Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/76339
2B Daily News – Saturday, July 28, 2012 Outdoorlife living For years I was always told there are no rat- tlesnakes in the Lake Tahoe area because the alti- tude was too high. However, recently I've read many arti- cles that say rat- tlesnakes can live as high as 10,000 feet. I am worried because I play Question: Utah, south- ern Idaho, most of Neva- da and barely into extreme northwestern Arizona. & Golfing with rattlesnakes in Lake Tahoe Carrie Wilson golf and often end up in the rough, which means looking for my golf ball in tall grass and brush. Are there rattlesnakes in the Lake Tahoe basin and surrounding areas that I need to be watch- ing out for? (Nick R.) Answer: The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) doesn't track occurrences of common snake species, but according to DFG Statewide Coordinator for Conservation of Amphibians and Rep- tiles Betsy Bolster, don't discount the pos- sibility of encountering a rattlesnake in the Lake Tahoe area. The Great Basin rattlesnake (Cro- talus oreganus lutosus) is widespread and can occur up to the timber- line. According to refer- ences, the Great Basin Rattlesnake (sub- species, Crotalus ore- ganus lutosus) is found in California in the far northeastern corner and in a small region east of the Sierra Nevadas near the Mono Lake area. Its range continues outside the state to the north into eastern Oregon, and east to western OUTDOORS You should know though, that rat- tlesnakes are generally not aggressive, and will usually only strike when threatened or deliberately provoked. Given room they will likely retreat. Most snake bites occur when a rat- tlesnake is handled or accidentally touched by someone walking or climbing. The majority of snakebites occur on the hands, feet and ankles. Its pre- ferred habitat includes rocky hill- sides, barren flats, sage- brush, grassy plains and agricultural areas. Photo courtesy Department of Fish and Game While the Department of Fish and Game doesn't track common snakes in Lake Tahoe, don't count them out. The California Poi- son Control Center notes that rattlesnakes account for more than 800 bites each year, and only one to two deaths. About 25 percent of the bites are "dry," meaning no venom was injected, but the bites still require medical treat- ment. Given this, since your golf game, like mine, includes some time spent in the rough, I'd keep my eyes and ears open when search- ing for a golf ball away from the fairway. It might be worth it to hit the pro shop for some extra golf balls rather than taking chances on whether or not you are in rattlesnake habitat. FORE! Knife rules Question: I will be going camping next week at a place called Hell Hole Reservoir near Lake Tahoe and I need to know if I may bring a jeep survival knife with me. and I am not aware of any law regarding knives with blades that are longer than three inches. concealed)." Tagging abalone with rubber bands? Question: The knife has a 15- inch blade with a sheath. I know you are not allowed to carry a knife more than three inches long in Califor- nia, but I need to know if there is an exception for camping. (Mitch L.) Answer: There is no Fish and Game law regarding your knife According to DFG Capt. Phil Nelms, "Generally, prohibited weapons are listed in California Penal Code, section 16590, and spe- cial provisions regard- ing knives and similar weapons begin at sec- tion 20200. You may want to pay special attention to sec- tions 21310 and 16470 regarding concealed dirks and daggers, but knives with fixed blades are generally not pro- hibited as long as they are carried openly (not reading a recent answer to a diver who asked how to attach his abalone tag to a rare abalone he'd taken that had no siphon holes where he could affix the tag, I have a question. Some members of my After dive club and I assisted DFG with the abalone creel survey last year. We noticed that some of the pickers we surveyed used rubber bands to attach the tags to the abalone. They just laid the tag on the shell and put the rubber band all the way around the abalone to hold the tag on. There were no holes in the tags. Is this a legal way to attach the tag? (Curt H.) not legal. The law requires the tag be "… securely fas- tened to the shell of the abalone. To affix the tag, a Answer: No, this is "zip tie," string, line or other suitable material shall be passed through a siphon hole on the abalone shell and through the tag at the location specified on the abalone tag." (Cali- fornia Code of Regula- tions Title 14, section 29.16 (b)(3)). Department seeks input on proposed changes to restricted species facilities MCT file photo The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports a record-high waterfowl estimates. U.S. estimates waterfowl hike SEATTLE (MCT) — Waterfowl hunters can expect to have success this fall and winter. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its preliminary report on North American breeding ducks and habitat, and the popula- tion is about 48.6 million compared to 45.6 million last year. That figure is also 43 per- cent above the 1955 to 2010 long-term average. This year's estimate is a record high, and only the sixth time in the survey's history that the total duck population exceeded 40 mil- lion, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. BY THE NUMBERS Highlights from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife survey on popu- lation estimates from United States, northern Canada and Alaska are: Mallards are at 10.6 million, a 15 percent increase over last year and a 39 percent increase over the long-term average. Gadwall is 10 percent above last year's estimate, and 96 percent above the long-term average. American wigeon increased 3 percent from last year, but remains 17 percent below the long-term average. Green-winged teal and blue-winged teal were 3.5 million and 9.2 million, 20 percent and 3 percent above last year. Both are well above the long-term averages by 74 percent and 94 percent, respectively. Northern shovelers is 5 million, 8 percent above last year, and 111 percent above the long-term average. Northern pintails are at 3.5 million, 22 percent down from last year's estimate, and 14 percent below the long-term average. Redhead was unchanged from last year, but 89 percent above the long-term average. Canvasback was 800,000, 10 percent above last year's estimate and 33 percent above the long-term average Scaup was 5.2 million, 21 percent above last year and 4 percent above the long-term average. The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is now accepting public com- ments on proposed changes to Cali- fornia Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 14, section 703. The changes affect the fees associ- ated with the inspection of Restricted Species Facilities. The authority to establish necessary fees for facility inspections are in Fish and Game Code section 2150.2. A 45-day public comment and review period will run through Sept. 10. Title 14, section 671 and Fish and Game Code section 2118-2195 speci- fy the conditions under which an individual or entity can lawfully pos- sess animals of restricted, not nor- mally domesticated species. The permit types affected by this fee change are listed in Title 14, sec- tion 671.1. To make Title 14 consistent with statutory law in the Fish and Game Code, DFG recently proposed changes to section 671.1 and added section 678, which is now proceeding through the Fish and Game Commis- sion regulatory process. The proposed regulatory change provides for inspection and cost recovery by DFG as required by Fish and Game Code section 2150.2. The fees for inspections are based on the number of animal enclosures at a facility, using information gained during limited testing of the inspec- tion method on permitted facilities. The proposed regulations are on the DFG website at www.dfg.ca.gov/news/pubnotice. They will be available for public review from July 27, 2012 to Septem- ber 10, 2012 at 1812 9th Street, Sacramento (95814). Comments may be sent to Nicole Carion at ncarion@dfg.ca.gov or at the Department of Fish and Game, 601 Locust Street in Redding. Public comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. September 10, 2012. Comments received by the due date will be considered before the regulations are considered for adop- tion by the Office of Administrative Law. Questions about the regulations should be directed to Nicole Carion at 357-3986 or ncarion@dfg.ca.gov. Officials request help in Anderson deer poaching incident The California Depart- ment of Fish and Game (DFG) requests the pub- lic's help in solving a poaching incident last week at Anderson River Park in Anderson. On July 17, DFG war- dens received a call from a citizen who discovered a poached deer in the Kid- die Land section of the park. shot with a bow and left to waste. The deer had been Later that morning a young girl found a bloody arrow located in grass approximately 40 feet from where the deer was found. Wardens believe the incident occurred between 9 p.m. on July 16 and 6 a.m. on July 17. DFG requests that any- one with information regarding this incident or who saw a suspicious vehicle in the area during this time frame please contact CalTIP at 1-800- DFG-CALTIP (888-334- 2258) or Warden Aaron Galwey at 225-2300.