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Title	Excerpt	Author	Date
Winter De-icing Makes for Toxic Streams	A new study by the U.S. Geological Survey shows that de-icing salts used on winter roadways can cause urban streams to become toxic to aquatic life. The study was conducted in eastern Wisconsin and Milwaukee, but Steve Corsi of the USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center was quick to point out…	Robert J. Korpella	09/02/10
Fire Tornado in Hawaii	Hopefully, the Ozarks will never have to experience something like this. A combination of raging brush fires and strong winds produced a fire tornado in Hawaii last week. This incredible raw footage is from the Associated Press.	Robert J. Korpella	09/01/10
Carp a Growing Problem on the Missouri River	Brad Pennington was the latest river victim. Paddling his 17-foot racing kayak in the Missouri River 340 last week, Pennington was nailed by what he thought was a brick thrown from shore. Instead, it turned out that a flying silver carp had struck him in the face and almost caused…	Robert J. Korpella	08/31/10
Helping Rivers by Slowing Urbanization and Maintaining Forests	The Ozarks is home to pristine rivers like the Buffalo, the White, the Little Red and the Spring. As more people discover this land we call home, protecting those rivers and the ecosystems they nourish becomes increasingly important. Bryan Pijanowski, an associate professor of forestry and natural resources at Purdue…	Robert J. Korpella	08/19/10
Disease Prevention in the Garden	Practice good garden hygiene and maintain a healthy environment for your vegetables to reduce the risk of plant diseases. Keeping a garden healthy and attractive requires attention to soil, water, sunlight and air circulation, said David Trinklein, a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. A combination of proven methods can reduce…	Robert J. Korpella	08/19/10
Study Links Arsenic in Found in Runoff to Poultry Litter	Some farmers use chicken litter as a nutrient-rich, free means of fertilizing hay fields and crops. A group of researchers recently conducted a study that showed high levels of arsenic in the runoff from fields where litter was applied to drainage ditches, possibly even migrating into streams and rivers. Poultry…	Robert J. Korpella	08/17/10
New Study Makes Alarming Predictions About Bat Populations	A rapidly spreading disease may wipe out as much as 99 percent of the bat population in the Eastern United States over the next 20 years. A Boston University study predicts that little brown myotis bats may be on the verge of extinction at that time. The disease, White-Nose Syndrome…	Robert J. Korpella	08/10/10
About freshare.net	Take a breath of fresh air, or in this case, freshare. This site is about nature, wildlife, a little science, fantastic photography, and some good Ozarks fun in the outdoors. Our goal is to enjoy all that our region has to offer while maintaining a respect for our pristine waters,…	Robert J. Korpella	08/07/10
Give Me a Home Where the Honeybees Roam	Imagine a field of local wildflowers grown for the sole purpose of creating a haven for honeybees. In the wake of a mysterious plague that wiped out a large portion of honeybees over the past few years, “bee pastures” are gaining momentum as a means of producing healthy bees over…	Robert J. Korpella	08/05/10
Nature’s DJs	Mockingbirds can mimic other birds’ songs to near perfect precision. Males tend to sing louder and more often than females, keeping between 50 and 200 songs on their playlists. These repertoires grow as the birds age and continue to collect new songs. Singing isn’t the only sound mockingbirds imitate. Some…	Robert J. Korpella	08/03/10
Liquid Mountaineering	Skipping stones, float trips and fishing are a few ways we enjoy the cool mountain streams, pristine lakes and fast-moving rivers here. But could liquid mountaineering be the next big thing to hit the Ozarks? Check out the video:	Robert J. Korpella	08/03/10
One Hour on a Lake	A summer weekday with humidity levels and air temperatures both in the mid-eighties led me to believe it was a perfect day to grab a kayak and explore. So, I headed out to Springfield Lake where the city’s parks department runs a nice pavilion and rents kayaks for $8 an…	Robert J. Korpella	07/30/10
Some Trees Farm Bacteria to Help Supply Nutrients	Scientists have discovered that certain types of trees, like beech and oak, that grow in nutrient-poor forest soil, cultivate certain root microbes that create the food compounds the trees need to survive. “In acidic forest soils, availability of inorganic nutrients is a tree-growth-limiting factor,” Stéphane Uroz, one of the researchers,…	Robert J. Korpella	07/29/10
State May Sue Dogpatch Community	Even though the park closed in 1993, Dogpatch (near Jasper, Arkansas), is still getting visitors. Except, these days, the visitors are from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). It seems the ADEQ is continuing to test the waters of Mill Creek, which runs through the decaying remains of a…	Robert J. Korpella	07/27/10
Mosquito Control	They can detract from an otherwise perfect time in the Ozarks outdoors. Plus, diseases like West Nile and malaria are spread by mosquitoes. We spray ourselves up to ward them off and towns fog the air we breath in an effort to kill off the thirsty pests. But new research…	Robert J. Korpella	07/22/10
Handy, Easy-to-Use Shrimp Are Excellent as Bream Bait	If you are in a hurry to get in some bream fishing, you might swing by the local supermarket for bait. Yes, you know the store doesn’t sell live red worms or crickets, but it does sell shrimp. Shrimp for bream is a game plan for Homer Circle, who served…	Robert J. Korpella	07/22/10
Glamping: A Posh Means of Enjoying the Outdoors	In the Ozarks, our idea of camping is usually something like pitching a tent beside a lake or a stream, maybe a few hundred feet off a main trail, unrolling the sleeping bag, gathering up firewood and cooking over the campfire. But in some parts of the world, a twist…	Robert J. Korpella	07/20/10
Wind Turbines Can Disrupt Radar	Studies have shown that wind turbines can be fatal to bats that fly near them. It isn’t contact with the whirling blades that proves harmful to bats, it’s the air pressure change created by the blades that causes damage to their lungs. Now, as wind farms begin to grow in…	Robert J. Korpella	07/20/10
Moles Well Adapted to Tunnel Life	So, maybe moles don’t really want to tear up lawns or destroy gardens on their search for edible insects and worms. You might say, it’s just in their blood. Scientists at the University of Manitoba studied the blood of three different kinds of North American moles because, as Kevin Campbell…	Robert J. Korpella	07/20/10
Interactive Website for Trails in Arkansas State Parks	One of the features of the Arkansas State Parks website is an interactive trial guide for hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. The site allows visitors to choose how rugged or easy a trail they seek, as well as how close or far away the trail might be from…	Robert J. Korpella	07/15/10
Hummingbirds Headed to Feeders Again	In many parts of the Ozarks, hummingbirds have returned after a long absence. These migrating birds arrive in fairly large numbers in April as they travel from wintering spots in Mexico, South America and the southernmost United States. Then, all at once, in late spring and early summer, they seem…	Robert J. Korpella	07/13/10
Forest Service Report Demonstrates Economic Impact of National Lands	A US Forest Service report released Wednesday quantifies the economic impact of America’s national forests and grasslands. According to the National Visitor Use Monitoring Report, our forests and grasslands helped sustain 223,000 jobs in rural areas and helped contribute $14.5 billion to the U.S. economy. Those figures were determined by…	Robert J. Korpella	07/09/10
Grants Will Expand Habitat for Birds Migrating to the Gulf	Arkansas and Missouri will be receiving grants from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that are intended to assist landowners in developing and enhancing habitats for birds migrating south to the Gulf of Mexico. Arkansas will receive about $3.3 million and Missouri, $1.9 million. The money is to help…	Robert J. Korpella	06/29/10
Can Playing in the Dirt Make You Smarter?	Not all bacteria in dirt is bad. Scientists are discovering that a specific bacteria in soil, already believed to lower depression and anxiety, can also help human learning abilities. “Mycobacterium vaccae is a natural soil bacterium which people likely ingest or breath in when they spend time in nature,” says…	Robert J. Korpella	06/24/10
Sun Music	The sun warms our planet, helps plants and trees grow, and it plays a big part in determining the seasons. We are learning to harness its energy and we celebrate its setting as well as its dawning the next day. But who knew the sun also produced music? A group…	Robert J. Korpella	06/22/10
The Secret Life of Water	There was a time when science seemed simpler. In grade school, we were taught that water existed in three forms - solid, gas and liquid - and each was achieved depending on how low or how high the temperature. But for many years now, scientists have known that water actually…	Robert J. Korpella	06/18/10
Storm Elves and Sprites Recorded by Scientists	Powerful storms occurring anywhere in the world but especially those over seas in winter produce unusual electrical discharges known as elves (which are ring shaped), and sprites (in the form of a carrot or column). A team of Spanish scientists has been able to capture a high-speed recording of these…	Robert J. Korpella	06/15/10
New Website for Buffalo National River	A new, interactive website run by the U.S. Department of the Interior and developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and Buffalo National River, makes it easier to see river levels before heading out for a canoe or kayak trip along Arkansas’ last remaining wild river. By checking a few boxes,…	Robert J. Korpella	06/10/10
Pittsburgh Professor Creates Filter That Separates Oil From Water	A University of Pittsburgh engineering professor has come up with a way to separate oil from water and he thinks it might be just the ticket to cleaning up BP’s mess in the Gulf of Mexico. Di Gao, an assistant professor and William Kepler Whiteford Faculty Fellow in the Department…	Robert J. Korpella	06/10/10
Arkansas Counties Eligible for Disaster Assistance	Twenty counties in Arkansas have been designated as eligible for assistance as a result of severe spring storms earlier this year. The designation comes from the U.S. Agriculture Department and provides compensation assistance for crop losses. High winds, tornadoes and damaging hail ravaged a wide swath of Arkansas’ agricultural counties…	Robert J. Korpella	06/10/10
Interesting Clouds Stretch Across Ozarks Skies	Weather watchers in the Ozarks were treated to very unusual cloud formations as a storm system worked its way across the area. According to the National Weather Service, “the balance of instability aloft and a relatively stable low level airmass helped to produce what was likely a potentially new form…	Robert J. Korpella	06/08/10
Doppler Picks Up Mayfly Hatch	Bugs so thick, they show up on radar. Thankfully, this didn’t happen in the Ozarks, but Doppler radar in La Crosse, Wisconsin picked up a mayfly hatch as it occurred along a stretch of the Mississippi River. Mayflies hatched and went airborne for about 15 or 20 minutes on May…	Robert J. Korpella	06/07/10
Tender Hearted Squirrels	They chatter, chase, compete for food and sometimes even get pretty aggressive with rivals, but researchers are discovering that squirrels have a soft heart when it comes to orphaned relatives. Professor Andrew McAdam of the University of Guelph in Canada worked alongside other researchers from the University of Alberta and…	Robert J. Korpella	06/04/10
Google Earth Offers Hiking Layer	Google Earth has introduced an expanded layer that allows hikers to do a little scouting before heading out to the trails. The Trimble Outdoors Trips layer has GPS-marked trails and information on hiking, biking, camping and other activities available at each location. Directions to the trailheads as well as a…	Robert J. Korpella	06/04/10
Ultraviolet Radiation Not at Fault for Amphibian Decline	Amphibians are dying off around the world. Scientists are unsure what’s causing the decline in frogs, salamanders and toads, but they are at least beginning to eliminate possibilities and may soon discover the root issue. Wendy Palen, a Simon Frazier University ecologist, says it is not increasing UV radiation that…	Robert J. Korpella	05/25/10
Even Small Wooded Areas Good for Migrating Birds	When it comes to wooded spaces, birds aren’t too picky. Researchers at Ohio State University have discovered that even those small patches of woods left after urban expansions provide enough food and cover for migrating birds as they commute between their wintering and their nesting grounds. “The good news is…	Robert J. Korpella	05/21/10
Baltimore Orioles	Birdwatchers across the Ozarks herald the springtime return of Baltimore orioles. Their bright orange and deep black plumage make them a colorful favorite. Despite the male’s flame-orange breast, these birds camouflage well in tall trees where they prefer to dwell and hunt for food. Female orioles and immature male birds…	Robert J. Korpella	05/18/10
Cigarette Butts Toxic to Fish	A study conducted by scientists at San Diego State University shows that smoking cigarettes can be harmful to the environment and particularly harmful to aquatic life. Richard Gersberg discovered that the chemicals inside just one left-over cigarette butt could kill fish living in a bucket of water. Gersberg studied the…	Robert J. Korpella	05/18/10
Multiple Vortex Tornado Near Wakita, Oklahoma	Scott Weberpal and Ryan Wichman caught a multiple vortex tornado between Cherokee and Medford, Oklahoma, which is just southwest of Wakita, Oklahoma. The video was shot today during a chase. The video is courtesy of ConnectiveAddiction.com.	Robert J. Korpella	05/10/10
Morel Season, 2010	Some things I look forward to all year because they only occur for a brief time and then they’re gone, like Christmas or the Super Bowl. Morel season is like that, too. The tasty little mycelium fruit only issues when the conditions are just right in a very brief window…	Robert J. Korpella	05/07/10
Midwest Meteor Lights Up the Night Sky	This video is from an Iowa sheriff deputy’s “dash cam.” It picks up the action over eastern Iowa last night. According to Chicago station WGN-TV, “residents in Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, even Illinois reported seeing a meteor or a large fireball traverse the sky shortly after 10 p.m.” The video repeats…	Robert J. Korpella	04/15/10
Hitting the Trails: Ozark Natural Science Center	I was privileged to experience part of an educational hike at Ozark Natural Science Center during my visit there a couple of weeks ago. I joined a group of 5th grade students who had come in from West Fork, Arkansas for a two day program. We headed out in overcast…	Robert J. Korpella	04/09/10
Some Hummingbirds Farm Nectar for Courtship	Hummingbirds show up every Ozarks spring and frequent feeders set out specifically on their behalf. Watching them chase away other hummers and defend their right to a feeder they’ve claimed is not only fun, but those acrobatic flight paths are nothing short of amazing. However, there may be more to…	Robert J. Korpella	04/09/10
American Industry’s Thirst for Water	When most of us think about water consumption, we think in terms of our own uses: drinking, laundering, gardening. But a team of researchers began to wonder how many gallons of water it took to produce common consumer items like sugar, milk or pet food. The result is a new,…	Robert J. Korpella	04/01/10
Immersing Children in Nature: Ozark Natural Science Center	Imagine a classroom without walls, held almost entirely outdoors in some of the most serene and beautiful country in Madison County, Arkansas. An intense, participative learning environment where trail hikes, campfire talks and opportunities to become citizen scientists are the daily norm. Every day brings the chance to observe, ask…	Robert J. Korpella	03/31/10
How Bats Avoid Collisions	Observing bats chasing insects in twisting, diving, acrobatic moves leads to the question of how these creatures, not known for their eyesight, can avoid colliding with trees or even each other. James Simmons, a neuroscientist at Brown University, wondered the same thing. He filmed bats chasing prey around obstacles and…	Robert J. Korpella	03/31/10
Bacteria That Make Their Own Oxygen	Living in the mud and muck at the bottom of our lakes and rivers is a microbe that has figured out a way to survive in an environment devoid of oxygen. It does this by converting the methane given off by decaying organic matter into both the energy and the…	Robert J. Korpella	03/26/10
Oklahoma One of Top 5 States for Water Pollution Reductions	Oklahomans have reason to celebrate. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released figures that place the state among the top 5 in the nation for reductions in non-point source water pollution. Non-point source pollution comes from agricultural and other runoff that finds its way into streams, rivers and waterways.…	Robert J. Korpella	03/26/10
Missouri Stream Dredging and Discharges Net Fine	Upland Wings, Inc. of Sullivan, Missouri has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $138,016 to settle a string of charges that allege violations of the Clean Water Act. The company is accused of unpermitted dredging and discharging of pollutants into Mary’s Creek in Washington County, Missouri. Upland Wings operates…	Robert J. Korpella	03/24/10
Sales Tax Holiday in Missouri	The state of Missouri thinks that tax breaks are pretty good things. That’s why the state has set aside April 19-25 as the Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday. Anyone purchasing a brand new Energy Star appliance during that time frame will be exempt from paying the state’s 4.225 percent sales…	Robert J. Korpella	03/24/10

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Exploring the Ozarks Outdoors: freshare.net