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Updates on Utah's wildlife from the DWR

Each week the DWR publishes interesting and informative stories about Utah's wildlife. If you want these stories delivered to your inbox just as soon as we publish them, please sign up for our weekly email.

Rule change simplifies collection of non-venomous native reptiles, amphibians

Spotting a lizard sunning itself on a rock adds a bit of excitement to any outdoor adventure. For some people, collecting amphibians or reptiles that they find in the wild is a popular activity. On Thursday, the Utah Wildlife Board approved a new rule that makes it easier to do just that.

Want to catch a big fish? Here are 3 Utah lakes to check out

Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 8, making it a great time to get outdoors and introduce someone to a fun, relaxing hobby. But if you want to add a little extra excitement into your relaxation, try fishing in an area where you have better odds of catching a big fish. Here are three Utah waterbodies where you have a good chance of catching a big fish and where you can have success without owning a lot of expensive fishing gear or a boat.

Tips for catching catfish at community ponds

Twice in June, thousands of channel catfish — 14 to 15 inches long and weighing about a pound and a half each — will be stocked in community ponds in northern Utah. Here are some fishing tips that should put a channel catfish on the end of your line at the community ponds this summer.

4 local spots where you can catch a lot of fish quickly

May is a great time to head out with your fishing pole because the ice has melted off most of the reservoirs, and the water is starting to warm up. If you are itching to get out on the water and want to catch a lot of fish, here are a few fun local spots that have large populations of fish managed for high catch rates.

Plan ahead to decontaminate boats encrusted with mussels at Lake Powell

If you own a large cabin cruiser or houseboat that has been in a slip at Lake Powell for more than a couple of weeks, you will need to do some advance planning and preparation before you can take your boat out for an afternoon on the lake, especially if it will be leaving from Page, Arizona or Big Water, Utah.

Utah Wildlife Board approves 2019 big game hunts

The Utah Wildlife Board approved the 2019 big game hunting permit numbers, as well as several new hunts during Thursday's meeting. The recommended number of hunting permits each year is based on a few factors.

DWR discontinues translocation in urban deer program

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has made the decision to discontinue the translocation of urban deer (removing deer from urban areas and relocating them to rangelands). The urban deer program will still continue in an effort to minimize deer/human conflicts, but will be a lethal-removal only program moving forward.
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