Category: Conservation News

Analysis Shows that Walleye Found in Swan Lake were not Born There – MFWP

Microchemistry analysis of the inner ear bones (otoliths) of two walleye that were caught in Swan Lake showed that the walleye were not born in the lake. The walleye were caught during FWP gill net sampling operations in October. FWP Region One Fisheries Manager Mark Deleray says that the fish apparently were transported and released in the lake as part of an illegal fish introduction.

“We see a significant change over time in the chemical profile of the otoliths, indicating that the two walleye were recently introduced into Swan Lake,” says FWP Fisheries Biologist Sam Bourret. “It appears that the walleye were introduced in 2015.” Bourret noted that lake trout otoliths from Swan Lake were used to verify the lake’s chemical signature.

FWP Biologists are now analyzing patterns of walleye from lakes around the region that potentially served as a source for the walleye. Already, the analyses have shown that the walleye did not originate in Lake Francis (near Conrad) or Noxon Reservoir. Walleye from other lakes could be tested to search for a match. Fish incorporate the chemical makeup of the water into their otoliths, which then serves as a chemical fingerprint that can reconstruct the movements and origin of the fish.

Deleray noted that these were the first walleye reported from Swan Lake, and it is assumed that these fish originated from an illegal fish introduction. Illegal fish introductions have caused problems in hundreds of waters across the state, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars to rectify. In most cases, the illegal introduction cannot be undone often leading to lost fishing opportunity. In this case, walleye are highly predacious and could impact the native bull trout as well as the kokanee salmon fishery in Swan Lake.

Deleray notes that the FWP Commission approved a mandatory kill regulation for walleye in Swan Lake, Swan River, and Tributaries. All walleye caught by anglers must be kept and immediately killed. Walleye must be reported to FWP within 24 hours, and arrangements made for the entire fish to be turned into FWP within 10 days (assume frozen)

State law MCA 87-5-711 makes it illegal to introduce or transplant fish in Montana unless authorized by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. The release of any live fish into any Montana pond, lake, stream, or river without FWP authorization is strictly forbidden. Penalties can range from fines, loss of fishing, hunting, and trapping privileges, plus liability for the costs to eliminate or mitigate the effects of the violation. Anglers cannot move any live fish from the water in which the fish are caught. The reward for information leading to a conviction of the person (s) who introduced walleye into Swan Lake is up to $30,000, mainly contributed by Trout Unlimited, with contributions from other groups including: Walleyes Unlimited, Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana, Invasive Species Action Network, Montana Bass Federation Nation, Montana Pikemasters, Montana Wildlife Federation, and Walleyes Forever.

Deleray asks anyone with information on who introduced walleye into Swan Lake to call 1-800-TIP MONT. Callers do not need to identify themselves and may be eligible for the cash reward.

I-167 the loss of wildlife management and our rural Montana heritage
By KEITH KUBISTA President Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife
The human control crew is at it again. However, this time they are utilizing a wildlife ballot initiative known as I-167 as a vector to achieve their non-consumptive use/rural cleansing agenda. Wildlife ballot initiatives are devastating to all hunters, trappers, rural residents, ranchers, wildlife and the very agencies whose responsibility is to manage wildlife. These types of initiatives frequently target elimination of predator hunting or trapping as their primary goal, which creates severe problems for wildlife management agencies to balance predator-prey populations and also decreases hunting opportunities and license revenues. Wildlife ballot initiatives bypass existing structured management process and decisions by FWP or other fish & game departments, prevent deliberative processes with biological and public input and are rigidly written with zero flexibility.
Extremists and special interest groups that sponsor these ballot initiatives unfairly limit consumptive user groups, ranchers, livestock and agricultural producers and rural residents from protecting their property, livelihoods and traditional western lifestyles.
This deleterious I-167 initiative is particularly troubling since it absolutely prohibits trapping on all public lands, with nebulous and very limited exceptions. It is based on misleading information which would clearly prejudice the outcome should enough signatures be gathered by the legion of control agents likely bought and paid for by HSUS, DOW, NRDC, CBD, and the “Alliance of this” or “Friend of that”.
Beware; deceptions are being used by the sponsors of this initiative to eliminate our historical use of public lands.
Here are some facts:
• Trapping on public lands is regulated in some form with setbacks to roads, trails, campgrounds, trailheads, dwellings etc. to avoid conflicts. These setbacks are adjusted and revised regularly. For example regulations changed in districts 1 and 3 this year when more than 30 trails and roads now require expanded setbacks. In the Missoula area alone over 40,000 acres are off limits to trapping. In addition there are special regulations on over 420,000 acres of WMA’s and closures for beaver & otter trapping on 31 rivers, creeks, and their drainages.
• Trapping regulations are adaptive to current circumstances and are frequently changed to meet wildlife population objectives using biological data, recognizing shared use by the general public, and avoiding conflicts. Trapping regulations require the use of the most advanced technology, equipment and methods to deal with the wide range of species including pan tension settings, jaw spread limitations, placement and use of baits, seasonal timeframes, training and certification classes, trap ID tags, recessed trigger mechanisms etc.
• With these new era tools, trapping has become more humane, efficient, and is an essential wildlife management tool effectively used to control predators, pests, predatory animals, as well as to protect our domestic herds. For example, with the addition of trapping to wolf management plans last year, Montana’s wolf population was finally reduced for the first time since they were reintroduced. It is widely known and proven that hunting alone will not accomplish controlling wolf populations.
• We have been trapping for decades on public land and tourism is thriving and remains robust throughout Montana and will continue.
• Pets are to be kept under control at all times on public lands, not to be allowed to run at large, which has created many conflicts with harassed, injured or killed wildlife. Worst of all Footloose MT, the sponsor of this initiative continues to spread disinformation and propagates emotional hype concerning incidental dog captures. FWP keeps records of and monitors these events. Here is their data from last season: 4 dogs captured in wolf traps all 4 were on private land 3 running at large/loose. 10 dogs were caught in furbearer sets (3 on private land, 4 running at large/loose). Nearly half of all incidents involve dogs at large.
• One of the elements this initiative imposes is prohibiting governmental agencies from contracting with private sector individuals or contractors who specialize in pest and predatory animal control. This will require more full time state employees to carry out these activities which many Montana residents currently do recreationally and as protection of their property.
• If public land trapping is prohibited predator and predatory animal populations will increase thus causing more livestock depredation which results in more funding needed for the livestock loss board and other obligations.
• There are many other long term financial implications and far reaching consequences of this initiative that result in loss of license revenues, fiscal liabilities for the state, and restrictions to private property protection.
Folks, here in Montana our customs, culture, and heritage should not fall victim to extremists looking to adjudicate our lifestyles out of existence.