Kentucky Fish and Wildlife in the news

WKYT (Lexington)

• An up-close look as Ky. Fish and Wildlife distributes supplies to Perry Co. victims

WUKY 91.3 (Lexington)

• Rescue crews from across Kentucky are searching for missing flood victims

WYMT (Hazard)

• ‘This is beyond anything that we’ve ever experienced’: Breathitt County communities deal with flash flooding

Indianapolis Star

• What's in a name? Asian carp get a new, more palatable name: Copi

Lexington Herald Leader

• Keep your distance! Check out 3 of KY’s ‘most dangerous’ critters and how to avoid them

The Courier-Journal (Louisville)

• Armadillos in Louisville? Why you may find the creatures dead on the roadside

Link NKY (Covington)

• Deer illegally killed in Ft. Mitchell to be displayed at city building

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Nashville District)

• Nashville District park rangers attend Camp Currie to teach water safety

Northern Kentucky Tribune (Edgewood)

• Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources accepting applications for mentor-youth dove hunts

The Avery Journal Times (Newland, N.C.)

• Lees-McRae College hosts fourth annual Wildlife Medicine Symposium

Great Outdoors News

Gray bats and Indiana bats are federally protected as endangered species, which have been seriously declining in recent decades. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff work with Kentucky State Parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other partners to improve and protect habitats as well as conduct bat counts in hibernation and maternity sites each year to monitor populations over time.

Although de-listing these species will require more progress, these efforts are working.

Wildlife biologist retires

Wildlife Division Assistant Director Dan Figert (left) presented Traci Hemberger (right) with a plaque upon her retirement.

Wildlife biologist Traci Hemberger recently retired after more than 28 years of service in the department’s Wildlife Division.  Hemberger's work has contributed greatly to conserving Kentucky’s s species of greatest conservation need, including several federally-listed endangered and threatened bats. Thank you for your dedicated service, Traci.  We wish you a wonderful retirement!

Conservation Officers Benjamin Fisher (right) and Bobby Owens search an area impacted by flash flooding.

Fish and Wildlife staff respond after flash floods hit eastern Kentucky

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff from multiple divisions and the Commissioner's Office have assisted with emergency response and relief efforts in several southeastern Kentucky counties since flash floods devastated the area last week.

From search and rescue and recovery missions to clearing debris and delivering meals and other supplies to flood victims, department staff have filled important roles, even as some have been personally impacted by the flooding.

Dozens of conservation officers have assisted with emergency response efforts, including technical rescues and recoveries, supply delivery, wellness checks and security details. Conservation officers had assisted with 137 missions that rescued 130 people and resulted in the recovery of 28 victims through Monday.

Commissioner Rich Storm on Monday delivered supplies to the World Central Kitchen hub at East Perry Elementary School in Hazard and to Hindman Baptist Church in Knott County.

Staff from the Wildlife Division also connected with World Central Kitchen and have been delivering meals to area residents in hard-to-reach areas. In between deliveries, staff are scouting flood-impacted areas to determine additional needs.

Commissioner Storm and Deputy Commissioner Brian Clark delivered supplies to staff who suffered property damage and losses, and helped Engineering staff Nick Ray and Tom Burberry to clear debris deposited by mudslides and flooding on roads.

A chainsaw crew of Wildlife Division staff led by Southeast Wildlife Region Coordinator Mike Strunk also helped with debris removal in the immediate aftermath of the floods.

Thank you to staff and so many others involved with the emergency response. At a time when many are hurting, we are grateful you are there to help.

Couch receives regional award

Commissioner Rich Storm (second from left) presented Zack Couch (second from right) with MAFWA's 2022 Wildlife Biologist of the Year Award alongside Wildlife Division Director Ben Robinson (left) and Deputy Commissioner Brian Clark (right).

Zack Couch, Wildlife Diversity Program coordinator, received the Wildlife Biologist of the Year Award for 2022 from the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA).

Couch was nominated by the department for his outstanding leadership and efforts to benefit Kentucky’s species of greatest conservation need, ranging from bats and birds to mussels and crayfish.

Staff spotlight

In the spotlight this week is Kevin Osborne, superintendent of Camp Robert C. Webb.

Fun facts about Kevin: He enjoys spending time with his family, going to church and attending his children's sporting events. Kevin's also an avid racoon hunter, whose other outdoors interests include gardening and bee keeping.

“Staff Spotlight” introduces you to the variety of our employees and the breadth of their expertise, as well as the diversity of jobs, programs and initiatives of the department.

Thank you to Kevin and all of our dedicated staff.