PIKE CREEK – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife has confirmed reports of a bear sighting from residents in the Pike Creek area of northern New Castle County.

“Black bear populations within our neighboring states of Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have expanded over the past several decades. As a result, we are not surprised to have a bear find its way into Delaware,” said Joe Rogerson, program manager for Species Conservation and Research, Division of Fish & Wildlife. “It wasn’t a question of if, but when it would happen.”

Earlier today, the Division of Fish & Wildlife received several reports of a possible black bear sighting in northern New Castle within the area of Pike Creek. A DNREC biologist responded to two of the areas the bear was observed and was able to confirm the sightings via evidence of feeding and tracks left by the bear.

For residents in the area where the bear has been seen, the Division of Fish & Wildlife advises taking the following precautions:

• If you see the bear:
  • Do not approach it, attempt to touch it, feed it or shoot at it. Back away slowly – give it space. Go inside and wait for the bear to leave. Once inside, please contact the Division of Fish & Wildlife to report the sighting at 800-523-3336.
  • Keep in mind, most bears fear people and will retreat when they see you.
• Eliminate potential food sources that could attract the bear by cleaning or removing anything outdoors that may smell like food. This includes:
  • Locking garbage in a secure trash container, or keeping it inside until the day of pick-up;
  • Rinsing trash containers with ammonia to eliminate food odors;
  • Temporarily discontinuing the use of backyard compost piles;
  • Storing cooking grills inside or keeping them clean of food residue; and
  • Temporarily removing birdfeeders ─ there are many wild food sources for birds during this time of year.
• If you have animals:
  • Keep food indoors. If animals are fed outdoors, only feed the animal what it will eat in one sitting to ensure that there is no food remaining.
  • Corral animals close to buildings and outdoor lighting at night.
  • If you have electric fencing, make sure it’s turned on to protect chicken coops, livestock nursery pens, etc.
  • Promptly dispose of dead farm animals.

“This time of year, male bears are known to roam widely, but if given the opportunity, we will attempt to live-capture the bear and transport it to more suitable habitat out of state within the bear’s normal range,” said Wildlife Administrator Rob Hossler, Division of Fish & Wildlife. “Sightings from the general public will help us track its movements and enable us to respond accordingly. We ask anyone who sees the bear to report the encounter, including the specific location, by calling 800-523-3336.”

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 176

Reminder for the week: Tautog season closed through July 16; possession prohibited

DOVER – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between May 2-8 made 1,219 contacts with anglers, boaters, hunters and the general public, including 21 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks. Officers responded to 28 complaints and issued 28 citations, two of which were related to the C&D Canal Conservation Area and associated recreational trail, where there is an increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence.

Incidents of note:

• On May 6, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited Christopher H. Stock, 25, of Elberon, N.J, for negligent operation of a vessel and no boating safety certificate after the vessel he was operating struck the Reedy Island Jetty near Augustine Beach and sank. Following a 911 call, Stock, two passengers and a Great Dane dog were rescued uninjured by first responders. Stock was issued a $214 fine, including court costs. The vessel has not been recovered and the accident remains under investigation.
• On May 5, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested George W. Marquess Sr., 72, of Harrington and charged him with two counts of possession of over-the-limit for wild turkeys and one count of failure to check a wild turkey. Marquess pled guilty to one count of possession of over-the-limit for wild turkeys in Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover, and was fined $157, including court costs.
• On May 5, following a joint investigation with the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife Bureau of Land Management, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested Barry A. Gilbert, 53, of Cape May, N.J., and charged him with two counts of failure to tag antlered deer and one count each of failure to retain an antlered deer tag and transporting unlawfully-taken deer in connection with an incident near Laurel during Delaware’s November 2015 shotgun deer season. Gilbert was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Georgetown and released on $1,500 unsecured bond pending trial in the Sussex County Court of Common Pleas.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation: Possession of over-the-limit wild turkeys (2), failure to check a wild turkey (1), Failure to tag antlered deer (2), failure to retain antlered deer tag (1), transporting unlawfully-taken deer (1), and trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (9).

Fisheries Conservation: Unlicensed fishing (8)*, and possession of undersized white perch (2).

Boating and Boating Safety: Negligent operation of a vessel (1), and no boating safety certificate (1).

* Two citations for unlicensed fishing were issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

Are you AWARE?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind anglers that landing and possession of tautog in Delaware is prohibited from May 12 through July 16 and again from Sept. 1 – 28, regardless of where the fish was caught – Delaware waters, another state’s waters or federal waters.

Tautog typically spawn in offshore waters in late spring to early summer. Due to their slow reproduction and growth, the species is vulnerable to overfishing, and Delaware’s regulations are based on management guidelines issued by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to protect stocks from overfishing. Regulations include:

• A tautog size minimum of 15 inches for all seasons;
• A possession limit of five fish from Jan. 1 through March 31, July 17 through Aug. 31 and Sept. 29 through Dec. 31; and
• A possession limit of three fish from April 1 through May 11.

For a complete anglers’ guide to fishing in Delaware, click Delaware fish species; for specific information on tautog, click here.

For more information on fishing in Delaware, click on 2016 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and from license agents throughout the state.

Anglers, be AWARE:
The Division of Fish & Wildlife has received a number of calls recently from anglers who thought they were buying a Delaware fishing license from the website fishinglicense.org when they made a purchase from that site. The private, unaffiliated website does NOT sell licenses, but sells information about fishing and how to obtain fishing licenses for $19.99 – the same information that is readily available for free on the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s website. Delaware fishing licenses, meanwhile, are sold online ONLY on the Division of Fish & Wildlife website, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by authorized license agents statewide. ONLY the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s website is authorized to sell Delaware fishing and hunting licenses online.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Media Contacts: Sgt. John McDerby, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 171

LEWES – Recent wet weather has not deterred beachnesting birds from beginning their nesting season at Cape Henlopen State Park – with this year’s first piping plover nest found late last week on the Point, along with an American oystercatcher nest also discovered there.

“We estimate that there are four or five pairs of plovers that have set up territories at Cape Henlopen State Park so far, which is right in line with the schedule the plovers have kept to in previous years,” said Wildlife Biologist Matthew Bailey of the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Beachnester Monitoring Program. “One of our best tools for finding plover nests is following the birds’ tracks, which can lead a plover monitor to eggs nestled in a small dent in the sand. The current weather conditions have made the sand too wet for plovers to leave tracks, so there may be more nests out there still waiting to be discovered.”

With beach season coming soon, Bailey added that “Plover Patrol” volunteers are needed to help protect Delaware’s endangered piping plovers and other beachnesting birds. Anyone interested in joining DNREC’s beachnester monitoring team is invited to a training session from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 14, at Cape Henlopen State Park’s Biden Environmental Training Center, 15099 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, DE 19958.

The training session will begin with a slideshow followed by a discussion on the monitoring program and how volunteers can help to ensure that beachnesting shorebirds are not disturbed while nesting and rearing their chicks. Weather permitting, the group will head out to the Point at Cape Henlopen to look for piping plovers and other shorebirds. Birding scopes and binoculars will be available for use, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own optics if they have them.

Preregistration for the training is encouraged, but attendees also will be accepted at the door. Park entrance fees will be waived for volunteers attending the training by notifying the fee booth attendant. For more information on the training, beachnesting birds or monitoring efforts, please contact Matthew Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@delaware.gov.

About the piping plover
The piping plover was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1986, and the Division of Fish and Wildlife is responsible for its protection in Delaware. Under a binding agreement and species management plan that DNREC made in 1990 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – the federal agency with oversight of this ESA-protected species – piping plover nesting areas at Cape Henlopen State Park are closed annually to the public to protect the shorebirds from disturbance during their nesting season from March into September. The closure, which includes the Point and smaller areas around Gordon’s Pond and with both feeding habitat and nesting areas protected, has been successful, increasing the number of piping plover nesting pairs from a low of two pairs to a high of nine pairs. Piping plovers feed on small invertebrates that inhabit the intertidal zone near their nesting territories. Chicks are not fed by their parents, but rather are led to the shoreline to forage while the adults keep watch for potential threats. Allowing pedestrian traffic in the intertidal zone adjoining nesting areas would disturb the vital link between nesting and foraging habitat and risk adverse stress or mortality to the chicks.

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 168

Reminder for the week: Delaware’s wildlife, fishing and boating area visitors asked to respect state’s natural resources

DOVER – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between April 25-May 1 made 692 contacts with anglers, boaters, hunters and the general public, including 53 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks. Officers responded to 24 complaints and issued 17 citations, four of which were related to the C&D Canal Conservation Area and associated recreational trail, where there is an increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation: Unlicensed hunting (1), hunting turkeys on a state wildlife area without required permit (1), harassing migratory waterfowl (1), hunting migratory waterfowl without required state waterfowl stamp (1), hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal waterfowl stamp (1), hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal harvest information program (HIP) number (1), damaging state property on a wildlife area (1)*, and operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (2)*.

Fisheries Conservation: Commercial: Net-marking violation (1).

Boating and Boating Safety: No fire extinguisher (1).

Public Safety: Possession of a firearm/deadly weapon by a person prohibited (4), possession of ammunition by a person prohibited (1), and operating an uninsured motor vehicle on a state wildlife area (1)*.

* Citations issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

Two press releases also were issued about these citations:

• Hartly man arrested on numerous charges including possession of multiple weapons by a person prohibited
• Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police investigating commercial crab boat accident

Are you AWARE?
With the arrival of spring weather, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police are increasing patrols and monitoring state wildlife areas, fishing piers, public boat launching facilities and multi-use areas for visitor safety and compliance, as well as checking for illegal activity such as vandalism, littering, dumping and damaging wildlife habitat.

“The public is encouraged to enjoy our wildlife, fishing and boating access areas and the unique outdoor experiences they offer,” said Sgt. John McDerby of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. “However, as stewards of these areas for Delaware, we cannot allow the few people who do not respect our conservation mission to ruin things for the many who do. Those caught abusing our natural resources through illegal activities will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

State wildlife areas, fishing piers and boat launching facilities are closed to the public from sunset to sunrise unless a person is actively and lawfully engaged in fishing, hunting or boating in accordance with state regulations and individual wildlife area rules. Individuals not meeting these requirements and found at these sites between sunset and sunrise face fines up to $100 for trespassing after hours.

Wildlife area visitors also are reminded that it is illegal to operate motor vehicles – including motorcycles, cars, trucks and SUVs – off established roadways in state wildlife areas. Violators who cause damage will be cited for destruction of state property. In addition, operating a motor vehicle that is not licensed for use on established public roadways – including ATVs – is prohibited both on and off-road on state wildlife areas.

The following rules also apply to all state wildlife areas, fishing piers, public boat launching facilities and multi-use areas:

• Camping, swimming, target shooting (including paintball), dumping and littering, and fires are prohibited in state wildlife areas.
• Dog training is permitted only within established dog training areas or during open hunting seasons for the game animals that the dog is being trained to hunt.
• Hunting is permitted only in specified areas and only during designated hunting seasons.
• Firearms are prohibited on state wildlife areas from March 1 to Aug. 31, except during legal hunting seasons or as authorized by the Division of Fish & Wildlife.

“Littering can be a problem, especially in many fishing areas, so please leave no trace behind and take your trash with you,” Sgt. McDerby said, noting that the policy of carry-in, carry-out of trash is required in all state wildlife areas, fishing piers, public boat ramps and multi-use areas.

For more information on individual wildlife areas, including the rules and regulations specific to each area, visitors are encouraged to give close attention to Delaware wildlife area maps published by the Division of Fish & Wildlife. The maps are available in hard copy at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. The maps also are posted online at Delaware Wildlife Area Maps.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Media Contacts: Sgt. John McDerby, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 165

SLAUGHTER BEACH – The DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve, a DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife facility, will host its seventh annual Peace, Love & Horseshoe Crab Festival, celebrating the spring spectacle of migrating shorebirds and spawning horseshoe crabs, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at the center, located at 2992 Lighthouse Road, Milford, DE 19963. Admission is free.

Festivities will feature children’s games and a variety of fun and educational activities for everyone. A series of Estuary Eco-Challenge stations will be set up on the center’s grounds for visitors of all ages. Visitors will learn about how to identify shorebirds, get close to live horseshoe crabs and other aquatic species, learn how to cast a fishing rod, learn about boating safety, try their hand at Gyotaku fish printing, and much more!

Visitors also will have great viewing opportunities from the center’s large deck to check out interaction between horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds, including federally-threatened red knots, which depend on horseshoe crab eggs to help fuel their 9,000-mile journey from South America to their Arctic breeding grounds. DNREC’s Delaware Shorebird Project Team members will be on hand to identify the shorebirds along the shoreline surrounding the center.

Parking will be available at the Lacy E. Nichols Jr. Cedar Creek Boating Access Area’s public boat ramp, with a shuttle running to the center throughout the day. The festival will be held rain or shine.

Perched on the edge of Mispillion Harbor at the intersection of the mouths of the Mispillion River and Cedar Creek, the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s DuPont Nature Center regularly offers a variety of interactive exhibits, school tours and educational programs. Spring and summer hours from May 1 through Aug. 31 are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. September hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. The center will close for the season at the end of the day Friday, Sept. 30, reopening in April 2017. Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information about the Peace, Love & Horseshoe Crab Festival, or about the DuPont Nature Center and its programs, please call 302-422-1329. Also visit DuPont Nature Center, or find us on Facebook: facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

The DuPont Nature Center is a focal point of the Delaware Bayshore, and is part of DNREC’s Delaware Bayshore Initiative, a landscape approach to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat, increase volunteer participation in habitat stewardship projects, enhance low-impact outdoor recreation and ecotourism opportunities, and promote associated environmentally compatible economic development. For more information, click Delaware Bayshore.

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 164