Conservation

They have all sorts of names: Hedge Apples, Hedge Balls, Mock Oranges and others. You’ve probably seen them. But, what really are they? Spider/insect repellents? Hmmm … Dang, they are sure strange looking. What is this bright yellow to yellow-green, grapefruit-sized, brainy-looking fruit-like thing? Fruit? Well, this is actually fruit of the Osage orange tree, an inedible fruit to humans, I might add. Hedge apple, hedge ball or mock orange, in hand. Photo by Greg Wagner/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. …

Do not know if the football team is going to be any good this year or not.  Even if they are not, Nebraska is still a leader!  You may not have heard, we lead the world in sea-worthy gourds! Love the story!  Where else would someone attempt such a feat?  Where else would someone have a “cement pond” in the backyard for research and development? That has me thinking. . . . All these years I have been waiting to …

By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist Mountain lions, wolves, sharks and eagles, they have long been regarded as a few of the most stunning animals on Earth. As predators, they have inspired people by their strength, grace and ferocity, yet despite this fascination, predators have also been some of the most historically persecuted animals on the planet. They have been deemed villainous when they kill or injure livestock, threaten human safety, or cause economic damages. The motivation to remove predators …

I have not spent a lot of time on Sowbelly Creek when I have been “out west” in our great state.  I am going to make sure I do the next time I am out in those parts! Fishing improvements made to Sowbelly Creek Thanks to a recently completed project by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, anglers are sure to enjoy better fishing on a half-mile section of trout stream in one of the Pine Ridge’s most scenic locations. …

Some of you will know the story I am about to tell.  It played out on the interwebs earlier this summer.  At the time, it was difficult to get all the information and understand what was really happening.  Things have settled now and we know more, so let me recount the incident. . . . Once upon a time, someone was walking the shores of Lake McConaughy and came upon some unidentified fish.  They looked like this (I can show …

As is often the case with my Monday blog posts, I am just trying to spread the word.  Here is the news release that recently went out: Main ramp area upgrades continue at Merritt SRA Declining water levels at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area near Valentine has provided the opportunity for additional upgrades to the main ramp area. The work will result in temporary closure of the ramp. Upgrades include extending the concrete boat ramp to accommodate safe low-water elevation …

I will flat out guarantee, when I get tired of all the “stuff”, the best thing to do is GO FISH.  I can tell you for a fact my blood pressure is lower when I am on the water.  However, I also realize there are times when you cannot “get away from it all” immediately.  When that is the case, you might as well dial-it up on your computer.  Take a break for mental well-being, pull up a video and …

Blending recreation and conservation By Grace Gaard, Outdoor Educator When we think of kayaking, we might picture paddling on a waterway, and that’s where it stops. But I always had this feeling that kayaks had more potential than paddling alone. That magic we experience on the water can be hard to put a label on, and the word “conservation” can seem a bit complicated, like something people can’t relate to because it’s so scientific. Recently, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission …

You likely have heard about this story, it is all over and I suspect it is going to go even further. . . . I might as well put it in a blog post too. . . . A Nebraska angler, Andy Moore, was recently fishing up on the Missouri River in northeast Nebraska when he hooked into a fish.  It was a big fish, a really big fish.  It was an old fish, a really old fish.  Listen to …

The public is invited to explore the natural diversity of the Pine Ridge and help catalog the species found there during the Chadron State Park Bioblitz on Sept. 9-10. The free, family-friendly event will join members of the public with natural resources experts to explore and learn about the biodiversity and habitat at the park. Then, participants will work to identify as many plants and animals as possible during the event. “This is a great way for folks of all …