With the support of a handful of dedicated men and women, a species of popular game birds may be making a long awaited comeback in Cass County.

On Thursday, members of the county chapter of Pheasants Forever introduced 25 12-week-old pheasants into a field located in Cassopolis, in hopes of starting to repopulate their numbers here in Cass County. The release was the culmination of years of work the local organization had spent transforming the 37-acre lot of land into a suitable home for the birds, with members planting and cultivating the various kinds of prairie grass and flowers that once flourished in the region.

While many of the released birds likely won’t make it through the winter, members hope that this, along with future releases, will help bring back pheasant population here in the region. The birds were driven to near-extinction in the county following a brutal winter in the late 1970s.

While their ranks aren’t massive by any means, the members of Pheasants Forever have worked diligently since 1998 on their mission of bringing the birds back to the county. Using funds from their annual fundraising banquet in the fall, the organization funds not only efforts to raise and restore pheasants and plant native grasses on county lands, but for education for young hunters and other programs as well.

While one would expect the primary beneficiaries of the group’s efforts would be hunters, by improving the environment, nearly everyone in the county will enjoy the benefits.

Pheasants Forever’s dedication to its cause should be a model for other service organizations. Whether it’s a massive national organization like the United Way or a small group of passionate parents like the Athletic Boosters, volunteerism and philanthropy are the two best ways to improve the place we call home.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.