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| Recovering America's Wildlife Act |
State fish and wildlife agencies have identified over 12,000 species in need of proactive conservation to prevent them from becoming threatened or endangered. The bipartisan Recovering America's Wildlife Act is a solution to this critical problem.
The bill will dedicate $1.3 billion annually to state fish and wildlife agencies to implement their science-based wildlife action plans and an additional $97.5 million for tribal fish and wildlife managers to conserve fish and wildlife on tribal lands and waters. If passed, this would be the most significant new investment in wildlife conservation in decades! Visit ournatureusa.com and take a few minutes to send a letter to your member of Congress in support of the Recovering America's Wildlife Act.
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| Monitoring Connecticut's Bald Eagles |
As Connecticut's bald eagle population continues to grow, the task of monitoring bald eagles around the state continues to grow as well. This past year saw several new bald eagle records set, including the number of successful nests (45) and chicks (84). In the past decade, the number of territories in Connecticut has more than tripled, and nesting bald eagles are widespread across the state. Thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers involved in monitoring eagle nests. Let's hope 2020 holds even more success!
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Proposal for Striped Bass Enforcement
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The DEEP has proposed legislation to enhance enforcement of striped bass sport fishing regulations. Under current State law, Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police Officers can write tickets (infractions) for any sport fishing violation, with the exception of striped bass violations, for which the only option is to issue a misdemeanor summons. If found guilty, the violator faces heavier fines than for other sport fishing violations.
Unfortunately, due to the overburdened nature of the State's courts, existing laws are not having the desired effect. Prosecutors routinely decline to prosecute (
nolle prosequi) fishing-related misdemeanors. Additionally, a misdemeanor case requires substantial time and effort on the part of DEEP EnCon Officers, making it all the more frustrating when such cases are dismissed. The Environmental Conservation Police Division and DEEP Marine Fisheries Program agree that allowing officers to write tickets for striped bass sport fishing violations would actually provide more effective deterrence against poaching. The new legislative proposal would provide that ability by converting hundreds of written warnings into tickets and paid fines and, over time, would likely translate to reduced striped bass poaching. This change is urgently needed given the recent finding by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) that the Atlantic striped bass stock is overfished and in need of enhanced conservation.
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| 2020 Advanced Hunter Education Opportunities |
The Connecticut Conservation Education/Firearms Safety (CE/FS) Program offers a series of advanced hunter education seminars and workshops throughout the year. The goal of these offerings is to reinforce the lessons learned in hunter safety courses while also teaching skills specific to a particular aspect of hunting. Several dates for the 2020 offerings have been announced! All programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required and opens approximately 30 days before the event. Be sure to check our page for upcoming date announcements.
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| How YOU Can Help Connecticut's Wildlife |
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Photo Courtesy of Dennis Quinn |
Connecticut's "Endangered Species/Wildlife Income Tax Check-Off Fund" was created in 1993 by the State Legislature to allow state income taxpayers to voluntarily donate portions of their tax refund to support efforts aimed at helping Connecticut's endangered species, natural area preserves, and watchable wildlife.
When you donate all or a portion of your tax refund for wildlife and endangered species, funds will be used for projects to help state-listed plants, reptiles, amphibians, bats, ospreys, and more. Look for the Refund section on your tax return and check the box for the Wildlife Fund. On behalf of Connecticut's wildlife and natural areas -- we thank you!
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| New York City Passes Bird-friendly Legislation |
Last month, the New York City Council approved Proposed Initiative 1482B --to date, the most broad-reaching bird-friendly building policy in the country. The new policy requires that new buildings' materials meet bird-friendly standards that greatly reduce collision risks to birds. The policy also covers major renovations that include modifying existing glass, and applies to construction across the city's five boroughs.
A
recent study published in Science
reported that the U.S. and Canadian breeding bird population dropped by more than one-quarter since 1970. Glass collisions are one major cause of this loss, killing up to 1 billion birds in the U.S. each year. Fortunately, both home and commercial windows can easily be made safe for birds.
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Species of the Month: White-breasted Nuthatch
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A frequent visitor to bird feeders, the white-breasted nuthatch is blue-gray in color with a white face and underparts. Nuthatches are known for their unique ability to travel down a standing tree head first. White-breasted nuthatches prefer mature deciduous forests where they feed on a variety of insects, including beetles, caterpillars, and tree hoppers.
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Your Feedback Is Important to Us!
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You are making a difference and we thank you for your support!
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You'll find each issue packed with information about wildlife, hunting, fishing, and natural resource-related issues in Connecticut.
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The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact us at 860-418-5910 or [email protected] if you: have a disability and need a communication aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint.
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