White-Tailed Deer Predator / Prey Study For Immediate Release: May 23, 2012 Safari Club International Foundation (SCI Foundation) proudly announced today that it made a donation of $25,000 to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to conduct a white-tailed deer predation study. The SCI Foundation and Wisconsin DNR Predator / Prey study will examine challenges wildlife managers face in finding a balance between predator and prey populations. “We are proud to partner with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,” said SCI Foundation President Joseph Hosmer. “State agencies provide the most critical on-the-ground science to improve game management in the United States. By working collaboratively with state agencies we will be building a long term partnership to keep wildlife populations sustainable for future generations of sportsmen and women.” “This generous donation from the Safari Club International Foundation will be used for field research to assess causes and rates of fawn and adult buck mortality in Wisconsin’s white-tailed deer herd,” said Dr. Karl Martin, Chief Wildlife and Forestry Research Section. “Partnerships like these are the key component to the success of large-scale field research projects.” The Wisconsin predator / prey study will evaluate the impact of black bear, coyote, wolf, and bobcat populations on white-tailed deer survival and recruitment where fawn survival is low. The outcome of this study will provide decision makers with important science-based evidence to support practical management options for both predators and prey species. “Collaborative partnerships in the name of conservation help the SCI Foundation ensure a larger impact by making the money spent go further in support of the mission,” concluded Hosmer. Contact: Nelson Freeman, media@safariclub.org - SCIF – Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that funds and manages worldwide programs dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor education, and humanitarian services. Since 2000, SCIF has provided $47 million to these causes around the world. Visit www.safariclubfoundation.org for more information.

Mr. Joseph Hosmer, President

Safari Club International Foundation

501 2^nd St NE

Washington, DC 20002

 

Subject:       Thank You for Your Generous Contribution

Dear Mr. Hosmer and Safari Club International:

I want to extend my sincere gratitude on behalf of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the State of Wisconsin for your recent donation of two used pickup trucks to assist with our Investing in Wisconsin Whitetails Deer Research Projects.  These vehicles are invaluable for our intensive field-based projects and have significantly increased our ability to trap, radio-collar and track deer across our study sites.

 

We have captured 187 deer thus far.  Currently we have radio-collared 134 deer and will be continuing to trap and monitor both adults and newly born fawns this summer.  To address the significant workload involved with our deer projects we are coordinating two UW-Madison graduate students, ten volunteers, an intern, and hundreds of interested volunteers from the public.

 

During the five year duration of this project we will provide Safari Club International (Mr. Matthew Eckert and Dr. Bill Moritz) with semi-annual updates on the progress of the projects and major results.  We also want to thank Dr. Moritz and Mr. Matthew Eckert for their cooperation, interest and assistance with our research efforts.  My staff have commented on how they have been extremely helpful, professional and a pleasure to interact with on deer management issues here in Wisconsin.

 

If you or your staff ever want to visit our research projects here in Wisconsin don’t hesitate to contact either myself or our Science Services Bureau.  We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Safari Club International!  Thank You again for your contribution.

 

Sincerely

Cathy Stepp

Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

 

 

Cc

Karl Martin, Chief Wildlife and Forestry Research Section

Jack Sullivan, Director Bureau of Science Services

Tim Lawhern, Division Administrator, Enforcement and Science