On Feb. 22, the Division of Wildlife Resources participated in the migration of 24 California quail from Utah County to the Colorado River. Assistance came in the form of ground transportation.
Along the Wasatch Front, the quail population is at capacity and then some. Unhappy homeowners have asked the DWR for help in finding the partridge-size birds a new home. As a result, two dozen birds were trapped, boxed and delivered to their new home the same day.
Trapping and relocation has been an effective means for reducing damage to homeowners, while providing for population expansion in suitable habitat elsewhere.
Quail are fist-size fowl with a black head plume. They prefer to run rather than fly. More quail transplants to southeastern Utah are expected to follow in the weeks ahead.
California quail migrate to Colorado River
