F&G Seeks Comments on Pelican Management Plan

Idaho Fish and Game Commission Tuesday, March 24, approved releasing a management plan for white pelicans in Idaho to the public for a 30 day review and comment period. Biologists, concerned about the effects of American white pelicans on Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the Blackfoot River, developed the plan to manage the growing population of the large birds. The plan's focus is to reduce the impacts of pelicans on fish in southern and southeast Idaho. Pelicans nest at two locations in southern Idaho, at the Blackfoot Reservoir and at the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge. Numbers have increased significantly at both in recent years. Because pelicans consume large quantities of fish, including native cutthroat trout and hatchery rainbow trout, conflicts between birds and fish have escalated. Fish and Game has adopted new management tactics, such as delayed fish stocking in Blackfoot Reservoir and hazing pelicans along Blackfoot River when fish are spawning, but impacts on trout remain high. The draft plan was developed to broaden management options and to establish regional pelican population objectives at the Blackfoot Reservoir and at Minidoka. The objectives are based on 1990's populations and on recommendations from the Intermountain West Waterbird Conservation Plan to maintain a statewide goal of 2,770 breeding pelicans in Idaho. New objectives in the draft management plan are an average of 700 breeding birds at Blackfoot, and 2,100 birds at Minidoka. Following public comment, the plan will go to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission for approval. Nonlethal actions to manage pelicans could be adopted immediately. Lethal actions will require consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because the pelican is a federally-protected bird under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The draft pelican management plan is available for public review and comment at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/public/. Copies of the plan also are available at local Fish and Game offices. Written comments may be sent to: IDFG Wildlife Bureau, Pelican Management Plan, P.O. Box 25, Boise, Idaho 83707. All comments are due by May 5.