Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1497043
Thursday, April 13-April 19, 2023 www.rutherfordweekly.com 828-248-1408 Rutherford Weekly - Page 9 We Want Your Outdoor Photos! We Want Your Outdoor Photos! Hunting, Fishing, Playing Ball, Etc. Hunting, Fishing, Playing Ball, Etc. Sportsman's Corner Sportsman's Corner Email: events@rutherfordweekly.com Mail: 157 W Main St., Forest City, NC 28043 Phone: 828-248-1408 *Publisher has the fi nal decision of which photos appear in print, per available space. I live in a Tri-State area. Where I live in my state is less than 2 miles from two other states. When I consider bag limits, I think I have it made. When I consider out-of-state licenses, I think I don't have enough money. And of course, licenses keep getting more expensive each year. One day our own people will price us out of hunting, but that's for another article. Another difference that I have to manage is the opening and closing days of the seasons in each state. I don't recall deer or turkey seasons ever being the same in each state. This really feels odd in my neck of the woods because the deer in one state mosey into the other state without knowing any boundaries. Nevertheless, each state commission has decided what ought to be the seasonal dates. And this year, those dates changed. It was the fi rst time I can remember, that one day to celebrate an event now becomes another day to celebrate an event. It's not the fi rst time that has happened. For approximately 1500 years, the day set aside for every Jew to rest, was the Sabbath. It was the last day of the week. We would say on Saturday. But about 2000 years ago, something happened so overwhelming it caused both the Jew and Gentile Christians of that day to begin focusing their day of rest and worship on another day. They would begin to gather on the fi rst day of the week (Sunday) instead of the last. While many still observed the Sabbath, the followers of Jesus began to gather for worship, prayer, communion, and service on this fi rst day of the week. And here's the kicker. Nearly all historians and experts of the New Testament documents, whether atheist, agnostic, or theist, agree that this happened. And we have been doing it every since that time. What was that event that caused the day to change? It was what was believed to be the resurrection of Jesus. And while atheists and agnostics believe only that it was the belief of the followers of Jesus, Christians to this day believe it actually happened. But what is indisputable is that we are still living with real-time evidence of something that happened that was so profound, the effects are still felt today. By By Gary Miller Gary Miller Aiming Outdoorsmen Toward Christ GARY MILLER Wildlife biologists at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are asking the public, particularly anglers as opening day of Hatchery Supported Trout Waters arrived April 1, to report any sightings of hellbenders and mudpuppies. Both types of aquatic salamanders are found in western North Carolina and listed in North Carolina as species of special concern. Commission biologists want to know more about their distribution in the state and how their populations are faring. These two giant salamanders often get confused with one another, but they have distinct differences. The largest aquatic salamander in North America and typically only found in fast moving, clean mountain streams, hellbenders can grow to 2 feet long but average 16 to 17 inches long. Hellbenders have fl at, broad heads and fl attened bodies, wrinkly skin on their sides and are brown – sometimes mottled with dark splotches. They are sometimes also referred to as "water dogs," "snot otters," or "Alleghany alligators," and because they breathe through their skin, are considered "bio-indicators" of good water quality. Smaller than the hellbender, adult mudpuppies can grow over a foot long but average around 8 to 10 inches in length. Mudpuppies have light brown, smooth skin that is typically speckled with spots, and red external feathery gills they retain through their whole life. They primarily live in deep rivers, lakes, large ponds and reservoirs, but also thrive in unpolluted streams like the hellbender. "We know less about mudpuppies than we do about hellbenders, but we'd like to know much more about both," said Lori Williams, a wildlife diversity biologist with the Wildlife Commission. "Challenging logistics in lake systems have made it diffi cult for us to conduct mudpuppy population surveys, but those habitats may be hot spots. Mudpuppies are attracted to baited hooks in lakes and deep rivers, so anglers fi shing from boats may catch one. We need anyone who fi shes deep river sites and impounded waters to let us know if they fi nd one." Hellbenders, on the other hand, have been the focus of a long-term inventory and monitoring study the agency has been conducting with partners since 2007. Their populations have decreased mainly due to declining water quality and habitat degradation, and to a lesser degree, ill treatment from anglers who mistakenly think they decrease trout populations. The latter is not true; however, both hellbenders and mudpuppies may go after fi sh on a line or stringer when scavenging for an easy meal. Their main source of prey is crayfi sh, but they will also eat minnows, snails, tadpoles, worms, discarded bait or other injured or dead animals. "While some misinformation regarding hellbenders still exists, it has been rewarding to watch more and more anglers embrace these animals and their conservation need throughout the years," Wildlife Commission Mountain Coldwater Research Coordinator Jacob Rash. "It's important to remember that trout and hellbenders need the same clean, cool waters, and what's good for one is good for the other. We are very grateful for trout anglers who help spread the word, report encounters, and provide a much-needed ally for our hellbender conservation efforts in NC." Neither the mudpuppy nor the hellbender is poisonous, venomous, toxic or harmful to humans, although they may try to bite as a defensive reaction if someone tries to pick them up. If sighted, they should be left alone and reported. Williams asks that their location be noted (physical location or GPS coordinates), a photo snapped if possible, and any other details shared with her at Lori.Williams@ncwildlife. org. People can also call the Wildlife Commission's NC Wildlife Helpline, 866-318- 2401, and provide details of the observation. It is illegal to take, possess, transport or sell mudpuppies or hellbenders, or attempt to do so. The violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which can result in a fi ne and up to 120 days in jail. If anglers happen to catch one on by hook and line, they should carefully remove the hook if it is safe to do so without harming the animal, or cut the line as close as possible to the hook and return the salamander back to the water. Learn more by visiting the NC Partners in Amphibians and Reptile Conservation's mudpuppy webpage and the Wildlife Commission's hellbender webpage. Public Asked to Report Hellbender and Mudpuppy Sightings Article by: ncwildlife.org. Lake Lure Classical Academy (LLCA) celebrated Earth Day recently as more than 20 community professionals presented information about the earth and the environment to the students. Evelyn Warner, the Outdoor Education teacher at LLCA, put together a powerhouse of who's who in the fi eld of natural sciences: • Chimney Rock had three different stations: Reptiles and Amphibians, "Who Gives A Hoot", and Visit with a Park Ranger • FIND Outdoors presented "Bees and Pollination" • Lake Lure Flowering Bridge presented "Recycling" • Mountains Branch Library help students make buttons to commemorate Earth Day • Conserving Carolina helped students make bird feeders • Hands-On-Museum presented "Diary of a Worm" • Lake Lure Parks and Recreation gave students fl ora and fauna guides of the area and trail ID guides • Muddy Sneakers presented "Observations Stations" • Rutherford County Soil and Water presented "Soil Babies" • Friends of the Western North Carolina Nature Center brought animal pelts, skulls, and spoke about local wildlife • North Carolina Forest Service brought forestry gear and spoke about prescriptive burning • North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality spoke about air and energy and the human impact on air quality • LLCA's Envirothon Team presented "What does the Envirothon team do?" • Coach Elizabeth Parke (from LLCA) used a parachute to demonstrate how air fl ows • Mark and Ashley Kendall (from LLCA) presented "Turtle Infested Waters" When asked what they liked best about the Earth Day Celebration, 8th-grade students in Warner's class were excited to talk about it. The entire class agreed with Sophia Greene who said, "We loved the Soil Babies, you plant the grass seeds, and they grow up to have this cute grass hair and you can even cut their hair." Other students added that they liked the animals, especially the snakes and reptiles. From the fourth-grade class Kenneth Dotson said that he was fascinated by the NC Department of Environmental Air Qualities presentation on the atoms that make up the air human breathe; Ryder Neal loved the owl presentation from Chimney Rock. Alana Kelley and Wyatt Rich liked the Forestry presentation on prescriptive burning. Wyatt stated that "they do this to kill small trees and give the oaks a chance to fl ourish." Myles Kulak and Emma Griffi n said the enjoyed packing their backpacks to go on a pretend hike with a Chimney Rock Park Ranger. McKenzie Harris and Natalie Jolley loved the Soil Babies too, McKensie said that she learned that "without soil, we could not sustain life". Second graders liked the presentation on snakes and reptiles. Elora Nunez and Owen Price learned that when snakes shed their skins their eyes are milky blue. Lex Maksimenko said that black rat snakes have very soft scales. Dylan Lynch and Hayvin Lankford were really interested in the frogs that secrete poison when attacked by a predator. Charleston Davis, Zackery Bemis, and Elsie Rogers learned that Grandaddy Long Legs' mouths are too small to bite us, their legs are very fragile, and the species that live in the West are venomous. Emory Sumlin liked making birdseed with the group from Conserving Carolina. First graders liked making the birdseed too. Miya Owens-Matz explained that "you use a pine cone and sunfl ower butter and seeds". Marleigh Bardol said that she liked touching worms and that they dig tunnels to give the plant roots the air they need. Silver Neal was most concerned by the litter problem expressed by the group from the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge. Silvana Van Eron enjoyed learning about bees and pollination with FIND Outdoors. Earth Day at Lake Lure Classical Academy Article Provided By: Jean Gordon. Photos Contributed Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park representative with an owl. Making buttons with Mountains Branch Library staff and volunteers. May Tate poses with her new pet snake. By Gary Miller Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 20 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men's events for churches and associations. gary@outdoortruths.org