K-State Research and Extension News
Wildlife

WOODY BRUSH COVER... Play Audio


Overly aggressive woody brush can overtake pastures and rangeland, seriously impairing grass growth. On the other hand, that brush serves as important habitat for upland game birds. And through practical management, that habitat can be preserved without sacrificing the grazing value of that land.   So says K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee, as he talks about the principles of “patterned” brush management.

5/16/2013 7:00:00 PM

‘Preserving the Tallgrass Prairie’ Video Now Available Online


A 30-minute feature on preserving Kansas’ tallgrass prairie that recently aired on public television is now being offered through Kansas State University.
5/15/2013 8:00:00 AM

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee... Play Audio


K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee talks about a "patterned" approach to brush management on Kansas range and pasture lands, with the objective of preserving habitat for upland game bird species.
 

5/13/2013 7:00:00 PM

RE-STOCKING FARM PONDS... Play Audio


At long last, several locations around Kansas have received decent moisture over the past few weeks…allowing for long-dry farm ponds to start filling back up.  Now, landowners may be thinking about re-stocking fish in those replenished ponds.  There are guidelines that should be followed, in order to succeed with that re-stocking, as K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee covers this week.                                               

5/9/2013 7:00:00 PM

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee... Play Audio


K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee covers the proper approach to re-stocking fish in farm ponds, as dry ponds start to fill up with water again.
 

5/6/2013 7:00:00 PM

CROW CROP DAMAGE... Play Audio


Although their numbers were drastically reduced by West Nile Virus a few years back, the crow population remains fairly abundant in Kansas.  Many think that crows inflict significant damage to corn and other crops, but the evidence doesn’t back that notion, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee.  In fact, he encourages people to appreciate this bird, if for nothing else, for its intelligence.

5/2/2013 7:00:00 PM

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee... Play Audio


K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee looks at the nature of crows, and the facts about the crop damage they cause.

 

4/29/2013 7:00:00 PM

LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN PLAN... Play Audio


Landowners and other interested parties have until September 30th to provide formal comments on the federal proposal to list the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species.  Kansas is one of the five states where this bird is found.  And a “threatened” listing could lead to habitat management mandates unfavorable to the landowner.  Wildlife authorities in those five states are working on a conservation plan that could possibly preclude the listing of the lesser prairie chicken. K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee talks about that plan.

4/25/2013 7:00:00 PM

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee... Play Audio


K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee has the details on an important webinar coming up next week for landowners, on the conservation plan for the lesser prairie chicken, as federal officials will decide this fall whether or not to list it as a threatened species.
 

4/22/2013 7:00:00 PM

Webinar Set for Lesser Prairie Chicken Discussion


The potential listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) as a threatened or endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is on the minds of many landowners in Kansas and a cause of concern for land managers.
4/19/2013 8:00:00 AM

ANTLER QUALITY STUDY... Play Audio


Has the quest by hunters for “trophy” game over time had an impact on the size and quality of big game antlers and horns?  That was the question that a recently released study sought to answer…and it analyzed over 100 years of game harvest data in doing so.  The findings reveal some important things about present-day wildlife conservation efforts, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee.

4/18/2013 7:00:00 PM

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee... Play Audio


K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee reports on a new study of trends in game antler and horn size and quality over the past 100 years, and how game harvesting has impacted those traits.
 

4/15/2013 7:00:00 PM

BEAVER AGRICULTURAL DAMAGE... Play Audio


Even in times of drought, beavers can cause damage to agricultural fields with their waterway structures and crop feeding.  A recent study in Illinois sought to measure the typical geographic range of beavers, and what dictates the extent of their activity.  The findings of that study have relevance to Kansas agricultural areas, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee.

4/11/2013 7:00:00 PM

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee... Play Audio


K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee looks at a new study out of Illinois, of beaver damage to agricultural areas and the extent of their range.
 

4/8/2013 7:00:00 PM

KANGAROO RAT CONTROL... Play Audio


They may appear to be only a minor nuisance…but when kangaroo rats colonize in isolated parts of a crop field, they can wreak havoc with a newly planted crop.  In those locations where kangaroo rat activity is evident, pre-plant control may be warranted, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee.  This week, he describes the problem and the available solutions.

4/4/2013 7:00:00 PM

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee... Play Audio


K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee looks at controlling kangaroo rats in crop fields ahead of planting time, to prevent them from consuming newly-planted crop seed.
 

4/1/2013 7:00:00 PM

LIVESTOCK FEEDERS AND RODENTS... Play Audio


Though no livestock producer really wants to think about it, the fact is rodents cost livestock feeding operations millions of dollars each year. Norway rats are the greatest offenders, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee. This week, he outlines a multi-step approach to contending with rat damage at a livestock feeding facility.

3/28/2013 7:00:00 PM

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee... Play Audio


K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee looks at controlling rodent damage in livestock feeding facilities, concentrating on the problems brought on by rat infestations.

3/25/2013 7:00:00 PM

BACKYARD POND CARE... Play Audio


Raising fish in backyard ponds has become a popular feature of many home landscapes in recent years.  Now is the time for homeowners to “de-winterize” their backyard ponds, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee.  This week, he goes over several maintenance steps leading to another spring and summer of good-quality habitat for koi and other ornamental pond species.

3/21/2013 7:00:00 PM

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee... Play Audio


K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee looks at de-winterizing backyard fish ponds and how to get them ready for a spring and summer of quality habitat for koi and other backyard pond species.

3/18/2013 7:00:00 PM

BIRD MANAGEMENT FOR NEST SUCCESS... Play Audio


A comparison of four common means of bird management ranks the effectiveness of each strategy for improving nest success. The management strategies reviewed included: prescribed burning, livestock exclusion, brown-headed cowbird removal, and predator removal. In this week’s Outbound Kansas, K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee provides an overview of the findings.

3/14/2013 7:00:00 PM

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee... Play Audio


K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee provides an overview of a new comparison of four common means of bird management for nest success.

3/11/2013 7:00:00 PM

URBAN COYOTE CONFLICTS... Play Audio


Problems with aggressive coyote behavior in urban and suburban areas are apparently on the rise, as evidenced by yet another new study discussed this week by K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee. This time, the study got into why these coyote conflicts are increasingly frequent. And Charlie says it reinforces some basic recommendations for averting these coyote problems.

3/7/2013 6:00:00 PM

K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee... Play Audio


K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee comments on a new study of coyote problems in urban and suburban areas, and what people can do to lessen those conflicts.
 

3/4/2013 6:00:00 PM

DEER REPELLANT PERFORMANCE... Play Audio


Those looking for a sure-fire repellant product to control deer damage to crops and property will, more often than not, be somewhat disappointed, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee.  The comparative analysis of deer repellant performance that he discusses this week indicates that all such products achieve only 50 percent control or less. However using such products in combination with other control methods can yield some positive results.

2/27/2013 6:00:00 PM

K-State Wildlife specialist Charlie Lee... Play Audio


K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee talks about the performance ratings of deer repellant products, saying that several external factors impact their effectiveness.
 

2/25/2013 6:00:00 PM

PRAIRIE CHICKEN PLAN... Play Audio


The wheels are in motion for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to possibly list the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species, which would pose huge consequences for High Plains agriculture and land management in general.  Agencies in five states, including Kansas, have forwarded a detailed conservation plan for the lesser prairie chicken, which they hope will head off the listing process.   Wildlife specialist Charlie Lee of K-State provides an update on the situation this week.

2/21/2013 6:00:00 PM

Attracting Birds Means Supplying What They Like


SALINA, Kan. -- To a degree, attracting birds to a backyard feeder requires giving them what they most prefer. That can be complicated, because different kinds of birds prefer different types of food.
1/15/2009 8:00:00 AM