http://freshare.net/article/ en bobk@freshare.net Copyright 2012 2012-02-07T22:27:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/crystal_bridges_art_museum/ http://freshare.net/article/crystal_bridges_art_museum/#When:22:27:00Z Featuring a story about an art museum may seem unusual for an outdoors website, but Crystal Bridges is anything but typical for an art museum. Designed to blend into the 120 acres of wooded grounds on which it is built, the museum is surrounded by creek-fed ponds, woods and wetlands. A generous measure of glass brings nature into view throughout… Pursuits, Destinations, Arkansas Destinations 2012-02-07T22:27:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/road_runoff_spurring_spotted_salamander_evolution/ http://freshare.net/article/road_runoff_spurring_spotted_salamander_evolution/#When:19:01:00Z Researchers at Yale University observed spotted salamanders exposed to contaminated roadside ponds that are adapting to their toxic environments. Their study provides the first documented evidence that a vertebrate has adapted to the negative effects of roads apparently by evolving rapidly. Salamanders breeding in roadside ponds are exposed to a host of contaminants from road runoff. Chief among… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife 2012-02-03T19:01:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/a_spider_webs_strength_lies_in_more_than_its_silk/ http://freshare.net/article/a_spider_webs_strength_lies_in_more_than_its_silk/#When:18:47:00Z While researchers have long known about the incredible strength of spider silk, the robust nature alone of these tiny filaments cannot explain how webs survive multiple tears and winds that exceed hurricane strength. Now, a study by researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that combines experimental observations of spider webs with complex computer simulations has shown that… Nature and Wildlife, Science 2012-02-03T18:47:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/nasas_gcpex_mission_what_we_dont_know_about_snow/ http://freshare.net/article/nasas_gcpex_mission_what_we_dont_know_about_snow/#When:17:51:00Z Predicting the future is always a tricky business—just watch a TV weather report. Weather forecasts have come a long way, but almost every season there’s a snowstorm that seems to come out of nowhere, or one that’s forecast as ‘the big one’ that turns out to be a total bust. In the last ten years, scientists have shown… Nature and Wildlife, Environment 2012-02-03T17:51:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/hunter_exposed_to_rabies_by_field_dressing_deer/ http://freshare.net/article/hunter_exposed_to_rabies_by_field_dressing_deer/#When:17:42:01Z This occurred in Pennsylvania. While certainly rare, it’s something of which to be aware when cleaning wild game: Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that a Lancaster County hunter has undergone post-exposure rabies shots after harvesting and field dressing a deer on Jan. 20, in Valley Township, Chester County, that ultimately tested positive for rabies. “The… News, Newsworthy 2012-02-03T17:42:01-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/discover_nature_through_mdc_75th_anniversary_photo_contest/ http://freshare.net/article/discover_nature_through_mdc_75th_anniversary_photo_contest/#When:22:02:00Z The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites photographers around the state to enter its 75th Anniversary Photo Contest. The contest is an effort to help Missourians discover nature by capturing and sharing photos that celebrate the natural wonders of Missouri. Winners will be featured in the October issue of the Missouri Conservationist, as well as on the MDC website and… News, Newsworthy 2012-02-02T22:02:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/bobwhite_quail_program_on_tap_for_nature_center/ http://freshare.net/article/bobwhite_quail_program_on_tap_for_nature_center/#When:22:01:01Z Why has the bobwhite quail population declined? What is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission doing to try to reverse the trend? How can landowners manage property to benefit quail? Those are a few of the questions quail hunters can get answered at a seminar sponsored by the AGFC. The agency’s Quail Program Coordinator Steve Fowler… News, Newsworthy 2012-02-02T22:01:01-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/bell_slough_nature_trail_provides_calm_with_wildlife_bonuses/ http://freshare.net/article/bell_slough_nature_trail_provides_calm_with_wildlife_bonuses/#When:21:54:00Z A handy and no-cost prescription for relaxing, for letting tensions, worries and headaches fade away, is to visit the Kenny Vernon Nature Trail at Bell slough Wildlife Management Area. It begins nearly in the shadow of busy Interstate 40, yet a few strides along the easy path, the noise fades. Nature takes the front seat, and… Destinations, Arkansas Destinations 2012-02-02T21:54:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/porous_soled_waders_banned_in_missouri_trout_waters/ http://freshare.net/article/porous_soled_waders_banned_in_missouri_trout_waters/#When:21:41:01Z With catch-and-keep trout season opening March 1, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds trout anglers to help prevent the spread of a new threat to Missouri’s cold-water streams and rivers. Called “didymo” (Didymosphenia geminata) or “rock snot,” this invasive alga forms large, thick mats on the bottoms of cold-water streams and rivers, reducing the quality and quantity of food… Pursuits, Outdoor Recreation, Fishing 2012-02-02T21:41:01-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/acres_for_wildlife_program_helps_improve_environment/ http://freshare.net/article/acres_for_wildlife_program_helps_improve_environment/#When:21:38:00Z The quality of the environment in Arkansas is dependent upon decisions made by the many individuals who own and manage the land. Out of 33 million surface acres in the Arkansas, 29 million are under private ownership. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Acres for Wildlife coordinator Steve Fowler says the agency has initiated a new and… Nature and Wildlife, Conservation 2012-02-02T21:38:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/suh_weet_honeybee_short_courses_scheduled/ http://freshare.net/article/suh_weet_honeybee_short_courses_scheduled/#When:19:00:01Z Beginners who want to learn the art and science of beekeeping will have the opportunity over the next few months with free short courses scheduled around the state. “The classes will cover everything you should know to get started,” said Jon Zawislak, an extension apiculture program associate for the University or Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. … News, Newsworthy 2012-01-31T19:00:01-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/illinois_river_fly_fishing_school_offers_two_day_course/ http://freshare.net/article/illinois_river_fly_fishing_school_offers_two_day_course/#When:18:59:00Z Anglers interested in fly fishing can learn the sport Feb. 24-25 at the Illinois River Fly Fishing School. The clinic will be based out of Tenkiller State Park and will feature instructional sessions as well as hands-on practice on the banks of the Illinois River. According to long-time instructor Mark Patton, the clinic lays a good… News, Newsworthy 2012-01-31T18:59:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/childrens_minds_grow_at_home_and_garden_seminar_and_show/ http://freshare.net/article/childrens_minds_grow_at_home_and_garden_seminar_and_show/#When:18:57:02Z More than 1,000 Jefferson County schoolchildren benefited from the 2011 Home and Garden Seminar and Show, according to Lloyd Wessels, longtime volunteer with the event. The proceeds from the annual show – mainly vendor’s fees and sponsorships – provide funds for the Youth Garden, a project of the Master Gardeners of Jefferson County, said Wessels, who is chairman… News, Newsworthy 2012-01-31T18:57:02-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/winged_predators_seek_certain_trees_when_foraging_for_caterpillars/ http://freshare.net/article/winged_predators_seek_certain_trees_when_foraging_for_caterpillars/#When:17:51:00Z Location matters for birds on the hunt for caterpillars, according to researchers at UC Irvine and Wesleyan University. Findings suggest that chickadees and others zero in on the type of tree as much as the characteristics of their wriggly prey. Unfortunately for caterpillars, munching on tree leaves that are healthy and tasty can dramatically boost their own risk… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife 2012-01-27T17:51:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/capping_pipes_can_save_birds_lives/ http://freshare.net/article/capping_pipes_can_save_birds_lives/#When:17:46:00Z Do you have a fence with hollow posts made of PVC or metal pipe? What about a metal sign post? Bird experts say these and other open vertical pipes can be death traps for birds and other wildlife. Wildlife Ecologist Brad Jacobs with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) learned about the problem from Audubon California’s Kern River… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife, Birding 2012-01-27T17:46:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/kayak_fishing_in_arkansas/ http://freshare.net/article/kayak_fishing_in_arkansas/#When:17:42:00Z The fish are always biting somewhere, even in places you can’t reach by boat. But you can reach many of these hard-to-reach waterways by kayak. “Kayak fishing is ready to explode in Arkansas as recreational kayaking has done over the past five years,” said Don Jackson, an avid fisherman and owner of Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters in Hot Springs.… Pursuits, Outdoor Recreation, Fishing 2012-01-27T17:42:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/become_a_master_naturalist_for_camden_county_area/ http://freshare.net/article/become_a_master_naturalist_for_camden_county_area/#When:17:40:00Z Help protect Camden and surrounding counties’ natural resources by becoming a Missouri Master Naturalist. The Missouri Master Naturalist program is a community based, adult, natural-resource education and volunteer program designed to engage Missourians in the stewardship of our state’s natural resources. A little time and a desire to learn how to care for the environment are all people need to… News, Newsworthy 2012-01-27T17:40:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/missouri_master_naturalist_class_offered_at_cole_camp/ http://freshare.net/article/missouri_master_naturalist_class_offered_at_cole_camp/#When:17:38:00Z The Hi Lonesome Chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalist program will offer training sessions for those interested in volunteer service to conservation. Master Naturalists assist with wildlife and fisheries habitat improvements, guided hikes, special events and educational presentations. The program is a partnership between participants, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the University of Missouri Extension Service.… News, Newsworthy 2012-01-27T17:38:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/eagle_days_event_set_for_schell_osage_conservation_area/ http://freshare.net/article/eagle_days_event_set_for_schell_osage_conservation_area/#When:17:37:00Z In winter, Missouri is an excellent state to view bald eagles. During the winter, the state’s small resident eagle population is swelled by migrating birds from the north to often increase the numbers to more 2,000 eagles. People will have an excellent opportunity to learn more about bald eagles at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Eagle Days… News, Newsworthy 2012-01-27T17:37:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/bird_feeding_staples_black_oil_sunflower_seed_magic_mix/ http://freshare.net/article/bird_feeding_staples_black_oil_sunflower_seed_magic_mix/#When:17:33:00Z Feeding birds in yards enthralls many thousands of Arkansans every winter. When they are ready to move up a notch from using bags of mixed seed from discount stores and groceries, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission suggests, there are two effective steps to take. - Black oil sunflower seed. - Magic… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife, Birding 2012-01-27T17:33:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/agfc_signs_historic_minimum_flow_document/ http://freshare.net/article/agfc_signs_historic_minimum_flow_document/#When:17:30:00Z After working toward a solution for more than 13 years, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission last week approved the final piece of an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers to ensure a steady flow of water below Bull Shoals Dam on the White River. The AGFC, Arkansas’s congressional delegation, trout fishing enthusiasts, and area… Pursuits, Outdoor Recreation, Fishing 2012-01-27T17:30:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/who_will_find_the_30000th_diamond_at_crater_of_diamonds_state_park/ http://freshare.net/article/who_will_find_the_30000th_diamond_at_crater_of_diamonds_state_park/#When:17:27:00Z Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro is set to celebrate two big milestones this year.  March 15th marks 40 years since the site’s creation as an Arkansas state park… and sometime soon, the 30,000th diamond found since the park’s opening will be unearthed. The latest count of diamonds found at the park is 29,934—just 66 short of… Pursuits, Destinations, Arkansas Destinations 2012-01-27T17:27:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/public_input_meetings_scheduled_across_arkansas2/ http://freshare.net/article/public_input_meetings_scheduled_across_arkansas2/#When:17:24:01Z Public input is a crucial component of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s process for setting hunting and fishing regulations. The meetings are part of the AGFC’s annual hunting regulations process, giving hunters the opportunity to make comments and proposals for the 2012-13 hunting seasons. The meetings will be held 7 p.m.-9… News, Newsworthy 2012-01-27T17:24:01-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/eagle_watching_opportunities_abound_in_arkansas_winter/ http://freshare.net/article/eagle_watching_opportunities_abound_in_arkansas_winter/#When:13:38:00Z When winter is in full swing in late January and in February, numbers of Arkansans and their visitors who enjoy the outdoors go looking for eagles. A few decades back, seeing an eagle was rare in the state. Now you stand a good chance of seeing one or more in nearly every section of Arkansas. Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife, Birding 2012-01-19T13:38:00-06:00 http://freshare.net/article/hunters_and_wildlife_watchers_urged_to_report_swans1/ http://freshare.net/article/hunters_and_wildlife_watchers_urged_to_report_swans1/#When:13:34:00Z Hunters and wildlife watchers are urged to help count and identify Arkansas’s wintering swan populations. Karen Rowe, nongame migratory bird program leader with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said “Numbers of both trumpeter and tundra swans wintering in Arkansas appear to be on the increase. Some of these swans are wearing neck collars that can… Nature and Wildlife, Wildlife, Birding 2012-01-19T13:34:00-06:00