Audubon News
Newsletter of Prairie Hills Audubon Society of Western South Dakota Inc.
June, 2021
Wednesday June 30th
Our June membership Zoom meeting
will be about beaver
When: at 6:00 pm on Wednesday June 30th
Speaker: Michael M. Pollock of the National
Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration is our speaker.
Topic: Working with beaver for the benefit of peo-
ple, fish, wildlife and biological diversity
Beaver play a vital role in maintaining and diversifying
stream and riparian habitat. They are a keystone species. Michael
will talk to us about beaver lives and beaver ecology, including
the effects of beavers on physical and biological processes and
other species. He will talk about beaver restoration and non-
lethal methods of mitigating unwanted impacts from beavers.
Michael is a Research Scientist for the Northwest Fish-
eries Science Center and is well-known for using beaver to re-
store biologically diverse stream and riparian ecosystems. He has
been studying and writing about the effects of beaver on ecosys-
tems for 20+ years and pioneered the use of beaver dam ana-
logues (BDAs) to work with beaver to restore streams.
Michael's key publications include: "The
Beaver Restoration Guidebook -Working with Beaver to Restore
Streams, Wetlands, and Floodplains”
https://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/ToolsForLandowners/River-
Science/Documents/BRG v.1.0 final reduced.pdf Using
beaver to restore incised stream ecosystems
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/64/4/279/2754168
and just accepted in BIoScience, "Design criteria for process-
based restoration of fluvial systems"
You can find out more about Michael at:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/contact/michael-m-pollock-
phd
Prairie Hills Audubon Society’s (PHAS) June Zoom meeting
Time: Wednesday June 30th, 6:00 pm, Beavers
Link to join our Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85433920233?pwd=Qmx
YUDMvMGRrNW9yRmVON3VPU0dRZz09
Meeting ID: 854 3392 0233
Passcode: 534620
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,85433920233#,,,,*534620# US (Tacoma)
+1346248779
Dial by your location (All numbers work in SD to our knowl-
edge)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Find your local number:
https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbb9dO0PBV
The Zoom codes re-occur every month.
This event is announced on our Facebook and web site pages.
Sunday June 27th. - PHAS Field Trip to the
Whitney Preserve in Fall River County
Participants will meet at Breadroot Coop, 100 East Blvd
N, Rapid City, at 8:00 am and leave at 8:15 am. Folks wanting to
meet at the Preserve - contact Jedediah for directions/times. Jede-
diah Beadle, (207) 310-4665, jedediahbeadle@gmail.com
It will take at least an hour to drive from Rapid City to the Pre-
serve. It is south west of Hot Springs off of Highway 71.
Link to read about the Whitney Preserve, which is a Na-
ture Conservancy property - this link has a map.
https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-
help/places-we-protect/whitney-preserve/
Jedediah to revitalize PHAS‘s
dormant field trip and birding program
A note from Jedediah:
“Hi, I am Jedediah Beadle. I am the new field trip chair
who will lead bird walks every weekend this summer/early fall
except for rare occasions where I will try to find someone else to
substitute.
I currently plan to lead the weekend field trips usually
on Saturday morning, however our first field trip this summer
will be on a Sunday. I welcome input from PHAS members and
friends to see if scheduling field trips on Sunday and/or Saturday
morning is preferred. If you have a preference -which day would
best reduce the conflicts with other events and/or work/family
schedules for you? My email and phone number are - Jede-
diah Beadle <jedediahbeadle@gmail.com>, (207) 310-4665
You can contact me for questions or info. on field trips.
We will post field trip details on the PHAS Facebook and/or the
PHAS websites as well. People who are on the "PHAS News" e-
mail mailing list will get e-mails about field trips.
Trips will often go to places within an hour or closer to
Rapid City, but we can also plan trips to locations that are closer
to other towns in PHAS’s territory. Please let me know if you
prefer Saturday and/or Sunday morning field trip times andPage let 1
me know your wishes for field trip locations. Is there any interest
in overnight field trips?”
PHAS has created a new PHAS birding list serve
phas-birds@googlegroups.com. This list serve will be to dis-
cuss Prairie Hills Audubon Society (PHAS) field trips,
sighting of birds by list serve participants, hands-on projects &
citizen science projects to benefit birds & issues associated with
bird conservation in our region. For more info. or to join the list
serve contact me: Jedediah - jedediahbeadle@gmail.com
Article by Jedediah Beadle, Field Trip Chair
Changes to the Board of Directors,
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Jede-
diah Beadle to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors & his ap-
pointment as our new field trip chair. Jedediah is an avid birder &
is looking forward to revitalizing our dormant field trip program.
Mary Jo Farrington, a long term board member who
served 7 years since summer of 2014 has resigned. She retired,
sold her house & moved to Nebraska. We thank Mary Jo for
years of service to PHAS & other non-profits in western SD - we
will miss her. --------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
GAME FISH & PARKS JULY COMMISSION MEETING
GFP’s PROPOSALS FOR INCREASED
TRAPPING/HUNTING OF BEAVER & OTTER
SD Game Fish and Parks Commission July Meeting
July 8th-9th - It’s the second Thursday, skipping July 1st & 2nd.
Meeting details will posted by GFP on their Commis-
sions’ “Current Meeting” website just before the meeting and
after the meeting: https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/
BEAVER TRAPPING/HUNTING SEASONS
CHANGES
Proposals to expand the length of the beaver season east
river from 6 months to 12 months will be voted on. The rule
change proposal:
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/PRO2_2021_Beaver.pdf.
Talking points against the time extension for east River
beaver season:
1) Beavers are very useful ecologically, creating habitat with
their dam building. 2) Trapping of beaver results in incidental
take of river otters and almost all, if not all otters in SD are lo-
cated east River. 3) Trapping of beaver is cruelty; it may result in
the beaver (and otters) drowning to death. 4) Statute (SDCL 41-
8-23) allows folks in SD to kill beaver that are causing damage to
their property year-round. View the statute: https://sdlegisla-
ture.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2064159 This rule change is
not needed to address conflict beaver. 5) SD GFP’s program to
promote non-lethal fixes to conflicts with beaver, is limited to
teaching some tree protection methods. Ask them to fully pro-
mote non-lethal mitigation as part of their animal damage man-
agement plans. 6) GFP should start monitoring SD surface waters
for signs of beaver & create population distribution data. They
should consider beaver restoration where helpful.
Existing beaver season administrative rule:
https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/16934
BODY GRIP/KILL TRAPS EAST RIVER
In this proposal they will also be correcting an over-
sight/typo to muskrat trapping season.
They will also be making changes to another trapping
rule on use of body grip/killing/conibear traps for beaver. They
are extending permission to use kill/body grip traps to eastern SD
for use in beaver trapping. This might be significant (or not) with
respect to animal cruelty issues as both leg hold and body grip
traps are cruel. Are cruelty issues associated with either
worse/better or the same? Animals smaller than the adult target
animals may press the trap trigger later, thus crushing other body
parts. Water sets are allowed from the edge of the water. Beaver
may be restrained fully under water, partially under water in shal-
lows or on land. Are cruelty issues associated with either
worse/better or the same?
In SD West River the trap check times are 3 and a partial
day and East River the trap check times are 2 and a partial day.
Traps set in water below ice, have trap check times of 5 and a
partial day. Most states require 24 hour trap check times. Pro-
posed administrative rule:
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/PRO2_2021_Trapping_Pro-
hibitions.pdf
Admin. rule to change - 41:08:02:01. “Water-sets prohibited” -
https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/16944
Other related rule- 41:08:02:06. “Body grip trap restrictions”.:
https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/16949
SD Administrative rules on trapping:
https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/16982
Info on trapping - videos on trapping
Link to explain what a conibear (body grip/killer) trap is,- this is
presented by supporters of this trapping method:
https://www.trap-anything.com/conibear-trap.html
Link to a video critical of beaver trapping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuwtB6izbS0
“Cull of the Wild" "The Truth behind Trapping" - "The argument
for ending animal trapping for profit, recreation or wildlife man-
agement.", Vimeo link to view the film:
https://vimeo.com/268875305
Link to BornFree USA 2017 extended score card on trapping,
http://7a1eb59c2270eb1d8b3d-
a9354ca433cea7ae96304b2a57fdc8a0.r60.cf1.rackcdn.com/BF
USA_Trapping_Extended_Report_Card.pdf
OTTER TRAPPING/HUNTING SEASONS
CHANGES
GFP will also be looking to approve another year of river otter
trapping/hunting & proposes expanding/enlarging the harvest
limit - from the 2020 harvest limit of 15 otters up to 20 otter
harvest limit. The limit could expand to 20 but only if the thresh-
old of 15 dead otters is filled quickly (In the first 10 days of sea-
son). The season is 11/1/2021 to 12/31/2021 or whenever the
limit is reached. Proposal:
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/PRO2_2021_River_Otter.pdf
Existing season rule- 41:08:01:08.05. “River otter trapping and
hunting season established “-- Harvest limit -- Tagging require-
ments: https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/39778
Page 2
 We also opposed the 2020 delisting of river otters by the
Department and its 2020 decision to not attempt to reintroduce
otters into West River during the next 10 years and to start trap-
ping otters East River. We have a long section of alerts on river
otter in the PHAS website's older posts section - these include
some of our old alerts from 2020, which include otter alerts.
https://phas-wsd.blogspot.com/2015/02/item-2-eventsdead-
lines_47.html
SDGFP 2020 River Otter Management Plan -
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/docs/otter_plan_2020-08-28.pdf
Talking Points against the otter season:
We object to the 15-20 harvest limit because:
1) Otters should never have been delisted in 2020 - we don't think
GFP have demonstrated that a large enough population exists to
support this level of hunting/trapping. 2) We want otters reintro-
duced west River. Any surplus East River otters should be
moved West River, not killed, 3) They haven't disclosed the
monitoring promised in the Otter Management Plan; they have
just given us information about the 15 dead otters killed by trap-
ping in 2020. GFP should release this promised data to public &
the vote on the 2021 season should be continued until the public
can review population monitoring data updates. 4) They haven't
reduced the length of the beaver trapping season in East River or
West River as we requested in 2020, and in fact want to increase
the length of beaver trapping season east river. This will increase
otter deaths, as otters are associated with beaver and are inciden-
tal take from beaver trapping. 5) Most trapping/snaring methods
are cruel. Otters may be trapped in water and may have been
dying by drowning
Written comments can be submitted to Commis-
sion at https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/
To be included in the public record for July, comments must in-
clude full name, city of residence & meet the submission deadline
of seventy-two hours before the meeting (not including the day of
the meeting). For July it is Sunday 7/4/21 at midnight CT
Commissioner e-mails - you can e-mail these any time.
<Travis.Bies@state.sd.us>, Jon.Locken@state.sd.us,
Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us, Russell.Olson@state.sd.us,
<Doug.Sharp@state.sd.us>, charles.spring@state.sd.us
List of members: https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/members/
GFP meetings are normally a hybrid both by Zoom and
face-to-face. You can attend, watch & testify by Zoom - testify
at 2 pm CT. You are given 3 minute segments for each rule and
during “open forum”. GFP's Meeting agenda, written public
comments & other details posted by GFP on this website just be-
fore the meeting & after the meeting: https://gfp.sd.gov/commis-
sion/information/
The Commission archives link -- where clicking on little
blue horns to the right of agenda item lets you listen to recording
of past meetings to hear discussion of proposals/agenda items:
https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/archives/
There should be 8 members but now there are only 6.
Our Governor is months late in making appointments to replace 2
Commissioners. SD Law provides that there can be no more than
4 Commissioners of any party. Unfilled vacancies are for "not-
Republican" Commissioners.
MOUNTAIN LIONS
The Commission will be hearing the staff’s proposal for the
Mountain Lion season for the next 2 years on July 8-9. The lion
season will be voted on in Early Sept (first Wednesday -The writ-
ten comment deadline will be midnight on 8/28/21).
UPDATE TO SAGE GROUSE LITIGATION
PHAS has been in litigation to protect the sage grouse since
2016. On 2/11/21 federal judge overturned a Trump administra-
tion decision to strip protections from 10 million acres, mostly in
Nevada and Idaho, that allowed mining in vital habitat for the
greater sage grouse. The ruling is the latest court victory for sage
grouse conservation via our litigation. Attorneys from Advocates
for the West represent Prairie Hills Audubon Society, Western
Watersheds Project, the Center for Biological Diversity and
WildEarth in this case. Link to the press release:
https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/federal-
judge-overturns-trump-administrations-gutting-of-sage-
grouse-protections-from-mining-2021-02-11/
UPDATE TO OUR FOREST SERVICE CAMPAIGN
The Rocky Mountain Research Station has published a
report showing that the Black Hills National Forest is over har-
vesting conifers at an unsustainable rate. This overharvesting
breaks various laws. PHAS has been meeting with representa-
tives of other conservation groups and the Oglala Sioux Tribe &
helping to draft joint letters to the Forest Service about this issue.
The groups had a meeting with the Regional Forester. The links
to the three letters sent thus far, are on our web page. There is not
enough space to put the links in this newsletter.
Changes to the PHAS By-laws.
In February the Board of Directors amended the by-laws at Arti-
cle III BOARD OF DIRECTORS to add a section 11 about con-
flicts of interest on the Board. We did this as the IRS wants 501c3
organizations to have such a clause in their by-laws.
MEMBERSHIP DUES and PHAS and NAS
People who join the National Audubon Society (NAS)
& live in the territory assigned to PHAS join both groups. When
PHAS was first created (1993) the NAS used to give us a “dues
share” policy of $5.50 per joint member. In the early 2000s they
changed “dues share”policy to give chapters a fixed amount
based on the rate of $2.25 per member living in the chapter terri-
tory at that time. For PHAS this became a fixed annual grant of
$565. PHAS can’t afford to send you all the newsletter six times
a year with that funding. PHAS basic functions are run, at least
in part from donations (not just dues) from members.
If new members join the NAS directly we see no differ-
ence in the annual allotment of $565. If new NAS members join
using a chapter link & put in our code of V02 (the 0 is a zero), we
will get $20 the first year but nothing extra any year after the first
year. Chapter link to use: https://act.audubon.org/onlineac-
tions/DH8fxTkoC0qHjXF9fZCtRw2
The NAS will accept $20 for a renewal or new membership.
If when you renew your NAS dues, you also send us some extra
dollars it would be appreciated.
Folks can also join PHAS only, in which case you are a
only a PHAS member & not a NAS member. Those cost $20 reg-
ular, $10 for low income/gift membership.
Page 3
 Prairie Hills Audubon Society (PHAS) is a Chapter of the National Audubon Society; our territory is much of West River SD.
Nancy Hilding - President, nhilding@rapidnet.com, 605-787-466 or 6779, Jim Petersen -Vice-president, nfearndesire@gmail.com,
605-939-4995, Helen McGinnis - Treasurer, hissyhelen38@gmail.com, Doris Respects Nothing - Secretary, drn.6501@gmail.com,
Jedediah Beadle, Board Member, Fieldtrip Chair, <jedediahbeadle@gmail.com> (207) 310-4665, PHAS web site : http://phas-
wsd.org/ - We have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/phas.wsd/ Our e-mail address is phas.wsd@rapidnet.com.

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Prairie Hills Audubon Society
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P.O. Box 788 y, June AS Zo
Sunda ne 30th, PH
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Black Hawk, SD 57718
Wed. e eeting On Be PERMIT #618
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J.J. Audubon - Brown Creeper/Pygmy Nuthatch

Prairie Hills Audubon Society is run by volunteers, we need new volunteers to help run organization, but we are espe-
cially looking for new Board Members. For information contact any board members whose contact info. is listed on
the label fold. Visit our web site to stay updated on our & other organization’s functions. Please send us your e-mail ad-
dress so we can send you PHAS announcements. Much more information about events/meetings, conservation cam-
paigns, field trips and deadlines are sent out by e-mail. We sometimes text to some folks.
islature. Other topics could also be covered. These are not nor-
INDEX to Inside; mally announced by web sites, newsletter or enviro-events. We
generally contact the people who express interest in volunteer
June 30th Zoom Membership meeting on Beaver page 1 work/study or on specific conservation issues. We may also
June 27th Field Trip to Whitney Preserve, page 1 schedule field trips to examine areas of likely conservation im-
Jedediah to revitalize Field Trip/birding programs page 1-2, pacts. If you are interested in attending working meetings and/or
Changes to the Board of Directors - page 2, fieldtrips relative to campaigns, contact Nancy via phas-
SDGFP proposals to increase beaver & river otter trapping - wsd@rapidnet.com.
page 2-3 E-mail newsletters.
Updates to our greater sage grouse litigation -page 3 We send out two e-mails newsletters. One is called “PHAS-news
Updates to our BHNF sustainable logging campaign - page 3 “and it is generally shorter and is sent more frequently. We also
Changes to PHAS by-laws - page 3 send out “Enviro-events”. Enviro-events is longer & has more
Membership dues and PHAS and NAS page 3 topics but it is issued less frequently. These e-mail newsletters
generally announce events or deadlines and may contain alert
Working meetings/fieldtrips. text. We will be sending mid-June editions out soon. If we don’t
have your e-mail address, you don’t get these.
During the year, PHAS schedules working meetings - held by
Zoom or in person to discuss in depth campaigns we are working
on. In the next few months such meetings could be scheduled re-
New list serve on birding
lated to Black Hills National Forest (BHNF), cougars/bobcats, Inside we announce a new PHAS list serve on birding
beavers/otters, nest predator bounty program, grouse & SD leg- phas-birds@googlegroups.com 4