Tulare County Commission to Hear Requests for Fish and Wildlife Propogation Funds

The Tulare County Fish and Game Commission will hold its annual meeting to hear requests for funding from the County’s Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund. 

The funds, derived from Fish and Game fines and forfeitures imposed by the court system, are to be expended solely for projects related to the protection, conservation, propagation, and preservation of fish and wildlife during the 2012-2013 fiscal year.  The County Board of Supervisors must approve all projects. 

Such projects may include:

- Public education relating to the scientific principles of conservation
- Temporary emergency treatment and care of injured or orphaned wildlife
- Breeding, raising, or purchasing fish or wildlife to be released onto public areas
- Improvement of fish and wildlife habitat
- Predator control actions for the benefit of fish or wildlife
- Scientific fish and wildlife research

The meeting is at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at Exeter City Hall, 137 N. F Street, Exeter, California, and is open to the public.

For further information, contact Stevie McNeill, Assistant Agricultural Commissioner Phone: (559) 684-3350; Fax: (559) 685-3335; E-mail: smcneill@co.tulare.ca.us

The Tulare County Fish and Game Commission is a five-member advisory group appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Duties of the commission include making recommendations regarding Fish and Wildlife Propagation Funds and advising the Board of Supervisors on all matters related to fish and game.

Projects approved last year include:

- Allocation toward expenses for providing feed and supplies for rearing pheasants, which are related to Youth Hunter Education, the Junior Pheasant Hunt, and includes 50 pheasants for a Wheelchair Hunt – near Porterville; ($2,500) Southern Tulare County Sportsman’s Association, Porterville.

- Allocation toward the purchase of 100 male ring-necked pheasants for a “Family Pheasant Hunt” event – Alpaugh area; ($1,475) California Department of Fish and Game.
 

- Allocation toward purchase of building materials for expansion construction of a conditioning cage used to house adolescent and convalescing birds of prey prior to their release - Squaw Valley – ($2,800) Critter Creek Wildlife Station, Squaw Valley.
 

- Trout in the Classroom Program:  Allocation toward funding elementary student field trips related to the Trout in the Classroom program.  This program exposes students to activities where they take on the role of stewards of local watersheds – Tulare County ($3,000) Kaweah Flyfishers.
 

- Allocation toward expenses for providing feed, equipment and cage maintenance at the SCICON Raptor Center, which is used for educational purposes – Near Springville – ($250) Tulare County Office of Education, Springville.