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Outdoors

Science needs more cold for smelts study

By Patrick Whittle The Associated Press BOWDOINHAM, Maine — A lack of ice in cold weather states this year has made it difficult for scientists to study the population of an ecologically important fish. Rainbow smelts, which are small fish that are very popular with ice anglers, have been a focus of conservationists for many years. The federal government listed the fish as a species of special concern more than 15 years ago due to declines in its population. In Maine, a late arriving winter has made it difficult to collect data about the health of the smelt population. The weather ...

Plenty to keep busy for hunters, anglers

Winter seems determined this year to linger on for at least the next several weeks. Add to that the ongoing restrictions of COVID-19, and our options for passing those often-dreary winter days are even more limited than usual. I feel fortunate to have acquired the do-it-yourself trait at an early age, so tinkering with my fishing tackle, guns and all my other outdoor gear tends to be a year-round endeavor for me. But in the wintertime, The ability to make or repair some of my own equipment is especially gratifying. For those also suffering from extreme boredom, here are a few ideas ...

Bedford group works to improve area’s natural resources

From Mirror reports BEDFORD — Most Bedford County residents would agree the Bedford region is an outdoor enthusiast and sportsman paradise. One can find trails, parks, and fishing holes from one end of the county to the other nestled within wide swaths of forests, farms, serene landscapes, and other natural resources. Earlier last year, a group of local leaders and residents from various backgrounds — agriculture, business, environmental, engineering, and local government — came together and formed a committee to contemplate the development of the Bedford Countywide Action ...

Family’s life is on the river

By Frank Bodani The Associated Press YORK — The river flowed easy, like poured syrup, which made Devin Winand smile as he pulled one kayak after another onto the shore. A few couples strolled the river’s edge as the evening sky blushed to pink. A lone paddleboarder dropped in a fishing line. The summer-sweet air barely moved. Winand had just toured a handful of paddlers around the rocks and historic bridges between the York and Lancaster county banks. Who would have thought the Susquehanna River could be so peaceful and clear a day after Tropical Storm Isaias swept ...

Ice anglers want more cold

By Josh Reilly The Associated Press ERIE — Erie’s ice-fishing seasons have become as unpredictable as its weather. The city’s location along the shores of Lake Erie on the northwestern tip of Pennsylvania famously exposes it to ever-changing winter weather patterns. The Erie area’s devoted ice anglers yearn for the frigid conditions that transform Presque Isle Bay into a wonderland for outdoors enthusiasts of all types. Those conditions, though, have not yet materialized this year, a development that has become more common during warming trends of the past two ...

Krug’s book on habitat will certainly grow on you

Joe Krug has written a book, a special and specialized kind of book, one that will be of great value to anyone who ever planted an apple tree in the backyard and wondered why it died. It’s called “It’s All About Habitat.” And it is! When Krug understood that habitat is wildlife’s greatest need for survival, he determined to learn the right facts about how to plant things for wildlife so that they will survive and produce fruit, nuts, berries and browse for nature’s children. He had done some planting on his own but had poor results. When he became really active in the ...