).

The awards were announced at OWAA’s 83rd annual conference, held this year in Rochester, Minn.

Producers for the television show took home awards in three categories:

• 1st Place Small Game – Gary Schafer, producer – Cibola Goose Hunt
• 2nd Place Fishing – Carol Lynde, producer – Casting for Recovery
• 2nd Place Conservation/Environment – Carol Lynde, producer – Black-tailed Prairie Dog Reintroduction

Arizona Wildlife Views airs on Arizona PBS stations and city cable stations throughout the state. For more information or to view past episodes, visit www.azgfd.gov/tv.

OWAA is an international professional association of outdoor communicators, outdoor companies, and outdoor industry service providers.

Game and Fish participates in second annual Operation Dry Water campaign

Heavy law enforcement patrol efforts from the tri-state region will remove alcohol-impaired boaters from the Colorado River at the end of the month as part of Operation Dry Water, a countrywide movement that has more than 40 states increasing OUI enforcement and awareness.
 
Operation Dry Water is a national campaign that was created to detect and remove impaired boaters from waters across the nation. It is organized by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the U.S. Coast Guard, and it will focus on enforcing Operating/Boating Under the Influence (OUI or BUI) laws June 25-27, 2010.

Among the many lakes and rivers across America, one of the most dangerous waterways west of the Mississippi is the Colorado River. The national effort broadens the public safety message and includes interagency OUI checkpoints, saturation patrols and awareness between states like Arizona, California and Nevada that border waterways such as the 233-mile Colorado River system.

“The Colorado River is a massive undertaking to enforce,” said Kevin Bergersen, Arizona’s boating law administrator. “However, it is important that every agency does their share since a significant number of alcohol-related accidents occur on the Colorado River,” he said. “These checkpoints remove dangerous boaters from the river by enforcing the .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) throughout, making it safer for everyone.”

The primary purpose of the campaign is to detect boat operators who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and to provide boating safety education and outreach to all boaters. "We want people to be responsible while having fun,” said Bergersen.

United States Coast Guard statistics from 2008, the latest available, reveal that 17 percent of all boat accident fatalities were a direct result of alcohol or drug use. Alcohol can impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time.  It can increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion. Sun, wind, noise, vibration, and motion – “stressors” common to the boating environment – intensify the side effects of alcohol, drugs, and some prescription medications

To find out more about Operation Dry Water and boating safety laws, please visit www.operationdrywater.org, www.azgfd.gov/boating, or www.boatcoloradoriver.com.

Celebrate the wonder of hummingbirds in Flagstaff with regional experts
 
The Arboretum at Flagstaff, in collaboration with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, will host a Hummingbird Festival on Saturday, June 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Spend the day learning about these wondrous little birds and find out how to attract them to your garden. Visitors will learn how scientists study hummingbirds to track their migratory patterns. Would you like to get involved in the hummingbird monitoring effort in your own backyard? Find out how you can get involved in citizen science.

Visitors can also learn how to photograph these fast-moving creatures, attend tours of the gardens featuring hummingbird-friendly plants, and purchase plants that hummingbirds love. You’ll have the opportunity to see presentations by The Hummingbird Monitoring Network, The Hummingbird Society, and the Arizona Game & Fish Department. Children can participate in hands-on activities and games sponsored by the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.

The cost to attend the festival is the Arboretum’s regular general admission fee: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $3 for children 3-17, and free for children under the age of 3.

The Arboretum at Flagstaff is a botanical garden, research center, and nature preserve dedicated to educating the public about the plants and plant communities of the Colorado Plateau. It is located four miles south of Route 66 on scenic Woody Mountain Road in West Flagstaff. Arboretum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, April through October.

To learn more, visit www.thearb.org or call (928) 774-1442, ext. 110.

Learn about bighorn sheep at workshop and Canyon Lake boat tour

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is partnering with the Dolly Steamboat at Canyon Lake to host a workshop and guided wildlife viewing experience to see and learn about the state’s desert bighorn sheep.

The workshop starts with an evening classroom presentation on Friday, June 25, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Game and Fish Mesa regional office located at 7200 E. University Drive. Participants will learn from a wildlife biologist about bighorn sheep, their natural history, management, and historical significance.

The following morning, Saturday, June 26, participants will join biologists aboard the Dolly Steamboat from 10 a.m. until 1 a.m. for a guided lake tour to learn more about bighorn sheep and view them in their natural environment.

“June is the time of year when the bighorns stay pretty close to water. It will be hot on the lake and there will be little shade on the boats, but that’s when bighorns come down to the water’s edge for a drink,” said Brian Anthony, Game and Fish wildlife manager in the Canyon Lake district.  “The hotter it is, the better the opportunity to see sheep along the banks.”

Pre-registration is requested for both the Friday evening classroom session and the Saturday lake tour. The Friday classroom session is free, and those planning on doing the lake tour are strongly encouraged to attend to maximize their knowledge and viewing experience. To register for the Friday evening classroom session, call Randy Babb at the Game and Fish Mesa office at (480) 324-3546 or e-mail rbabb@azgfd.gov. Registrations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis, as the presentation is limited to 70 people due to facility restrictions. 

The Saturday lake tour and bighorn sheep viewing experience will be on the Dolly Steamboat and costs $30 per person. Advance registration is required. To register, call the Dolly Steamboat at (480) 827-9144. Participants are encouraged to bring a camera, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and binoculars. Snacks and drinks may not be brought on the Dolly Steamboat, but can be purchased onboard.

Those that have not registered prior to the event will be accommodated as space allows.

“This is a great opportunity for people to learn about bighorn sheep, and conservation efforts by the Game and Fish Department and its partners for bighorn sheep,” says Anthony.