Outdoor News Daily

As warm weather returns, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is reminding the public to be rattlesnake safe.

All of California is snake country. Much like bats, rattlesnakes are often misunderstood. They play an important role in the ecosystem by keeping rodent populations under control.

California has six venomous snakes, all of which are various species of rattlesnake. They are heavy-bodied, blunt-tailed with triangular-shaped heads. A rattle may not always be present, as they are often lost through breakage and not developed on the young. Additional species information can be found here: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/issues/snake.html.

Rattlesnakes are generally not aggressive and usually strike when threatened or provoked. Given room, they will retreat and want to be left alone. They are not confined to rural areas and have been found in urban environments, lakeside parks and golf courses.
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Free Fishing Weekend is June 1-2 and all Oregonian’s can fish, crab and clam for free.

During Free Fishing Weekend, fishing licenses and tags are not required. All other regulations apply including bag limit and size restrictions. People who already have a combined tag for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut are encouraged to use it as it provides data for fish managers.

The following events held are Saturday, June 1 unless noted:

Coos County:

Eel Lake at Tugman State Park, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. At a series of stations, kids will learn how to id fish, tie knots, and cast along with fishing courtesy and water safety. There is a free lunch, fishing tackle gift bag and the chance to catch trout out of a net pen. Also, the U.S. Coast Guard will conduct a mock water rescue with a helicopter.
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Washington Elementary fifth graders will release rainbow trout into the Boise River on a field trip to the Boise WaterShed Friday, May 24 at 10:30 a.m.

The students, led by teacher Libbie Hayden and Biologist Lauri Monnot, of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, are part of Idaho Fish and Game’s Trout in the Classroom program where they have raised rainbow trout from eggs to fry since February.

“By observing and caring for trout, students gain a better understanding and appreciation of their life cycle and habitat requirements,” Fish and Game State Trout in the Classroom Coordinator Brenda Beckley says.

The program raises awareness about Idaho’s aquatic resources by providing an engaging, hands-on learning opportunity for Idaho students in grades 4-12.
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The Idaho Fish and Game Commission Thursday, May 16, adopted a position statement on grizzly bears in Idaho.

The statement supports the removal of grizzly bears in Idaho from the federal list of threatened and endangered species.

“Idaho can manage the bears better,” Commission Tony McDermott of the Panhandle Region said.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could save millions by simply delisting the bear throughout all of Idaho, he said. The state has the regulatory and enforcement mechanisms in place, and people would be more tolerant of bears if the state were managing them.
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