Blog Mirror: After boardroom drama and international intrigue, Anoka’s Federal Ammunition close to being sold

 

After boardroom drama and international intrigue, Anoka’s Federal Ammunition close to being sold

New Wyoming Game and Fish Director.

Governor Gordon Appoints Angi Bruce Director of Wyoming Game and Fish Department

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. –Governor Mark Gordon has appointed Angi Bruce Director of Wyoming Game and Fish Department. She becomes the first female director in the agency’s 51-year history, replacing Brian Nesvick, who will retire in September. 

Bruce has served as Deputy Director of the agency since 2019, where she oversees fish and wildlife issues as well as Game and Fish participation in federal planning efforts, among other duties. She has also served as Habitat Protection Supervisor with Game and Fish, where she oversaw wildlife Environmental Reviews for the Director’s office and administered the state’s sage grouse Executive Order review process. Bruce previously spent 17 years with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in multiple capacities. 

“The Game and Fish commission forwarded three exceptionally well-qualified candidates reflecting Wyoming’s commitment to wildlife and our natural resource heritage,” Governor Gordon said. “In her role as Deputy Director, Angi has demonstrated the department’s dedication to protecting our state’s leadership role in science and policy on wildlife issues large and small.”

“I am thrilled for this opportunity. I will build off the incredible work of Director Nesvik to grow partnerships, work with the public, and utilize the Department's dedicated and passionate staff to manage our world class wildlife,” Bruce said. “The job will not be short of challenges. Utilizing our citizens’ shared love of wildlife, I have no doubt we can be successful in tackling them together.”

Bruce was one of three finalists for the position who the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission forwarded to the Governor for consideration.

-END

Gordon had three finalists to pick from, the other two were Rick King, chief of the department’s Wildlife Division, and Craig Smith, deputy chief of the Wildlife Division.  Bruce was working as deputy director since 2019 and had a 17-year career with the Iowa fish and game department before that.

But it isn't the same as a lifelong Wyoming career.

Brian Nesvik, whom she replaces, had started off in the agency as a Game Warden in 1995.

Report dead wild rabbits to Game and Fish

 Report dead wild rabbits to Game and Fish

POSTED:

JULY 20, 2020

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CHEYENNE REGION

NEWS

NEWS

Wyomingites are being asked to keep a lookout for dead rabbits in their yards, rural property and other outdoor areas. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is collecting wild rabbit carcasses for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus2 testing, known as RHDV2. While not found in Wyoming yet, the disease has been identified in neighboring states. Testing rabbits is key to monitoring the disease spread.

RHDV2 is a fatal disease of rabbits and hares. An estimated 35-50% of infected wild rabbits succumb to the disease.  

Samantha Allen, Game and Fish state wildlife veterinarian, said all of Wyoming’s rabbits and hares are susceptible — that includes game and nongame species like cottontail rabbits, jack rabbits and potentially, pygmy rabbits. Domestic rabbits are also at risk; however, other domestic pets and livestock are not at risk from the disease.

The first indication of RHDV2 infection in rabbits is dead animals.

“Any rabbit could become infected with the disease - so it could be a cottontail living in your yard or the one you see while hiking,” said Allen. “Please report any dead rabbits you find. Testing these carcasses is the only way to know if the disease is in Wyoming.”

The disease has been confirmed in California, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado. 

RHDV2 does not pose a threat to humans, but rabbits carry other diseases which can —  like tularemia and plague. The public is advised not to touch or pick up any dead wild rabbits. Rather, note the location and call the Game and Fish Wildlife Health Lab at (307) 745-5865 or the nearest regional office. Game and Fish personnel will evaluate the situation, and make plans to collect the rabbit.

Blog Mirror: Lummis Wants To Use Federal Land For Affordable Housing

 There are other ways to go about this. . . 

Lummis Wants To Use Federal Land For Affordable Housing

Going Feral: No excuse.

Going Feral: No excuse.:  I have nothing against wolf hunting, but there's no excuse for behavior like thiss. Photo Shows Wyoming Man With Tormented Wolf Before ...

It's increasingly clear that there's going to be a prosecution here.  The only question is for what. After initially indicating it was more or less helpless in the matter, the Game & Fish has retracted that statement and made it clear that it's condemning this behavior.  The Governor has condemned it.  And Suzette County is indicating its looking at prosecution, for something.

No excuse.

 I have nothing against wolf hunting, but there's no excuse for behavior like thiss.

Photo Shows Wyoming Man With Tormented Wolf Before It Was Killed

Rod Miller of the Cowboy State Daily wrote an op-ed about it:

Rod Miller: Of Wolves and Assholes

In it, he stated the following:

Any cowboy, hunter or serious outdoorsman with a modicum of ethics and respect for creation should be just as pissed off. Roberts’ malicious stupidity will give political ammunition to those outside our borders who are convinced that they can manage the Cowboy State better than we can.

I think that, in Roberts’ case, there is a disconnect between the laws we have on our books and the ethics we have in our hearts. And maybe its not possible for our code of laws to adequately express our code of ethics. 

That should in no manner diminish the impetus to live an ethical life with respect to our neighbors and our surroundings, particularly in a place as unique and sparsely peopled as Wyoming. Morality shouldn’t always need to be written down to be lived.

Roberts would do himself and his state a great service if he humbled himself and publicly apologized to he fellow Wyomingites for his very public display of a lack of ethics. That would mean a helluva lot more than the two-hundred and fifty bucks from his wallet.

And maybe this situation warrants us adding another article to our official Wyoming Code of Conduct, alternatively called the Code of the West. Since some folks need to be reminded from time to time, we can amend our Code to include one final item. It could read something like:

#11 – Don’t be an asshole.

I agree.

Roberts would really do the state a favor if he just left it, permanently. 

Another lawsuit over wolves.

Ten entities intend to sue the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for not extending protection for wolves under the Endangered Species Act.

When wolves were first introduced, it was my opinion that wolves themselves would not be a problem in the Rocky Mountain West, but the people who surround them.  

That has proven to be correct.

Match makers.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service captured a Mexican Wolf (a type of wolf, not a wolf that is literally from Mexico) in hopes of that she'll breed with one of two captive Mexican Wolves at a facility in New Mexico.

The US is attempting to restore the endangered population.

Expansion of Migratory Big Game Initiative

The USDA announced that it is expanding the Migratory Big Game Initiative successfully used in Wyoming to Montana and Idaho. This allows farmers and ranchers across all three states to access money to protect big game migratory routes.

Lex Anteinternet: The 2023 Wyoming Legislative Session. Bills start...

Lex Anteinternet: The 2023 Wyoming Legislative Session. Bills start...: 

HB 126, the gun 'em down trespass provision, passed the House.

HB0147 The, Unlawful trespass signage-taking of wildlife, passed the House.

SF0169 State shooting complex task force, passed the Senate.    This would fund a state facility.

Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources to receive $1,000,000 Grant.

Wyoming's Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources received an $1,000,000 to establish an Intentional Wildlife Conservation Chair.  The purpose is to boost the pursuit of careers in that area.

The fund will be named for John L. Koprowski , Dean of the school, following his retirement.