A total of 23 bighorn sheep were released in northeastern Utah this week.
You can watch the sheep being released -- and see bald eagles and black bears -- at the links below!
See bald eagles - Bald Eagle Day
http://udwrnewsphotos.zenfolio.com/p571012192
See Bald Eagles
Bald Eagle Day is Feb. 8
Since it began in 1990, Bald Eagle Day has become one of Utah’s most popular wildlife viewing events.This year’s event happens Feb. 8. With one exception, this event should be no different from past events—plenty of eagles should be available to see at most of the state’s Bald Eagle Day viewing sites.Two viewing sites in northern Utah are the possible exception.
To draw plenty of eagles for people to view, Division of Wildlife Resources biologists usually bring dead carp from Utah Lake and deposit the fish at the Farmington Bay and Salt Creek waterfowl management areas. Dead carp are a favorite food of bald eagles. Providing plenty of food draws additional eagles to these areas—just in time for Bald Eagle Day. However, after several eagles within the greater Great Salt Lake area died after contracting West Nile virus earlier this winter, biologists don’t want to encourage the birds to congregate. Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator for the DWR, says congregating eagles in one spot could lead to a bird that has West Nile virus passing the disease to other eagles through its saliva or feces. “For that reason,” he says, “carp will not be deposited at the two WMAs this year. Not having carp for the birds to eat will likely reduce the number of eagles people see.” Even though the number of eagles at Farmington Bay and Salt Creek might not be as high as normal, eagles should still be available to watch. “Seeing even just a few of these birds can take your breath away,” Walters says.
Bald Eagle Day will be held on Feb. 8. The event is free. You can see eagles at five locations across Utah. Viewing times vary depending on the viewing site you visit:
Northern Utah -Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area (Compton’s Knoll), located about 10 miles northwest of Corinne Viewing at Salt Creek will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To reach the WMA, take Exit 365 off of Interstate 15 and travel west on state Route 83 through Corinne. Stay on Route 83 until you get to 6800 West (Iowa String). Travel north to 6800 N. Travel west on 6800 N. until you reach the Salt Creek WMA/Compton’s Knoll Watchable Wildlife site.
Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, located on the west side of Farmington at 1325 W. Glover Lane (925 South) Viewing at Farmington Bay will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In addition to seeing eagles at the WMA, you might want to drop by the Robert N. Hasenyager Great Salt Lake Nature Center. The center is at the north end of the WMA. Hands-on activities for children will begin at 9 a.m. and will continue through most of the day. Live birds of prey will also be available to view. Members of HawkWatch International will show the raptors from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. To reach the nature center and the WMA, follow these directions:
If you’re traveling from Ogden and other areas north of Farmington: Travel south on I-15 to Farmington. Take Exit 325 (the Lagoon/Park Lane exit). The exit will deliver you to Park Lane. Turn right (west) on Park Lane. Park Lane will bear south and run into Clark Lane. Turn right (west) onto Clark Lane and continue to the first four-way stop, which is 1525 W. Turn left (south) onto 1525 W., and continue for about one mile until the street ends at Glovers Lane. To reach the Farmington Bay WMA, turn left (east) onto Glovers Lane. Travel to 1325 W. Glovers Lane, and then turn right (south). To reach the Great Salt Lake Nature Center, turn right (west) onto Glovers Lane. Continue west on Glovers Lane to 1700 W. Glovers Lane. You will go past a "Dead End" sign. The paved road to the nature center will be on your left.
Get a close look Walters says spotting scopes will be available at each viewing site so you can get a good look at the eagles. “Biologists and volunteers will also be on hand to help you spot the eagles and to answer your questions,” he says.
You can also pick up a Bald Eagle Day button. Handouts and information about bald eagles, wildlife watching and birding opportunities in Utah will also be available. The button and information are free.The best time to attendThe best time to see eagles on Feb. 8 depends on what’s most important to you: staying as warm as possible or seeing more eagles!
If staying warm is most important, attend late in the morning or early in the afternoon. Walters says the warmer temperatures during this time of the day are especially important if you bring young children with you.
Late morning and early afternoon is also the best time to get a clear view of the eagles. If you want to see the greatest number of eagles—with fairly good light conditions and reasonably warm temperatures—attend between 2 and 4 p.m. After 4 p.m., eagles at many of the viewing locations will start flying to trees to roost for the night. “If you want to see the greatest number of eagles,” Walters says, “mid to late afternoon, before the eagles fly to their roost sites, is usually the best time to attend.”
Items to bring If you attend Bald Eagle Day, dress in warm clothes and bring waterproof boots. Also, if you want to take photos of the eagles, bring a telephoto lens.“The eagles will be a fair distance from the viewing areas,” Walters says.
Utah’s most popular viewing event - Walters started Bald Eagle Day as a way to introduce people to Utah’s wildlife. “I started Bald Eagle Day because I wanted to make people aware of the wildlife around them,” he says. “I wanted to whet their appetite to see more.” Since it began, Bald Eagle Day has become Utah’s most well attended, and one of its most enjoyed, wildlife-viewing events. “I think the event is still accomplishing its purpose,” he says.
For more information about Bald Eagle Day, call Walters at 801-209- 5326, or Division of Wildlife Resources offices in Ogden, Springville, Vernal or Cedar City.
PHOTOS - 13 photos to accompany this story are available at http://udwrnewsphotos.zenfolio.com/p571012192 .
Contact: Mark Hadley, DWR Relations with the Public Specialist, 801-538-4737
Black bears - apply for a hunting permit http://udwrnewsphotos.zenfolio.com/p711333752
Bighorns race for the hills - bighorn sheep release http://udwrnewsphotos.zenfolio.com/p716264335
Bighorns Return to Goslin Mountain Dutch John – Bighorn sheep are back on Goslin Mountain.
On the morning of Jan. 30, a small herd of 23 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep were released at Dripping Springs. The herd includes 13 ewes, five lambs and five rams. The bighorns were captured earlier that week in Desolation Canyon near Green River, Utah. The sheep were then moved to begin a new herd on Goslin Mountain. Dripping Springs is at the base of Goslin Mountain, between Dutch John and Little Hole in northeastern Utah.
Second try- This marks the second time a herd has been reintroduced into the area. About 40 years ago, biologists with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) began enhancing range along the Goslin Mountain/Green River corridor so Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep could be reintroduced to the area. In 2001, the range enhancement was given a big boon when a fire near Dutch John cleared away large expanses of pinyon-juniper trees. Following the fire, the UDWR and the USFS were able to reseed much of the burned areas in preparation for the bighorn sheep reintroduction. The first attempt to start a herd on Goslin Mountain began in December 2004. The new herd was supplemented in January 2007 with bighorns captured in Montana. Unfortunately, after a quick growth spurt between 2004 and 2007, recruitment leveled off, and then the herd started to lose numbers. In February 2008, biologists learned why. The biologists observed several animals coughing, so they tested them for disease. They learned the herd was dying from bacterial pneumonia. To prevent the disease from spreading to other bighorn sheep populations in the area, biologists made the tough decision to eliminate the entire herd. “Their intervention worked, as the nearby herds did not catch the disease,” says Ron Stewart, regional conservation outreach manager for the UDWR.
In 2013, UDWR biologists noted that several bighorn sheep herds in Utah were doing extremely well. In fact, the herds were doing so well that some of them had a surplus of animals. Biologists reviewed potential supplemental and new reintroduction sites. Goslin Mountain again rated high as a potential site to start a new herd.
Recent capture -UDWR biologists hired helicopter crews to capture animals from the herds near the Green River in Desolation/Greys canyons. After capture crews brought the sheep out of the canyons, biologists gave the bighorns health checks and fitted them with ear tags. Some of the sheep were also fitted with tracking collars before being loaded onto modified horse trailers for their trip north. "It's good to see bighorns on the mountain again," Dax Mangus, a UDWR biologist in northeastern Utah, said as the captured bighorns were released. "Hopefully, the capture team can catch a few more to bring up later this week.” Dan Abeyta, a USFS biologist, agreed. "I've got my fingers crossed that these [sheep] will do better than the previous herd."
PHOTOS - two photos to accompany this story are available at http://udwrnewsphotos.zenfolio.com/p716264335 .Contact: Ron Stewart, DWR Northeastern Region Conservation Outreach Manager, 435-790-0207 or 435-781-9453
photos for ALL of the news releases http://udwrnewsphotos.zenfolio.com/
