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Mating season hikes risk of collisions With the arrival of fall, motorists should exercise caution to avoid deer-vehicle collisions. "Autumn is the breeding season or 'rut' for white-tailed deer, and combined with lots of harvest activity in farm fields, that means deer are more active and more likely to move into the path of vehicles on Illinois roadways," said DNR Director Brent Manning. "Deer may become less cautious and more unpredictable during the fall, so motorists need to drive defensively and be alert to deer on or near roads and highways." More than 19,700 deer-vehicle accidents were reported on Illinois roadways in 2000. "With more people commuting through and living in areas where deer are present, they can have more contact with deer," said DNR Forest Wildlife Program Manager Paul Shelton. "Accidents involving deer tend to occur in locations where habitat encourages deer to cross public thoroughfares, usually along waterways, fence rows, field edges and wooded corridors." Shelton said drivers need to recognize these deer habitat areas and be alert that deer may be nearby, whether they're in a rural, urban or suburban area. Among the suggestions to motorists to avoid deer-vehicle accidents: • Be especially cautious from dusk through the early evening hours and in the hours before sunrise when deer are most active. • Reduce speed and be prepared to stop on roads where deer may be present, especially areas near streams or rivers, wooded and densely vegetated areas. • Drivers encountering deer on the roadway should blink their headlights from bright to dim or honk the horn to try to get deer to move on. • Drivers who come upon deer should warn other motorists by tapping the brakes. Most importantly, drivers should maintain control of their vehicle to avoid swerving into oncoming traffic or off the road. In the event of an accident, the first priority is to provide assistance to injured passengers. Do not attempt to remove a dead or injured deer from a busy roadway. Instead, contact local, county or state law enforcement officials. Illinois law requires all auto accidents resulting in damage of $500 or more to be reported to police. The driver of the vehicle involved in a deer-vehicle accident has priority in possessing the deer. If the driver doesn't want the deer, anyone may claim the animal. Anyone possessing a deer killed as a result of a vehicle accident must report it (within 24 hours Monday through Thursday or on the next business day if the deer is claimed Friday through Sunday) to the DNR Road Kill Deer Reporting System by calling 1-800-406-3477. Final piece of Pyramid State Park acquired The recent acquisition of 9,111 acres of property in Perry County has completed the purchase of land for Pyramid State Park near Pinckneyville, which, at more than 19,500 acres, is now the largest state park in Illinois. The $2.5 million acquisition completes a three-phase purchase of property at the site from Arch Coal Company. Gov. George H. Ryan announced the acquisition of two other parcels totaling 7,209 acres last December. The Illinois Open Land Trust, Gov. Ryan's four-year, $200 million initiative to protect and preserve open space, provided funding for the acquisition. The Open Land Trust is the largest open space acquisition and preservation effort in Illinois' history. The newly acquired property includes more than 4,500 acres of grassland, 960 acres of forest and 970 acres of ponds and lakes, providing habitat for wildlife including a number of species of endangered birds. Another 2,597 acres of tillable land that has been used for crop production also was acquired. The site will offer additional opportunities for fishing, hunting, hiking, wildlife viewing and other outdoor recreation. A 503-acre commercial-industrial-railway complex on the site, located adjacent to Illinois Route 152, will be leased to Perry County for use in local economic development efforts. In return for the lease and a proposed jurisdictional transfer of the complex. Perry County will forego all but $100,000 of the $595,000 community planning allowance provided to it as part of the Open Land Trust program. Final details of the lease are being worked out. To date, the Governor's Open Land Trust Initiative has resulted in the state's acquisition of more than 23,400 acres for protection from development, much needed open space, recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, forest restoration and to create a high priority trail corridor. More than 3,400 acres of additional open space are being acquired by local governments through grants from the Open Land Trust.
Deer hunters asked to donate venison Deer hunters can help Illinois food pantries feed the needy by donating all or part of their harvest to the Illinois Sportsmen Against Hunger Program. Nearly 20,000 pounds of venison were donated to the program last season, providing more than 76,712 meals to needy people in Illinois. Hunters have donated nearly 90,000 pounds of deer meat to the program since 1994. This year, 54 participating meat processors will package donated venison into ground meat for distribution to food banks, charities, churches and food pantries throughout the state. Illinois Sportsmen Against Hunger is co-sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Conservation Foundation. Contributions to the Foundation help defray the cost of processing the meat for donations of whole deer. Hunters and others interested in assisting the program are asked to donate the $35 meat processing fee. Donations of meat are being accepted through the end of the handgun deer season on Jan. 20. Illinois law allows for the donation of wild game to not-for-profit corporations and charitable organizations without liability. In addition, the Department is selling an Illinois Big Buck lapel pin for $5, with the proceeds going to the Sportsmen Against Hunger Program. For more information about the pin, or to place an order, contact the OutdoorIllinois Gift Corner at (800) 720-3249. Outside of Illinois, call (217) 782-1687. The cost includes shipping and handling. Financial contributions to the program may be made to the Illinois Conservation Foundation, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787. Checks should be made payable to the Foundation designating the Illinois Sportsmen Against Hunger program. Funds donated to the Foundation are tax-exempt to the fullest extent of the law, since the Foundation is an IRS 501 (c)(3) approved organization. Sportsmen may call (217) 782-4963 for information on participating meat processors and local food pantries. Loda Pheasant Habitat Area dedicated Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning, together with representatives of area Pheasants Forever chapters and the Illinois Conservation Foundation, recently dedicated the new Loda Pheasant Habitat Area northeast of Loda in Iroquois County. The 160-acre site was acquired earlier this year with $330,000 in funding provided through Gov. George Ryan's Open Land Trust program, along with a donation of $30,000 from the Ford County Illinois Pioneer, Iroquois County and Kendall County chapters of Pheasants Forever. "With Gov. Ryan's support through the Open Land Trust and the support of dedicated members of local Pheasant Forever chapters, we are working together to create a valuable wildlife area in a part of the state where this type of grassland habitat is uncommon," said Manning. "This project is another example of how partnerships benefit everyone in the stewardship of Illinois' natural resources." The Governor's Open Land Trust is a four-year, $200 million initiative to provide funding for acquisition of real property for natural resource protection and outdoor recreation. The Open Land Trust is the largest open space preservation effort ever in Illinois. The Loda Pheasant Habitat Area site includes 45 acres of existing grass filter strips, a stream and riparian corridor and a restored wetland area. The 115 acres of new habitat is being developed through the planting of a variety of grasses to provide nesting, brood rearing, winter habitat and escape cover for pheasant and other grassland wildlife. Habitat development includes establishing cool season and warm season grasses, native prairie grasses and forbs, legume strips and food plots for wildlife. Further wetland development is also planned.
The project has been endorsed by the Illinois Habitat Fund Committee and the State Pheasant Fund Advisory Committee. The DNR will use a lottery drawing for issuing hunting permits for the site. The Illinois Conservation Foundation facilitated local financial support for the project from the local and area chapters of Pheasants Forever. The Foundation was established in 1994 to allow financial contributions for specific DNR projects and programs. For more information on the Illinois Conservation Foundation, contact John D. Schmitt, Executive Director, 100 W. Randolph, Suite 4-300, Chicago, IL 60601, or phone (312) 814-7237. The Loda Pheasant Habitat Area will be managed as a satellite of the Iroquois County State Wildlife Area. It is one of 13 pheasant habitat areas in the state totaling 1,770 acres. Grants expand fire protection capabilities A total of 56 Illinois rural fire protection districts and fire departments will share in $261,890 in matching grant funds through the federal Volunteer Fire Assistance grant program. "The funding provides for training and equipment for fire-fighters in rural Illinois, helping to protect property, enhance public safety and save lives," DNR Director Brent Manning said. "The grants allow the fire departments and fire districts receiving them to extend their capabilities in fire protection." The grants, which range from $1,000 to $7,500, will reimburse 50 percent of the recipient's cost for acquiring dry hydrant systems and other firefighting equipment, of providing training and for conversion of federal excess vehicles for use in local firefighting.
Grant recipients must make the initial financial outlay for the projects outlined in their application before being reimbursed. The U.S. Forest Service federal grant program is administered in Illinois by DNR's Division of Forest Resources. The Illinois allocation is the fourth largest in the nation. This year's grant recipients were selected from among 108 applicants with total grant requests of more than $600,000. Since 1975, a total of 1,185 grants totaling more than $3.2 million have been awarded to rural fire protection agencies and fire departments in Illinois. This year's grant recipients are: Amboy Fire Protection District, Lee County, $7,500, equipment; Annawan-Alba Fire Protection District, Henry County, $7,500, equipment; Ashland Volunteer Fire Department, Cass County, $1,618, equipment and training; Bath Fire Protection District, Mason County, $7,302, federal excess vehicle conversion; Biggsville Fire Protection District, Henderson County, $3,096, equipment; Brown County Fire Protection District, Brown County, $3,000, equipment and training; Browning Fire Protection District, Schuyler County, $3,775, equipment; Chandlerville Volunteer Fire Department, Cass County, $1,000, equipment; Claremont-Bonpas Fire Protection District, Richland County, $7,367, equipment; Clayton Fire Protection District, Adams County, $4,500, equipment; Coal Valley Fire Protection District, Rock Island County, $4,025, equipment; Coello Fire Department, Franklin County, $2,295, equipment; Custer Township Volunteer Fire Department, Will County, $7,155, equipment and training; Dowell Volunteer Fire Department, Jackson County, $4,760, equipment; and Evansville Volunteer Fire Department, Randolph County, $7,500, equipment and federal excess vehicle conversion. Also, Forman Fire Protection District, Mason County, $7,500, equipment, dry hydrant and training; Gardner Volunteer Fire Department, Grundy County, $6,382, equipment; Golconda Fire Department, Pope County, $5,665, equipment; Goreville Fire Protection District, Johnson County, $2,800, equipment; Hanover Community Fire Protection District, JoDaviess County, $6,741, equipment; Horseshoe Lake Fire Department, Alexander County, $2,000, equipment; Hutsonville Township Fire Protection District, Crawford County, $6,562, equipment; Keithsburg Volunteer Fire Department, Mercer County, $2,925, equipment; Lena Fire Protection District, Stephenson County, $4,742, equipment and dry hydrant; Leonore Volunteer Fire Department, LaSalle County, $4,144, equipment; Little Rock Fox Fire Protection District, Kendall County, $7,500, equipment, dry hydrant and federal excess vehicle conversion; Maeystown Fire Protection District, Monroe County, $1,000, equipment; Makanda Township Fire Department, Jackson County, $6,520, equipment and training; Mazon Fire Protection District, Grundy County, $6,051, equipment and training: Mendon Volunteer Fire Department, Adams County, $4,300, equipment; New Athens Fire Protection District, St. Clair County, $6,399, equipment and training. And, New Canton Fire Protection District, Pike County, $2,837, equipment; Newport Township Fire Protection District, Lake County, $4,135, equipment; Oakford Fire Protection District, Menard County, $7,150, equipment and training; Palmyra Fire Department, Macoupin County, $6,389, equipment; Pana/Oconee Fire Department, Christian County, $7,161, equipment; Patoka Fire Protection District, Marion County, $7,230, equipment and dry hydrant; Payson-Fall Creek Fire Department, Adams County, $7,005, equipment and training; and Pinckneyville Fire Department, Perry County, $7,101, equipment; Ramsey Fire District, Fayette County, $2,750, equipment; Ridge Lake Fire Protection District, Mason County, $2,000, equipment; Rural Pope County Fire Protection District, Pope County, $4,082, federal excess vehicle conversion; Salina Township Fire Protection District, Kankakee County, $1,077, equipment; Sesser Fire Protection District,
Franklin County, $2,875, equipment and training; Shawneetown Fire Department, Gallatin County, $2,842, equipment; Sheridan Community Fire Protection District, LaSalle County, $5,175, equipment and training; State Park Fire Department, Madison County. $7,480, equipment; Thomson Fire Protection District, Carroll County, $1,757, equipment; Tonica Volunteer Fire Department, LaSalle County, $3,505, equipment; Ullin Fire Department, Pulaski County, $3,945, equipment and training; Ursa Fire Protection District, Adams County, $1,790, equipment and training; Valmeyer Fire Protection District, Monroe County, $1,354, equipment: Vienna Fire Department. Johnson County, $6,680, equipment; Virginia Volunteer Fire Department, Cass County, $2,955, equipment; Wauconda Fire Department, Lake County, $7,500, equipment; and Wheatfield Township Fire Protection District, Clinton County, $1,491, equipment. DNR honors landowners and tree farmer Mark and Ellen Atherton of Earlville and Doug Bleichner of Yates City received honors from the Department of Natural Resources as this year's Illinois State Fair. The Athertons were named Illinois Wildlife Landowners of the Year for 2001, while Bleichner received the award for being Illinois' Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. "These annual awards recognize individual landowners who have committed themselves to improving wildlife habitat and enhancing reforestation efforts that serve as models for other landowners throughout the state," said DNR Director Brent Manning. "These folks have had great ideas of the best ways to manage their land, conserving the natural landscape while enhancing their property's long-term value. We appreciate their efforts and thank them for working with our biologists and foresters to make a positive difference in rural Illinois." The Athertons received the wildlife landowners award for their long-term commitment to farmland conservation practices and wildlife habitat enhancement projects on the 1,850 acres of land they manage in LaSalle, Lee and Bureau counties. Conservation practices implemented include installation of waterways, filter strips, water-control structures, terraces, no-till and minimum tillage practices, contour farming and establishment of a farmstead windbreak. Their wildlife management practices have included planting 14,000 trees and shrubs and 3,000 prairie forbs in 2000, another 1,500 trees in 2001 and plans for another 5,000 trees and shrubs to be planted in 2002. Mark has placed wood duck and bluebird nest boxes on the family's property. Mark and three friends also purchased 50 acres in Bureau County for recreational wildlife use, planting more than 10,000 tree and shrub seedlings there since 1997 in the creek bottom and in upland fields to improve wildlife habitat. Bleichner was selected as Outstanding Tree Farmer from more than 1,000 certified tree farmers in the state. He became a certified tree farmer in 1991, but his experience with trees extends well beyond that—from growing trees from seed to pruning high-quality walnut trees. His family purchased 80 acres of mostly wooded and poorly maintained land a few years ago. The Conservation Reserve Program provided incentives to convert cropland into forestland and prairie, which help control erosion. The Bleichners began restoring their woodland by removing undesirable trees and brush and planting hardwood seedlings. C2000 partners receive $7 million in grants More than $7 million in grants has been awarded to 34 local private-public partnerships for natural resource protection projects under the Illinois Conservation 2000 program. "Local citizens and private property owners working together are the keys to the success of Conservation 2000," said Gov. George Ryan. "These grants, combined with local matching funds and other support, provide important land management, habitat enhancement and resource conservation projects in watersheds throughout Illinois." The Governor noted that the partnerships are matching their state funding with $9.8 million in cash, in-kind and other contributions, boosting the value of the projects to nearly $17 million. "With this funding, more than 18,660 acres of habitat will be improved, and more than 1,300 acres will be protected either through conservation easements or acquisition. In addition, more than 1 million trees will be produced to reforest about 2,250 acres," the Governor said. Partnerships affecting the Illinois River basin will receive nearly $2.6 million in grants and are matching that with more than $2.8 million in contributions, bringing local partnership efforts in the target area to more than $5.4 million. Conservation 2000 provides technical and financial assistance to landowners interested in improving and enhancing the ecology in environmentally sensitive watersheds throughout the state. The program provides funding for habitat protection and restoration, environmental education, planning and research projects proposed by the local watershed partnership organizations.
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