Utah.gov

This new map helps you explore community fisheries across the state of Utah.

Your neighbor won't be catching and keeping venomous snakes in his house, at least not legally. At their March 4 meeting in Salt Lake City, members of the Utah Wildlife Board voted against a proposal that would have allowed people to collect and keep Great Basin rattlesnakes.

Great new publication from the Utah Travel Council takes you around some of the state of Utah's most scenic drives.

"Our spring field trip season is coming up fast," says Justina Parsons-Bernstein, Great Salt Lake Nature Center director. "We're looking for people to help us run field trips, workshops and nature tours. These activities happen during the day. They're a lot of fun."

The Division of Wildlife Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host Utah's annual Tundra Swan Day on March 13, 2010. Admission is free. Viewing will take place at three sites—the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area west of Farmington, the Salt Creek WMA west of Corinne and the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge west of Brigham City.

Former U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program bobsledder Steven Holcomb of Park City ended Team USA’s 62-year gold medal drought in Olympic bobsled by driving to victory in the four-man event Feb. 27 at Whistler Sliding Centre.

The UDWR, the Department of Natural Resources and Utah State University Extension have worked to engage local communities and land owners in implementing conservation actions identified in the plan to conserve the Gunnison and greater sage-grouse species and their natural habitats.

Kids can catch fish, learn about predators and find out how to ride an ATV safely at this year's DNR Youth Outdoor Sports Fair. The sports fair is part of the upcoming International Sportsmen's Exposition. The expo will be held March 18 to March 21,2010 at the South Towne Exposition Center, 9575 S. State in Sandy. The cost to attend the exposition, which includes the youth fair, is $12 for adults. Kids 15 years of age or younger can attend for free.

Bacterial pneumonia, which has been raising havoc with bighorn sheep herds in other Western states, has found another set of victims on Goslin Mountain in northeastern Utah.

A team of paleontologists from Dinosaur National Monument, Brigham Young University, and the University of Michigan has announced the discovery of a new, large, plant-eating dinosaur, Abydosaurus mcintoshi, (pronounced Ab-id-o-saurus mak-in-toshi). The discovery is described this week in the on-line first section of the science journal Naturwissenschaften.

Join the Park Naturalist from 10 a.m. to noon to learn more about the lives of local wildlife. Program is free and everyone is welcome. Plan on spending some time outdoors. Snowshoes are available for rent if needed. For more information call (435) 654-1791.

Even if you're not going to hunt big game in Utah this fall, you can increase the chance you'll be chasing big game in the future by applying for a bonus point or a preference point. You can apply for a point at wildlife.utah.gov until 11 p.m. on March 8.

As many at 10,000 snow geese congregate each year at Gunnison Bend Reservoir near Delta. The annual Delta Snow Goose Festival attracts hundreds of people each year to see these pure white geese with black wing tips. This year the DWR will set up a camera at the festival and feed live video of the birds over the Internet.

It's a sight you have to see to believe: thousands of pure white snow and Ross' geese lifting off Gunnison Bend Reservoir amid honks and the beating of wings.

To make sure this activity is done safely, the Division of Wildlife Resources is proposing several changes to the state law that governs it.

Upheaval Dome in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, is a colorful circular "belly button," unique among the broad mesas and deep canyons of the Colorado Plateau. The rim of Upheaval Dome is 3 miles across and over 1000 feet above the core floor. The central peak in the core is 3000 feet in diameter and rises 750 feet from the floor.

A newly-published report describes the discovery of two new prehistoric rodents in Utah. The report also identifies two fossil rodents and a rabbit previously known from other states. All are from a site near Sevier in central Utah.

Growing a vegetable garden can be fun and rewarding and is a great family activity. There is nothing like a ripe vine tomato or other fresh produce. Learn from experts how to prepare and take care of your garden and fruit trees in Utah.

The dam has been repaired, and fisheries biologists with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) have stocked smallmouth bass and tiger muskie into this reservoir located in the desert north of Gusher.

Forty-two bighorn sheep were released at two sites along the Little Hole Road below Flaming Gorge Reservoir on Jan. 26.

Nestled in the northwestern corner of Kane County is a geologically unique feature that receives few visitors. Although most people in Utah have seen caves and waterfalls, it is peculiar for a waterfall to emerge from a cave system.

 Forty bison will soon have a new home in northeastern Utah.  The Division of Wildlife Resources captured the bison on Jan. 15 and Jan. 16 on the Henry Mountains in southeastern Utah.

Three areas that are popular places to pursue bears with dogs should be quieter this summer. On Jan. 6, the Utah Wildlife Board approved bear pursuit changes on the Book Cliffs, San Juan and La Sal units in eastern Utah.

The Utah Department of Natural Resources operates two public shooting ranges, the Cache Valley Range in Logan and the Lee Kay Range in Salt Lake City.  Services include archery, handgun, rifle, and hunter education.

This one day event has speakers throughout the day on a variety of topics as well as demonstrations and vendors.  Contact Craig Allen for more information at allenceco@msn.com  Speakers include Dr. Evans and other USU faculty.

Snowshoeing is a great winter activity for all ages. Join the Park Naturalist at from 10 a.m. to noon to learn the basics and the benefits of snowshoeing. Bring your own snowshoes or borrow some from the park. For more information call (435) 654-1791.

Date: Jan 2, 2010

Location: Scofield Madsen Bay Boat Ramp

Time: Checkin from 7:00 to 7:30 am

Registration: call 435-687-2491

Join members of the Wasatch Audubon Society in their annual bird count/survey of bird species on Antelope Island and along the causeway. Group will be meeting at the park entrance station at 8 a.m. Be sure to bring binoculars, scopes and weather appropriate clothing. For more information, please call (801) 721-9569.

The Wildlife Services website has been redesigned to provide the best service possible to its many customers.  The site is one of the most visited sites on Utah.gov and today it gets even better!

Federal and State agencies are recruiting now for wildland firefighting positions that begin in May 2010. The Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and the Utah Division Forestry, Fire and State Lands are looking for wildland firefighters for next year’s fire season. Applications are available online.

Those who prefer to get their information on Facebook can now follow the Utah State Parks to get the latest videos, information, and events.  Recent subscribers even won prizes like custom golfballs from Soldier Hollow!

Explore the history and natural beauty within Utah's state parks.  Get the official word on the parks from the Utah Department of Natural Resources.

Join Heather Finlayson, Curator, for a behind the scenes tour of our paleontology laboratory. This is a wonderful opportunity to view areas of the museum not normally open to the public. The tour will cover how to prepare fossils, and include a demonstration of the tools and techniques for cleaning and conserving fossils.

"Each of the bulls was killed illegally and then left to rot," says Ben Riley. "Each one that was lost means fewer hunting opportunities for hunters and fewer chances to see these bulls while camping and hiking."

"We need the public's help to catch the people who killed these animals" If you have information, please call Casey Mickelsen at (435) 820-6010. You are not have to give him your name.

You can take a sleigh ride that gets you close to as many as 600 wild elk.

The rides are available four days a week at the Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area.

By a 4-to-2 vote, the Utah Wildlife Board approved a recommendation to shorten Utah's general rifle buck deer hunt from nine days to five days for hunters who are 19 years of age or older on Aug. 21. (Aug. 21 is the first day of the state's 2010 general archery buck deer hunt.)

Willard Bay State Park hosts Fantasy at the Bay, a drive-through holiday light display November 24 through December 31. Display hours are 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. nightly and admission is $7 per vehicle. Utah State Parks Annual Passes are not valid during light display hours.

Season parking passes for the Monte Cristo Snowmobile Trailhead are available for $50.

"Come home for Christmas" to the Iron Mission State Park for a celebration of the season and pioneer heritage. The cost for this trip back in time is just $3.00 per family but the memory of Christmas at the Homestead will last a lifetime. Call (435) 586-9290.

On Nov. 25, biologists with the Division of Wildlife Resources released a northern river otter into the Provo River between Jordanelle and Deer Creek reservoirs. (This stretch of the river is commonly referred to as the "middle Provo.")