Pelican Plan Meetings Planned in Pocatello

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has scheduled two public meetings to gather comments on a five-year management plan for American white pelicans. The meetings will be at 7 p.m. Monday, April 20, at the Holiday Inn in Pocatello and Tuesday, April 21, at the Senior Citizens Center in Soda Springs. Idaho Fish and Game Commission in March approved releasing a management plan for white pelicans in Idaho to the public for a 30 day review and comment period. The plan's focus is to reduce the impacts of pelicans on fish in southern and southeast Idaho. 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 are also available at local Fish and Game offices. Comments can be submitted at the scheduled meetings, by calling the Pocatello Idaho Fish and Game Office or 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. Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations by contacting the Pocatello Idaho Fish and Game Office at 232-4703 or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377- 3529(TDD).