State wildlife officials say it was bound to happen eventually. Evidence of Asian carp has been found in Wisconsin waterways, with an angler recently catching a bighead carp in the Lower Wisconsin River and traces of silver carp DNA found in the St. Croix River last month.

DNR Aquatic Invasive Species coordinator Bob Wakeman says they always knew it was going to happen, but for now it only appears a small number of the fish are making their way into the state from the Upper Mississippi River Basin. Wakeman says there does not appear to be a breeding population present right now, which is also a good sign. [Read more…]

The state Department of Natural Resources is stepping up efforts to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species in Wisconsin’s waterways.

State law requires boaters and anglers to take steps to keep aquatic hitchhikers from moving between bodies of water, such as draining live wells and removing plants when taking boats out of the water.

DNR aquatic invasive species coordinator Bob Wakeman says most people know by now what they should be doing. He says public education efforts have helped to raise awareness, although questions remain about how many people are actually complying with the law. [Read more…]

The Department of Natural Resources is undertaking a massive effort to study the life and movement of Wisconsin’s deer herd. The agency began using helicopters this week to track and capture deer living around Shawano and Rusk Counties. [Read more…]

As deer hunters make plans for trips next weekend, the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection wants them to leave the firewood at home.

The upcoming start of the gun deer hunt means wood-burning stoves at many cabins will be getting some use this weekend. Mick Skwarok with DATCP is urging those traveling to pick up firewood after reaching their destination, in order to help limit the spread of the emerald ash borer. [Read more…]

Sport fishing groups are asking for restrictions on commercial netting in Lake Michigan. Used to harvest whitefish on Lake Michigan, the trap nets off the Two Rivers, Manitowoc and Sheboygan harbors have long been a contentious issue with sport fisherman. It came to a head in June off Sheboygan when a sports fishing boat became entangled in a commercial trap net and capsized. One man drowned, two others were rescued by the Coast Guard. “When the trap nets were set in those vicinities of heavy sport fishing, it was obvious that this was going to happen,” says Chuck Weier with the Wisconsin Federation of Great Lakes Sports Fishing Clubs. “Unfortunately if nothing is done, it will happen again.” [Read more…]