South Dakota survey shows large decline in pheasant numbers

Hundreds of thousands of pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) mysteriously disappeared from eastern and central South Dakota in the past year. Not enough chicks hatched this summer to offset the losses. The state Game, Fish and Parks Department left many South Dakotans stunned with its declaration of a 64 percent decrease in its annual brood survey, released Friday. In many places there seems to be fewer insects this summer, such as crickets and caterpillars that comprise young pheasants’ diets for the first month of life.

Source: American News, 30 August 2013
http://articles.aberdeennews.com/2013-08-31/news/41627288_1_pheasant-nu…