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P1 State of Wisconsin \ DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br /> A w Madison Area <br /> ,'WISCONSIN i 2801 Coho Street,Suite 101 <br /> DEPT.OF NATURAL RESOURCES Madison,Wisconsin 53713 <br /> TELEPHONE 808,2736866 <br /> George E Meyer TELEFAX 808.273-5858 <br /> Secretary <br /> March 8, 1993 <br /> Jeff Kaucher <br /> 997 Norland Rd <br /> Belleville, WI 53508 <br /> Dear Mr. Kaucher: <br /> In planning for development in Primrose Township, the fish and wildlife values <br /> of the rural landscape should be recognized. <br /> The West Branch of the Sugar River and its tributaries are important trout <br /> waters. They also provide habitat for a variety of other aquatic and riparian <br /> species. <br /> Much of the uplands in Primrose Township are now in unmowed grass cover which <br /> provides secure nesting for many grassland nesting birds. Grassland birds, <br /> such as bobolinks, dickcissels, meadow larks, grasshopper and savanna <br /> sparrows, pheasants and quail, have declined dramatically over the past few <br /> decades, but now are returning to the rural Wisconsin landscape because of the <br /> return of the grasslands. <br /> The Department of Natural Resources has proposed a wild pheasant restoration <br /> project in Primrose Township. Under the proposal, 500 wild strain pheasants, <br /> wild-trapped in Iowa, would be released at various sites within the western <br /> Dane area for a 3-year period. Results from the experimental releases in <br /> southern Dane, Rock and Iowa Counties have shown that the wild-strain <br /> pheasants are good survivors and populations have grown 30-fold over the past <br /> 5 years. <br /> Primrose Township is also being considered as a site for restoration of sharp- <br /> tailed grouse in southern Wisconsin. Sharp-tailed grouse require a landscape <br /> of grassland. <br /> Where rural development occurs, wildlife (especially grassland birds and <br /> riparian mammals) is disadvantaged. Habitat is broken up and reduced. <br /> Natural predators of birds and small mammals are more effective in locating <br /> prey in small patches of habitat than in large acreages. Dogs and cats are <br /> not only disruptive to nesting birds and cottontails, but cats are also very <br /> efficient predators of young birds and mammals, and even take adult hens from <br /> nests. <br /> Printed on <br /> R$ <br />