K-State Research and Extension - Wildlife

SURVEYING FARM PONDS...

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The drought took a toll on countless farm ponds in the central plains. While rains have replenished some ponds, the impact on fish residing there may not be clear. That’s why K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee is recommending landowners survey their ponds…trying to get an idea of the mix of fish species still there. This week, he goes over several methods of going about this.

Surveying Farm Ponds

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee covers the best methods for taking inventory of the fish residing in your farm pond(s).

ROAD KILL SURVEY...

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Thousands of wild animals are lost each year to vehicle strikes, commonly referred to as “road kill”. A new study in the Southern Plains region, including part of Kansas, shed further light on the extent of these losses and the factors that contribute to them. K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee has a look at the findings from this survey.

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee...

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee looks at a new study of wildlife losses due to vehicle collisions, or "road kill"...and what can be done to lessen those losses.

ATTRIBUTES OF SAUGEYE...

Fri, 31 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Some years ago, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks introduced a new hybrid fish to reservoirs and other larger water impoundments, for the purpose of improving fish resources. And this approach – stocking waters with saugeye – has proven quite successful, and has provided fishing enthusiasts with yet another high-quality game fish to go after. K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee talks more about the numerous attributes of the saugeye.

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee...

Tue, 28 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee talks about a hybrid fish that was introduced in Kansas water impoundments several years ago: the saugeye, which can play an important role in improving fishing resources.

SNAKES AND NEST PREDATION...

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

That snakes will prey on bird nests is nothing new, but wildlife researchers have been trying to pin down the actual impacts of that predation. This gave rise to a just-completed study in Illinois, which tracked snake feeding on grassland bird nests. K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee reports on that research and its findings.

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee...

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee looks at a new study of snake predation on grassland bird nests, which attempted to identify what habitat conditions prompt such nest depredation.

K-State Research and Extension Names Summer Interns

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

K-State Research and Extension has named 13 students as 2013 summer interns. The interns will assist extension professionals in planning and implementing educational programs for Kansas residents.

WOODY BRUSH COVER...

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Overly aggressive woody brush can overtake pastures and rangeland, seriously impairing grass growth. On the other hand, that brush serves as important habitat for upland game birds. And through practical management, that habitat can be preserved without sacrificing the grazing value of that land. So says K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee, as he talks about the principles of “patterned” brush management.

‘Preserving the Tallgrass Prairie’ Video Now Available Online

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

A 30-minute feature on preserving Kansas’ tallgrass prairie that recently aired on public television is now being offered through Kansas State University.

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee...

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee talks about a "patterned" approach to brush management on Kansas range and pasture lands, with the objective of preserving habitat for upland game bird species.

RE-STOCKING FARM PONDS...

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

At long last, several locations around Kansas have received decent moisture over the past few weeks…allowing for long-dry farm ponds to start filling back up. Now, landowners may be thinking about re-stocking fish in those replenished ponds. There are guidelines that should be followed, in order to succeed with that re-stocking, as K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee covers this week.

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee...

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee covers the proper approach to re-stocking fish in farm ponds, as dry ponds start to fill up with water again.

CROW CROP DAMAGE...

Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Although their numbers were drastically reduced by West Nile Virus a few years back, the crow population remains fairly abundant in Kansas. Many think that crows inflict significant damage to corn and other crops, but the evidence doesn’t back that notion, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee. In fact, he encourages people to appreciate this bird, if for nothing else, for its intelligence.

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee looks at the nature of crows, and the facts about the crop damage they cause.

LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN PLAN...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Landowners and other interested parties have until September 30th to provide formal comments on the federal proposal to list the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species. Kansas is one of the five states where this bird is found. And a “threatened” listing could lead to habitat management mandates unfavorable to the landowner. Wildlife authorities in those five states are working on a conservation plan that could possibly preclude the listing of the lesser prairie chicken. K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee talks about that plan.

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee has the details on an important webinar coming up next week for landowners, on the conservation plan for the lesser prairie chicken, as federal officials will decide this fall whether or not to list it as a threatened species.

Webinar Set for Lesser Prairie Chicken Discussion

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The potential listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) as a threatened or endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is on the minds of many landowners in Kansas and a cause of concern for land managers.

ANTLER QUALITY STUDY...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Has the quest by hunters for “trophy” game over time had an impact on the size and quality of big game antlers and horns? That was the question that a recently released study sought to answer…and it analyzed over 100 years of game harvest data in doing so. The findings reveal some important things about present-day wildlife conservation efforts, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee.

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee reports on a new study of trends in game antler and horn size and quality over the past 100 years, and how game harvesting has impacted those traits.

BEAVER AGRICULTURAL DAMAGE...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Even in times of drought, beavers can cause damage to agricultural fields with their waterway structures and crop feeding. A recent study in Illinois sought to measure the typical geographic range of beavers, and what dictates the extent of their activity. The findings of that study have relevance to Kansas agricultural areas, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee.

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee looks at a new study out of Illinois, of beaver damage to agricultural areas and the extent of their range.

KANGAROO RAT CONTROL...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

They may appear to be only a minor nuisance…but when kangaroo rats colonize in isolated parts of a crop field, they can wreak havoc with a newly planted crop. In those locations where kangaroo rat activity is evident, pre-plant control may be warranted, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee. This week, he describes the problem and the available solutions.

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee looks at controlling kangaroo rats in crop fields ahead of planting time, to prevent them from consuming newly-planted crop seed.

LIVESTOCK FEEDERS AND RODENTS...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Though no livestock producer really wants to think about it, the fact is rodents cost livestock feeding operations millions of dollars each year. Norway rats are the greatest offenders, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee. This week, he outlines a multi-step approach to contending with rat damage at a livestock feeding facility.

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee looks at controlling rodent damage in livestock feeding facilities, concentrating on the problems brought on by rat infestations.

BACKYARD POND CARE...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Raising fish in backyard ponds has become a popular feature of many home landscapes in recent years. Now is the time for homeowners to “de-winterize” their backyard ponds, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee. This week, he goes over several maintenance steps leading to another spring and summer of good-quality habitat for koi and other ornamental pond species.

Attracting Birds Means Supplying What They Like

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:00:00 GMT

SALINA, Kan. -- To a degree, attracting birds to a backyard feeder requires giving them what they most prefer. That can be complicated, because different kinds of birds prefer different types of food.