We have all seen moths attracted to a light source on a summer’s evening, dancing around the outside light bulb seemingly confused by its presence.

Scientists are now saying that human made light sources can alter the behavior of most any animal that relies on light for behavioral clues, especially when that light is polarized. And these researchers say the result could be injury or death to the…[more]

There’s nothing more delightful than watching birds flit from one area of your garden to the next. Attracting birds to your yard is really quite simple: if you supply their three basic needs—food, shelter and water—you will have an avian oasis in your own backyard.

The experts at Garden Artisans, http://www.gardenartisans.com, offer these tips for enjoying birds in your backyard all winter long:

Food

Fourteen whooping crane chicks reached Union County Kentucky on Thanksgiving Day on their ultralight-guided migration from Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin to Chassahowitzka and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuges along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

These majestic birds, the tallest in North America, left Necedah refuge on Oct. 17 following four ultralight aircraft. Kentucky is one of the seven states the ultralight-guided migration will fly over before reaching…[more]

Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources has created an Environmental Education Scholarship Program to assist minority and underrepresented students who wish to pursue a degree in an environmental course of study.

Those areas of study should lead to a bachelor or masters degree in agricultural, environmental, chemical, civil or mechanical engineering; fields of study directly related to the environment like biology, geology, natural resource management or wildlife management; environmental…[more]

Kids and adults alike can enjoy a hands-on, interactive outdoor activity and help wildlife at the same time this winter by participating in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Winter Bird Feeder Survey.

Providing food for wintering birds is popular in Oklahoma in both urban and rural areas, and people in both places can help the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation monitor the state’s birds this winter.

The Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization, contributed a total of $1,250,000 to outdoors and conservation projects across the state last year.

During the December 4, 2008 year-end meeting, the foundation’s board of directors approved five stream protection and restoration projects that totaled $385,000, which resulted in the $1.2 million figure for the year. The foundation’s total contributions to Missouri since it was created in 1997…[more]

Upcoming 2009 Activities

January 17 & 18—Eagle Days
St. Louis, Missouri
Eagle Days is held at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge at 10950 Riverview Drive, St. Louis, MO 63137. It is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. There is an educational eagle program repeated every 20 minutes from 10 a.m. – 2:40 p.m. Hands-on, bird-oriented educational displays will be manned by…[more]

MANHATTAN, KS—Contact with nature has long been suspected to increase positive feelings, reduce stress, and provide distraction from the pain associated with recovery from surgery. Now, research has confirmed the beneficial effects of plants and flowers for patients recovering from abdominal surgery.

A recent study by Seong-Hyun Park…[more]

For the past few months employees at Columbia National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (NFWCO) have been broadening their level of experience in the world of Missouri River fisheries biology. Patty Herman, Colby Wrasse, and Joe McMullen assumed their roles as lead technicians at the office early in 2007, and each quickly carved out a niche for themselves. Patty has worked on the Pallid Sturgeon Recovery Program for the majority…[more]

The Bella Vista, Arkansas Police Department has been fielding a number of calls recently from area residents reporting possible rabid raccoons.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officials, however, say it is very rare that raccoons contract rabies and said that the animals my be suffering from canine distemper, a potentially fatal disease to the raccoons but not to humans.

Canine distemper is a virus that can…[more]