Drought hurts duck population in North Dakota.
The number of breeding ducks in North Dakota has dropped below 3 million for the first time in nearly a quarter century, and drought in parts of the state this summer could make matters even worse.
A state Game and Fish Department spring survey that gives hunters their first glimpse of how duck numbers might shape up for the fall hunt indicates about 2.95 million birds.
That’s a drop of 15 percent from last year and the first time since 1994 that the number dropped below 3 million.
Breeding duck numbers peaked at a record 5.4 million birds in 2002.
A lot of idled farmland has since been put back into production, however.
There was more water available to ducks in the state at the time of the May survey than there was last year, but that’s misleading because temporary and seasonal wetlands "were struggling to hang on," Szymanski said.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows all of North Dakota being either abnormally dry or in some stage of drought, with about 27 percent of the state in severe drought.
Even if the weather turns around, "it would help us out with the migration and staging ducks during the hunting season, but it’s a little late to turn anything around as far as reproduction," Szymanski said.
Historically speaking, the spring duck survey in North Dakota also is still 23 percent above the long-term average, a 69-year period that dates to 1948.

N.H. Drought Was Good for Moose.
Preliminary numbers from a project that puts tracking collars on moose show that only one of the calves — the most vulnerable group — died from winter ticks this year.
Project leaders are still watching with caution, as winter ticks are in the adult stage in April and are feeding heavily.
It was 71 last year.
Permits also are down to 80 in Vermont, from 165 last year.
Maine authorities want to cut the number of moose permits to 2,080, 60 less than last year.
Vermont, which joined the study this year and didn’t have drought issues as serious as New Hampshire, has seen five of its 30 collared calves die, so far.
Some feel it’s time to stop moose hunting, period.
“Why would you threaten it further?” Moose population densities are taken into account in all hunting areas.
That will have a bigger impact … We could stop (hunting) tomorrow, and what’s going to happen to these animals will continue to happen.”

Why New Hampshire’s drought was good for its moose.
Preliminary numbers from a project that puts tracking collars on moose show that only one of the calves – the most vulnerable group – died from winter ticks this year.
It was 71 last year.
Permits also are down to 80 in Vermont, from 165 last year.
Vermont, which joined the study this year and didn’t have drought issues as serious as New Hampshire, has seen five of its 30 collared calves die, so far.
The wildlife federation says it understands the Fish and Game Department’s goals to maintain a healthy moose population, as well as the challenges of trying to reopen a hunting season once it is stopped.
Some feel it’s time to stop moose hunting, period.
“Why would you threaten it further?” Moose population densities are taken into account in all hunting areas.
She said parasites are the bigger problem, and will continue to be so in the future.
… We could stop (hunting) tomorrow, and what’s going to happen to these animals will continue to happen.” Share

Drought was tough on farmers, but good for moose.
Preliminary numbers from a project that puts tracking collars on moose show that only one of the calves — the most vulnerable group — died from winter ticks this year.
Project leaders are still watching with caution, as winter ticks are in the adult stage in April and are feeding heavily.
It was 71 last year.
Permits also are down to 80 in Vermont, from 165 last year.
Vermont, which joined the study this year and didn’t have drought issues as serious as New Hampshire, has seen five of its 30 collared calves die, so far.
Some feel it’s time to stop moose hunting, period.
In New Hampshire, there were only about 50 moose in 1950.
Rines notes the hunt is targeting about 1 percent of the moose population in New Hampshire.
That will have a bigger impact … We could stop (hunting) tomorrow, and what’s going to happen to these animals will continue to happen."