Wisconsin Conservation Congress 2025
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance Survey Guide

The Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Annual Spring Hearing gives members of the public the opportunity to provide input on a variety of questions. We encourage you to take the time to fill out the survey—many of the questions impact ecosystems and wildlife both locally and throughout the state.

You can register your opinions online starting at 7pm on April 14 until 6pm on April 16 by clicking the button below. Participating online is encouraged, but there is also an in-person opportunity in each county on April 14 at 6pm.

Participate in the 2025 WCC Spring Hearing Survey

Below are questions pulled from the statewide questionnaire that relate to bird conservation, as well as the SoWBA response. You can also read the guide from our partners at the Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter.

1. Allow nonedible parts of deer, bear and elk to be left in the field after harvest

Wisconsin’s current deer quartering rule requires all deer parts (minus the entrails) to be removed from the field after harvest. . . . Many western states have successfully adopted regulations allowing hunters to quarter or completely debone harvested game and leave “non-edible” carcass material at the site of harvest. [Abbreviated]

1. Do you support allowing hunters who quarter their deer in the field to leave nonedible parts at the site of harvest? NO

Carcasses left in the fields contain fragments of lead ammunition. Leaving them in the environment exposes Wisconsin’s wildlife, especially Bald Eagles and other birds of prey known to scavenge the carcasses, to lead. Lead exposure is a serious problem for birds, as ingesting even a tiny particle of lead is enough to be lethal.

45. Statutory Exemption from Wis. Stats. s. 227.139 (the REINS Act) for PFAS Rulemaking

During the rulemaking process, every agency is required to produce an economic impact analysis, estimating the implementation and compliance costs of the proposed rule. Under Wis. Stat. s. 227.139 (adopted as part of 2017 Wisconsin Act 57, commonly known as the REINS Act), if the costs of a proposed rule exceed $10 million in any 2-year period, the department must stop rulemaking and wait for legislative approval to continue. . . . Adding an exemption from section 227.139 for rules regulating PFAS in the environment would require DNR to do an economic impact analysis, but would allow DNR to continue with rulemaking without legislative approval if the proposed economic impact of the rule exceeds $10 million in any 2-year period. [Abbreviated]

45. Do you support an exemption from Wis. Stat.s. 227.139 for rules regulating PFAS in the environment? YES

The health of our human and wildlife communities are both harmed by the presence of PFAS in our drinking water and environment. It is important to keep regulation of PFAS moving forward.

46. Require pipeline owners/operators to submit federally required spill notifications to the DNR Remediation and Redevelopment program

When a discharge of a hazardous substance (or spill) to the environment occurs in Wisconsin, with few exceptions, the responsible party is required under state statute to report the spill through an initial notification to the DNR. Currently, after the initial notification, additional spill updates to the DNR are not required under state statute or rule even though the volume of the spill may have increased. An extensive network of pipelines carry various materials, including petroleum and other products, throughout the state. At times, spills may occur and only an initial notification is required. The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) requires reporting of spill incidents. PHMSA requires an initial notification and additional reporting related to a spill incident within 30-days of an incident and a written report within 1 year of the incident.

46. Do you support the legislature providing DNR statutory authority to require submittal of the same federal PHMSA reports to the Department for additional spill notifications? YES

Spillage of oil and other hazardous materials into the environment poses a serious risk for human and wildlife health. It is important for the members of the public to be made aware of such incidents.

47. Elimination of lead ammunition and fishing tackle (130624)

As a result of decades-long reliance on lead ammunition, susceptible wildlife falls to the debilitating and lethal effects of lead poisoning. Mammals, eagles, waterfowl, corvids, even songbirds as tiny as chickadees, routinely feed on the remains of harvested animals. Ingesting a small amount of animal tissue with lead can result in prolonged suffering and death for wildlife that feeds on the remains that are left behind. Today’s non-toxic bullets, shot and fishing weights are widely available and often comparable in price to lead. Lead poisoning is preventable and can be eliminated.

47. Would you support phasing out uses of lead so that it is not left behind on our lands and in our waters? YES

Lead exposure is a serious problem for birds, and ingesting even a tiny particle of lead is enough to be lethal. Some of Wisconsin’s most beloved birds, including Bald Eagles, Common Loons, Trumpeter and Tundra Swans all face heightened risk for lead poisoning when they unintentionally ingest lead tackle or ammunition while foraging for food.

48. Protection of lakes, streams, and their fish, and wildlife from pollution caused by animal manure and commercial fertilizer (560324)

Pollution of Wisconsin lakes and streams by phosphorous and nitrogen from surface run-off from agricultural fields fertilized with animal manure or commercial fertilizer is a widespread threat to their ecological health. . . . Protecting our waters from pollution caused by run-off from agricultural fields will require adequate funding for changes in the regulation of controlled animal feeding operations and the spreading of manure on agricultural fields. Current practices are promoting pollution which may be getting worse and be ecologically unsustainable. Current non-point source pollution control practices are not meeting the state’s public trust responsibilities to protect our water, lakes and streams. Surveys show that clean water has broad support and improvements will be popular. [Abbreviated]

48. Would you support increasing funding for nonpoint source pollution control and the establishment of an independent team of experts to recommend changes that protect our water, lakes and streams from pollution by spreading animal manure and commercial fertilizer? YES

Pollution in our lakes and streams from animal manure and commercial fertilizer damages Wisconsin’s ecosystems and poses serious health risks. Clean water benefits birds and people alike.

56. Habitat stamp (requires legislation) (640224)

Currently, cold water projects are funded by the trout stamp and waterfowl habitat work is funded by the waterfowl stamp. However, projects to remove invasive plants and animals, restore critical habitats, create new habitats and maintain existing habitats are currently underfunded. On average, 1.2+ million people annually purchase a license or licenses to hunt, fish or trap. Requiring each customer to purchase one $5 stamp per year would raise more than $5 million to fund habitat work for our uplands, warm water lakes and streams. Such a stamp would also provide a way for non-consumptive users such as: hikers, nature observers, canoeists, kayakers and recreational boaters to help protect and enhance the resources they are enjoying.

56. Would you support legislation establishing a $5 annual habitat stamp to fund upland, warm water lakes and streams habitat projects? YES

A stamp like this could raise a lot of money to fund habitat restoration and protection, and provides a way for birders, hikers, canoe and kayakers to help protect birds and habitats.

60. Build accessibility cabins in state owned campgrounds (160124)

Currently (2024), there are only ten accessible cabins in Wisconsin State Park and Forest campgrounds. Of those, eight are full amenity cabins and two are rustic cabins. Full amenity cabins have an accessible shower, electricity, bed with lift, an accessible kitchen, table, and bed with lift. . . . Therefore, seniors, and thousands of others struggling with mobility, are not able to camp in our state parks due to the lack of accessible cabins. Under this resolution, the Wisconsin DNR would be encouraged to build a site appropriate cabin per campground they manage throughout the state, thus giving additional camping opportunities to those with disabilities. [Abbreviated]

60. Would you support having the Wisconsin DNR’s Bureau of Parks and Recreation build additional site appropriate camper cabins in campgrounds to allow more opportunity for those with physical disabilities to go camping? YES

Nature is for everybody, and every body. We support measures to increase access for birders and nature lovers who have disabilities.

62. Sandhill crane stamp to help farmers experiencing crop damage (390124)

Wisconsin hosts a large population of sandhill cranes each year. The 2021 fall count for the Eastern Population of sandhill cranes, which includes birds in Wisconsin, was 90,029 sandhill cranes, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The native birds provide value to wildlife watchers and as members of the state's ecosystem, but they also cause crop damage, the most common and economically important crane management problem. Cranes eat planted seeds, especially corn, and can cause substantial damage in springs the birds gather in germinating agricultural fields. In 2019 USDA Wildlife Services in Wisconsin received 162 complaints regarding sandhill crane damage to crops, with reported damage estimated at $1.2 million, according to the agency. No program currently exists in Wisconsin to assist farmers with crop damage caused by sandhill cranes. 45 Prior to planting, corn can be coated with a product (one commercially available product is called Avipel) that has been proven to deter sandhill cranes from eating the kernels. To help farmers pay for the cost associated with treatment this resolution suggests creating a Sandhill Crane Stamp. Funds raised by stamp sales or donations to the crane stamp program would be used to compensate farmers for treating their corn with a crane deterrent or purchasing pre - treated corn. Stamp purchases would be voluntary and available to the general public.

62. Would you support legislation that creates a Sandhill Crane Stamp to help farmers reduce crane-caused crop damage? YES

Funds raised by stamp sales or donations to the crane stamp program would be used to compensate farmers for treating their corn with a crane deterrent or purchasing pre-treated corn. It provides a way for birders and crane lovers to help protect birds while supporting a responsible and effective solution for Wisconsin’s farmers dealing with crop damage.

Citizen resolutions (By county)

Numerous citizen resolutions have been submitted across the state and are voted on by county. If your county of residence includes any of the following resolutions, please consider:

Restricting or eliminating the use of lead in ammunition and tackle: Lead poisoning, caused by accidental ingestion of hunting and fishing supplies, is a major death sentence for numerous birds in Wisconsin, including eagles, loons, swans, and more.
Saying “no” to a Sandhill Crane hunting season: There are no data that show that a Sandhill Crane hunt will reduce crop damage for farmers. A hunt (that Wisconsinites largely do not want) is a waste of time and money when effective, proven solutions exist.
Providing funds for Wisconsin farmers for non-lethal predator prevention programs: Crop and livestock depredation can often be prevented through non-lethal means, while killing may have opposite the intended effect.
Reducing contamination in drinking water: Safe water is crucial for our communities.
Avoiding new fossil fuel infrastructure: Reducing dependency on fossil fuels is an important move for our communities, climate, and environment.