Gretchen Steele: Don’t be fooled by myths and misinformation from ‘armchair wildlife experts’

It’s that time of year when Illinois DNR releases a wealth of crucial data and numbers.

From harvest figures to wildlife surveys and grant awards, these numbers hold significant value. The abundance of data being published and shared with the general public is not to be overlooked.

This has led to a relatively new phenomenon: the social media/Internet commenter biologist/land manager/wildlife expert. It usually peaks around this time of year, especially regarding deer harvest and waterfowl harvest/survey numbers.

This batch of armchair biologists and land managers is particularly vocal and often particularly ridiculous. It is silly, but in some cases, it makes me wonder, “Are they serious? Is this some sarcastic joke?” Read through the comments, and you’ll see what I mean.

Now, not all social media commenters are nutty – some are very knowledgeable about land, habitat, and wildlife management from years of experience. They make sensible posts that reveal that even though they aren’t a degreed biologist/land manager, etc., they do indeed have an excellent grasp of what is and isn’t rumor, myth, and gossip.

I appreciate those cool-headed folks who have data and good answers. I never want to be the person who discounts a knowledgeable person’s perspective just because they don’t have a string of degrees behind their name. I have learned way too much from the “old timers” out there.

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I learned long ago not to engage in some of the more ridiculous claims. Claims like ‘DNR is lying about the deer population to justify hunting quotas’ or ‘the waterfowl survey numbers are manipulated to favor certain hunting areas.‘ I realized that presenting anything near the truth or directing folks to clear answers and data on the subject is poorly received.

By and large, I will never change their mind, and they will never change mine. There is no sense in wasting my time or theirs. Why does this whole nutty comment thing make me so crazy?

Why should I even care? It’s a pretty valid argument if I run into nutty comments on social media or in the comment section of news sites – meh – scroll on by.

Here’s why I get so frustrated – the comments clearly show that DNR (at this juncture, virtually every agency entrusted with managing wildlife and habitat) has serious trust issues with its constituents. Despite the significant improvements we’ve seen in transparency and communication in recent years, they continue to have an image issue. I cannot even imagine what a joy it must be to be in charge of any natural resource agency’s social media or communication departments.

This is precisely the way misinformation and myths continue to increase. This is why we end up with folks breaking fish and wildlife code regulations and combating this misinformation is crucial. It should go without saying that just because you “heard it” online doesn’t mean it’s true.

Question about a regulation?

Call your local Conservation Police Officer. This is likely who will be writing your ticket. Get it straight from them. Illinois DNR provides an outstanding resource page for its law enforcement division, including a downloadable list of CPOs by county.

Simple – save that list to your phone, or print it out and put it in your hunting bag – but either way, you have it handy when you need it.

DNR also has a host of resources and data on its website for those concerned about sharpshooting, CWD, the program’s history, etc. The “new” CWD management plan for 2025 through 2029 is valuable. Maybe give it a look before popping off with your friend or a friend of a DNR employee and commenting that DNR is lying.

RELATED STORY FROM OUTDOOR NEWS: Illinois DNR’s approach to managing CWD will change in 2025

Granted, if you have proof of what you allege, that would be great. Please share it with DNR. They can’t correct issues they don’t know about.

Illinois is a vast state, and what I see and experience in my little southwest Illinois bubble may differ greatly from those in the far northwest counties.

It’s important to recognize that your reality and mine can be vastly different, and this diversity of experience is valuable in wildlife management. Instead of arguing over these differences, it’s best to accept that variations exist, especially since statewide totals are often broken down by county or region for this very reason.

The same is true of the waterfowl aerial surveys. They are merely snapshots of that particular site, on that specific day, at that particular time. We all know that waterfowl can move around a lot during the day.

From my experience and knowing when and where they usually fly, I have different numbers than they do. What I’ve noticed is by the time the plane gets to Pyramid, the waterfowl have often left the refuge and gone out to feed. And vice versa.

My best advice is to use the information provided as a tool. If you feel strongly that the data is incorrect, reach out to the agency and the program data in question.

Ask questions and educate yourself instead of fighting and casting doubt online. Your responsible engagement is crucial in combating misinformation and promoting a more informed community.

Can we all commit to responsible engagement?

And for the last time – no, DNR has never dropped helicopters full of rattlesnakes anywhere. What makes you frustrated with the comment sections? I’m sure you have a pet peeve or two.

Remember, it’s our collective responsibility to avoid spreading myths and misinformation, and to always verify the information we come across.

Stay vigilant and don’t let misinformation take root.

southernstandpoint@gmail.com