USFWS Report - October 25, 2005

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

NEWS RELEASE

To: News Editor/News Director/Webmaster
From: Ken Torkelson, USFWS
Oct. 26, 2005

MORE SNOW GEESE APPEARING, SAYS USFWS

The first widespread movement of snow geese into North Dakota is underway. According to the weekly report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, huntable numbers of snow geese are being seen?especially in the northern part of the state.

Quite a few more snow geese have reached north-central North Dakota. Project leader Tedd Gutzke of J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge says up to 20,000 snow geese are scattered throughout the Refuge. On the other hand, Gutzke notes that duck populations have dropped off from a week ago, and the Refuge is holding about 1,000 Canada geese in a mix of residents and migrants. The tundra swan population has grown to about 1,000.

The waterfowl migration has started to appear at Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge near Kenmare. Acting project leader Dan Severson says snow geese began to show up on Sunday, and 25,000 were present by Wednesday. Many of the local ducks have left, but the Refuge has picked up some mallards, and an estimated 10,000 were on hand at mid-week. Severson reports the Refuge is holding about 1,500 Canada geese and more than 1,000 tundra swans. He also reports many sandhill cranes moving through the area.

Northwestern North Dakota has seen the first sizable movement of snow geese. Refuge manager Tim Kessler of the Crosby Wetland Management District says about 20,000 snow geese reached a waterfowl rest area north of Noonan last weekend, with another 10,000 south of Crosby. He says most of the estimated 5,000 ducks in Divide County are in the same two areas.

Several thousand migrant Canada geese have moved into southeastern McLean County. Mike Goos of Audubon National Wildlife Refuge says a few snow geese have also reached the area, but most sandhill cranes have moved on. He reports duck numbers remain below average, and hunters will have to scout. Swan hunters may find flocks of 15 to 50 birds scattered across McLean, Sheridan and Ward counties.

The first snow geese have also reached Mountrail County. Cory Lawson of the Lostwood Wetland Management District says there are scattered small groups of snow geese throughout the area, plus up to 1,000 on Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge. He reports the sandhill cranes have left the Refuge, but can still be found in central and southern Mountrail County. Lawson says great mallard opportunities are possible for hunters willing to do some scouting, but he adds that no major migration is apparent.

About 1,500 snow geese have arrived at Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge near Minot. Darla Leslie says duck hunting in the area remains slow, but a few more birds are trickling in.

Duck hunters in northeastern North Dakota have been having a difficult time, but goose hunters have been more successful. Biologist Mark Fisher of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District says most of the local gadwalls and teal have migrated out, and the northern ducks haven't appeared yet. He notes that scaup and other diving ducks are being found on Devils Lake, but he warns hunters to carry life jackets when they venture onto the big lake. Fisher also notes that the daily limit on scaup has been reduced to two this year. He says snow geese continue to move into the area, along with tundra swans.

More diving ducks, migrant Canada geese and snow geese are showing up in Wells and Stutsman counties. Tomi Buskness of the Chase Lake Prairie Project says more sandhill cranes are also being seen, but puddle duck numbers seem to be holding steady.

A few more ducks, geese and tundra swans have reached Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge north of Jamestown. Biologist Paulette Scherr says the Refuge's population of Canada geese has grown to 7,000. The 41,500 puddle ducks on the Refuge are mostly mallards, but there are some flocks with good numbers of pintails. The 2,000 diving ducks are mostly canvasbacks. The Refuge's tundra swan population has jumped to 1,700. Wetlands in the area north and east of the Refuge are drying up. Scherr says hunters should be prepared to drive if they want to find wetlands with water and birds.

Most of the sandhill cranes have left Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Moffit. Biologist Gregg Knutsen estimates only 500 cranes remain. He says the Refuge is also holding 3,000 migrant Canada geese and 500 snow geese. Knutsen reports duck numbers are low, with most current residents being shovelers, green-winged teal and pintails. He says water conditions are deteriorating in surrounding areas, with northern Burleigh and northern and central Kidder counties offering the best opportunities for hunters. Knutsen adds those areas have seen a small increase in snow goose and mallard numbers.

Some migrant Canada geese and a few flocks of snow geese have reached the five-county Valley City Wetland Management District. Wetland manager Ed Meendering says there appear to be no large concentrations of ducks, but many wetlands have a few ducks.

Migrant Canada geese and mallards are showing up in greater numbers in southeastern North Dakota. Biologist Kristine Askerooth of Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge says flocks of 500 to 3,000 birds are not uncommon, but they are spread out over the three-counties. Most of the ducks are mallards, gadwalls, pintails and green-winged teal. She suggests hunters try southeastern Sargent County or southern Richland County.

The first 3,000 snow geese have arrived at Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern South Dakota. Biologist Bill Schultze says mallard numbers have grown to 75,000, and the Canada goose population has reached 2,800. The Refuge is also holding 1,850 tundra swans. Schultze adds that many ducks and some swans are using the wetlands east of the refuge, and the area corn harvest got a good start last week.

Hunters are reminded that Nov. 1 is the final day to take pintails and canvasbacks. The short season was imposed because of low population levels of both species. Rather than a completely closed season for those species, hunters in North Dakota were allowed a daily limit of one pintail and one canvasback during a shortened season.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.