Latest news with #KentuckyDepartmentofFishandWildlifeResources
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
CWD surveillance measures in effect for three KY counties
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Officials say new Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance measures are now in effect for Henderson, Union and Webster counties, following the detection of CWD in a deer harvested just across the Ohio River in Posey County, Indiana. Officials with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) say, in response, the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a CWD Surveillance Zone for the three counties, expanding the state's existing surveillance area, which includes Ballard, Breckinridge, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hardin, Hickman, Marshall, Meade and McCracken counties. The zone brings specific regulations to help limit the spread of the disease among deer. Board approves proposed tuition increases at Murray State, WKU Officials say these are the key regulations now in effect: Mandatory testing Hunters in Henderson, Union and Webster counties must bring deer harvested during the first three days of modern gun season, which is November 8 to 10, to a staffed check station or CWD Sample Drop-Off site for testing. Carcass transport limits Whole carcasses or high-risk parts from deer harvested in the zone cannot leave the three counties. Permitted items for transport include de-boned meat, clean skulls and teeth, antlers with or without a clean skull cap, hides and finished taxidermy mounts. Carcasses of deer harvested outside the zone may be brought in. Rehabilitation ban The rehabilitation of deer is prohibited within the surveillance zone. For the 2025–2026 deer season, under the authority of the commissioner, two key changes take effect in all counties that are designated within the CWD Surveillance Zone. According to officials, baiting is now allowed in all counties within the CWD Surveillance Zone, provided it is not distributed through contact feeders like troughs, funnels and gravity feeders without spreading capabilities. This change overrides the previous baiting ban, aiming to give hunters more opportunities to harvest deer while reducing deer densities. A statewide prohibition of feeding is still effective from March 1 through July 31. Also, feeding and baiting is illegal on all Wildlife Management Areas. Man identified after drowning in Pike County lake KDFWR says while permitted with limitations, baiting promotes unnatural congregation of deer, increasing the risk of CWD transmission through saliva, urine and feces from infected animals. Hunters should weigh this risk before choosing to bait. Officials also note to manage deer populations and improve disease monitoring, a special two-day antlerless-only gun season will be held on September 27 through 28, in all CWD Surveillance Zone counties. During this special season, hunters are required to drop off the head of harvested deer to a CWD Sample Drop-off site. Hunters may harvest any deer without visible antlers, including button bucks. However, no deer hunters—whether using firearms, bows or crossbows—may take an antlered buck in a CWD Surveillance Zone county during this weekend. Hunter orange requirements are in effect during this season. According to KDFWR, Chronic Wasting Disease is caused by abnormal proteins called prions and affects white-tailed deer, elk and other animals in the deer family. There is no known cure or vaccine, and the disease is always fatal in infected animals. The disease is not known to be transmissible to people, but as a precaution the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends not consuming meat from deer that test positive for the disease. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife always recommends not consuming meat taken from animals that appear to be sick or in poor condition. Lincoln State Park to close some facilities for dam repair Officials say hunters all across Kentucky are encouraged to submit samples through the CWD Sample Drop-Off sites or CWD Sample Mail-in Kits at any time during the hunting season. The test comes at no monetary cost to the hunter, and results are typically returned within four to six weeks. Back in February, there was a second positive case of CWD confirmed in Posey County. The infected, wild, white-tailed deer was a 2.5-year-old male harvested in Posey County. The deer was confirmed positive for CWD by two independent tests. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
28-05-2025
- USA Today
Black bear falls crashes through attic, falls onto kitchen stove: See pictures
Black bear falls crashes through attic, falls onto kitchen stove: See pictures Show Caption Hide Caption Watch: Bear ravages family's Subaru A family had to set up a GoFundMe to help cover the damages to their car left behind by a black bear. A black bear was found sitting on the stove of kitchen after crashing through the ceiling of a home in Kentucky. In a post on Facebook, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement said authorities responded to a call for a black bear at a residence in Bell County around 5 a.m. on May 21. Officers arrived at the scene to find the bear sitting on the stove in the kitchen. Bear fell through ceiling from attic "After taking a look around, it was determined that the bear had climbed up a ladder outside and squeezed through an opening into the attic," the post said. "The bear then fell through the ceiling into the residence below." The bear was eventually chased out through an open door by responding officers, the post said. Citing the department's bear biologist, a spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources told USA TODAY wildlife staff monitored the area for a few days but did not see the bear again near the house or in the area. It is not immediately known if there were any injuries or substantial damages. How to keep bears from entering your home Kentucky is home to a resurging black bear population "that is experiencing considerable increases in both numbers and range," according to Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. While black bears are typically solitary and shy animals, they can be a nuisance to humans and can cause human-bear conflicts. As a result, wildlife agencies are advising all residents to be more "BearWise" and take "reasonable corrective measures" to avoid encounters, including: Never feed bears. In Kentucky, it is a crime to directly or indirectly feed bears. Punishment can entail a fine of up to $1,000, up to a year in jail, and the loss of hunting and fishing privileges for up to 3 years. Do not approach bears. If you encounter a bear in your own yard, do not leave the house. Ensure everyone is secure inside before banging pots or making other loud noises to scare the bear away. Secure food, garbage, and recycling. Remove bird feeders when bears are active. Do not leave pet food outdoors. Clean and store grills, smokers. Alert neighbors to bear activity. Be extra cautious if you see cubs. Mother bears are very protective of their young. Do not approach, touch or interact with cubs. Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
See it: Mammoth Cave National Park struck by Kentucky flooding
MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK, Ky. – As historic storms drenched parts of Kentucky over the weekend, Mammoth Cave National Park saw floodwaters rise throughout the park. Photos shot throughout the park showed flooded roads and even part of a cave. Flooding also covered stairways along one of the park trails. Another photo from park officials showed a campground along the Green River having completely disappeared under floodwaters. The Green River, which courses through the park rose more than 40 feet – from 17 feet to nearly 60 feet – in three days, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This rise in water level also affected a parking lot and part of the road leading into it. Despite the impacts, national park officials noted that the visitor center and cave tours remain open. They added that park crews are continuing clean-up efforts in impacted areas. How To Watch Fox Weather Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest cave system in the world, according to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Its caverns formed after thousands of years of rainfall and floodwater eroded the limestone surrounding the Green article source: See it: Mammoth Cave National Park struck by Kentucky flooding
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
First Black member suspects politics is booting him from KY Fish and Wildlife Commission
Jerry Ferrell is the first Black member of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission. A bill backed by Republican leadership in the state Senate could soon return the commission to all-white. (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources photo) The first Black Kentuckian to serve on the board overseeing Kentucky's fish and wildlife management agency says he's concerned a bill passed by the Republican-controlled legislature is intended to push him off the board. Senate Bill 245, which Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed, could apply only to Jerry Ferrell this year because he is the only member up for reappointment to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission. Ferrell has represented Central Kentucky on the commission since 2021. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, denied the measure is specifically aimed at Ferrell. Beshear in his veto message noted that Ferrell — 'the first-ever Black member on the commission — has yet to be confirmed for reappointment by the GOP-controlled Senate. Beshear criticized SB 245 as 'legislative game-playing.' Currently, Fish and Wildlife Commission members continue to serve until the end of the year if reappointed by the governor without being confirmed by the Senate. SB 245 would change that. Smith, who is the chair of a legislative committee that reviews appointments to the commission, told the Lantern earlier this month he doesn't know Ferrell personally. He said Senate leadership had brought him the bill to fix what was considered to be a 'loophole' in the process for appointing the volunteer board overseeing the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). But Ferrell sees things differently. Earlier this month, he wrote in a post on Facebook that SB 245 'was drafted specifically to terminate my position' and that he 'strived to make impartial decisions' on the commission. 'Having grown up in Kentucky, I have always cherished hunting and fishing with my father. However, it appears some Trump supporters are determined to see me removed,' he wrote. 'I have maintained positive relationships with everyone, and I fail to understand how political affiliations should be an issue in this context. Could there be an ulterior motive?' Ferrell, a registered Democrat, told the Lantern he doesn't have evidence that links him to the bill, but phone calls he's had with sportsmen who support his reappointment to the commission have led him to believe social media posts he's made and shared critical of President Donald Trump could be playing a role in whether he continues to serve on the board. He said he loves bass and tournament fishing and wants to continue serving on the board. He believes his personal politics should not be a consideration in his work on the commission. The board by state law is required to be bipartisan in makeup, and commission members aren't identified by political party. 'Politics has nothing to do with fish and wildlife,' Ferrell said. 'I want to see other people see me doing the job that they haven't seen a Black doing before on the commission. And I'm a proud Black American.' The commission is made up of nine unpaid members who oversee the KDFWR's budget consisting of tens of millions of dollars in hunting and fishing license fees, boat registration fees, and federal grants. State law directs the commission to keep a 'watchful eye' over the department, and the commission controls the employment of the KDFWR's head executive, Commissioner Rich Storm. Each commission member represents a different geographic part of Kentucky. Fellow sportspeople vote for commission nominees in district meetings. A list of the top vote-getters is sent to the governor who selects someone from the list. The Senate then decides whether or not to confirm the governor's appointments or reappointments. Commission members are allowed to serve two four-year terms. Politics swirl around who will oversee Kentucky Fish and Wildlife That confirmation process has been politically contentious in recent years with the GOP-controlled Senate denying a number of Democrat Beshear's appointments to the commission. Those denials have left vacancies on the commission, leading some sportsmen to accuse Republicans of having 'weaponized' the confirmation process against the votes and voices of sportspeople. Republicans have pushed back on that criticism, arguing they need to be able to vet each candidate. At least one Republican senator has considered partisan allegiance in whether to confirm a person to the commission. Sportsmen have said the work of the commission on wildlife issues should largely be apolitical. Ferrell was appointed by Beshear in 2021 and confirmed by the Senate in 2022. With Ferrell's term ending at the end of last year, the KDFWR held a district meeting in November to nominate a replacement. Kentucky Senate confirms four of Beshear's five appointees to Fish and Wildlife board Ferrell was among the top vote getters, and Beshear issued an executive order on Jan. 20 to reappoint him to a second term expiring at the end of 2028. The executive order also appointed three commission members to their first terms. Ferrell is still serving due to state law allowing commission members to serve an additional year if a replacement has not been appointed and confirmed. On Feb. 18, the last day for senators to file bills, Smith introduced SB 245, which could impact Ferrell's time on the board by changing state law so that if the Senate does not confirm a commission reappointment during a legislative session, then the commission member whose reappointment was denied would have to vacate their seat when the legislature adjourns. While the bill would affect reappointments in future years, Ferrell is the only commission member whose reappointment confirmation is pending in the Senate this year. With two days left in this session, no senator has filed a resolution to confirm his reappointment. If Ferrell's reappointment is not confirmed and SB 245 becomes law, Ferrell would have to vacate his seat when the legislature adjourns on Friday. For that to happen, the legislature would have to override Beshear's veto of SB 245 — an easy task for Republicans who hold a supermajority of legislative seats. Beshear in his veto message said the bill 'is not what the sportsmen and sportswomen of Kentucky deserve.' 'In the current legislative session, the Senate has yet to confirm the reappointment of the first ever Black member on the Commission, despite his confirmation to the position in 2022 and renomination by the sportsmen and sportswomen,' Beshear wrote. '[T]he Senate's pattern of denying confirmation of the members they select shows the legislature is deferring to someone besides the sportsmen and sportswomen.' Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, after confirming some of Beshear's appointments to the commission last year, told reporters that protecting KDFWR Commissioner Rich Storm from appointees interested in retaliating against Storm was a priority for senators. Storm and Beshear have previously clashed on issues ranging from Storm's contract to procurement within the KDFWR. When asked about the veto of SB 245, Ferrell's concerns and whether the Senate would confirm Ferrell's reappointment, Kentucky Senate Republican Majority Caucus spokesperson Angela Billings wrote in an email: 'SB 245 reinforces the Senate's constitutional power of confirmation.' In a legislative committee earlier this month, Smith told lawmakers there was a need for 'decorum' for people serving on boards and commissions confirmed by the Senate. 'The governor has the ability of appointing through his process the individuals that he feels are most qualified, but because we have to weigh in and confirm them and sort of put our credibility on the line, we want to do a little bit deeper dive into some of the backgrounds and just the criteria we want to find in these positions,' Smith told lawmakers. Ferrell worries the prospect of his being removed from the seat is a sign of a broader 'culture' against diversity. He said he didn't attend a quarterly meeting of the Fish and Wildlife Commission last week in part because he was upset about the situation. He said he had lunch recently with Storm, the KDFWR commissioner, who encouraged him to attend the quarterly meeting. Ferrell said Storm 'kind of apologized' to him 'about what was going on,' but Ferrell said Storm was vague about what the apology was for. Lisa Jackson, a KDFWR spokesperson, said earlier this month that Storm had no comment on the bill because state law prohibits employees of the department from directly or indirectly influencing the appointment of a commission member. 'I just couldn't go down and put that happy face on knowing that I've got people that adamantly don't want me there,' Ferrell said. 'Anybody that thinks that minorities don't hunt or fish is crazy, because there's a lot of us out there, and we enjoy it just like everybody else does. It's just the times that we're in that's concerning me.'
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Prescribed fires ahead in Kentucky: Why Fish and Wildlife says controlled burning is a good thing
KENTUCKY, Ky. (FOX 56) — Spring cleaning can be an important part of any Kentucky resident's annual routine, and it's just as important for plants and wildlife in fields, valleys, and forests across the Bluegrass. Throughout March and April, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KYFWR) announced that fire experts will be carrying out prescribed fires to manage habitats in various Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). The department said in a news release that the controlled burns across the state are done for the health of local ecosystems dependent on fire. Hazel Green, Kentucky gets a makeover as a 'Celtic Village' 'Signs will be posted and gates will be closed at all access points to project locations and adjacent landowners will be notified of the burns,' KYFWR wrote. 'The prescribed fire areas will be monitored until all fire, embers and smoke are extinguished before reopening to the public.' Fish and Wildlife officials said the prescribed fire method cordons off portions of Wildlife Management properties to increase the production of nuts and soft fruits and to help oak trees regenerate. The fires also clear leaf litter, helping control the invasive plant population while giving native grass and wildflowers a better chance to thrive. 'Prescribed fire is a safe way to apply a natural process, ensure ecosystem health and reduce wildfire risk,' KYFWR officials said. Department staff said if you see smoke in the air, follow the Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow fire and smoke safety tips, such as paying attention to local air quality reports. Read more of the latest Kentucky news State officials said the fires will be scheduled when weather conditions are optimal, as well as wind, air temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture, and other factors. An outdoor burn ban is in place for Kentucky during the spring fire season, making it illegal to burn anything within 150 feet of woodland or brushland from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 15 through April 30, per state law. To find more information about controlled burns in Kentucky, as well as a list of WMAs by county, visit the Kentucky Fish & Wildlife website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
