Outdoor notes: Catch these Game and Parks education events in August

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled a month full of interesting and engaging events for the curious in August. Here are a few opportunities:

Four Nebraska Nature Nerd Trivia Nights scheduled for Aug. 11

LINCOLN, Neb. – Grab your fellow nature nerds and join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission as it hosts four Nebraska Nature Nerd Trivia Nights across the state Aug. 11.

Nature is cool, so there is no shortage of topics questions could cover. Get your teams of no more than five players and be ready to compete for prizes. Registration is not required.

These events are for adults only and are free to attend with a purchase from the host brewery.

The Nebraska Nature Nerd Trivia Nights, which begin at 7 p.m., are at: Scottsbluff – Flyover Brewing Company, 1824 Broadway; Lincoln – The Happy Raven, 122 N. 11th St.; Wayne – Johnnie Byrd Brewing Company, 121 N. Pearl St.; Elkhorn – Jukes Ale Works, 20560 Elkhorn Drive.

For more information and or questions, email [email protected].

Nebraska Nature Nerd Night: Musky Mustelids

LINCOLN, Neb. – Badgers, otters, minks and weasels belong to a stellar but stinky group of mammals known as mustelids.

Shaun Dunn, a zoologist for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, will lead a virtual discussion about these creatures on Nebraska Nature Nerd Night at 7 p.m. Aug. 17.

Learn more about the adaptations and unique abilities of mustelids, and which ones could be seen in Nebraska.

The webinar is free, but registration is required. See the calendar event entry at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov to register. Questions may be submitted during registration.

The event is part of the monthly Nebraska Nature Nerd Night virtual series for curious adults. These webinars, on the third Tuesday of each month, explore the secrets and science of nature in through storytelling and conversation. For more information, email [email protected].

Conservation Career Chat: Private lands biologist

LINCOLN, Neb. – Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on Aug. 18 in its series of virtual Conservation Career Chats. Michele Fuhrer-Hurt will discuss her duties as a private lands biologist.

Fuhrer-Hurt primarily works with private landowners to establish or improve wildlife habitat on their properties. The work typically involves using grant funds to implement prescribed fire, tree clearing and native prairie seedings on private properties. She also works with landowners through the Open Fields and Waters Program to open private lands for hunting, trapping and fishing access.

The series is held via Zoom on the third Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. Central time as a different Game and Parks career is highlighted. Each interview will be recorded and uploaded to the Nebraska Game and Parks Education YouTube Channel.

See the calendar event entry at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for the registration link as well as a schedule of future Conservation Career Chats.

For more information, contact [email protected] or check out the Nebraska Wildlife Education Facebook Page.

Game and Parks to host The Science of Urban Wildlife virtual webinar

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host a virtual The Science of Urban Wildlife webinar at 3 p.m. Aug. 26.

Urban areas often thrive with diverse wildlife, including coyotes, foxes, raccoons, rats, mice, insects and many bird species. All of these are ecological generalists capable of inhabiting a variety of urban niches.

The webinar is free, but registration is required. See the calendar event entry at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov to register.

The webinar will be recorded and posted to the Nebraska Game and Parks YouTube Education Channel. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Bird Walk at Fort Robinson State Park set for Aug. 28

LINCOLN, Neb. – Take a walk with a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission watchable wildlife biologist for an exploration of birds at Fort Robinson State Park at 9 a.m. Aug. 28.

Discover the resident birds as well as the migrating birds of the Pine Ridge. Learn about bird migration, and the successful conservation management practices that make this Natural Legacy Demonstration Site important for a variety of birds that rest and refuel at the park during their long journey south.

Bring your own binoculars or borrow a pair from Game and Parks and explore the unique birds of the Pine Ridge.

Call 402-471-5631 or email [email protected] by Aug. 26 to register. The event is free, but a park entry permit is required of each vehicle.

Nebraska fall turkey permits available beginning Aug. 9

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters may begin purchasing 2021 Nebraska fall turkey permits Aug. 9 at 1 p.m. Central time.

A fall turkey permit is valid statewide and allows a hunter to harvest two turkeys of either sex with a shotgun or archery equipment. Each hunter may have up to two permits. There is no minimum age requirement for youth. The fall turkey season is Sept. 15, 2021 - Jan. 31, 2022.

Permits will be available at OutdoorNebraska.org and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission permitting offices.

Hackberry Lake to be chemically renovated Aug. 9

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hackberry Lake on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge will be chemically renovated the week of Aug. 9 as part of the ongoing Aquatic Habitat Project on the refuge.

The rotenone treatment is aimed to eliminate common carp, an undesirable species detrimental to aquatic habitat, water quality and sport fish populations. Restocking will occur later this fall.

Liberalized fishing regulations have been in effect the past two years on Hackberry, where length limits were rescinded but daily bag limits remained. This measure facilitated angler use of the existing fish in the lake.

Additionally, in preparation for the treatment, biologists have been salvaging game fish and relocating them to other lakes on the refuge.

The renovation date is weather dependent as dry conditions are advisable for chemical application. Recreational access within the treatment area is prohibited while rotenone is being applied.

The Aquatic Habitat Project is a joint effort of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Big catfish splash into Cunningham Lake prior to opener

LINCOLN, Neb. – Adult-size channel catfish have been stocked in Omaha’s Cunningham Lake just in time for its Aug. 5 reopening.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on July 28 stocked 255 “bonus” catfish ranging from 1 to 13 pounds, averaging 7.

While the lake had been stocked previously in preparation for the reopening, this stocking will provide anglers an opportunity to catch larger fish from the still-developing fishery.

Since 2020, catfish, white bass, bluegill, largemouth bass and crappie have been stocked in the lake in preparation for the reopening. Saugeye and additional channel catfish are planned to go in this fall. To see stocking details, visit outdoornebraska.gov/fish-stocking-database.

The timing of the latest stocking, just before the opener, will be beneficial for eager anglers, as well.

“The stocked fish should be willing to bite a variety of catfish baits, and we encourage anglers to give kids and new anglers an opportunity to catch them,” said Daryl Bauer, fisheries outreach program manager for Game and Parks. “Catfish also are very releasable and can be caught again and again. Snapping a picture and releasing these fish to test the skills of other anglers is always a good option.”

Don’t forget to enter the Take ’em Fishing challenge when taking someone new or re-introducing someone to fishing. Visit outdoornebraska.gov/takeemfishing.

Lake Cunningham, managed by the Lake Cunningham Trust in partnership with the City of Omaha, will open to the public Aug. 5 at noon with a celebration planned for 4-7 p.m. Visit explorethec.com for more details.

Follow these safety tips when enjoying water activities

LINCOLN, Neb. — With soaring temperatures, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission would like to issue the following safety reminders to those out enjoying water activities.

Never swim alone — Always swim with a buddy.

Pay attention — Avoid distractions and focus on swim mates and the water. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children, according to the American Red Cross, and drownings can happen in seconds, as well as in shallow waters. Staying watchful — even of strong swimmers — is encouraged and the best way to respond quickly should an accident occur.

Wear a life jacket – Children especially should wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, while swimming or wading in water, including swim areas at Nebraska state parks. Floats such as pool noodles, rafts, donuts and kick boards, are not intended to serve as life-saving devises; properly worn life jackets are.

In Nebraska, children under age 13 and anybody on a personal watercraft also are required by law to wear a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device. People being towed by a boat on skis, a tube, or other similar device, also must wear a life jacket. Every vessel, except sailboards, must carry a flotation device for each person on board.

Make sure the life jacket fits — Check the jacket for both weight and size limits. Life jackets should be snug and should not pop up around the ears.

Watch for waves, currents, drop-offs and underwater objects — Lakes, rivers and streams often have murky water, potentially hiding underwater hazards such as logs, currents or changes in water depth. Be prepared for the unexpected.

Avoid alcohol — Boaters and swimmers can become impaired with less alcohol than motor vehicle drivers due to heat and dehydration. Boating Under the Influence also is a criminal violation and is enforced actively in Nebraska.

Watch the weather – Storms can pop up quickly in Nebraska. Check the weather in advance and monitor it during the day, if necessary. Sudden changes in weather can lead to rocky water and potential lightning strikes, both of which put swimmers and boaters at risk.

Learn what to do in an emergency — Know the signs of downing. Consider getting water safety and CPR trained, and if an emergency occurs, remember to call 911 for help.

Game and Parks recommends RedCross.org and JoshTheOtter.org for additional water safety resources.