Volunteers wanted for fawn research WI FYI

[Mike]

Hi All,

Looking for a good reason to get outside for a day for a good cause? Deer researchers in the Bureau of Science Services and University of Wisconsin Madison are graciously asking for your help conducting fawn searches during late May and early June 2012 in the Winter and Shawano areas as part of a research project evaluating factors influencing fawn recruitment across Wisconsin.

We are asking you consider giving a minimum of 1 full day to assisting the research team with fawn searches. Female deer that were captured and radio-collared during the winter will be giving clues as to when and where they will be giving birth. To provide as much flexibility in your busy schedules as possible, we have divided days afield into morning (6 a.m.-noon) and afternoon (1-7 p.m.) shifts. You can pick any combination of shifts you’d like. If you’d like to commit more than 1 day, we would certainly appreciate all the assistance we can get. Successful fawn capture will require deploying lots of boots on the ground. That said, we will need search crews of 20-30 people per day per study area (particularly in the northern forest region) from 21 May through 4 June 2012.

Fawn searching will require reporting to our field house in Shiocton (Sturgeon Camp, N7851 County Road M, Shiocton, WI 54170) or the parking lot immediately east of the BP Food Mart in Winter (6574 W State Road 70, Winter, WI 54896) no later than 6 a.m. each day for a morning shift. Field housing is available for anyone interested in arriving the night before or fawn searching on consecutive days. Though beds and food storage space is limited, ample floor space is available for sleeping. You will be contacted by research staff prior to your arrival with details and updates.

Minimally, volunteers should bring knee boots, cell phones, head net/bug suit, rain gear, food, and plenty of drinking water each day. Additional field equipment that would be helpful (but not mandatory) includes GPS units, portable radios, and digital cameras. Volunteers should be prepared to work long days (at least 12 hours, possibly split into an afternoon and following morning shifts) under the usual litany of variable weather conditions and swarms of biting insects. Fawn searches will consist of systematically searching a variety of habitat types for bedded fawns. Volunteers will assist with capturing, weighing, sexing, radio-collaring, and ear tagging fawns.

To sign up as a fawn capture volunteer, please contact our deer research team members in Shawano (920-373-3565), Winter (608-219-0771), or myself (Chris Jacques, 608-221-6358; email: christopher.jacques@wisconsin.gov) and we will be happy to discuss available capture dates and times with you.

We appreciate any help you may be willing to provide and look forward to seeing you soon. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns.

Thanks everybody and have a happy and safe summer!



Chris

Christopher N. Jacques, Ph.D.
White-tailed Deer Research Scientist
Certified Wildlife Biologist ®
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
2801 Progress Road
Madison, WI 53716
Phone: 608-221-6358
Cell: 608-575-3874
Fax: 608-221-6353
Email: christopher.jacques@wisconsin.gov

[Black Squirrel]

I did this last year, it's a fun time. I reccomend you try and make it a day if you can.