Wildlife blog
Wildlife blog Wildlife blog

Tracking the recovery of one of Utah's rarest fish

Technician holding a fish and inserting a PIT tag By tracking passive integrated transponder tags — commonly called PIT tags — DWR biologists and aquatics managers can learn more about the survival rates, life cycle and range of the fish we release into the wild.

Tooth seeker

Three pulled elk teeth Have you ever wondered why the DWR requests that you submit a lower incisor — that's a front, middle tooth from the bottom jaw — if you successfully harvest an elk, mule deer, pronghorn, moose, mountain goat or bighorn sheep from a limited-entry or once-in-a-lifetime hunt?

Spying my first bald eagle

Bald eagle with its talons extended, swooping in for a landing on the snow-covered ground at Farmington Bay I usually have a wide grin as I get down on one knee to chat with young visitors and share my love for all things wild at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center. It's even more exciting when they also experience the wonder of spying a bald eagle soaring through the sky.

What's the scoop on fish hatchery technology?

An egg picker filters out the viable fish eggs that will fertilize from the bad eggs that can grow fungus and become harmful to the viable eggs One of the most interesting parts of our job is how much we use technologies and equipment unique to — or specifically adapted for — fish culture.

What's new at the Lake Powell fishery?

Dip tank at Lake Powell (with a motor boat inside) for removing aquatic invasive species Anglers at Lake Powell can catch a wide variety of warmwater fish species, including striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, catfish, walleye and bluegill. Here's a glimpse into what's new at Lake Powell this winter.

Getting outdoors is a gift that gives back all year long

Assortment of wrapped holiday gifts and wrapping materials It's that time of year again — when we all scramble to find the perfect gifts for friends and loved ones during the holidays. What do you get for the person who has everything, and also loves a little outdoor adventure? We may be able to help.

Exciting fish culture projects at Fountain Green Fish Hatchery

The Fountain Green egg isolation station, showing a shed with individual rooms The Fountain Green Fish Hatchery is a hidden gem within the hatchery world. We are primarily a coldwater fish hatchery — producing rainbow, cutthroat and tiger trout — but we also have a warmwater fish program and Utah's only fish- and egg-isolation facilities.

A backcountry rescue with grit and gratitude

Rescue workers carrying Coy Kummer on an ATV In this incident from mid-October, DWR officers responded to a distress call and carried a badly-injured young man, Coy Kummer, out of the backcountry.

Drought and our deer herds

Deer fawn eating grass Drought has been an ongoing event that's unfolded over multiple years across the West, and we've seen some of the worst of it here in Utah. A lot of people have asked me about how our deer herds are handling the current drought situation.

Top 5 reasons to work in fish culture

Chad holding a tiger muskie When I started working in a fish hatchery, I was amazed (and a little overwhelmed at first) by all the different kinds of random, day-to-day projects.
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