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Show DECEMBER 7, 2006 THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER Page 8 THE REASONS BEHIND WILDLIFE TRANSPLANTS "Garkane Energy has been a key player in ensuring the success of our students." Trevor Stewart, School Counselor, Kanab High School Utah needs strong leaders for the future, but what can an electric co-op do to help? As a co-sponsor of the Utah Rural Electric Association annual Youth Conference, Garkane Energy awards over $4,000 in scholastic scholarships at the conference and helps provide invaluable leadership experience to 20 students throughout its service territory. Take It From A Youth Conference Success Story Kanab High School Counselor Trevor Stewart, a conference attendee in 1988, witnessed firsthand then as a student, and now as a counselor, the value BBMS of this conference. "Garkane (helps provide) a great opportunity for youth to become educated about electric cooperatives and to learn leadership skills," Trevor said recently. These Are Our Kids Too Says Trevor, "It's been exciting for me to see the students who have attended the Utah Rural Electric Association Youth Conference, the new skills they have acquired and the excitement they have for community and country." Because Garkane employees are all local, our children attend these schools and ensuring their success is in our best interest as well. "I appreciate Garkane Energy and their commitment to our school and community," said Trevor. We've found that if it's good for our members^ it's good for all of us. Garkane Students learn valuable leadership skills at the Utah Rural Electric Association youth Conference. — energy Quality Service—Local Control "Why are you taking our moose?" It's a good question that the DWR receives from sportsmen and wildlife enthusiasts almost every time they conduct a transplant. There are three basic reasons why wildlife professionals move animals from one area to another: (1) public safety threats, (2) surplus populations and (3) maintaining quality habitat. In the case of moose transplants from northern Utah, many are done for public safety concerns that result from surplus populations. By January of 2006, the moose population in the Ogden River and north Morgan County had reached a point where moose were dispersing into new areas. Their numbers had exceeded the carrying capacity and management objectives for the area. Removing these dispersing animals does not affect hunting opportunities for sportsmen. Biologists have also noted degradation in moose habitat as a result of the overpopulation. For bighorn sheep, transplants restore sheep to their native ranges while creating new hunting opportunities for sportsmen. "We have historical documents from miners in the 1930s that mentions finding bighorn sheep skulls out there," said Kirt Enright DWR biologist, referring to the Newfoundland Mountains where the sheep were moved to in 2001. The population has grown fast since they werefirstmoved to the Newfoundland Mountains. Enright says research has helped DWR to determine movements and habitat use. "In just five years we reached our goal to have the population reach a point that would allow hunting," Enright noted. Two hunting permits were issued to sportsmen to harvest two rams on the Newfoundland unit for October 2006. |