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provide nesting cover for the animals. Early mowing puts young broods at risk.
• This time of year hens nest and hatch broods, which are vulnerable to mowing equipment because of limited mobility. The birds tend to hide when threatened, rather than take flight.
• State research indicates hay mowing equipment is responsible for a significant number of pheasant deaths in June and July.
• Aaron Robinson, upland game biologist in North Dakota's Wildlife Division said a declining pheasant population is a problem in North Dakota as well, where the birds are nesting now. He said they likely have had to nest a second time, because of the cold, wet weather.
• Robinson recommends that people put attachments on their mowers, ahead of the blade, to flush out the birds.
• "Obviously the eggs won't survive, but at least you don't kill the hen and she may have an opportunity to re-nest," he said.
• There are no policies or consequences for mowing before July 15 in North Dakota, but officials strongly encourage people to respect the guideline.
• In South Dakota roadside mowing east of the Missouri river is not allowed before July 10. Violators can be charged with a misdemeanor. Officials can mow earlier for public safety or weed control.
• Steve Halverson of Pierre, a farmer and member of the pheasant task force, understands why there's a push to mow the ditches early but wants officials to consider the cost. Last year he requested that his ditches not be mowed by the county to preserve the space for the pheasant hens. This year, the ditches near his property were mowed early.
• In eastern parts of the state, Halverson said the grasses grow long and may conceal deer.
• Mike Meyer, the Hughes County highway superintendent in central South Dakota, said state policies don't apply to his jurisdiction and people call and request mowing to improve their visibility of animals on the roadside. He said trimming grasses in the spring saves the lives of some animals that would otherwise get hit by cars.
• But Halverson said the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which supports large tracks of idle land for wildlife in the state, has been getting less federal funding making roadside ditches even more important in supporting the pheasant population.
• "As the amount of CRP acres continue to decline we're going to have to rethink the way we do things to make sure the pheasants have what they need," Halverson

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