 DNR's Joe Burnam checks a prothonotary warbler nest box on River Creek WMA (Josiah Lavender/DNR)
A message from WRD Director Rusty Garrison:
By now you should all be aware of the impending financial implications state agencies are dealing with due to COVID-19. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran a story recently concerning budget cuts. The state is facing current and future fiscal challenges because of the actions taken to protect the health of our citizens.
To meet Georgia’s constitutional mandate requiring a balanced budget, agencies have been tasked with planning for a reduction of 14 percent from the fiscal year 2020 base budget. This request was made to “ALL areas of the state budget with no exceptions.” These cuts are not in addition to the previous directive to reduce the Amended FY 2020 budget by 4 percent and the FY 2021 budget 6 percent.
We have faced uncertain times before and while this is unprecedented, it’s important for you to know that protecting our WRD family is always our top priority. We are working diligently to create a proposal that will fulfill budget reduction directives for our agency while at the same time protect staff in currently filled positions.
Proposed reductions will go through a series of approvals before finalization, so we will continue to update you as this progresses.
I do want us to reflect on some things to be thankful for during these days. We are seeing many more visitors to our WMAs. For years we have worked to find ways to encourage people to get outside. Now, with many things closed, people are doing just that. They are experiencing nature again. This provides more opportunities to promote WRD, focus on customer service and encourage license sales. It’s exciting that people are not sitting in front of electronics but are choosing to enjoy the outdoors, and especially at places you have dedicated your careers to caring for and conserving, places to be proud of!
All of us need to stop and think about other blessings we have experienced during the pandemic. Recently, I wrote the following to the national Project WILD coordinators:
I am thankful that 1) all my family is healthy; 2) Sue and I have started a new tradition of just sitting together after dinner on the front porch of our house with no electronics and enjoying each other’s company, the birds and nature; 3) last week I played my first game of disc golf since my knee replacement surgery; 4) I was able to walk 3 miles of trails at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center on Monday without knee pain; 5) even in the midst of the pandemic all the WRD staff still have a job; and 6) very few of the WRD staff have contracted the virus.
What are you thankful for?
ALSO: NEW TRAINING FOR NON-HUNTERS
One more thing … We have an exciting new training program focused on non-hunters in WRD. Hunting for Conservation provides non-hunting staff or those with limited hunting experience the opportunity to learn about the Wildlife Restoration Program and answers the question “Why do we hunt?” It will also give participants the chance to shoot archery and rifle equipment with trained instructors.
The one-day program will be held Sept. 24 at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center. Lunch is included.
If you have no or only limited hunting experience and are interested in attending, please complete this form by May 22 to be considered for the first session. Region supervisors or program managers will then submit to section chiefs a prioritized list of registrants for attendance.
This is a great addition to our training and I encourage any who are eligible to apply.
To all staff, stay well and please know that I am grateful for everything you do.
Rusty
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 Two young turkey hunters with Georgia gobblers taken this spring
With only a few days left, most would agree it has been a turkey season to remember. Beautiful weather, lots of birds and, for many hunters, lots of time in the woods.
Check out the latest totals on WRD’s Turkey Harvest Dashboard. Follow the agency’s Facebook and Instagram pages to find hunter photos and more.
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Despite all the challenges of working during a pandemic, Fisheries Management had a great spring fish production and stocking season.
So far this spring, WRD hatcheries have produced nearly 5 million fish and stocked them in water bodies across the state, from Lake Seminole to Lake Chatuge.
Staff also provided striped bass and hybrid striped bass fry to two federal hatcheries, helping them cover shortfalls in fish production in neighboring states and bolstering stocking in border waters.
The pandemic forced many changes in hatchery and stocking procedures and protocols, but the fish didn’t seem to notice. The fish WRD stocked this season will be enjoyed by Georgia anglers for years to come.
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 WRD’s lead marine mammal researcher is pragmatic when asked to assess the recently ended calving season for North Atlantic right whales.
“It’s moving in the right direction,” senior wildlife biologist Clay George said of the 10 calves seen this winter off Georgia and Florida. “But it’s far from being a recovery in the calving rate.”
But this endangered species has an even bigger problem. On feeding grounds a thousand miles to the north, at least 30 right whales have been found dead since 2017. Most died from vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing rope.
Six carcasses were matched to females that had birthed calves. Five others were adult females that had reached breeding age.
“The story is less about this year’s calving numbers and more about whether we can stop incidentally killing the moms,” George said.
Read about the status of right whales in WRD's Georgia Wild e-newsletter.
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 As Georgia reopens, WRD is continuing to encourage our customers to practice #ResponsibleRecreation. Also important: Advise them that any WRD service provided online or by phone, such as license purchasing or boat registration, must be done through those methods. Details and updates here.
Waterfowl hunters can start planning for upcoming migratory bird seasons following the Board of Natural Resources’ approval of 2020-2021 dates and regulations. Included: two extra days of duck hunting for active duty military and veterans, set for Nov. 14-15 and provided by recent passage of the Natural Resources Management Act, according to WRD state waterfowl biologist Greg Balkcom.
Sea turtle nesting season is on in Georgia, with the year’s first loggerhead nest discovered April 27 on Cumberland Island. Since then, more than 40 loggerheads have nested on barrier islands from Wassaw to Cumberland. Follow nesting at seaturtle.org.
A $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help the Georgia Sentinel Landscape protect and manage south Georgia wildlife habitats, including some on farms near military bases. The effort led by the Georgia Conservancy also will leverage another $2.2 million, all to increase prescribed fire in longleaf pine ecosystems and add conservation easements.
 Installing the stormwater system at Burton Hatchery (DNR)
The renovation of Burton Trout Hatchery has persevered through spring rains. The stormwater system, main fish waste lines and office building plumbing and electrical conduits are in, while the wastewater pond is being filled with dirt (as the site for a new maintenance building) and the slab for the office will be poured soon.
A WRD survey about Argentine black and white tegus in Toombs and Tattnall counties this spring found that 80 percent of respondents knew where to report the invasive lizards. Also, 90 percent or more of respondents who learned about tegus through DNR or the media said they were “more inclined to agree” the nonnative reptiles posed a threat to native wildlife and should be eradicated in the wild.
At Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, the Boating Access Team in Fisheries Management has refinished the Margery and Bennett lake dams and installed a boat ramp at Whitetail Pond. The team repaired erosion damage on the dams and then protected each by adding rip-rap and re-seeding the grass.
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 New Game Management Chief Alan Isler and pup, pictured in a recently burned stand (DNR)
WRD’s Alan Isler has been promoted to Game Management Section chief. An avid outdoorsman, former Georgia Forestry Commission management forester and WRD employee since 2004, Isler had been serving in Albany as Region 5 supervisor for Game Management. “I have no doubt that Alan’s 25 years of service with the state have prepared him well for this next step,” WRD Director Rusty Garrison said. “I look forward to his contributions in this new role.”
Don’t forget: We Are DNR awards allow all WRD employees to recognize associates for exemplary work. Nominating someone is easy: Just click the button below and answer the brief questions.
WRD champions chosen by section chiefs for the past quarter are:
Fisheries Management
Katie Might, administrative operations manager, Headquarters – Katie has helped the section navigate a change in leadership, budget cuts, the pandemic and vacancies in the Headquarters office since last summer. She has quietly and efficiently handled the additional work created by the many challenges faced in the past six months and has done a great job managing Fisheries’ budget and all other administrative tasks that keep the section working. Katie always takes time to answer questions and provide assistance to regional staff and others at HQ on a daily basis, and she does it with a smile.
Wildlife Conservation
Garrett Anderson, wildlife biologist 2 on the coast – Garrett leads the section’s southeast Georgia seasonal fire crew, maintains the region’s fire cache and equipment, and helps run fire training for WRD. He is a stellar staff member, serving as a valuable liaison with Game Management, a pivotal Interagency Burn Team partner and a key player in the Altamaha Corridor Significant Geographic Area. Garret is a great mentor and has led his crew through a phenomenal fire season, overcoming significant challenges with weather and COVID-19.
Game Management
Rachael Luse, administrative support 1, Region 2 – Since office staffing shifted to a skeleton crew, Rachael has staffed the Gainesville office daily by herself. She has handled all phone calls, answering questions varying from turkey hunting and trout fishing to COVID-19 and WMAs, plus nuisance abatement calls (149 in March) and staff checking in. Rachael is also completing special projects relayed remotely by her supervisor. The load is heavy under normal circumstances. Current circumstances are extraordinary. Rachael has gone above and beyond serving internal and external customers.
Congratulations to these employees. Thanks to each for helping WRD excel at customer service and continue to pursue its mission.
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Changes for March through early May (hourly positions not included).
HIRED
- Ryan Christopher Hurley, Game Management (Forest Management), forester 2
- Carlee Nicole Steppe, Wildlife Conservation (Social Circle), wildlife biologist 2
- Georgette Margaret Tarpley, License and Boat Registration, customer service representative 2
PROMOTED
- Timothy James Bohannon, Game Management (Calhoun), wildlife technician 2
- Lamar Alan Isler, Game Management (administration), senior manager 1 natural resources
- Jason H. Payne, Fisheries Management (Central Region II Operations), fisheries biologist 2
- Clint Robert Peacock, Fisheries Management (Headquarters Operations), manager 2 natural resources
- Donald Anthony Rabern, Fisheries Management (North Region 1 Operations), manager 2 natural resources
- Jo Mark Thompson, Sapelo Island Operations, vessel captain supervisor
- Theodore A. Will, Director's Office (administration), senior manager 2 natural resources.
RESIGNED
- Jessica Lee Holbrook, Fisheries Southeast (Region III Operations), fisheries tech 3
- Stanford Terrel Nettles, Fisheries Management (Southeast Region III Operations), fisheries tech 2
- Marcus Alexander Zokan, Fisheries Management (Statewide Programs Operations), fisheries biologist 3
RETIRED
- Lacy C. Mitchell, Wildlife Conservation (Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center), communications specialist 2
- Mark Douglas Whitney, Director’s Office (administration), senior manager 2 natural resources
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