 A note from Director Rusty Garrison.
By now you’ve heard the news of division budget reductions and region reorganization from your supervisors, but I also wanted to give you some of the details from my perspective.
As part of Gov. Kemp’s executive order to improve efficiencies within the state, we have been charged with making some substantial organizational moves. This includes submitting for review 4- and 6-percent budget reductions, a freeze on Criteria Based Adjustments, and a reduction of one-third of our division travel budget.
We have been successful in making all of these changes without incurring any job losses or pay cuts. Some staff will have title changes and changes in responsibilities. Our goal is to reduce the number of staff in high-level positions and increase our field staff. We want to improve efficiencies by merging functions across WRD. We have met these goals while covering all financial cuts with federal aid.
While some financial details must still be presented to the Office of Planning and Budget, and ultimately must pass through legislation, the organizational changes will operationally take effect on Jan. 1, 2020. This includes the merging of Game Management regions 1 and 2 into a single North Georgia region, and regions 3 and 4 into a single Central Georgia region. Thus, Game Management regions will now be aligned with our North and Central Fisheries Management regions. Within the next four years, we plan to evaluate the success of these mergers and potentially work to make a single South Georgia region within both the Fisheries and Game Management sections.
I understand that these mergers will affect many of you greatly, and I want you to know the changes were made with all of you at the very forefront of our minds. Adjusting will take some time, but I have seen you rise to the occasion many times, and this will be no exception. Thank you for working with us to implement these goals. You are appreciated and your hard work and sacrifices do not go unnoticed.
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 Snakeheads caught in Gwinnett (Special to DNR)
The news story sounds like a bad horror movie:
Hungry fish with snake-like heads, sharp teeth, and the ability to breathe air and even, as juveniles, wriggle across land are invading Georgia.
Fake news? Nope. Northern snakeheads have turned up in Gwinnett County. An angler landed two in a private pond last month. DNR has since netted two adults and 30 juveniles in the pond and a wetland that drains into the Yellow River.
Although the eastern Asia species has been found in 14 other states, this is a first for Georgia.
Non-native species can compete with native fishes for food and habitat. Snakeheads are not only voracious, they grow up to 3 feet long and can multiply fast.
WRD’s Fisheries Management Section is working to assess and control them in Gwinnett. But help from the public, and especially anglers, is crucial, according to Fisheries Chief Matt Thomas.
“Our first line of defense in the fight against aquatic invasive species such as the northern snakehead are our anglers,” Thomas said. “Thanks to the quick report by an angler, our staff was able to investigate and confirm the presence of this species in this water body. We are taking steps to determine if they have spread from this water body and, hopefully, keep them from spreading to other Georgia waters.”
 Juvenile snakehead DNR netted in Gwinnett (DNR)
HOW ANGLERS CAN HELP
- Learn how to identify northern snakeheads. (Bowfins, a native fish, are often misidentified as snakeheads. Here's a helpful fact sheet.)
- Dispose of aquarium animals and plants in the garbage, not in waterways. Invasive species are often introduced through unauthorized release. In Georgia, it is illegal to import, transport, sell, transfer or possess any species of snakehead fish without a wild animal permit.
- Dispose of bait in trash cans, at disposal stations or above the waterline on dry land.
- Dump water from boat compartments, bait buckets and live wells on dry land.
If you think you have caught a northern snakehead, kill it immediately (remember, it can survive on land) and freeze the carcass. If possible, take pictures, including close-ups of the mouth, fins and tail. Record where it was caught (waterbody, landmarks or GPS coordinates), and report it to a regional DNR office.
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 Program offers landowners services varying from herd management to harvest analysis. (Steve Kyles)
By CHARLIE KILLMASTER
Public interest in receiving technical guidance for managing deer on private land has been growing the last few years.
The idea of WRD creating a deer management assistance program for private lands began to get traction during the development of Georgia’s Deer Management Plan 2015-2024. These programs, dubbed DMAPs, are not a new concept in the Southeast: More southern states have them than not.
Officially as of Nov. 1, WRD does, too. As part of the agency’s DMAP, hunt clubs or landowners can schedule a site visit with a biologist to view their property. The program offers several options – with differing fees and acreage minimums – that provide increasing levels of service and flexibility in the deer harvest. Services include deer herd and habitat management plans, property mapping, harvest data analysis, assistance with camera surveys, and harvest recommendations.
One of the primary DMAP benefits for all hunters, whether they participate in the program or not, is that deer either-sex days and the bag limit can be set to what is most appropriate for the majority of the landscape. For properties where additional deer harvest is biologically appropriate, harvest flexibility can be prescribed by a biologist through the DMAP.
Learn more at www.georgiawildlife.com/DMAP.
Charlie Killmaster is WRD’s state deer biologist.
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 How to get a deer out of a 40-foot-deep retention basin? Watch this video of the UWP at work.
By KAITLIN GOODE
The Wildlife Resources Division recently formed the Urban Wildlife Program to help resolve human-wildlife conflicts and provide education and outreach to help prevent such problems from occurring.
The program, known as UWP, is currently focused on 10 counties in metro Atlanta. The proactive education and outreach efforts are centered on providing presentations to community groups, helping local governments in human-wildlife conflict management and establishing relationships with area partner agencies, such as animal control agencies.
Resolving human-wildlife conflicts can be complicated, and each situation is unique regarding the best way to handle it. The UWP’s goal is to provide technical guidance that will give metro Atlanta residents the tools and confidence to resolve many of these issues on their own.
There are some situations, of course, that will require onsite guidance. In these instances, UWP wildlife technicians will help residents in resolving the conflict.
Overall, having staff dedicated to managing wildlife in urban environments will allow WRD to provide better customer service and further our mission of conserving wildlife resources.
Program information will be posted soon at www.georgiawildlife.com.
Kaitlin Goode manages the Urban Wildlife Program.
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 Spread the word: DNR’s family of wildlife license plates has a new member.
Now available in county tag offices, the colorful pollinator tag sports a monarch butterfly and a Georgia aster. Both native species are conservation priorities in Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan.
The pollinator plate replaces the ruby-throated hummingbird design. But like its predecessor, the new tag provides critical support for restoring and maintaining populations of Georgia wildlife not legally fished for or hunted, plus rare plants and natural habitats.
High visibility and high impact. This plate packs a pretty powerful punch.
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 Learning about eastern indigo snakes at CoastFest (Linda May/DNR)
WRD outreach efforts ranged far and wide in recent months. Events included Outdoor Adventure Days statewide that marked National Hunting and Fishing Day, monarch butterfly programs at Atlanta-area state parks and CoastFest in Brunswick. (Speaking of events: Don’t forget WRD’s 2020 statewide meeting Jan. 15 at Indian Springs State Park. Headquarters will work with each region to get a list of employees who will attend.)
Renovations at Evans County Public Fishing Area feature a 22-site campground and an event center with room for 85 people (make reservations through gooutdoorsgeorgia.com). Meanwhile, the 16-site campground at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center and Clybel Wildlife Management Area near Mansfield is now fee-based (online registration is in the works; call 770-784-3059 for reservations).
Turn youth to the outdoors through these activities: WRD’s Youth Christmas Bird Count Dec. 14 at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, the 30th annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest for K-5 students and the State-Fish Art Contest. For a deeper dive, check out WRD's Hunt and Learn programs and the 2020 Camp TALON, a coastal camp for teens interested in the outdoors, birding and ecology.
When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requested comments to develop a hunt plan for Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Lanier County, WRD recommended at least six days of alligator hunting and offered use of the agency’s quota system in support. WRD also recommended waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the refuge during the statewide season. Access to public lands for gator and waterfowl hunting is limited in this area of the state, and expanding opportunities syncs with WRD and Fish and Wildlife Service goals.
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 Grounded in Savannah (Continental Heavy Civil Corp.); video by Joe Malo (Clearwater Marine Aquarium)
Rescuing a big manatee stuck on dry ground can be a doozy, which is why it helps to have a dozer. Responding to a call on Oct. 1, WRD and Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute worked with an Army Corps of Engineers contractor to free an adult female manatee stranded on a sandy berm across Rifle Cut near Savannah. Read more in Georgia Wild, and watch the video linked above.
Forestry for Wildlife Partnership, which has been recognizing Georgia corporate forest owners that excel in wildlife stewardship since 1996, has been revamped to meet changing land-ownership patterns. The minimum acreage has been reduced to 10,000 acres and the conservation focus has shifted to wildlife and habitat projects that potential partners choose in consultation with WRD.
Georgia boaters who have completed boater education can show it on their driver’s license or ID card. The change by DNR and the Department of Driver Services adds an anchor logo on the license or ID card, freeing the boater from also having to carry a boating safety ed card when on the water.
WRD responded to Georgia’s second mass stranding of pilot whales in three months when about 28 short-finned pilot whales stranded at St. Catherines Island Sept. 25. The incident, in which at least 17 whales died, followed a July 16 mass stranding of 40-plus pilot whales on St. Simons Island. While there was no evidence those strandings were linked, five pilot whales that stranded at Edisto Beach, S.C., on Sept. 28, leaving four dead, were in a pod seen earlier that week at St. Catherines.
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 WRD kicked off the firearms opener for deer season with a bang – a multi-media, multi-platform "Game Day in Georgia" campaign that included videos with country music star Luke Bryan (click the photo) and Realtree’s David Blanton.
Zombie wood frogs, bleeding tooth fungi, shrieking barn owls: Public Affairs celebrated Halloween week with a Creepy Critters lineup sure to help constituents learn about wildlife and shiver at the same time.
Did you see these stories and videos featuring staff? (Follow WRD on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more.)
Got copy or a photo for WRD's social media platforms? Email it to wrdsocialmedia@dnr.ga.gov. Videos? Upload those here.
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 Tom Patrick discusses monkeyface orchids with WABE-FM reporter Molly Samuel (Rick Lavender/DNR)
The conservation community is mourning the loss of WRD botanist Tom Patrick. Patrick, of Monticello, died Aug. 22. He was the agency’s first botanist, joining in 1986 what was then the Georgia Natural Heritage Inventory Program. Patrick was noted for his knowledge of native flora – he authored “Protected Plants of Georgia,” a botanical standard – and his ready but respectful willingness to share that knowledge with others. This spring, the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance presented its first lifetime achievement award to Patrick, an award that was also named after him. He is survived by his wife, two sons and other family.
DNR Game Warden Josh Cockrell is WRD’s Hunter Education Instructor of the Year. “Game Warden Cockrell is an exceptional example of the type of instructor that can encourage and inspire young hunters,” Hunter Development Program Manager Jennifer Pittman said.
In a recent Out My Backdoor column, former Nongame Program Manager Terry Johnson profiled Monroe County’s Eva Persons, a key supporter of the Wildlife Conservation Section. Persons also led the effort to create The Environmental Resources Network, or TERN, the section’s friends group.
Cpl. Quinn Fogle of Early County is DNR’s 2019 Game Warden of the Year, as well as Investigative Game Warden and Georgia Boating Officer of the Year.
(Editor's note: WRD also wants to keep up with those who have retired from the agency. Email news items here. And if you know of any retirees who would like to receive this e-newsletter, please let us know.)
WRD We Are DNR recipients for the previous quarter include:
Heidi Ferguson, Public Affairs videographer and outreach coordinator at WRD Headquarters – Heidi is a true team player and always willing to help other members accomplish their goals. Recently, Heidi helped the social media team edit blogs and incorporate music into videos to enhance products before they were rolled out to the public. Without Heidi, Public Affairs would not be as successful as it is and the public would not receive the quality content they do. She is an integral part of the Public Affairs team.
We Are DNR awards allow all WRD employees to recognize associates for exemplary work. Just click the button above and answer the brief questions.
The WRD champions chosen by section chiefs are:
Game Management
Kim Piemme, Region 2 – Kim, at right, is a region champion every quarter, but this selection recognizes her heroic efforts defeating cancer while never missing a beat at work. The treatments took a toll, but Kim took little time off and took work home, staying on top of everything from payroll to hiring packages. She is the best multi-tasker and the toughest person we know. Kim is also caring (she continues to send sympathy cards to those in need and to attend retirement dinners) and dedicated, and she loves her job and fellow employees. Even better, although in the middle of treatments, she is currently cancer free.
Fisheries Management
Hunter Roop and Mark Rigglesford, Region 1 (Gainesville) – After documenting the presence of non-native snakeheads for the first time in Georgia, Hunter, a fisheries biologist, and Mark, a technician 3, worked tirelessly to document the occurrence and rapidly developed an eradication plan. The two spent long days sampling at the Gwinnett County site, draining the pond and organizing eradication efforts with other fisheries staff across the state. Their efforts were key to WRD responding rapidly and effectively to the discovery of this exotic species in Georgia.
Wildlife Conservation
Sydney “Rusty” Bryan, Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center – Rusty joined the Charlie Elliott team two years ago and has jumped in to make the center the best it can be. He is always willing to help, whether it is moving tables for programs, fixing a flat tire or serving as sounding board for ideas. Rusty has spent many hours setting up, mulching and basically keeping the center’s new pollinator garden growing. He is a great problem solver, coming up with solutions with input from others to attack a problem that requires attention. His wealth of knowledge and wisdom is truly appreciated by fellow workers.
Congratulations to all of these employees. Thanks to each for helping WRD excel at customer service and continue to pursue its mission.
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Changes for July 1 through mid-October (hourly positions not included).
HIRED
- Jordan Lindsey Davis, Game Management (Fort Valley), administrative support 1
- Aaron Kyle DeLaigle, Game Management (Fort Valley), wildlife technician 1
- Kinsey Leigh Girard, Fisheries Management (North Region 1 Operations), fisheries tech 2
- Zaara Kidwai, Game Management (administration), wildlife biologist 1
- Bryce Cameron Muhlenberg, Game Management (Hunter Education/Shooting Sports), training and development specialist 2
- Mary Frances Nieminen, Game Management (Bobwhite Quail Initiative), wildlife biologist 2
- Brandon Wayne Smith, Wildlife Conservation, wildlife tech 1
- Fletcher Michael Smith, Wildlife Conservation, wildlife biologist 1
- Daniel Scott Sollenberger, Wildlife Conservation, wildlife biologist 3
- Bruce Kerry Thomas, Game Management (Hunter Education/Shooting Sports), training and development specialist
PROMOTED
- James P. Hakala, Fisheries Management (North Region 1 Operations), natural resources manager 2
- Lisa M. Kruse, Wildlife Conservation, wildlife biologist 3
- Andrew Glen Mays, Game Management (Fort Valley), wildlife tech 3
- Michael Alvin Moore, Game Management (Sapelo Island), wildlife tech 2
- James W. Page, Fisheries Management (Southcentral Region 4 Operations), fisheries biologist 3
- Justin Curtis Smith, Game Management (Calhoun), wildlife tech supervisor
- Theodore A. Will, Game Management (administration), natural resources senior manager
RETIRED
- Vernon K. Baldwin, Fisheries Management (Central Region 2 Operations), fisheries tech 3
- Jeffrey Peter Durniak, Fisheries Management (North Region 1 Operations), natural resources manager 2
- Peter J. Griffin, Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, training and development specialist
- Robert M. Hosey, Fisheries Management (North Region 1 Operations), fisheries tech 2
- Lu Ann Mutzabaugh, Sapelo National Estuarine Research Reserve (Visitors' Center), administrative support 1
- Henry Williams, Di-Lane Plantation WMA, heavy equipment operator 2
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