Conservation

Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Educator Although “urban wildlife” might sound contradictory, there is in fact a great amount of wildlife that you can view from your backyard, a city park or even downtown Omaha – you might see peregrine falcon roosting on our state capitol, or a garter snake in a sump pump, or a mallard duck that has taken up residence in your tulips. Urban wildlife has come a long way since the time of our ancestors. These animals have …

I spread word last week about the rotenone renovation of Goose Lake.  I was busy and did not make it up to see the operation, but I did see a couple of follow-up photos.  It is always unbelievable the numbers, and domination, of rough fish when we do a renovation! Previous renovations of sandhill lakes have shown that there can be over 1600 pounds per acre of just common carp (Rat and Beaver)!  At that level, there just ain’t much …

From all indicators, he absolutely loved it! That would describe my young grandson’s first fishing expedition. I loved it, too! So, have you, the avid angler, taken a youth or a newcomer out fishing? Hmmm … You should! Well, let me tell you that there continue to be incentives for you to introduce someone new or someone who hasn’t been out on the water in a while to the lifestyle of fishing. In fact, the incentives offered are part of …

If you have read my blog for a while, you know that most of the time I have fish and fishing on the brain.  You also know that I love to hunt, but it is hard finding time to do it all.  I fish hard in the fall when most folks are hunting.  Spring turkey season is the one time each year that hunting distracts me from fishing.  Once again this spring, I have been thinking about some things, things …

Help document rare butterflies across Nebraska by getting trained to monitor for regal fritillaries and monarchs at one of three upcoming events. Trainings for the community science effort are: May 21: 1-5 p.m. at Schramm Park State Recreation Area, 21502 W. Highway 31, Gretna May 26: 1-5 p.m. via Zoom June 4: 1-5 p.m. at Homestead National Historical Park, 8523 NE-4, Beatrice Register to attend one of the trainings through their event listings at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Only one training session is required …

There is no doubt that Nebraska’s muskie fisheries have garnered more attention from anglers in recent years.  They should, we have some excellent opportunities to catch this greatest North American sport fish trophy. In addition, northern pike continue to be a popular target among many Nebraska anglers.  Pike also are top-of-the-food-chain, apex predators that can be large fish and a prized catch. I hope anglers fishing any Nebraska waters where the big toothy predators are present will treat those fish …

The timing is right, this is happening now: Goose Lake Wildlife Management Area temporarily closure; lake to be chemically renovated May 3 Goose Lake in Holt County is scheduled to be chemically renovated, weather depending, May 3 to remove the existing fish population. It will be closed to the public that day. The rotenone treatment is aimed to eliminate common carp, an undesirable species detrimental to aquatic habitat and water quality. Because rotenone is a restricted-use pesticide, the area will …

Every year about this time I get the feeling that everything is happening way too fast!  I look for ways to slow down the clock, the calendar, and make spring last as long as possible.  For a couple of years during the stupid pandemic, it was a slower pace because of this restriction or that closure.  This year it has been back to full bore!  Love it! I really do not have a long blog post today, nor a lot …

Here are some news items that I want to spread around: Work at Summit, Wagon Train affecting angler, boater access Aquatic Habitat improvement projects are underway at Summit Lake and Wagon Train Lake in eastern Nebraska that affect angler and boater access. Summit Lake’s water level is 8 feet below normal. Removal of sediment from the lake’s south basin is almost complete; construction will move to the west sediment basin. The Summit project is nearly 50% complete, but boaters can …

By Allison Barg, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Research Graduate Assistant “I put pheasant habitat on my property. Why don’t I have any pheasants?” University of Nebraska-Lincoln biologists are trying to answer this question. Many Nebraska landowners and wildlife managers have noticed that in parts of the state where there are swaths of land covered in what looks to be ideal pheasant habitat, there are no pheasants. It turns out that the “if you build it, they will come” approach doesn’t always …