TWRC to Meet in Nashville, March 15-16

NASHVILLE --- A white-tailed deer study report, results of a black bear survey along with a pair of fishery presentations are among the agenda items of the March meeting of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission.

 

The TWRC will meet March 15-16 (Thursday-Friday) at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Region II Ray Bell Building in Nashville. Committee meetings will start at 1 p.m. on Thursday and the formal meeting is at 9 a.m. on Friday. The public is invited to attend.

 

TWRA wildlife biologists have spent the last five years investigating new ways to estimate Tennessee’s deer population. The commission will be advised of the agency’s latest efforts in the area.

 

The TWRA recently commissioned Responsive Management to conduct a black bear public opinion survey. A summary of the survey results will be presented.

 

A presentation on the TWRA brook trout restoration effort will be given. The agency has been working toward restoring the native brook trout populations in the Blue Ridge Mountains (Cherokee National Forest). These endeavors include restoring a brook trout hatchery building at Tellico Trout Hatchery, brood stock verification and unique manner of collecting brood stock and distributing brook trout fingerlings.

           

The commission will hear a rule amendment to the Rules and Regulations for Animal Importation–Importation of Wildlife Carcasses, Parts and Products. This rule prohibits the unauthorized importation of any cervid carcasses or parts that are from areas where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been identified. This is being put in place to prevent the introduction of Chronic Wasting Disease into Tennessee’s wild white-tailed deer and elk populations, as well as captive non-native deer and elk populations.