Takeaways from TPW commission meeting: Hunter education proof goes digital - Houston Chronicle
Takeaways from TPW commission meeting: Hunter education proof goes digital - Houston Chronicle |
| Takeaways from TPW commission meeting: Hunter education proof goes digital - Houston Chronicle Posted: 11 Nov 2020 06:00 AM PST  Texas hunters can now use their phones to show game wardens proof of a hunter education certificate. No more are the days of fumbling around your wallet or truck console and rambling excuses for a slip of paper that's been missing since childhood. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on Tuesday approved an amendment that will allow hunters to obtain their hunter ed proof online or provide a saved photo of the certificate on a mobile device. The move follows a similar one made recently with hunting and fishing licenses, when a rule went into effect Sept. 1, 2019, that allowed hunters and anglers to carry digital copies, modernizing an age-old process. Paper licenses are still required for tagging and federal duck stamps. Previously, hunter ed certificates were required to be on one's person. Failure to produce the certificate technically could result in a Class C misdemeanor charge, although the use of the Texas Outdoor Annual app or a printed copy had become an acceptable practice to show hunter ed proof. Hunter education is required for all hunters in Texas born after Sept. 2, 1971. The minimum age of certification is nine years old. Hunters between nine and 16 must complete the course or be accompanied by someone who has. Hunters who are 17 and older have the option of taking the course completely online. A one-time, one-year deferral is also available for hunters 17 and older. The cost of hunter education is $15. The minimum passing score is 75. Oyster restoration area closures The commission approved a two-year closure of multiple oyster sites to assist restoration efforts. About 96 acres on five sites in Galveston Bay and 80 acres on one site in Aransas Bay will be closed until November 1, 2022. These areas are being planted with cultch material, which is usually rocks like limestone that make up oyster beds. A two-year closure will give time to help these materials recruit oysters, repopulate reefs and grow oysters to legal size (three inches). "To date, the coastal fisheries division has restored 420 acres of oyster reef in Galveston Bay, 25 acres in Sabine Lake, 17 acres in Matagorda Bay and 30 acres in Aransas Bay using cultch planting techniques," said Emma Clarkson, leader of habitat assessment team for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's coastal fisheries division. Deer breeding/CWD A suite of amendments was approved regarding deer breeding, ranging from housekeeping to sizable changes. One of the most substantial changes concerns the reporting of mortalities. March 31 was the previous annual deadline for reporting mortalities. The commission approved changes that would require mortalities to be reported and CWD samples to be submitted within 14 days, streamlining TPWD's ability to monitor for CWD. "Early detection is critical. This is a disease that is difficult to detect. This is a disease that is difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate. There is no treatment for this disease. This is a disease that is very difficult to contain, and more so if detection is not early," TPWD big game program director Mitch Lockwood said at Monday's work session. Deer breeders have reported 2,943 escaped deer since 2004. Additionally, TPWD staff has determined 9,687 deer to be missing from facilities since 2006. Although unreported, most of these missing deer are likely dead, but the tightening of mortality reporting and CWD sample submissions is designed to address the egregious number. For escaped deer, breeders are required to notify TPWD of the escape and provide a plan for recapture. The department is to be notified daily of those recovery efforts for a minimum of 10 days. If the deer is not recaptured by then, it will be considered "free-ranging." The breeder will also have to show evidence that the facility has been enhanced to prevent future escapes. "Not Movement Qualified" facilities will be given a testing plan if the facility loses a deer and can't recover it. Disjunct sets of pens on a property will be considered individual facilities and will be subject to separate permits and surveillance. Fawns are not permitted to stay in nursing facilities for more than 120 days, unless under TPWD authorization. Other amendments re-emphasize that cloning or hybridizing whitetails and mule deer is prohibited. Whitetails and mule deer can only be transferred to counties with respective open seasons. Co-mingling of white-tailed and mule deer is prohibited, but an amendment allows for species not susceptible to CWD to have access to deer-handling facilities on a property. Exotic aquatic species A package of regulation changes for exotic aquatic species was approved. Here are a few: Anglers that catch exotic fish like tilapia or grass carp are no longer required to immediately gut or behead them. An approved change allows the exotic fish to simply be put on ice. Lakefront landowners can now possess and transport invasive aquatic plants, like water hyacinth and salvinia, zebra mussels and applesnails without permit, provided they are either composted or destined for disposal and secured properly. Changes also concern pond stocking of tilapia. Mozambique, blue, Nile, and Wami tilapia can be pond stocked without a permit. Reporting for tilapia aquaculture is no longer required. Permits are no longer required for home aquaponic setups. Management zones have been set up for pond stocking. The area roughly west of I-35 is considered a "conservation zone" and would require TPWD approval. The area roughly east of I-35 would not. The commission approved three and five-year permit renewals, like how the department handles deer breeder permits, for aquaculturists. Commercial aquaculture facilities are subject to inspection at least once every five years. Previously, aquaculturists were required to apply for permits each year. Three-year and five-year renewals are available at $168 and $263, respectively. "For a long-standing permit holder eligible for a five-year renewal permit, the increased cost per year would be $25.60," said Monica McGarrity, senior scientist for aquatic invasive species management in TPWD's inland fisheries division. Several additions were made to the state's list of controlled aquatic species: crested and yellow floating hearts, golden mussels, mud snails of the family Hydrobiidae, Stone moroko, European perch, Amur sleeper and Wels catfish. The fish and shellfish species have not yet been introduced to the U.S., but the two species of floating hearts have encroached in Texas. Land acquisition The commission moved to add hundreds of acres to Texas public lands on Tuesday. The approved acquisitions: 30 acres at Justin Hurst wildlife management area in Brazoria County, 60 acres within the Chinati Mountains state natural area in Presidio County, 3.7 acres at Galveston Island State Park, 745 acres at Caddo Lake WMA in Marion County and 44 acres at Bastrop State Park. |
| A Fargo Pet Resource Guide - Fargo Monthly Magazine Posted: 10 Nov 2020 05:00 AM PST Exotic Pet ResourcesJust because you have an exotic pet or are interested in adopting one doesn't mean it should be difficult to find supplies and resources. While you may need to venture outside of Fargo-Moorhead depending on the specific critter you're caring for, there are locally-owned resources here in North Dakota and Minnesota that provide supplies and services for exotic pets.  Exotic Pet Dealers: Fish
Reptiles
Insects
Exotic Animal Veterinary Services Valley Veterinary Hospital, Fargo, ND
Animal Health Clinic, Fargo, ND
Casselton Veterinary Service, Casselton, ND
Exotic Animal Rescues Center for Avian Adoption, Rescue and Education, West Fargo, ND
Kritter Krazy Reptile and Exotic Rescue, Fargo, ND
Resources Minnesota Herpetological Society
Exotic Animal Care and Husbandry, Concordia College
Fargo Exotic Pet Expo
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