Conservation Is The Key
E-Mail Your Photos And Stories

AZGFD - Wildlife Education Oportunities In September

Celebrate an Important Ferret Milestone

On September 26, 1981, the black-footed ferret was rediscovered in the wildlands of Wyoming. This discovery led to an aggressive and collaborative effort to save a species that was thought to be extinct. Join the Arizona Game and Fish Department as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of this important event.

On Saturday, September 10, 2011, we will host an engaging and informative workshop designed specifically for teachers. Held at the Phoenix Zoo from 9:00am until 3:00pm, "Back from the Brink: 30 Years of Black-footed Ferret Management" will provide you with a variety of lessons to help you bring this magnificent story back to your classroom. You will also have the opportunity to learn first-hand from the biologists and zookeepers who work with these animals on a daily basis to ensure their survival in Arizona.

Registration is required, and spots are expected to fill quickly. So, don't delay. To register, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/i_e/ee/focus_workshops_bff.shtml and complete the online form.

Learn about Eagles from the Comfort of Your Living Room

The bald eagle, a symbol of America, has been described as a “sentinel of our wildlands.” Yet, its future in Arizona and the rest of the United States has not always been certain. On Tuesday, September 13 from 3:00pm to 4:30pm, the Arizona Game and Fish Department along with the Arizona NASA Educator Resource Center will host a FREE online educator workshop which will share the amazing history of this animal in the Southwest. You will learn about eagle biology, status, and management in Arizona while engaging in classroom-ready activties. Participants will receive a free DVD along with accompanying materials.

You only need an internet connection and audio capability to participate.

To register for the worskhop, send an email to deveaus@erau.edu and let her know that you want to sign up for the Bald Eagle workshop on September 13. Registered participants will receive login instructions via email prior the the workshop and a certificate of participation following the workshop.

Heritage Grants Return with New Education Opportunities

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is pleased to announce that our popular Heritage grants program has returned with a new, simplified process and new funding opportunities in education.

Since 1990, the Department has awarded more than $12 million in grants to local communities around the state for projects to help protect endangered species, educate children about wildlife, and improve public access to outdoor recreation opportunities. All money for these grants comes from the Heritage Fund which is funded by the sale of Arizona lottery tickets.

For educators, we still have the opportunity to apply for up to $10,000 to construct a school yard habitat or outdoor learning environment and to develop education programs or resources that promote awareness, appreciation, understanding and stewardship of Arizona’s wildlife. But based on public feedback, we have added some new opportunities. Now, we offer money for schools and districts to cover costs associated with professional development and field trips with an environmental education focus.

But hurry…the deadline to apply is 5pm on September 30, 2011.

For more information, including application materials, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/heritage_program.shtml. A few workshops to help understand the new application process are being held around the state. Workshops still remain in Phoenix, Yuma, and Tucson. But sign up early. For a complete list of workshops, download the informational flyer.

In addition, check out the official news release at http://azgfd.net/artman/publish/NewsMedia/Game-and-Fish-s-Heritage-grants-return-in-2011-with-new-simplified-processes.shtml.

WSPA Launches "Not In My Cuppa Tea Party

Dear WSPA Supporter,

If a steaming pot of tea, a few sweet cakes and a fun afternoon with friends sounds just like your cup of tea - plus you love animals and want to help them - then WSPA has the perfect event for you.

This month, WSPA is launching Not in my Cuppa tea parties as a brand new way to raise funds to protect animals and to support our Not in my Cuppa campaign to keep dairy cows in fields, not factories. Could you host your own Not in my Cuppa tea party to raise funds for WSPA? You can host your party whenever you want and for as many people as you like. For a Not in my Cuppa tea party pack, email Jane and Madge at fundraising@wspa.org.uk or call them on 0800 316 9772.

Photos Courtesy Ron & Rose Werner

A Bloody Business. An explosive exposé of the cruelty inflicted on Australian cattle exported to the slaughterhouses of Indonesia.

As you may know, Animals Australia recently captured some shocking footage, exposing the horrific ways Australian cattle are slaughtered in Indonesia. People from around the world have since inundated WSPA with emails and calls, asking what else they can do to help end Australia’s cruel live animal export trade.

In response WSPA has created a fast and fun way you can help!

Simply upload a photo, with your arms outstretched to join hands with other WSPA supporters around the world who are opposed to this cruel practice.

All the photos will be linked together to form a huge chain, they’ll then be counted, and the most iconic photos will be made into a visual petition. This petition will be presented to the Australian Government in just a few weeks, so please help millions of animals by taking this urgent action today.

With your help the Global Humane Chain will help demonstrate that the world is watching, and is calling on Australia to do the right thing.

Why is live animal export so cruel?

Australia exports millions of sheep and hundreds of thousands of cattle overseas each year. During the cramped and arduous journey, tens of thousands of animals die, with almost half of all deaths being caused by starvation. For most that survive, they are then subjected to an inhumane slaughter whilst fully conscious, in countries that don’t have adequate animal welfare provisions.

Now more than ever we need people like you to keep putting pressure on the Australian Government to demonstrate that supporters around the world want an end to this trade once and for all.

Together we can help save millions of animals from the unnecessary suffering of live animal export.

Thank you so much for your continued support,
Suzi Morris
Director, WSPA UK

Rattlesnakes Texas Style
Y'all need to forget about those itty, bitty snake-proof boots and find yourself a full snake-proof SUIT.., AND HAT!!! The ranch where this big rattler was killed is outside the city of Coleman which is located in ( West Texas) near Abilene . Oh, for reference, the guy stands 6'-2". Seems there's been a boom in the snake population there.

My fellow friends and family,
We have killed 57 rattlesnakes on two separate ranches this year. 24 @South bend & 33 @ Murray , since mid May. Not one has buzzed! We provoked one fair sized boy with a stick and he coiled & struck at the stick a couple of times before he buzzed up and rattled. The purpose of this explanation is that I have been hearing the same from fellow ranchers and hunters in regards to the lack of warning with rattlesnakes.

I had lunch with a friend today and he offered a theory about the fact that these bugs aren't rattling anymore. He raised pigs for years and reported that when he would hear a rattlesnake buzzing in the sow pen, the sows would bee line to it and fight over the snake. For the uninformed, pigs love to eat rattlesnakes. Therefore, the theory is they are ceasing to rattle to avoid detection, since there are plenty of pigs roaming the countryside. I have a neighbor ranching lady who was bitten 3 weeks ago 2 times by the same snake without any warning....she spent 5 days in ICU, after 22 vials of anti-venom she is back at the ranch and still may lose her foot or worse yet her lower leg.

The days of perceived warning are over. Keep your boots on and use a light when out and about. As you all know, one can pop up just about anywhere! You may wish to forward this to anyone that would be interested.

Have you ever seen a baby porcupine?

Looks like the quills are soft when they’re babies.

Elk Viewing Workshop Scheduled For Flagstaff

Would you like to experience the sound of a bull elk bugling or see a cow elk keeping a watchful eye on her calf? The Arizona Game and Fish Department and Mormon Lake Lodge invite you to attend an elk viewing workshop on Aug. 21. The workshop includes a presentation and a field trip to watch elk in their natural habitat near Mormon Lake.

Mormon Lake is unique as it is only one of two natural lakes found in Arizona. During the early fall, hundreds of elk can be observed at the site and along Lake Mary Road.

“This workshop is a great way for people of all ages to come enjoy the state’s wildlife treasures,” says Arizona Game and Fish Department Public Information Officer Shelly Shepherd. “Game and Fish is providing wildlife watching events throughout the state to encourage people to get outdoors and learn about wildlife and their important habitats.”

Game and Fish's wildlife viewing events are supported by the Heritage Fund, a voter-passed initiative that was started in 1990 to further wildlife conservation efforts in the state through Arizona Lottery ticket sales.

The workshop will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21. Participants will attend a presentation, located in the Kachina Room at Mormon Lake Lodge, and then will be escorted on a field trip. The field trip location will be determined that day based on where the elk are seen.

Spotting scopes will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, water, snacks, and to wear appropriate clothing.

Anyone interested in registering for the workshop will need to contact the Flagstaff Game and Fish office at (928) 774-5045 before 3 p.m. on Aug. 19. All Game and Fish offices will be closed on Friday, Aug. 20 due to a mandatory state furlough day.

To find Mormon Lake Lodge: travel south on Lake Mary Road to the second Mormon Lake Road turn off, go past the lake overlook, about 25 miles from Flagstaff. Follow Mormon Lake Road about 1.5 miles to the lodge.

Out Of Africa Wildlife Park

See hundreds of animals from all over the world!
Lions, Tigers, Giraffe, Rhinoceros, Black Bear, Camel, Ostrich, Cobras, Zebra, Exotic Birds, Tortoise, Wildebeest, Jaguar, Leopards, Wolves, Hyenas and more!