The Nature Conservancy in Iowa announces that 28 bison have arrived at Broken Kettle Grassland Preserve in the globally rare Loess Hills in western Iowa late Monday afternoon. Of the 28 bison, seven are calves, five are bulls and 16 are cows. Broken Kettle Grasslands is the largest contiguous native prairie in the state.

These bison came from the Conservancy’s Lame Johnny Creek Ranch, in South Dakota. The…[more]

The 19th National Trails Symposium is coming to Arkansas Nov. 15-18. The symposium, which is being held at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, is open to the public and offers outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to hear and network with experts in the national trails community. The theme of the symposium is “Innovative Trails-Transforming the American Way of Life.”

The event is a biennial conference hosted by…[more]

American Trails is sponsoring a photography contest for images of National Recreation Trails across the country.

This is an annual contest and previous winning entries can be viewed at the American Trails website. The goal of the contest, according to American Trails, “is to highlight the diversity of the [trails] and to make more Americans familiar with these great trails.” Deadline for entries is…[more]

The Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis is holding a “Power of Plants” contest for students with a Grand Prize of a $1,000 Savings Bond.

The contest is divided into separate categories for elementary, middle school and high school students. In addition to the Grand Prize, there will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each category.

The Missouri Botanical Garden wants to introduce students…[more]

Take advantage of the opportunity to view bald eagles as they come in to roost at Roaring River State Park near Cassville. The park will host three eagle-viewing events. The first is Saturday, Nov. 15. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the programs are free and open to the public.

Join a park naturalist at the park’s nature center at 3:30 p.m. for a short video…[more]

The Nature Conservancy paused in its effort to protect the endangered vaquita porpoise from extinction today to celebrate the first clear photos and video taken of the small porpoise swimming freely in its habitat.

“This is a historic accomplishment — the vaquita was the Holy Grail for marine photographers,” said Rosario Alvarez, director of The Nature Conservancy’s Mexico program. “Up until now we have mostly had photos of…[more]

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Animal and public health professionals are aware of the brewing of a “perfect storm” - a human, animal and emerging disease convergence. Fueling the perfect storm are the threat of terrorism using animal diseases, increasing resource use and animal production, warmer conditions, unhealthy water supplies, urban growth, booming transportation networks and colliding ecosystems.[more]

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Uncle Ray called to harass me last week about his ability to predict the upcoming winter weather. I made an attempt to get him off track by commenting that his cows should really be getting fat on good fall pasture. ‘No sir-eee,’ he complained. ‘And it’s because of the dad-blamed persimmons!’ Knowing Uncle Ray, I braced for the rest of the story.

Approximately 200 kinds…[more]

Once again, 5th graders across Missouri are being challenged to create posters in honor of Arbor Day.

The Missouri state level contest winner receives a $50 savings bond and has their poster entered in a national competition. The national winner can earn a $1,000 savings bond as well as an expenses…[more]

At least 25% of the world’s mammal species are at risk of extinction, according to the first assessment of their status for a decade.

The Red List of Threatened Species says populations of more than half of mammalian species are falling, with Asian primates particularly at risk.

The biggest threat to mammals is loss of habitat, including deforestation.

But there is good news for…[more]