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Flora & Fauna

Venture Outdoors for an Autumn Adventure in Nebraska

The calendar indicates that it is not fall yet. The meteorological fall has begun though. And I believe that after Labor Day, the fall season starts. What do you think? For me, unquestionably, fall in Nebraska is one of the best times of the year to spend outdoors. Truth be known, it is my favorite season! The days are definitely getting shorter, the air is getting a bit crisper, the crop harvest will soon start, and before long the leaves …

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Animal Vision

The size, shape and abilities of eyes vary in the animal kingdom. By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist “Eyes on the side hide, eyes on the front hunt.” The size, ability and position of the eyes of animals can vary widely depending on the species, environment and whether the animal is predator or prey. Some animals can move their eyes independently; some can see in ultraviolet light; and others can’t really see much at all. Throughout this article, we will …

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September Wildlife Viewing – Fall Birding

By Olivia DaRugna Summer has come and gone, and with it disappears the familiar songs and breeding activity of birds. For many birds, the end of summer means fueling their bodies with caterpillars, bugs and berries for the journey south to wintering grounds. Several species have just started the gorging phase in September, while others have already taken flight, such as hummingbirds and curlews. Birders, too, need to prepare for the challenges that come with fall birding. In the fall, …

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The Things That Stick to Us – Seeds

A celebration of the ways seeds transport themselves around the world and onto our pants and pets. Story and photos by Chris Helzer We’ve all been there. You’re in the middle of a perfectly pleasant walk through a woodland, wetland or prairie and you glance down to find your pant legs covered with sticky seeds. “Well, dadgum,” you exclaim, “would you look at that incredible seed dispersal adaptation!” “Golly,” you continue, “those little hooked spines sure are effective at catching …

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Why Do I Hunt?

As the popular hunting seasons in Nebraska draw nearer, I thought you might like to read my perspectives about why I hunt.  I am a hunter. I write and speak about hunting. I take images and record videos of hunting. I interact with hunters. Hunting is a major part of both my personal and professional lives. With my occupation (as a longtime communications and marketing specialist at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission) and through my personal social media accounts, …

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Just a Little Salty – Nebraska’s Saline Wetlands

By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist One would never guess looking at Nebraska’s prairies: A hundred million years ago, it was once a vast sea inhabited by shark-like marine reptiles, and when the sea finally retreated, it left behind remnants of salt, and quite a bit of it. The saline wetlands that surround our capital city, Lincoln, is still as salty as today’s oceans. Nebraska is far from any coastline, more than 1,000 miles to be specific, yet it is …

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Jump at the Chance to Go Bullfroggin’ in Nebraska

It is a season that is open here in eastern Nebraska. It is an unusual season, but one that just flat out reeks of adventure, challenge and tremendous entertainment value. It is a season tailor-made for kids. And, trust me, this is the season that will create memories and stories like no other! No, it is not a hunting season. “It” is Nebraska’s bullfrog season. “Bullfrog season,” you say, “really?” Yep. Look at the size of this adult North American …

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The Scissors Grinder

An Annual Cicada Story and photos by Gerry Steinauer, Botanist During the dog days of late summer, the reverberating call of the scissors grinder cicada (Neotibicen pruinosus) begins late in the afternoon and continues into dusk. Emanating from high in the trees, individual calls initiate softly and build to a loud, shrill, “WHEE-oo WHEE-oo” crescendo lasting about 20 seconds. Sometimes, it’s a lone call; other times, it’s a cacophony, an apparent horde singing in a shrieking chorus. Some find the …

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Trout Stream Gem in Northeast Nebraska

A classic case of misrepresentation keeps occurring. Folks, especially those new to the Cornhusker State, continue to express their disbelief to me that a crystal clear, cold, spring-fed trout fishing stream exists in northeast Nebraska. “No way,” they’ll say. “Impossible in farm country,” they’ll say. “You’re drinking, can’t be,” they’ll say.  “I’ve driven through there and never seen it,” they’ll say. These are just some of the phrases people have uttered to me about the East Branch of the Verdigre …

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Canines of Nebraska

Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist From the Labrador retriever to the Chihuahua, from the coyote to the swift fox, it’s sometimes hard to see similarities between all these animals when they seem so vastly different. But the truth is, whether it’s a herding dog, lap dog or a wild “dog” you may see out in the prairie, all these canines, or canids, have a single common ancestor. Canids are mammals in the order Carnivora (carnivores) and the family Canidae, which …

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