Family-Outdoors

  A biologist prepares to swab a tri-colored bat during annual surveillance efforts. (Jena Donnell/ODWC) Three tri-colored bats,  Perimyotis subflavus,  from a privately owned cave in eastern Oklahoma's Delaware County have tested positive for the fungus,  Pseudogymnoascus destructans,  that is associated with the disease known as white-nose syndrome. This disease has been confirmed in seven hibernating bat species across the eastern United States. With these new findings, Oklahoma becomes the third state where the fungus has been confirmed, but the disease is not present.    Bats are crucial to a healthy ecosystem. They play a key role in keeping insect populations including agricultural pests and mosquitos under control. In cave systems, they also provide nutrients for other cave life through their droppings.    "While disheartening, these results are not totally unexpected," said Melynda Hickman, ...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) . (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Monarch butterflies are struggling. Counts of the familiar orange-and-black insects, admired for their flights of up to 5,000 miles a year, are trending down so sharply that their migration is now under threat. That means fewer monarchs to pollinate crops, spread seeds and feed birds. So how can we help? One simple way is to follow the lead of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa and consider collecting and sowing milkweed seed. But don’t delay. In much of the country, milkweed pods are ripe for picking in early fall. Why milkweed? Milkweed is the host plant for monarchs—the lone plant on which the butterflies lay their eggs in spring and the only food source for monarch larvae. One reason monarchs are failing is that milkweed is disappearing from the American landscape. Scientists blame land-use practices such as farming with crops genetically modified to resist herbicides. The herbicides kill plants such as mil...

Citizens interested in learning about or commenting on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources strategies for managing Finland area lakes and streams have until Jan. 15 to ask questions or submit comments. “Management plans describe the past, present and desired future conditions of the waters,” said Dean Paron, Finland area fisheries supervisor. “The plans identify specific management activities planned for that lake or stream in the next 5 to 20 years. They include background on the lake including water chemistry, temperature, and species present which is important in understanding the potential of a fishery.” Every year DNR fisheries staff prepares or revises individual lake and stream management plans for several waters in each management area. In the Finland area, plans for the following lakes and streams will be reviewed. Lakes: • Echo. • Harriet. • Wanless. • Scarp. • Bear. • Bean. • Finn Pond. • Weapon. • Katherine. • Gypsy. • Tonic. • Fulton....

ge (Photo credit: USFWS Headquarters ) Before dove and waterfowl hunters take to drought-affected fields this hunting season, they should take time first to review baiting laws. Baiting can be a complicated issue. It can become more complicated in years in which drought conditions have pushed many farmers to destroy their standing agricultural crops. It's imperative that hunters keep in mind what is legal and what is not legal during waterfowl and dove hunting seasons. What is legal? You can hunt waterfowl on, over, or from: • Standing crops or flooded standing crops • Standing, flooded, or manipulated natural vegetation • Flooded harvested croplands • Lands or areas where grains or top-sown seeds have been scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural practices. You can hunt doves on, over or from: • Standing crops • Lands where seeds or grain have been scattered solely as a result of normal agricultural practices • Lands...

MADISON – Kids of all ages can fill out a certificate to give their father a gift he'll really like -- a future fishing trip with them. The fishing certificate can be downloaded and printed from the Department of Natural Resources EEK!, Environmental Education for Kids website, which is designed for children in grades 4-8. EEK! and the DNR fisheries management program have teamed up to offer the gift certificates. EEK! provides information about plants, animals, and the environment and receives more than 100,000 visitors a month. “ Kids and fishing naturally go together, so we thought this was a perfect opportunity to encourage kids to take someone important in their lives outside for a day of fishing and fun," says Carrie Morgan, EEK! editor. “Have a great time, and remember to take a camera and send us a picture, and a Big Fish story ,” she says. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Scheidegger (608) 267-9426; Carrie Morgan (608) 26 7-5239