LINCOLN, Neb. – After a recent discovery of invasive zebra mussels within Marimo or “moss” balls used in aquarium tanks, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is urging the public to take precautions to prevent the spread of this highly destructive species. A container of Marimo balls sold as “Betta Buddy” was first found to be contaminated with an adult zebra mussel at a Petco store in Washington state on March 3. Game and Parks subsequently inspected two Petco locations …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A virtual webinar March 18 will honor Mary Bomberger Brown and Marian Langan, Nebraskans who had significant impacts in bird conservation. Women & Birds of Nebraska will be co-hosted at 6:30 p.m. Central time by the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in celebration of Nebraska Outdoor Women. The webinar will focus on the women’s influence on birds in Nebraska, sharing the legacy they left for women in science. Bomberger Brown …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A portion of Branched Oak Wildlife Management Area in Lancaster County is closed to target shooting, effective immediately, for safety reasons. That closed area is south of West Raymond Road between NW 112th Street and NW 126th Street. Options for shooters include the 100-yard rifle sight-in range at Killdeer WMA in Lancaster County and the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln. For additional information about target shooting on public hunting lands, see the Public …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The trout lake at Two Rivers State Recreation Area in Douglas County will open Saturday, March 6 for family fishing. The lake will be stocked with 10,000 11- to 12-inch rainbow trout in time for the opener. All trout caught in the lake must be harvested and not released. Anglers first must purchase from the park office a daily trout tag for $6. Each tag is good for a daily bag limit of four trout. A person …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Rainbow trout from four ponds at Schramm Park State Recreation Area will be stocked at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park’s CenturyLink Lake on March 2. These trout, which range in length from 12 to 18 inches, will be salvaged from the park’s four canyon ponds. By comparison, trout stocked in annual spring stockings are approximately 10 inches in length. The ponds are being temporarily drained so they and the spring that supplies them can be evaluated. This …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Ice anglers on Hudson Lake in Cherry County are reminded that public access to that private lake ended on Feb. 28. The lease agreement that allows ice-fishing on Hudson stipulates that public access is allowed during daylight hours from December through February.

This is the second installment in a four-part series of articles on spring trout fishing in Nebraska. Next week: 2021 spring trout stocking schedule. By Larry Pape Nebraska Game and Parks Commission LINCOLN, Neb. – Trout are more likely to be found in Nebraska than elephants. Prehistorically, though, this probably was not true. The fossilized presence of mammoth in Nebraska is well described, but trout’s earliest recorded occurrence is from stocking by early Nebraska fish culturists and enthusiasts. Previous to …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Several virtual events are scheduled by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to kick off March, which Gov. Pete Ricketts has proclaimed Nebraska Outdoor Women’s Month. These free events include a women’s career panel, women’s conservation history event, and women’s birding event, among others. Registration is required at calendar.outdoornebraska.org. Game and Parks encourages women to get outdoors and engage other women in the outdoors. Throughout March, women in the outdoors and women’s outdoor achievements will be highlighted …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Turkey hunters with limited experience are invited to expand their knowledge through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Spring Saturday Series of workshops. These free, virtual Facebook sessions, starting March 6, will help develop specific skills necessary to increase hunting success and enjoyment. Each session begins at 9 a.m. Central time. All are listed at OutdoorNebraska.com/Workshops. The Spring Saturday Series schedule, with topics, is as follows: March 6, shotgun patterning for success; March 13, decoy placement; March …

This is the first installment in a four-part series of articles on spring trout fishing in Nebraska. Next week: The history of trout in Nebraska. By Larry Pape Nebraska Game and Parks Commission LINCOLN, Neb. – Ice on Nebraska lakes is typical through February, but by the middle of March, cattails should be sprouting along shorelines and fish should be moving into warming shallow water. Beautiful spring days, perfect for fishing, could occur with little notice. Be prepared to take …