By Will Miller, Fish & Wildlife
Another successful year !
This year was like no other year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the SNI Fish & Wildlife Department in Allegany had to adjust some wildlife programming, but one program that did not skip a beat was the pheasant program. This year the Department did not get summer youth workers or 20/20 workers, which this program usually falls under their care taking. This year the Fish & Wildlife Staff was responsible for the entire program.
The pheasants are received as “day old” hatchlings and are raised in the brood house until old enough to be placed outside in our flight pen. All spring and summer, the Fish & Wildlife staff cared for the birds, fed, watered, and cleaned the brood house.
They are then released during the fall. The bird is a game bird and we encourage sportsman to harvest them. We release the birds at various locations that provide great habitat for the birds to survive, most of these areas are part of our “Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program” (WHIP).
This year we released the birds with help from our Officer’s children due to the pandemic. Next year we hope with can work with the Summer Youth Program and 20/20 to continue this program and provide outdoor activities for members of our community.
