Latest news with #FishandGame
Boston Globe
03-07-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
N.H. National Guard rescues rock climber after 60-foot free-fall off Mount Washington
The hikers shouted to a nearby group of rock climbers, who then provided first aid to Lamb-Wotton and called 911 to get help, according to officials. New Hampshire Fish and Game said they coordinated a rescue that involved multiple agencies, including a team of elite rock climbers from the Mountain Rescue Service and a Blackhawk helicopter and crew from the N.H. Army National Guard to provide support from the air. Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up Favorable weather conditions allowed the Army National Guard crew to hoist the climber from Huntington Ravine at about 3 p.m. and fly him to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., which is about Advertisement Officials at Fish and Game said Lamb-Wotton arrived at the hospital alive, but his condition is not currently known. A spokesperson for Dartmouth Health said the hospital is not authorized to release any additional information about Lamb-Wotton. Fish and Game officials said if the hikers hadn't alerted the climbers about Lamb-Wotton's fall, it could have taken hours or even days for first responders to locate him. Advertisement Lamb-Wotton is a In 'Trust your intuition,' he wrote. 'I've done this route twice before but I felt (sic) off going into it yesterday. I forced it and now have to deal with the consequences of ~60 ft tumble. Just a small reminder everyone is human.' Amanda Gokee can be reached at
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Ship captain convicted of poaching lobsters, crabs and mussels
A Vietnamese national and captain of a 400-foot cargo ship docked in Newington was arrested last week by Fish and Game officers after receiving a tip about illegal lobster trapping. Bui Cong Doai, 44, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors for lobster and crab fishing without a license and illegal possession of someone else's lobster gear, as well as five other violations. He had a Vietnamese passport and United States visa, according to Conservation Officer Justin Whipple. In all, he paid $1,269 as part of the conviction. Mussels Bui Cong Doai, 44, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors for lobster and crab fishing without a license and illegal possession of someone else's lobster gear, as well as five other violations. The cargo ship, Franbo Lohas, which sails under the Panama flag, had been docked on the Piscataqua River in Newington. Fish and Game noticed multiple ropes extending from the ship with traps belonging to a licensed New Hampshire commercial fisherman. 'There were four lines total off of the ship, two large and two small,' Whipple said. 'The two large each had a trap they were actively using to fish.' Officers found lobsters, crabs and bags of blue mussels. A female egg-bearing lobster was found in an undersized cage just to keep it alive. The investigation started after Whipple received a tip from a local lobsterman who had his gear tangled in lines coming from the cargo ship. 'When he retrieved his gear, he pulled up what was clearly an illegal lobster pot,' he said. 'He took some photos, gave me a call and reported it.' Fish and Game needed to get permission from the Coast Guard and the pier operator SubCom to board the ship. Based on information provided to Fish and Game, this is the first time the ship docked in New Hampshire. Bui Cong Doai, 44, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors for lobster and crab fishing without a license and illegal possession of someone else's lobster gear, as well as five other violations. 'We had probable cause based on the photos to do the investigation with the blessing of the Coast Guard,' Whipple said. 'We wanted to do it quickly because we weren't sure when the ship would be leaving.' The violations include illegal trap construction, possession of a short egg-bearing lobster, unlawful possession of crabs, unlawful possession of blue mussels and an egg-bearing Jonah crab. Fish and Game was able to work with the courts for an expedited arraignment, which led to the conviction. The egg-bearing lobster likely had never been caught before because it did not have a 'v-notch' marking, which fishermen use to mark breeding lobster. 'Hopefully, it will encourage people to keep giving us calls if they see anything skeptical and know that we are willing to get out there and do the investigation and the legwork,' Whipple said. He's glad the case was able to be settled before the ship left port.
Boston Globe
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
New Hampshire Fish and Game invites reality TV crews back for a new season
But, Simek said, while those treacherous sides of the job are what sells, she's hoping to highlight other aspects of the department's work in upcoming episodes. 'We have biologists doing amazing research, we have biologists doing amazing restoration work. And so we'd like to showcase all of that,' she said. Advertisement The format will also be updated this time. Rather than creating 40-plus minute episodes of reality TV, Simek said the producers are planning to create shorter YouTube videos that they can share easily online. Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up The Before it came to New Hampshire, the show was filmed in Maine, where it faced criticism, including from Advertisement 'I think it promotes the state,' said Colonel Kevin Jordan, law enforcement chief at Fish and Game. 'Selfishly, I think it promotes the great work the people that I work with do. In this day and age, any opportunity we get to promote that is a good thing.' And state officials will have a say in what makes it to air, according to Jordan. He said the department will have full editing rights and will be able to control what's shown to viewers. This article first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you'd like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, Amanda Gokee can be reached at
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
NH's only venomous snake is the most endangered animal in the state. What to know about them
Most snakes in New Hampshire are relatively harmless. You leave them alone, and they'll leave you alone while keeping your yard's ecosystem in balance (think fewer rodents). But, there are one species – just one, this isn't the Southwest – that is venomous and whose bite packs a punch: the timber rattlesnake. The timber rattlesnake is critically endangered, both regionally and nationally, after humans hunted them for decades and due to habitat loss. The snakes are incredibly rare in New Hampshire, likely the most endangered species within the state. "Since 2007, the population has recovered a bit from a devastating snake fungal disease (SFD) outbreak that was first identified in our population in 2006 that was estimated to kill over half of our remaining population," New Hampshire Fish and Game Department wildlife biologist Melissa Winters said in an email. "New Hampshire's native timber rattlesnake population is still considered highly endangered and on the brink of extirpation. Up to recent history, timber rattlesnakes were heavily hunted out of fear, which almost resulted in their disappearance from the state." That population was found by a forester in 1992 after a decade of no one finding a rattlesnake in New Hampshire, which had led to speculation the species had been extirpated, like it is in nearby Maine. People do occasionally see one, but exactly where they live is a carefully guarded secret to protect that last of these snakes. But if you do see one of these rare snakes, here's what to know. How to identify: Most timber rattlesnakes have a yellow, brown and black back like the picture seen above. But the New Hampshire timber rattlesnake actually comes in the black morph. "A large, thick black snake measuring 36-60 inches," the Fish and Game description reads. "Brown cross-bands arranged across the surface may be difficult to see. Has a large triangular head and keeled scales giving them a rough appearance. At the end of the tail there is a large, blunt rattle." Why New Hampshire only seems to have the black morph isn't known with certainty, "but we speculate that it has been lost due to an overall loss of genetic diversity (a result of their extreme isolation and relatively small population)." Winters said. The snakes are most commonly confused with the milk snake, northern water snake, black racer snake and garter snake, according to the state, which are all non-venomous species. The best way to tell the timber rattlesnake apart is the rattle, because while other snakes might try to mimic the rattle, only the rattlesnake actually has one. Where they are most often found: The location of timber rattlesnakes in New Hampshire is protected information, but scientists believe that historically their range likely included the majority of the state. Some landmarks, such as Rattlesnake Mountain, were likely named for the snakes. What to do if you get bit: This should go without saying, but try to avoid getting bit in the first place by giving the timber rattlesnake a respectful amount of space. But if the encounter does go awry and you get bit, the good news is that a bite, while painful, is rarely fatal, according to MassWildlife. Timber rattlesnake bites do have an antivenom. If you are bit, move away from the snake and remove items like rings, bracelets and watches and call for help. Ideally, health experts recommend you get to a hospital with antivenom within one hour of being bit. What health experts do not recommend is trying to cut out the bite, suck out venom or create a tourniquet. How to report a sighting: If you see, or even believe you see, a timber rattlesnake in New Hampshire, contact the NHFG Wildlife Division at 603-271-2461 during business hours (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or email a report to RAARP@ with rattlesnake observation included in the email subject line. If the sighting is outside of business hours, for an urgent or immediate report people can reach out directly to NHFG wildlife biologists via group text at 603-479-1129 and 603-944-0885 or call. These numbers are only for timber rattlesnakes, all other observations can be sent to RAARP@ Photos are appreciated in the report as well as a location and detailed description. However, do not approach a snake to take a photo. "Under no circumstances should anyone try to capture and get close to the snake as they are protected as a state-endangered species," Winters wrote. "Timber rattlesnakes are not an aggressive and will try to avoid interactions with people. Most of the time they will try to blend into their surroundings and remain still to avoid being seen as a defense strategy. However, if they are surprised or feel threatened they will try to flee, like most wildlife species, or may coil up in a defensive posture (i.e. a strike pose) so if they are attacked, they can defend themselves." This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH has only one venomous snake, and it's endangered. What to know
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Hunter cited for illegal killing of grizzly in North Idaho
May 15—Game wardens have issued a citation to a hunter who shot a grizzly bear in North Idaho last week. Speaking to a meeting of grizzly bear managers Thursday, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Panhandle Regional Supervisor Carson Watkins said the hunter killed the bear in the Lucky Creek drainage north of Priest Lake in Bonner County. The hunter mistook the grizzly for a black bear and immediately reported himself to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Grizzly bears are protected under the Endangered Species Act and under Idaho state law. Watkins said wardens investigated the incident and cited the hunter for killing an animal in a closed season, which comes with a maximum penalty of a fine of $10,000, up to 6 months in jail and a potential loss of hunting privileges. TJ Ross, a Fish and Game spokesman, said that because the hunter was forthcoming and self-reported the killing, agency officials will work with Bonner County prosecutors to try to ensure the penalty reflects that. Fish and Game officials declined to release the hunter's name. A call to the Bonner County Prosecutor's Office on Thursday afternoon was not returned before deadline. It was the second time in the past three years that a spring black bear hunter had mistakenly shot a grizzly in the Priest Lake area. This instance also came in the first season since Idaho began requiring black bear hunters to pass a bear identification test. Watkins said the hunter had passed the test "days before he went bear hunting." The 5-year-old female bear had an ear tag and had just shed a radio collar that had been put on last August, according to Wayne Kasworm, the Libby-based grizzly bear biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Kasworm's crews first collared the bear in 2022 and reattached it this past summer. At that time, it weighed about 200 pounds. When the bear emerged from its den this spring, however, it left the collar behind. Kasworm said bears sometimes lose collars that fit poorly or grow out of them. He said it hadn't produced cubs. Grizzlies don't typically reproduce until they're six or seven years old. The bear spent most of its time in the portion of the Selkirk Range north of Priest Lake. Based on DNA sampling and images gathered on trail cameras, Kasworm's monitoring team has found there are at least 57 individual grizzlies in the U.S. portion of the Selkirks.
