Conservation

I hope by now that all users of Nebraska’s aquatic resources, boaters, skiers, anglers, swimmers, etc., are aware of the threat from aquatic invasive species.  Surveys have shown that most are, but it is always good to keep this topic in the forefront.  With recent legislation, our state’s efforts to educate and prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species will ramp up in the coming years.  For now, I found an article by one of my co-workers, Jenny Nguyen, that tells …

It’ll be an exciting, highly informative hour of outdoor talk radio when Laura Stastny, Executive Director of Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, Inc. based in Louisville, NE, visits The Great Outdoor Radio Show I host. The primary mission of Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, Inc. is to rehabilitate injured, sick and orphaned native Nebraska wildlife and migratory birds for return to the wild. The organization is also a huge promoter of educating folks about the importance of wildlife, conservation and ecosystems as well as maintaining and restoring native wildlife habitat. …

Another long-awaited, new reservoir has opened for fishing!  Anglers grab your gear! Danish Alps State Recreation Area to open for public use LINCOLN — Danish Alps State Recreation Area (SRA) near Hubbard will open to the public  on Wednesday, July 8, at 9 a.m. The 746-acre area includes RV and tent camping, equestrian camping facilities, day use areas, a walking and hiking trail and excellent angling and wildlife watching opportunities. Kramper Reservoir, a 226-acre lake, was planned with shoreline fishing …

Story and Photos by Sarah Kocher Simply put, JoLeisa Cramer’s job has one focus: how things spread. Cramer is a technician for the Nebraska Invasive Species Program, and half of her job is about spreading awareness of the destruction invasive species almost always leave in their wake. The other half involves testing lakes for aquatic invasive species to prevent their introduction or growth. She spreads one to stop the other. “Prevention is the best tool we have for invasive species,” …

Quick blog post today; just want to again call attention to some angler access and aquatic habitat improvement projects that are underway–your angler dollars at work! Project to Improve Angler Access at Sandy Channel SRA LINCOLN – Anglers who fish at Sandy Channel State Recreation Area (SRA) in Buffalo County will soon have improved fishing access at three of the most popular lakes on the area. Lakes No. 2, No. 4 and No. 8 all have projects slated to improve …

OK, this is a commercial about Colorado, I know it is hard for me too, but in spite of that, watch it, it is funny and it makes an excellent point! Now, let’s go beyond Colorado, and bring it home to Nebraska. There have been economic studies that have shown that hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation in Nebraska could be even bigger if we used some of our natural resources in a different way.  Yes, I am even suggesting that …

If you live near some of our deciduous forests in eastern Nebraska, or if you are visiting there, you right now have an opportunity to experience an amazing and rare wildlife experience.  In fact I would rank this right up there with the annual sandhill crane migration, turkeys gobbling, elk bugling, or a surface-feeding frenzy of big wipers.  This is even more amazing because it only occurs once every 17 years! The year 2015 is the year of the emergence of …

“Pollination is one of the most important mechanisms in the maintenance and promotion of biodiversity and, in general, life on Earth. Pollination benefits society by increasing food, security and improving livelihoods.” – Convention on Biological Diversity, Sustaining Life on Earth.   We are in the midst of National Pollinator Habitat Week (June 15-21) here in Nebraska and elsewhere in this great country. I am promoting it and proud to say that our family farm in southeastern Nebraska is enrolled entirely …

I have a few state record applications sitting here on my desk; time to give you an update.  Let me just take ’em in order. . . . Tiger Trout Tiger trout are a brown trout X brook trout hybrid.  Tigers have never been stocked in Nebraska waters, but we have a few Pine Ridge streams where both brown trout and brook trout are present and hybridization in the wild is a possibility.  We had the first rod & reel …

Landowners in the Pine Ridge region are being encouraged to explore opportunities for cost-sharing and technical assistance in habitat enhancement projects available through a partnership between Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Katy Kuhnel, a shortgrass prairie coordinating wildlife biologist for the Nebraska Natural Legacy Program, is available to assist landowners with a wide variety of projects to improve the landscape for wildlife. They include prairie restoration, invasive tree removal, grazing management, infrastructure development and …