![]() Questions abound, such as is land management affecting Silphid species here. The American burying beetle is no longer found in that state and is federally listed as endangered. The status of Silphid beetles, a family that includes burying and carrion beetles, is largely a mystery in Georgia. “I love it when I find pustulatus!” Lane laughs.Ī Carolina burying beetle, not uncommon at Alapaha (Josiah Lavender/DNR) She brings the bait (dead Norway rats), sets the pit-fall traps (buckets buried at ground-level with open mouths covered in chicken wire) and documents what shows up.Ĭatches vary from rainbow scarab beetles to Nicrophorus pustulatus, a carrion beetle that feeds on snake eggs and rates rare at Alapaha. And as with most hobbies, this one has a cost.Ĭontinuing a project started by students, each month for three years Lane has checked beetle traps at Alapaha WMA daily – five consecutive days a month. The insects are a hobby, Lane says with a grin. But she has eagerly branched into forestry, botany and even entomology. The Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College associate professor ranges from teaching students wildlife ecology to leading talks to help people be less fearful of snakes. Welcome to Lane’s wide world of wildlife. Why? Because the burying beetles Lane is searching for “could be anywhere” in the inch-deep sand, she says, occasionally flipping her pony tail to keep it from dipping into the bucket. “They try to bury the carcass so they can have it to themselves.” Vanessa Lane is on her hands and knees sifting the sand around a rotting dead rat in a 5-gallon bucket on Alapaha River Wildlife Management Area. (Josiah Lavender/DNR) PROFESSOR'S FOCUS VARIES FROM BIRDS TO BEETLES Vanessa Lane marks a beetle trapped at Alapaha River WMA. As a non-native species, they are not protected by Georgia wildlife laws or regulations. To report tegus, take a photo (if possible), note the location and log the sighting at or by contacting DNR at (478) 994-1438 or that tegus in the wild can be trapped or killed in a humane fashion and in accordance with local ordinances. Early detection and a rapid response are keys to preventing the spread and impact of invasive species. Reports by residents can hone that trapping effort and help scientists better understand the abundance and distribution of tegus in the area. Geological Survey and DNR, Georgia Southern is trapping tegus. The eggs of ground-nesting birds, such as quail and turkeys, and gopher tortoises, our state reptile, are subject to predation. ![]() Argentine black and white tegus grow up to 4 feet long and 15 pounds, and eat everything from rats and skinks to blackberries and beetles. While popular in the pet trade, these South American lizards spell trouble for native wildlife. Most sightings are in eastern Toombs and western Tattnall. Report any you see – alive or dead.Īrgentine black and white tegus have established a population here from released or escaped animals. This plate packs a pretty powerful punch.Īrgentine black and white tegu trapped in Toombs County (Denise Shepherd/DNR)Ī campaign to combat tegus in Toombs and Tattnall counties is making a last push for the public’s help before the big, invasive lizards go into brumation for winter.ĭNR and Georgia Southern University reached out to residents and media last week. The pollinator plate replaces the ruby-throated hummingbird design.īut like its predecessor, the new tag provides critical support for restoring and maintaining populations of Georgia wildlife not legally fished for or hunted, plus rare plants and natural habitats. Both native species are conservation priorities in Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan. Now available in county tag offices, these colorful tags sport a monarch butterfly and a Georgia aster. Looking for an easy way to help conserve wildlife in Georgia?Īdd DNR’s new pollinator plate to your vehicle. 105-pound alligator snapper NEW WILDLIFE PLATE: PRETTY, POWERFUL
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