LINCOLN – With the busiest boating season of the year just around the corner, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds the public of ways to stay safe on the water this summer. Boaters should not take safety for granted. Since May 16-22 has been declared Nebraska Boating Safety Week by Gov. Pete Ricketts, the Boating Safety Section of Game and Parks suggests ways boaters may reduce the risk of incidents and help ensure a safe and enjoyable day on …

LINCOLN – Nebraska’s second largest tourism attraction, Lake McConaughy, was the location of the May 15 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission meeting. The meeting took place at the Visitor and Interpretive Center. The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) reported on its work with partners to conserve birds in Nebraska and across the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. RMBO collaborates with Game and Parks through Nebraska Prairie Partners. Current work on mountain plovers, a shorebird of national concern and listed as …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will meet on May 15 beginning at 7:45 a.m. at the Lake McConaughy Visitor and Water Interpretive Center, 1475 Highway 61N. There are no scheduled public hearings for proposed changes to regulations or orders at the meeting. The agenda includes a staff presentation about fisheries management at Lake McConaughy. Also on the agenda are appearances by Deuel County, the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, the National Park Service, and Tom Plummer and Chad …

LINCOLN – Wildlife management areas and state recreation areas in Lancaster, Saline, Fillmore, Thayer, Gage and Jefferson counties of southeast Nebraska are being impacted by high water levels because of recent heavy rainfall. Area users should be cautioned that access to area roads, campgrounds, toilets and other facilities may be limited. Area users should not walk or drive vehicles through standing water, as hazards hidden by turbid water may be present. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission may decide to …

LINCOLN – May 15 is the 10th Annual Endangered Species Day, a day to bring attention to threatened and endangered plants and animals, as well as to recognize the plants and animals that contribute to the biological diversity of our nation. “Biodiversity is important for maintaining healthy, resilient ecosystems that provide numerous benefits to wildlife and people,” said Melissa Panella, a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fish and wildlife biologist. “The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, part of a nationwide effort …

LINCOLN — Omaha police shot and killed a mountain lion near 120th and Q streets in Millard Wednesday evening. Police responded to a call around 5 p.m. that a mountain lion was near the Project Harmony Building at 119th and Q streets. The Nebraska Humane Society also responded, as did a veterinarian. The mountain lion, a male that weighed about 120 pounds, was found to have a broken leg and to be immobile. It was unclear how long the animal …

LINCOLN – Learn lifelong outdoor skills as a family at the Becoming an Outdoors-Family workshop June 27-28 at Two Rivers State Recreational Area near Waterloo. Skills learned will help families enjoy the outdoors, create memories and start new traditions. Those skills include fishing, camping, paddling, aquatic education, outdoor cooking and the safe handling and shooting of shotguns and air rifles. The fee is $99 for a family of up to six members and $20 for each additional person. Park entry …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host an open house on May 13 at the Ash Hollow State Historical Park Visitors Center. The event, which will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., will be an opportunity for members of the public to discuss possible partnerships and other ideas pertaining to the operation of Ash Hollow State Historical Park with Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioners and staff members. Commissioners and staff members also will be available …

LINCOLN – Birders of all ages are invited to join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for Southeast District Birding Day on May 13 at Hamburg Bend Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This event is a great opportunity to get in the field, learn a bit about birds and local resource areas, and visit with agency staff and partners. Birders will meet at the WMA parking area at 7:30 a.m. Lunch and presentations are at 11 a.m. A mile south of …

LINCOLN – It is natural for some people who see a young wild animal apparently abandoned by its mother to want to rescue it. The correct course of action is to leave it alone. Here are some rules of thumb from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission regarding wildlife babies: — A lone fawn, or other young bird or mammal, may appear to be abandoned or injured, but the mother frequently is off feeding or drinking. Do not move it. …