The Independent-News, Volume 103, Number 2, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 16 June 1977 — Page 7

WILDLIFE TODAY By Jim New Wildlife Biologist Waterfowl lovers, be you hunters, photographers or merely enjoyers, I bring forth sad tidings and woeful mournings. Steve Wilds, waterfowl specialist for the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, just gave me the early report of nesting conditions. 1 shan't try to flower anything or omit anything. My only suggestion would be to sell your black labrador retreiver and take up bowling! First let me describe “class" in reference to ponds. Class 3 are shallow 3” to 2' deep with cattail and bullrush. Class 4 are deeper 2’ to 4’ with lily and brush. Class 3 are the most productive and class 4 are the second most productive. Class 5 are 4’ to 10' deep and are relatively unproductive except for their edges. Now for Mr. Wilds' report on waterfowl and drought. "On April 30 and May I of this year, Ross Hanson of the Fish and Wildlife Service flew over portions of Minnesota. North Dakota and southern Sadkatchewan to survey prairie water conditions. Generally water conditions are extremely poor. Central and west central Minnesota have some Class 3 potholes but most of them are very low. Nesting conditions are especially poor for overwater nesters such as redheads, canvasbacks and ruddy ducks. Moving into North Dakota conditions get worse. From Fargo to Minot to Estevan, Sadkatchewan water levels are horrible. No class 3 ponds are left. Class 3 ponds are extremely important as brood rearing and moting areas. Cass 4 and Class 5 sloughs are very low. Upland nesting cover is scarce and little or no overwater nesting habitat remains. Few ducks are present in this normally important portion of the breeding range. Water conditions are somewhat better in portions of Saskatchewan, but the picture is far from bright. Generally water is very low and overall habitat conditions are poor in Saskatchewan. Throughout the area covered in this survey, conditions for nesting waterfowl arc very p<x>r and are expected to get worse unless rainfall is abnormally heavy throughout the remainder of the summer. "A Canadian friend of mine told me recently that drought conditions in the prairies are as bad or perhaps worse than they were in the 1930'5. Already the Canadian government is gearing up for disaster relief for the prairie provinces. "It is still a little early to say just how badly the fall duck flight for 1977 will be affected by the drought, but unless the situation improves drastically it is probable that the season and bag limit for this fall will be substantially reduced.” Sorry folks. If you are interested in helping, join Ducks Unlimited. They do more for waterfowl habitat than all other groups combined. For further information about DU contact me by writing to, Jim New, Kingsbury State Fish and Wildlife Area. 5344 S. Hupp Road. LaPorte. Indiana 46350 or telephone 219-393-3612. The hardest instrument to play gracefully is second fiddle. ANBESOL KILLS MOUTH PAIN ON CONTACT Denture pain, toothache, cold sores, teething pain, relieved for hours. When minor mouth pain strikes use Anbesol the pain killer Anbesoi with three anesthetics soothes irritated nerve endings deadens pam Helps prevent infection too Use as directed lor hours of relief

ITS A ITATTENTION SHOPPERS!] ■ Stores _ Nothin g To Buy. merchants' APPRECIATION DAYS Thursday, Friday & Saturday JUNE 23-24-25 Watch "The Independent-News" For The Gift Give-A-Way Coupons Tls Well As Many Specials! Only In THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS On June 23 Watch For The Following Merchants (And More To Come) Special Give-A-Ways In Next Week’s Issue Os “The Independent-News” G & C Hardware, North Liberty Haag’s Refrigeration Community IGA Grocery Dad & Lad’s Dorothy’s Fashion Flair Hook’s Drugs Speed Queen Fabric Care Center Powers-Throm Ford Sales Kam TV & Appliance Mini Shop Jacob Drags Her Place Walkerton Lumber Company Independent-News Co. Allen’s Sunoco Service Clapper’s Burger Dairy Cameo Room Beauty Salon The Brass Lion Farmers State Bank of Wyatt-Walkerton

THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS — JUNE 16, 1977