CALL OF THE LOON

"STOP USING LEAD, PLEASE!"

It would be hard to imagine a northern Wisconsin lake without them. Their haunting calls and timid nature make them an icon for almost any lake. Loons are one of the most enchanting birds in Wiscsonsin and it's no surprise that they capture so mcuh attention. The loon is an important symbol of our state and a high public interest in loons had lead to increased conservation efforts.

Loons are considered one of the most primitive birds on earth because they have not changed from their current form for the last one million years. There are only five species of loons in the world, with the common loon being the only breed to reside in the lower 48 states. These birds call Wisconsin lakes home from April until they depart in late August or September for warmer climates of the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico.

Loons are a very particular bird and not just any lake will do when selecting a nesting site. Lakes that are 50 acres or smaller (slow, no wake lakes) are most often chosen, with most loons needing at least a 10 acre lake for room to take off. Loons, like those that visit North Sand Lake, will chose one of the bays for nesting.
They tend to live on lakes of all different shapes, but usually a lake with an irregular shoreline is best because it provides peninsulas, coves and islands that can protect a pair of nesting loons. Water quality is also a main concern for loons since they need clean, clear water as they peer underwater to search for fish.
Lakes that have limited water clarity due to pollution, algae blooms, or the stirring up of bottom
sentiments can drive loons away from nesting there.

Loons, like many other water birds, do not have teeth and have to swallow their food whole.
With the average loon eating aprroximately 2 pounds of fish each day, they need to ingest small
pebbles from the bottom of a lake or river, which enables their gizzards to break down fish bones.
Loons can have as many as 20-30 pebbles in their gizzard at one time. The act of swallowing pebbles, is,
ironically, necessary for the bird's survival, but it also poses a significant risk for them. When lead fishing sinkers and jig heads are lost through broken lines or other means, loons can inadvertently consume them when they are scooping pebbles.

Lead is a TOXIC METAL that attacks the nervous system and reproductive systems of loons and other water birds. A poisoned bird will exhibit signs of being disoriented, skinny or lethargic. Loons that ingest lead often die within 2-3 weeks. In addition to direct ingestion,loons can suffer from leading poisoning after eating fish that have ingested lead.

A study done by the Minnesota DNR discovered though individual fishermen lose only small amounts of tackle on each fishing trip, it does add up to a large amount of lead being left behind in lakes. It is estimated that more than 1 ton of lead was deposited in 5 Minnesotat lakes during the summer of 2004.

In addition, research since 1987 on loons from 6 New England states has shown 44% of dead and dying adult loons had lead poisoning, with virtually all cases pointing to lead tackle as the culprit. Another 15-year study in Michigan revealed that lead poisoning, primarily from lead jigs, was the number one cause of loon death at 24% of overall mortality. Here in Wisconsin the DNR Health Program reports an even higher rate of 30% dead loons submitted having lost their lives from lead poisoning.

Stopping the deadly effects of lead poisoning for some of Wisconsin's most treasured feathered friends is surprisingly simple. First, anglers can stop using lead sinkers, jigs, split shot and other fishing equipment that is made from lead. There are a number of lead-free alternatives that are not very costly, which include steel, tin, tungsten, bismuth, pewter, ceramic, densified plastic and glass materials. Second, when disposing of your lead tackle, do it properly. Do not throw lead tackle away in a lake or trash can. Instead, take it to your local household hazardous waste collection site or scrap metal collector. Third, SPREAD THE WORD! Contact your local bait and tackle dealers and encourage them to stock lead-free tackle. Let your fishing friends know about the negative impact that lead tackle has on not only loons, but on the entire lake ecosystem.

Loons are an icon of northern Wisconsin and deserve a safe home on our treasured lakes. With the help of Wisconsin's  anglers, lake owners and citizens, the loon will remain on Wisconsin lakes for years to come.

Article written by Katie Boseo, UW-Stevens Point-undergraduate student.

 

JOIN US AT OUR FALL LAKE ASSOCIATION MEETING WHERE WE WILL BE GIVING AWAY A
"SAFE ANGLING KIT"

OR
VISIT


 

TO PURCHASE YOUR OWN KIT.

Effort to prevent spread of VHS fish disease, invasive species to increase over July Fourth weekend

MADISON – At popular shore fishing locations and boat landings this Fourth of July holiday, conservation wardens and paid and volunteer watercraft inspectors will be making sure that people take all of the steps necessary to stop the spread of the VHS fish disease in Wisconsin waters.

“The vast majority of anglers and boaters are doing a great job taking the prevention steps, but some anglers are not and we all need to do our part and make sure we take all of the steps,” says Randy Stark, Wisconsin’s Chief Conservation Warden.

put catch on ice
Before leaving for the day, put your catch on ice or drain water from the bucket or cooler carrying them.
WDNR Photo

Some anglers are leaving their shore fishing spot or boat landing with a bucketful or cooler full of water and the fish they caught earlier in the day, a violation of VHS rules, Stark says. Such actions are the most common VHS violations reported this year by the DNR’s Water Guards, (Water Guards at Work -- video; 4.55 min.) -- specialized wardens focused on increasing awareness and enforcement of laws to prevent the spread of VHS, zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species.

And just last week, a DNR conservation warden cited an angler who transferred live fish from Lake Kegonsa in Dane County to Lake Leota in Rock County, in violation of state rules preventing the spread of VHS and longstanding state stocking rules.

“Whether anglers are fishing from a boat or from the shore, state law requires that when you leave, you do not take away the day’s catch in a bucket or cooler full of water,” Stark says. “Drain the water out and keep the fish in the empty bucket or throw the fish in a cooler of ice.”

Stark says that the conservation wardens and the Water Guard will be stepping up education efforts and taking enforcement action over the long holiday, “particularly when we see anglers leaving with a bucketful of water and fish from those Wisconsin lakes and rivers considered to be infected with VHS.”

Watercraft inspectors paid by the state and county, as well as volunteers trained through Wisconsin’s Clean Boats, Clean Waters (exit DNR) education and inspection program, also will be out at boat landings and shore fishing spots, educating anglers and boaters about the rules to prevent the spread of VHS and aquatic invasive species.

Conservation Warden Boyd Richter cited a 29-year-old Evansville man earlier this month after the man said he released five adult bluegills from Lake Kegonsa into Lake Leota despite knowing the action violated VHS rules. Richter, who was responding to a complaint left on DNR’s violation hotline, issued the man a citation for $1,133 for violating stocking rules, which Richter said more accurately reflected the man’s action and carried a higher bond than the VHS violation.

Mike Staggs, DNR’s fisheries director, says that transferring live fish and the water they’re carried in to another lake or river runs a serious risk of spreading VHS fish disease, other fish diseases and invasive species such as zebra mussels and spiny water fleas. It also can hurt stocking efforts and other efforts to manage a fishery.

“We understand the temptation of being a bait bucket biologist, but the risk is huge,” Staggs says.

“We need everybody to take the steps that will prevent VHS and other diseases and invasive species from spreading to new lakes and rivers. That includes not moving live fish, draining water from your boat and equipment, buying bait in Wisconsin and following rules for using leftover bait, and removing all plants, animals and mud your boat and trailer before leaving.”

A fall 2008 University of Wisconsin Badger Poll (exit DNR) shows that more than 90 percent of anglers and boaters were taking steps to inspect boats and remove plants and animals from them, and a slightly lower percentage said they were following the new bait rules. Only 58.6 percent said they never move live fish between different bodies of water.

One more week to take online pledge and enter prize drawing

Root for the Home Team
Anglers and boaters have until July 5 to take an online pledge to take steps to prevent the spread of VHS fish disease and aquatic invasive species and get their name entered into a prize giveaway.

Anglers and boaters have one more week to enter the “Root for the Home Team” giveaway, a promotion sponsored by the DNR and the Wisconsin Association of Lakes (WAL) to encourage anglers and boater to take steps to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasives and VHS fish disease. More than 500 people have taken an online pledge to take prevention steps.

WAL will be giving one lucky winner two luxury-suite tickets to the Brewers versus the San Francisco Giants game on Saturday, Sept. 5. Additional fishing-related prizes will also be awarded.

To enter, contestants must take an online pledge to follow the simple prevention steps. Go to the DNR’s home page and click on “Step Up to the Plate."

The deadline to enter is July 5, 2009 and winners will be announced July 6, 2009. Contestants must be at least 16 years of age.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy Stark – (608) 266-1115; Mike Staggs (608) 267-0796