Game & Fish

Walleye stocked at Greyrocks Reservoir

The Laramie fisheries and Aquatic Invasive Species crews helped inspect two separate loads of walleye from the Garrison National Fish Hatchery in North Dakota before stocking them into lakes and reservoirs in southeast Wyoming.

Because Wyoming hatcheries only raise trout, we receive walleye from North Dakota for Wyoming waters. The walleye are raised in outdoor ponds, so the loads must be free of plants, invertebrates, tadpoles and fish, or “anything that’s not a walleye” before stocking.

So biologists sort through the shipment by running the fish over white boards before stocking them. The white boards make it easy to see anything that doesn’t belong. “Garrison National Fish Hatchery does a really good job sending us clean fish, but we still need to go through them to ensure all is good,” said Laramie Region Fisheries Supervisor Bobby Compton.

Once cleared, 400,000 fingerling walleye were stocked into Grayrocks Reservoir in June. In August, Hawk Springs Reservoir and Wheatland Reservoir No. 1 each received 40,000 walleye. These walleye were slightly larger than the ones stocked in Grayrocks with the hopes that survival rates would increase by stocking bigger fish. n

Wyoming biologists sort walleye on white boards to make sure the shipment is free of plants, invertebrates, tadpoles and fish other than walleye.

Black-footed ferrets released on historic recovery site

The small mammal that was once thought to be extinct was rediscovered in Wyoming 40 years ago.

By Sara DiRienzo, Wyoming Game and Fish

Twenty black-footed ferrets were released last week on the historic recovery site near Meeteetse. Ten male and ten female captive-born ferrets joined their kin on the ground, adding another chapter to Wyoming’s work on endangered species recovery. The small mammal that was once thought to be extinct was rediscovered in Wyoming 40 years ago.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the black-footed ferrets on private land. Partnerships with landowners in Wyoming have been key to the species recovery efforts.

“We have phenomenal partnerships with the Lazy BV and Pitchfork ranches who are dedicated to black-footed ferrets and their success,” said Zack Walker, Game and Fish nongame supervisor. “Much of what we’ve been able to accomplish for ferrets is due to their considerable support, of which we’re grateful and appreciative.”

Ashlee Lundvall, Game and Fish Commissioner from Powell who attended the release, noted it was an impactful moment for the next era of conservationists.

“It was an honor to participate in the black-footed ferret release,” said Commissioner Ludvall. “I was so thankful that my daughter, Addison, was able to join me and experience the thrill of seeing these amazing creatures headed back to their natural habitat. This is a side of conservation that I want her, and those of her generation, to see and be part of.”

Game and Fish works to maintain at least 35 individuals at the Meeteetse recovery site, a baseline set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The new ferrets were released to bolster the population, which saw a decline this last year due to plague. Plague is a common disease that impacts prairie dogs, the main food source for black-footed ferrets, as well as the ferrets themselves.

Walker said Game and Fish will continue to carefully monitor the population. The department routinely surveys ferrets in the late summer with eyeshine surveys. During the nighttime surveys, biologists search the ground around known burrows with high-powered spotlights, looking for the green glow of a ferret’s distinctive eyeshine. When they see it, they set a trap at the ferret’s burrow. Any wildborn ferrets captured are vaccinated for distemper and plague.

The department plans to release 10 ferrets in Shirley Basin near Laramie in the coming weeks, another historic ferret location. Shirley Basin was the first location in Wyoming to reintroduce black-footed ferrets following successful captive breeding. Black-footed ferrets are one of the most endangered mammals in North America. n

A black-footed ferret.

Your best photos could be published in Wyoming Wildlife magazine

Submissions for the 2021 Wyoming Wildlife magazine annual photo contest are being accepted online until midnight Nov. 15.

By Sara DiRienzo, Wyoming Game and Fish

One of the most popular outdoor photography competitions in the West is now open. Submissions for the 2021 Wyoming Wildlife magazine annual photo contest are being accepted online until midnight Nov. 15. Winning entries will be published in the February 2022 photo issue of Wyoming Wildlife.

“Anyone – amateur or professional – can enter his or her images taken in Wyoming, and this issue is a chance to not only showcase great photography but also the amazing wildlife and scenery found throughout the state,” said Tracie Binkerd, magazine editor.

In addition to being published in the magazine, the grandprize winner for the best overall photo will receive $600 and a $350 voucher for a print of their shot on metal, gallery mount or other canvas at Artizen Photo Printing in Cheyenne. Prizes are also offered for first, second and third places in each of the four photo categories. Honorable mentions will also be recognized.

Contestants can submit up to 10 photographs; the maximum size for each is 9 MB. Each must represent one of the following categories:

Wildlife – wild mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects

Scenic – landmarks, scenery or inanimate objects are prominent Recreation – people enjoying the outdoors through hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, skiing or other outdoor activities

Flora – wildflowers, foliage, fruiting bodies or other parts of plants

Submissions are accepted online only. Photos must have been taken in Wyoming and cannot have been previously submitted to or taken on assignment for Wyoming Wildlife. Employees of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Wyoming Game and Fish Commissioners and their immediate families are ineligible. Photographers are encouraged to practice ethical photography, keeping an appropriate distance and respecting animals and their habitats.

For more information, complete submission guidelines and prizes, visit the photo contest web page.

About Wyoming Wildlife magazine

Wyoming Wildlife is published 12 times a year for anglers, hunters and wildlife enthusiasts. Its pages are full of the wild things and wild places that make Wyoming incomparable. Wyoming Wildlife is available online through the Game and Fish Store or by subscription for $14.95 for 12 issues. To subscribe call (800) 710-8345 or visit the website. n

40Years Excellence

November 2021 Message

SAD Is a Treatable Condition

Seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, is a type of depression that comes in the fall and leaves in the spring.

Experts believe shorter daylight hours affect two brain chemicals, causing an increase in melatonin and a decrease in serotonin, which can trigger the depression.

People who have SAD can struggle in various ways. Besides feeling depressed, they’re likely to lose interest in favorite activities, become shorttempered, crave carbs or struggle with everyday challenges, especially getting out of bed.

Kids and teens are also susceptible. In addition to the symptoms above, kids are likely to become more sensitive, cry more often or struggle to concentrate.

If you notice these changes in yourself or loved ones, there are steps you can take to alleviate these symptoms:

• Schedule a daily walk or some other outdoor activity during daylight hours. • Use full spectrum (daylight) lightbulbs wherever possible.

Symptoms of SAD can range from mild to severe. If you need additional support, medication, special light boxes and talk therapy are very effective.

NEED HELP?

Your EAP can provide additional guidance and resources.

NOVEMBER 17, NOON ET

Does Winter Make You Feel SAD?

As the days become colder and darker, many of us may feel tired and sluggish. However, if your “winter blahs” interfere with your everyday life, you may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. In this webinar, we’ll discuss tips for lifting your mood and finding enjoyment throughout these months.

REGISTER

Presented by Michael McCafferty

Senior FEI Account Manager FEI Behavioral Health