PSU students hell-bent on spotting an elusive spotted skunk in Kansas | Local news

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Two graduate students in the biology department at Pittsburg State University are searching for the plains spotted skunk.

The rare mammal is listed as a threatened species in Kansas, and the students have undertaken a research project to determine future conservation needs in the region.

Jenell de la Peña and Daniel Benson, students of PSU Associate Professor Christine Brodsky, are enrolled in the same master’s program and are conducting research on the spotted plains skunk (Spilogale interrupta), a species of conservation concern. in the state of Kansas.

As part of the project, students installed motion-activated cameras in 18 counties across the state using sardine lures as bait. The 18 counties were chosen based on historic critical habitats for the spotted skunk, including those in Cherokee and Crawford counties.

“A lot of people have never heard of the plains spotted skunk, and with it being asked for possible listing (as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973), we want to help spread awareness,” de la Peña said. .

The cameras capture photos for a month and new baits are placed every two weeks. The research project will last two and a half years and is being funded by a grant from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

a species in decline

Zack Cordes, an ecologist with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, said the spotted skunk has been in widespread decline since the 1930s. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, more than 100,000 skunk pelts spotted were sold annually in Kansas, Cordes said.

“Take was prohibited in 1977, and the species was listed as threatened in Kansas in 1987,” he said. “A threatened species is any species of wildlife that seems likely to become an endangered species in the foreseeable future. It has been a priority for us to collect data and the habitats in which they live. The goal of this project is to better understand the distribution of the species and to quantify the characteristics of the local landscape habitat where they are present to learn more about their role.”

Since the project’s launch in January, cameras have already captured photos of other mammals, including the American badger, striped skunk, bobcat and gray fox, which is also a species of conservation concern in the state of Kansas. .

Although the spotted skunk has yet to be seen in this study, Brodsky said they are optimistic the species will be found at some point.

“When talking to landowners, they tell us that they have seen the spotted skunk,” he said. “They may be out there, but they are very rare.”

Genetic analysis

Brodsky said the multiyear study will also involve college students who will focus on the plains spotted skunk, formerly known as the eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius interrupta).

Through recent genetic analysis, biologists have identified the plains spotted skunk as its own species. It was previously classified as a subspecies of the eastern spotted skunk. Historically, the spotted skunk’s range included the Mississippi River west of Kansas.

“This is the same species that is found in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma,” Brodsky said. “We have capture records for this species at the beginning of the 20th century, and they were quite abundant. In the 1930s and 1940s, there are records showing they were caught for their fur in the hundreds of thousands. By the 1950s, we were beginning to see a decline.”

Brodsky said experts aren’t entirely sure what’s driving the spotted skunk population decline, but if it’s happening to this species, it’s most likely affecting other animals that require the same habitat. The spotted skunk is known to use many different types of habitat, from open grasslands to mature woodland. “This species has been part of the Kansas ecosystem and its entire range for millennia, and they play an important role,” Brodsky said. “By recognizing their habitat needs and possibly saving their habitats, we’re going to conserve the habitats of many other species that we may not be aware of.”

conservation goal

The goal is to see if the plains spotted skunk can still be found in Kansas after it was last seen in 2020 and to develop conservation efforts based on the research. Kansas lists all spotted skunks as Tier 1 high priority species.

“The plains spotted skunk is a species of concern on the Great Plains and the decline of the species began in the 1950s, and has recently been sought to apply for inclusion on the endangered species list,” he said. Benson. “States like Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Texas have started projects looking for the species to determine how populations are doing in their respective states.”

hand stand

There are two species of skunks found in Kansas: the plains spotted skunk and its more common cousin, the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis). Spotted skunks are much smaller and have white spots all over their bodies.

The small nocturnal mammals feed on insects but also on other small mammals, birds, eggs, lizards, snakes and frogs. Adult skunks are about the size of a fox squirrel and can weigh between 1 and 4 pounds. Cordes said they’re also great at climbing trees.

If it detects a threat, the spotted skunk may do a handstand to appear larger as it moves toward the would-be predator. For this defensive behavior, the spotted skunk is described as the little “acrobats” of the skunk species.

However, as endearing as his handstand may seem, this is a warning sign that a bad smell is about to descend. This tactic is used before the skunk sprays a noxious oil that can cause temporary blindness and nausea.

“They stand on their hands to show their black-and-white coloration, which is called warning coloration,” Brodsky said. “They don’t need to camouflage themselves and they’re trying to say, ‘Hey, look at me. Do not mess with me'”.

The students are currently looking for private owners who will allow them to put cameras on a tree or T-post for a few months. The non-invasive method does not prevent any agricultural or hunting practice.

“We started looking for spotted skunks in the southeastern part of Kansas in Crawford County and Cherokee County,” Benson said. “Then in May, we scoured the entire state through our 18 counties looking at Sedgwick, Sumner, Butler, Cowley, the Wichita region, and six respective counties in the west.”

Homeowners interested in participating in the project can contact PSU’s research team at [email protected].

“Our camera trapping efforts are in the summer months, which we have concluded, and now we are preparing for our winter camera trapping for the months of November through March,” de la Peña said. “We are also asking private owners if they are open to us coming back to catch during our summer season, which will be from May to July next year.”

Free Squirrel Hunting Seminar

Free Squirrel Hunting Seminar | Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries



ldwf house


The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Education Section will hold a free squirrel hunting seminar for beginners in Baton Rouge on Saturday, September 17, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Waddill Wildlife Refuge. of LDWF, 4142 North Flannery Road. The seminar, Squirrel Hunting 101, will cover the proper equipment needed, firearm selection, rules and regulations, outdoor navigation, and hunting opportunities. It will also include an outdoor teaching session to discuss proper squirrel hunting techniques. Space is limited, so those interested must register in advance. For more information, contact Travis Dufour at [email protected] or 337-735-8685. More information
Waddill Wildlife Refuge
4142 North Flannery Road






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Check the calendar Outdoors | Sports

TUESDAY

THE. OUTDOORS FOREVER TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING: 2 pm, Tuesday, Wildlife and Fish Headquarters, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge.

THURSDAY

JUNIOR SOUTHWEST BASS PLAYERS MEETING: 6:30 pm, First Baptist Church gym, Denham Springs. Call Jim Breaux (225) 772-3026.

FRIDAY

FRIDAY NIGHT COKIE JAR BASS “CLASSIC” SERIES: 7 pm to midnight, LA Express Landing, Jarreau. Call Storm Randall (225) 937-0489.

SATURDAY

NRA BASIC GUN PERMIT/CONCEALED CARRY COURSE: 9 am, High Point Shooting Grounds, Belle Chasse. Provided by The Carlton Group. $110 fee (with a $20 registration deposit applied to the fee). Call John Carlton (504) 329-8667. Email: [email protected].

IN PROGRESS

STATE TOURNAMENT AND FISHERMAN’S RODEO: CCA Summer Fishing Contest through September 5th. Website: www.ccalouisiana.com

HUNTING SEASONS

TEAL: Statewide, September 10-25. Also first division in rails and redfish.

PIGEONS: First splits, South Zone: until September 18; North Zone: until September 25.

DEER / ARCHERY: from September 17 to January 1. 15, state deer areas 3, 7, 8 and 10.

JUST AROUND THE CORNER

SEPT. 12—GULF COUNCIL CORAL, SHRIMP AND SPINY LOBSTER ADVISORY PANEL MEETING: Noon-3 pm, virtual via webinar. Website: www.gulfcouncil.org.

SEPT. 12—RED STICK FLY FISHERMEN’S MEETING: 7 pm, Room 204, Adult Education Building, Broadmoor Methodist, 10230 Mollylea, Baton Rouge. Also on October 10, November 14, December 12. Website: www.rsff.org.

SEPT. 15—EAST ASCENSION CHAPTER/UNLIMITED DUCK FEAST: 6 pm, Trademart Building, Lamar Dixon Expo Center, 9039 South St. Landry Avenue, Gonzales. Tickets $15-$75. Sponsorships available. Ticket website: louisianadu.com

SEPT. 16—FRIENDS OF NRA/BAYOU TECHE BANQUET: 5 pm, Community Center, 305 La. 83-West, Baldwin. Tickets $50-$75. Tables available. Call Sandra Verrett (337) 256-2848. Website: friendsofnra.org/la/events

SEPT. 17—SQUIRREL HUNT 10:9 am-noon, Waddill Wildlife Refuge, 4142 North Flannery Road, Baton Rouge. LDWF Wildlife Division Seminar. No fee. Limited space. Registration requested. Call Travis Dufour (337) 735-8685/email: [email protected].

SEPT. 18—NSCA MONTHLY SHOOTING: 8 am, Covey Rise Gun Club, 58256 Covey Rise Drive, Husser. 100 Main, 50 Super Sport and 50 target 5-Stand. Rates $40-$70. Lunch included. Call (985) 747-0310. Email: [email protected]

FISHING/SHRIMP

OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Red snapper (Fri-Mon, Labor Day weekend, then Fri-Sun only), rail, blackfin, queen and silk snapper and snapper among other species of snapper and all groupers, except closed to Nassau and Goliath groupers in state/federal waters.

CLOSING SEASON: Yellowtail, Gray Triggerfish, and Red Grouper in state/federal waters.

SHRIMP: Open fall inshore season.

LDWF UPDATES

  • Pearl River WMA (St. Tammany Parish) closed due to flooding. Also the Atchafalaya Delta WMA Wax Lake Outlet campground; Pointe-aux-Chenes WMA fishing piers and boat launch next to the Island Road water control structure and at the northeast corner of Wonder Lake; Deer Park Meander Launch (Concordia Parish); Lake Concordia public boat ramp (repairs).
  • Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge (Cameron/Vermilion Parishes) will be closed to the public until noon September 7-11 for alligator trapping.
  • Drawdowns: Underway at Lake Bruin; September 6, Lake Martin and Spring Bayou.

Email: [email protected]

Jensen Afield: Gray Squirrels and Bushy Tail Stew | weekend magazine

With a noisy creek running a bit high from a heavy rain the day before just to my left, and a large rocky ridge rising to my right, I proceeded as quietly as possible, stopping every so often. for any dollar sign along the way.

I carried my rifle at the ready in my right hand, and as I kept an eye out for new deer grazes on small trees here and there, I tried to focus on what was in front of me, in case it was my prey for the day. could appear.

Rick and Morty season 6 has an updated opening you can watch right now

The Rick and Morty season 6 opener is now available to watch before it premieres, teasing new enemies after the chaotic season 5 finale.

Before the return of the program, rick and morty The updated season 6 opening is now available for fans of the Adult Swim series to watch. The adult animated series has gained a cult following since its inception in 2013 and has spawned multiple spin-offs, the first of which, The Vindicators 2released earlier this year. rick and morty season 6 will premiere on September 4 on Adult Swim, and the showrunners promise that this season will have more continuity and canon.

VIDEO PROJECTION OF THE DAY

Wormageddon, a global attack by giant alien worms on earth, has been used in clips and promos to provoke rick and morty season 6, with the Smith family joining old allies like Mr. Nimbus and Squanchy. A treasure hunt in real life has created more excitement for rick and morty season 6, and viewers have to work together online to discover the locations of the Wormageddon statues around the world. While it’s unknown if Wormageddon will actually play a big role in season 6, it does tease a larger power into play that has the ability to seemingly teleport worms and the Smith family and their allies.


Related: How Many Episodes Rick & Morty Has Left (Of Its 70-Episode Order)

On the Adult Swim YouTube channel, the rick and morty The season 6 opener teases new adventures as the Smith family takes on the universe after a destructive ending to season 5. New clips in the intro include a ferocious giant flying squirrel, a parody of Sherlock Holmes, a variant of Morty made of butter and Rick’s parade balloon, notably carried by clone Beth. Though there’s no sign of Evil Morty or Wormageddon in the new opening, it teases the Smith family having to work together after the destruction of the Citadel of Ricks and the Central Finite Bend. Take a look at the new intro below:


rick and morty The showrunners have recently said that a new season will be released every year, which makes sense as to why season 6 seems to be more planned and has better promotion. Since the show is likely to get at least five more seasons, thanks to its 70-episode renewal order, five straight years of rick and morty seasons is a lofty goal but an exciting prospect for fans of the series. rick and morty It already has the next two seasons in production, so the showrunners are off to a promising start by delivering one season a year.

With the promotions and early release of the rick and morty updated season 6 opening, many will surely feel that it is taking a step in the right direction to promote new seasons and engage viewers in real life. While the new introduction doesn’t reveal much new information, it does tease further collaboration between the Smith family and the continuity promised by the showrunners. Rick and Morty will be taking on adventures without the same universe-going capabilities as past seasons, and season 6 is being set up to give the Smith family a run for their money with powerful enemies and unknown travel circumstances as it premieres on the 4th. of September.


Source: Adult Swimming

Learn to Hunt: Sign Up for Skills Workshops This Fall | Sports

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting several hunting and shooting skills workshops this fall through the end of the Wisconsin hunting license year (March 31, 2023). The DNR’s Learn to Hunt workshops provide a great opportunity for those curious about hunting to learn how to hunt safely and ethically in Wisconsin.

Learn to Hunt workshops are open to the public and cater to a variety of skill levels and interests and include comprehensive, multi-day introductions to hunting for those new to the sport. Workshops range from beginner shotgun and archery, to pheasant, squirrel, deer, grouse and rabbit hunting, to hands-on deer killing.

Alabama Expands Hunting Opportunities – Yellowhammer News

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Freshwater Fish and Wildlife Division continues to expand its unique access to the great outdoors with five new Special Opportunity Areas (SOAs) across the state.

The SOA concept was born six years ago with the purchase of 5,894 acres in Dallas County that became Cedar Creek SOA in 2017.

The most recent acquisitions in the SOA program include four properties ranging in size from 165 acres to 4,000 acres.

  • Blackwater SOA in Baldwin County is a 3,500-acre expanse of coastal wetlands, oak hammocks, and longleaf pine savannah along the Perdido and Blackwater rivers with deer and small game hunting.
  • The Choctaw SOA National Wildlife Refuge in Choctaw County, a cooperative site with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is a 4,000-acre area of ​​lowland hardwood forest along of the Alabama River that will offer only deer hunting with primitive weapons.
  • Thigpen Hill SOA is a 3,500-acre parcel of land in Butler County situated along the head of Cedar Creek with rolling hills, upland hardwood/pine forest, lowland hardwood forest along creeks, some areas of cedars, and rocky outcroppings that offer hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, feral hog, and small game.
  • Prairie Glades SOA is a 165-acre area in Montgomery County comprised of Black Belt prairies with agricultural fields that will offer pigeon hunting.

Available in the 2022-2023 season will be the Little River State Forest SOA in Monroe County. The 3,000-acre stretch has upland longleaf pine and loblolly pine trees, braided creek drainages, and rolling sand hills with deer, turkey, and small game.

The other properties in the SOA system are Upper State and Fred T. Stimpson in Clarke County, Cedar Creek and Portland Landing in Dallas County, Uchee Creek in Russell County, and Crow Creek in Jackson County.

With the new areas, hunters can apply for limited-quota hunting in 11 SOAs with opportunities to hunt white-tailed deer, wild turkey, waterfowl, wild hog and small game. Registration for various SOA hunts opened on September 1. Visit www.outdooralabama.com/articles/soa-hunt-start-registration-september-1 to view the full SOA registration schedule.

For those unfamiliar with SOA, each area is divided into hunting units of around 300-500 acres.

Each SOA holds specific hunts, typically two to four days in length, for a collection of game species including deer, turkey, waterfowl, wild hog, and small game. Applicants select the desired hunt dates in the specific SOA.

If chosen by computerized random selection, the selected applicant and one guest will be assigned a specific hunting unit for the selected dates. The hunting unit will be for your exclusive use during the hunting dates assigned to you.

Visit www.outdooralabama.com/hunt/special-opportunity-areas and click the link to register for hunts.

WFF Director Chuck Sykes said the division has several ways to acquire land for use in the SOA system, with a partnership with the Forever Wild Land Trust being the largest and most frequent contributor.

“Ninety-seven percent of the land in the state is privately owned,” Sykes said. “A good portion of hunters in Alabama only hunt on private land. There is a stigma about hunting on public land. Setting up these SOAs the way we did, we made them like a hunting club for those selected permit holders. It was something land-deprived hunters could identify with. It would allow them to stick their toe in the water on hunting on public lands and it would allow them to see that these SOAs are great places to hunt and are well managed. The properties are rich in game and they are not hunting in an overcrowded situation as some people think.

“Several years ago, we surveyed our SOA participants. We thought it was going to work out. It exceeded our expectations. Now our limiting factor is enough opportunity for everyone to participate. The more of these properties we can add, the better off we are.”

Sykes said WFF tries to expand hunting opportunities where feasible, and special feral hog hunts have been added, as well as areas that are perfect for introducing new or inexperienced hunters to the great outdoors.

“We bought a couple of properties specifically for pigeon hunting,” he said. “Pigeon hunting is a great entry-level hunting opportunity to get people interested. These properties are close to metropolitan areas, where people don’t have to travel far and can have a good experience. It gives them a positive perception of hunting and a positive perception of us (WFF) and the opportunities we provide.

“It’s not that we don’t continue to provide great hunting in our WMA (wildlife management area) system; SOAs just add it. We need to stop preaching to the choir and start preaching to a different audience that doesn’t necessarily know who we are, what we do, or the public land opportunities we provide. This is one way that we are attracting a new and more diverse audience to use those public lands.”

During the height of the COVID pandemic, many people found that venturing outdoors for any number of activities was a great outlet when travel and social interaction were severely limited.

“The COVID hit showed us that people were going to the grocery store and the shelves were empty,” Sykes said. “They got to thinking about what they were going to do if it happened again. That’s why our Adult Guided Hunt Program (www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/adult-tutored-hunting program) has been successful. That’s why our Go Fish, Alabama! the campaign has been successful. We have a group of young professionals and young families who didn’t grow up hunting and fishing like we did and who want to be a little more self-sufficient. If we can teach them how to hunt through our Adult Mentor Hunting Program or teach them how to fish with our Go Fish, Alabama! program, then they can transition to traditional WMAs.

“Going to a WMA like Skyline with 60,000 acres can be a bit intimidating for people who aren’t confident in their abilities. If they are drawn on Portland Landing (SOA), they are allotted 300 acres with defined boundaries. Nobody will be there except them and the only friend they can bring from hunting. It gives them the confidence that they can succeed, which, with every touch, makes them feel more confident about where they can go hunting in a Skyline or Lowndes WMA.”

Sykes said WFF is not actively traversing the state looking for land that could potentially serve as an SOA.

“We don’t go out looking specifically for certain extensions of property,” he said. “What we have are certain areas of the state that we have identified as underserved. Dallas County (Cedar Creek) was big when we started this program six years ago. He just so happened that a willing seller came to us with a piece of land. It was a good fit for the show in an area where we didn’t have public hunting, so we bought it.

“Then things snowballed, because once you buy a property in a certain place, other owners come up to you and say, ‘Hey, I saw what you did with this, would you be interested in this property?’ For example, the same landowner that Forever Wild bought Uchee Creek (SOA) from had a property in Dallas County that we ended up partnering with and buying. It was just being in the right place at the right time.”

Sykes said word has spread about SOAs, and now real estate agents and big landowners are bringing more properties to WFF for consideration.

“Some work; some don’t,” she said. “Some just don’t fit into our program, and we have to say no. The ones that make sense, we do our best to acquire them and put them in the public hunt. We started one five years ago, offering only deer hunts and a couple of turkey hunts. Now, we are offering deer, pigeons, ducks, turkeys, wild boar, and small game. Every year, we add more and more opportunities for people. If it makes sense, we’re not going to give up.”

Sykes challenges anyone even remotely interested to visit www.outdooralabama.com and see the possibilities.

“Give it a chance,” he said. “Order one of them and see for yourself.”

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Turkey Cheese Casserole | carnivorous cook

Stews check all the boxes: they’re easy, delicious, and make great leftovers. This weeknight staple works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and you can use mac and cheese, tater tots, or rice. The allure comes from using whatever you have sitting in your fridge or pantry. This Southwestern take on a Midwestern classic is a fun way to heat up the proverbial “hot plate.”

This is a great way to turn a single turkey breast or leg into a meal that will feed the whole family. Turkey legs straight out of the pressure cooker work particularly well, as do grilled breasts.

GrovTec’s New Reversible G-Stop Hand Stop

GrovTec sticks to its slogan of “We’ll carry the gun” with yet another accessory to relieve the shooter. the g stop Reversible toe stop consumes only 2″ of rail space and can be used as a toe stop or barricade stop.

Machined from billet aluminum, then Type III black anodized, the g stop takes barricade work seriously with a flat face perfect for pressing against flat surfaces such as training barricades, car door edges, and any other form of field stabilization.

Other popular designs have failed by being too small to be effective or so large that they might as well be an angled foregrip. The G-Stop splits down the middle with enough material to grip without adding an aluminum brick to your rifle. The G-Stop hangs 1.25″ from its rail; enough to brace against a barricade and enough to safely prevent overextending a hand on a hot suppressor or gas block.

When placed forward on the handguard, the G-Stop can also serve as a stopping point for bench shooters to make sure they don’t slide too far forward or backward on the rest.

Reverse the G-Stop to experience a contoured surface to pull your support hand against. Positioning the g stop this combines the recoil control of a mag grip with the elevation control of a more forward hand placement. All this while weighing just under an ounce.

A simple product that with little more than one MLOK® slot of rail space adds great versatility and support. Mounting hardware and Allen key included.

MSRP: $44.00

About GrovTec:

GrovTec was born when a major manufacturer moved its operations abroad. Seizing an opportunity, the assets were purchased and GrovTec proudly continued to design and machine in Wood Village, Oregon. Today GrovTec produces some of the best firearm accessories for OEMs, consumers and contractors.