Peshtigo Brook Wildlife Area is a 2,373-acre property in Oconto County, with about two-thirds of the property making up the Peshtigo Brook Meadow and Woods State Natural Area.
This area has extensive, unique native sedge meadows interspersed with dry oak, pine and aspen forests. It provides excellent remote hunting, trapping and wildlife-viewing recreation.
The property is north of Suring and south of state Highway 64. Take Hawthorn Road from Pipeline Road to a parking area on the property’s southwest corner. A single parking lot is provided. Remote country recreation skills are a must for the limited development of this property.
State ownership of the property began in 1953, with the original management directed toward waterfowls and sharp-tailed grouses. With changes in hydrology and the succession of land cover, management has shifted to an emphasis on wildlife and the unique sedge meadow community.
Timber sales in the area improve habitat for wildlife dependent on early successional forest types. Prescribed burns to control brush in the sedge meadows are conducted periodically. Oak wilt containment measures have been utilized here. Timber stand improvement plans, and treatments for invasive species treatments are planned for the future.
The road system is maintained for management activities but is not currently open to vehicular traffic. Plans include improving access and parking through agreements with the town and county.
This property is managed in collaboration with the Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation.
The Peshtigo Brook Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities — birding, cross-country skiing (no designated trail), hiking (no designated trail), hunting, trapping, wild edibles and gathering and wildlife viewing.
A confirmed case of HPAI bird flu has been detected in Edenhope.
Agriculture Victoria confirmed the case was detected in a bird categorised as a ‘gull, tern and noddy’, and was investigated on August 24.
It is the first confirmed case of HPAI avian influenza in the Wimmera.
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There have been at least two other reports of bird flu in Edenhope, and several other reports of suspected cases to birds in most towns – Horsham, Nhill, Dimboola, Warracknabeal, Jeparit, Hopetoun, Beulah, Murtoa, Goroke, Stawell, and Halls Gap.
There have been at least 35 confirmed cases of bird flu in West Wimmera’s neighbouring shire of Glenelg, but mostly along the coast.
There has also been one confirmed case in Avoca, in the Pyrenees Shire, and at Hamilton, in the Southern Grampians Shire.
Member for Lowan and shadow agriculture minister Emma Kealy said Nelson residents had reported hundreds of dead birds accumulating around the Glenelg River Estuary, an internationally significant wetland.
Ms Kealy said the lack of action on the 400 or more carcasses exposed serious questions about Victoria’s response to the growing H5 bird flu threat, especially given that three kilometres away from Nelson, across the South Australian border, crews were actively collecting and disposing of dead birds and humanely euthanising sick birds where appropriate.
The State Government has acknowledged carcass removal will not occur everywhere, prioritising areas of high visitation and public amenity, and has introduced a statewide control order authorising public land managers to move and dispose of wildlife that have died from H5 bird flu.
The Federal Government also announced an additional $125-million for the national H5 response, with states and territories required to match funding to access it.
“This is not the time for Victoria to be slow or complacent,” Ms Kealy said.
“We need boots on the ground, clear advice for communities, appropriate surveillance and testing, and properly resourced land managers able to respond where carcass removal is required.
“Victoria must also remain absolutely focused on protecting our poultry sector. H5 has not been detected in Victorian poultry and keeping it out of farms must be one of the government’s highest biosecurity priorities.
“An outbreak in commercial poultry could have devastating consequences for farmers, regional jobs, animal welfare and food production.”
Ms Kealy said immediate action must be taken to protect the poultry industry and regional communities after a fox was Victoria’s first recorded case of H5 bird flu found in a mammal.
Authorities are also investigating a suspected case in a dolphin.
“This outbreak is changing, and Victoria’s response needs to stay ahead of it,” Ms Kealy said.
“The detection of H5 bird flu in a mammal is another warning that we need the strongest possible surveillance, biosecurity and response measures in place.
“Victoria has a significant poultry and egg industry supporting regional jobs, businesses and our food supply.
“We need to do everything possible to keep this disease out of commercial farms.”
Ms Kealy said poultry producers had raised concerns about compliance with measures designed to protect domestic flocks.
“Biosecurity only works when everyone does their part,” she said.
“Labor needs to be absolutely clear about how its poultry housing and biosecurity requirements are being monitored and enforced, and whether Agriculture Victoria and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action has the people and resources it needs as this outbreak develops.
“This isn’t about creating unnecessary alarm. It is about recognising the risk early and acting before we have an outbreak in a commercial poultry operation.
“Once a disease gets through the farm gate, the consequences can be devastating for farmers, animals, regional jobs and food production.”
Agriculture Victoria advise if people see sick or dead birds, they avoid contact with them, record what they see and where, and report it to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888, or report online at forms.bio.vic.gov.au/wildlife-influenza-investigation.
Wisconsin deer hunters should find plenty of opportunities when the fall hunting season gets underway, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
DNR Deer Specialist Derek Johnson said deer populations remain strong across much of the state following another relatively mild winter.
“Right now our herd numbers are looking very strong throughout much of the state with a third mildish winter again for most of the state,” Johnson said. “Numbers and reproduction are looking good. Winter survival is looking good. We really expect, barring conditions during the season, things to look good as far as deer numbers out there.”Audio Player
Johnson said hunters should pay close attention to food sources as the season progresses, including red oak acorn crops that can influence deer movement and activity.
As archery season opens, DNR officials are also emphasizing hunter safety, particularly when using tree stands.
Hunter Education Administrator Renee Thok said tree stand accidents remain one of the most preventable causes of hunting injuries.
“Always wear a full-body harness, also known as a fall arrest system,” Thok said. “Make sure to connect your tether line and keep your tether line short. The tether line is designed to keep you in your seat and not to catch you after you fall. Always have three points of contact while climbing into and out of your tree stand.”Audio Player
The DNR is also reminding hunters to follow basic firearm and archery safety practices throughout the season.
Meanwhile, the agency is continuing efforts to monitor and track Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD, in Wisconsin’s deer herd.
Herd Health Specialist Erin Larson said hunters statewide will have access to testing services during the season.
“So no matter where a hunter harvests a deer, you’ll be able to get it tested,” Larson said. “However, we do have priority areas that we are especially interested in getting additional samples from. So those priority areas are around newer detections of wild or farm-raised deer, primarily in the central and northern parts of the state.”Audio Player
Exposing the Big Game 