Missouri Conservationist November 2017

News and updates from MDCBUSCHSHOOTINGRANGENOW OPENKEVIN MUENKSTHE STAFFEDRANGE INST. CHARLESCOUNTY OPENSAFTER 22 MONTHSOF RENOVATIONAND EXPANSIONIn Brief The completely renovated shooting range on the AugustA. Busch Memorial Conservation Area opened Oct. 28. Therange is located in St. Charles at 3550 Route D, approximately5 miles west of Highway 95.It features 20 positions at the 100-yard range and 15 positions at 50 yards for rifleand pistol use. Concrete floors, walls, and overhead steel baffles control and containprojectiles. A bullet trap decelerates bullets and deposits them into sealed plasticbuckets for recycling. Shooting booths are now handicapped-accessible. Shotgunshooters can enjoy five trap/skeet overlay ranges with electronic controls and twoshotgun-patterning ranges.Lighting for night programs, sound-reduction guards, public restrooms with fullplumbing, and a new education/office building with an 80-person classroom add touser convenience and comfort.The new range also incorporates archery facilities on site, including a static archeryrange with an elevated shooting tower and broadhead pits.Fees remain the same. Learn more at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZkL. Stay informed aboutrange happenings by texting “MDC Busch” to 468311 and signing up for text alerts.mdc.mo.gov 5

In BriefGot a Question for Ask MDC?MDC OFFICES CLOSED, PHONELINES OPEN ON VETERANS DAYSend it to AskMDC@mdc.mo.govor call 573-522-4115, ext. 3848.MDC offices and nature centers will be closedFriday, Nov. 10, in honor of Veterans Day. MDCstaffed shooting ranges will be open. MDC PermitServices and Hunter Education staff will answerphones to help with permit questions and otherinquiries before the opening weekend of firearmsdeer season, Nov. 11–12. Call 573-751-4115.Q: Can I feed deerin Missouri?hh It depends on where you live inthe Show-Me State.In an effort to limit the spreadof chronic wasting disease(CWD), the Missouri ConservationCommission restricted the feedingof deer in 41 Missouri counties,effective July 1, 2017. (For theaffected counties, see map below.)Deer are social animals andfeeding them increases thechance they might share thiscommunicable disease, explainedJasmine Batten, MDC wildlifedisease coordinator.The ban applies to theplacement of grain, salt products,minerals, and other consumablenatural and manufacturedproducts used to attract deer.There are a few exceptions.Since deer are less likely to gathernear buildings, homeowners can6 Missouri Conservationist November St. LouisCitySt.LouisFranklinJeffersonCrawford regonWayne CWD Management Zone(all shaded ouglasOzarkSt. AdairLinnSt. ClairBartonSchuyler ScotlandSullivanGrundyQ. When I fill my birdfeeder atnight, a raccoon shows no fearof me. It walks within 2 feet,but I keep my distance. I hadnot seen him all summer, buthe reappeared recently. Doyou have any thoughts on hisabsence and return?hh It’s conceivable the raccoon wasBollingerScottStoddardButlerNewMadrid In these counties, if you harvest a deerduring Nov. 11–12, you must take it (or thehead with at least 6 inches of neck attached)on the day of harvest to a designated CWDsampling station. See short.mdc.mo.gov/ZiE.MDC HEADQUARTERS: CLIFF WHITE; RACCOON: NOPPADOL nAtchisonMontgomeryMDC SAVES OVER 1 MILLIONON ENERGY COSTSGasconadeMDC headquartersMDC has saved 1.2 million on energy costssince 2010, including more than 250,000 in2016 alone.Staff have used energy-saving technologiesin nature centers and offices, such as replacingincandescent lighting with more efficient LEDbulbs and climate-control systems to adjustbuilding temperatures after working hours. Theyhave also installed motion-activated lights, andheating systems that use geothermal energy.As a result, seven MDC locations haveachieved ENERGY STAR ratings. ENERGY STAR isa joint program of the Environmental ProtectionAgency and the Department of Energy. Its goal isto help consumers, businesses, and industry savemoney and protect the environment throughthe adoption of energy efficient products andpractices. The ENERGY STAR label identifies topperforming, cost-effective products, homes,and buildings. The ENERGY STAR rating meansthe building is more energy efficient than thenumbered percent of similar buildings aroundthe country.Learn more about ENERGY STAR at energystar.gov. Find out more about energy efficiencyassistance programs at the Missouri Public Service Commission’s website, psc.mo.gov/General/Energy Efficiency Assistance Programs. Formore information about MDC, visit mdc.mo.gov.feed them within 100 feet of anyresidence or occupied building.Also exempt are food and mineralspresent solely as a result of normalagricultural and forest managementpractices, as well as food placedout of the reach of wild deer.Finally, the planting of food plotsfor wildlife is still permitted.“CWD is spread from deerto deer and the potential fortransmission increases when deergather in larger, concentratednumbers,” Batten said. “Feedingdeer or placing minerals for deerunnaturally concentrates theanimals and can help spread thisdeadly disease.”able to forage more successfullywhen the weather was warm.But now that temperatures havedipped, the animal has returnedto a known food source. Perhapsit doesn’t show any fear of peoplebecause it is used to eating humanfood. Raccoons are notorious forexploiting easy sources of foodand for growing comfortablearound humans. If you haven’tdone anything to harass it, it maynot have a reason to leave.Because feeding wildlife —either inadvertently or on purpose— can lead to conflict and negativerepercussions, we suggest youstop filling the feeder for at least

AGENTADVICEfromBob LyonsWARREN COUNTYCONSERVATION AGENTRaccoontwo weeks or bring it indoors. Ifthe raccoon continues to reappear,you may need to forgo feedingaltogether. Removing this foodsource is the best way to encouragethis raccoon — and other foragers,such as bears — to move on.Q. I noticed hellbendereggs begin hatching in earlyNovember. How do the youngsurvive Missouri’s cold wintertemperatures?hh As one of the few salamanderspecies in the world to fertilize eggsexternally, female hellbenders beginspawning in September and finishby November. Placed in depressionsunder flat rocks or within bedrockcrevices, the eggs look like strandsof glossy, white pearls. The eggsWhatIS it?Can youguess thismonth’snaturalwonder?The answer ison Page 9.will begin to hatch within four tosix weeks. The hatchlings, calledlarvae, are nourished by yolk sacs —a process that can last up to threemonths — and guarded closely bythe males, said Herpetologist JeffBriggler. The males cope with thecold by lowering their metabolismand eating nearby crayfish andoccasionally eggs in the nest.Scientists believe hellbenders’somewhat unusual fall hatch isan evolutionary defense againstmany preying species of fish.Most predators reduce feedingand movement during the wintermonths. This break in activity givesthe hellbender larvae a chance tomature to the point where they canbetter evade predation and surviveto adulthood.Waterfowl season is uponus! Before you hit the waterin search of your favoritespecies, be sure to checkout the Waterfowl HuntingDigest 2017–2018 andfamiliarize yourself withthis year’s changes. First,waterfowl hunters can lookforward to later seasons.Previously, hunters weremainly seeing local birdsduring the season openerbecause the big migrationhadn’t occurred. Witha later start date and aseason split in the middleand south zones, huntersare given the opportunityto see a bigger populationof ducks and enjoy greatersuccess during their hunt.Second, bag limits havechanged for two species.Hunters can now harvesttwo black ducks and onepintail. The U.S. Fish andWildlife Service dictatesbag limits, which varyfrom year to year basedon population. For moreinformation, pick up acopy of the WaterfowlHunting Digest atlocal vendorsor regionalconservationoffices, or viewit online atshort.mdc.mo.gov/ZZf.mdc.mo.gov 7

In BriefCONSERVATIONI AMTom LoveTom Love hostsfree guidedhunting andfishing events fordisabled veteransat his 125-acreGobbler RidgeFarm in StoddardCounty.hh Love spent a fewyears in the MarineCorps, so he is familiarwith disabled vetsand understands theirneeds. In 2012, heremodeled his farm’scabin, widening thedoors and making itwheelchair accessible.He also set up adisabled-accessiblehunting blind, andhe manages his landto offer excellenthunting opportunities.He helps disabledvets get outsideLove’s farm is known asthe Disabled VeteransWildlife Facility, and itserves 50–75 disabledvets each year. Visitorshunt, fish, and use thecabin free of charge.In his own words“The farm gets heavyhunting pressure,so I have to utilizeevery acre to its fullpotential. In order todo this, I rely on ourlocal MDC privateland conservationist,Kara McSpadden.I hope visitorswill promote theimportance of habitatconservation, too.” by David Stonner8 Missouri Conservationist November 2017Tom Love, front and center,welcomes a group ofvisitors to his DisabledVeterans Wildlife Facility.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACKMDC would like to thank the more than 1,000 people whoattended the 80th anniversary open houses, held Augustthrough October in Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City, Kirksville,Kirkwood, St. Joseph, Springfield, Winona, and Kansas City.Director Sara Parker Pauley and conservation commissionersvisited with attendees to share information and get feedback,including hundreds of comments. Popular topics included fishing regulations, turkey hunting, how to improve our conservation areas, future bear and elk hunting, and what we shouldfocus on in the future. The open houses also featured refreshments and a variety of activities, such as nature crafts, fishingand a demonstration on how to clean and cook fish, trail walks,a presentation on butterflies and other important pollinators,a waterfowl identification workshop, and educational displays.”Citizen involvement and participation have always beenand continue to be important to the Department of Conservation,” said Director Pauley.Former St. Joseph News-Press outdoors writer Jeff Leonardwas a guest speaker at the Sept. 26 open house in St. Joseph.He echoed Director Pauley’s support of citizen involvement inconservation.“The Missouri Department of Conservation is a vital entity,but just as important are all of you sitting here tonight,” Leonard said. “Without concerned hunters, anglers, and other outdoors people, our past and present would not be what they areand our future would not look bright!”He added, “None of us in this room would be able to livethe outdoor lifestyles we do today if it weren’t for the folks inMDC uniforms gathered here tonight and their predecessorsDirector SaraParker Pauleyand DeputyDirector AaronJeffries (right)speak withMissouriansafter a recentopen house.who have made the state of Missouri one of the best placesin the country for an outdoors person to call home. We mustwork together to continually bridge the gap for the good ofour wildlife and natural resources and hope that in another 80years, they’ll meet again to celebrate our successes and planfor a brighter future themselves.”John Winkelman, associate editor for Outdoor Guide magazine and host of the Scenic View outdoor radio program, wasa guest speaker at the Sept. 7 open house at Powder ValleyConservation Nature Center in Kirkwood.“Most often when we think of the Conservation Department,it’s about the men and women who make sure everyone followsthe rules to guarantee fairness for those who always follow therules,” Winkelman said. “However, more frequently, the department means access to places and things that we may never get tosee or discover otherwise. Thanks to MDC, my family and I haveenjoyed many wonder-filled opportunities throughout Missouri.”In addition to open houses, MDC was at numerous fairsand events around the state to share information and collectpublic comments.What IS it?GREATER ROADRUNNERA member of the cuckoo family,the greater roadrunner (Geococcyxcalifornianus) has a brown andpale streaked appearance,long tail, down curved bill, andfour toes positioned like an X.People enjoy watching theserare, permanent residents of thesouthwestern corner of the state,where their presence still seemslike a novelty. This species runs onthe ground, snatching up insects,small reptiles and mammals,scorpions, and small birds.OPEN HOUSE: DAN ZARLENGAPhotograph by Noppadol Paothongmdc.mo.gov 9

A least bittern chick standsabove its nest one spring. Thismarsh bird relies on emergentvegetation like cattail to buildnest platforms above thewater’s surface, which helpsprovide refuge from predators.PHOTOGRAPH BYNOPPADOL PAOTHONG10 Missouri Conservationist November 2017

secr etivemarshbird sResearchers work to understandhow these little-studiedbirds use Missouri’s wetlandsBY AURIEL FOURNIER, DOREEN MENGEL, AND LISA WEBBmdc.mo.gov 11

What image comes to mind when you hearthe word wetland? Do you immediatelypicture cattails or ducks and geese feedingin the shallow water? What sounds do youhear? The buzzing hum of mosquito wings?The splashing and grunting sounds ofcontented ducks? Or perhaps a red-wingedblackbird calling repetitively from the topof the tallest rush or willow?What you may not realize is thereis so much more going on in wetlandecosystems than you can see and hear.Many species, such as small, amazinginsects, crayfish, and amphibians, livemuch of their lives in wetlands andare rarely seen or heard. There is evena group of wetland birds that are infrequently seen or heard because of theirelusive behavior, cryptic coloration, andinfrequent calls.What’s in a Name?These elusive and cryptic birds, knownas “secretive marsh birds,” include rails,bitterns, coots, and grebes, some ofwhich breed in Missouri while othersjust stop here temporarily during falland spring migration. Fall-migratingmarsh birds stop in Missouri wetlandsin August through November to fuelup before continuing on their 1,000plus mile annual journey from theirbreeding grounds in the northern U.S.and southern Canada to their winteringgrounds on the Gulf Coast of Mexico andfarther south. They stop in Missouriagain the following spring as they makethe reverse trip from their winteringgrounds back north where they willinitiate a nest and hopefully raise theiryoung before the summer breedingseason is over.Secretive marsh birds are among theleast-studied birds in North Americabecause their elusive behavior and, well,secretive ways make them very difficultto observe. This has contributed to a lackof understanding about their migratorymovements and habitat selections whenthey stop to refuel at places like Missouriwetlands. Despite these challenges,marsh birds are worth learning more12 Missouri Conservationist November 2017about because they can help us betterunderstand how wetlands function andwhat management actions are needed toensure they leave Missouri in as good orbetter shape than when they arrived. Forexample, different species of rails, suchas sora and Virginia rails, use differenttypes of wetlands as they travel acrosscountries during their migration. Theirpresence can serve as an indicator of awetland’s general health. They are alsoa great rallying point for birders andhunters alike, since, as they seasonallypass through the state, rails are soughtafter by both groups.King railLeast bitternDiscovering the UnexpectedBecause marsh birds are so poorlystudied, there are many aspects of theirlives and habitat requirements that wedon’t know about and await discovery bykeen-eyed observers. One such discoveryoccurred when Auriel Fournier, then a

Spring Migration andBreeding StudyAmerican bitternMARSH BIRDS: NOPPADOL PAOTHONG; SPRING RESEARCH COURTESY DOREEN MENGELSecretive marsh birds are among theleast-studied birds in North America.This has contributed to a lack ofunderstanding about their migratorymovements and habitat selections.graduate student at the University ofArkansas and researcher with MDC, sawa sora rail dive and swim underwater.This occurred when she heard her technicians shouting across the wetland onenight while capturing rails. Her technicians had just tried to capture a sora, andit dove under the water to get away fromthem, then popped up several yards away.After this encounter, Fournier and herteam observed this unusual sora behaviorseveral times, eventually capturing it onvideo for the first time anywhere. It willbe published in the Wilson Journal of Ornithology later this year.Secrets to UncoverThere are many other mysteries todiscover and questions to answerregarding secretive marsh birds. MDCis committed to managing wetlandsacross the state to support all plantsand animals that rely on these uniquehabitats, including marsh birds. One ofthe best ways to detect marsh birds is byplaying a recording of their calls in spring.The birds typically answer the recordedcalls during this time of year, revealingtheir presence. However, it’s only beenin the past few decades that technologyhas produced devices small enough toeasily carry into the marsh. Additionally,the recent development of standardizedsurvey protocols has enabled researchersto compare results from one study areato another to learn more quickly aboutmarsh bird habitat needs.MDC, the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService, and the USGS Missouri andArkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units collaborated ontwo secretive marsh bird projects. Oneproject focuse

Nov 01, 2017 · 2 Inbox 3 Up Front With Sara Parker Pauley 4 Nature Lab 5 In Brief 28 Get Outside 30 Places To Go 32 issue to your Wild Guide 33 Outdoor Calendar MISSOURI CONSERVATIONIST ON THE COVER A virginia rail at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area near Columbia. NOPPADOL PAOTHONG 600mm lens 2.0x teleconverter f/8,1/250 sec, ISO 3200 GOVERNOR Eric R. Greitens