March, 2010

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Updates and other ramblings

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Hey folks –

I am going to pause the site over the next few months. I have other big projects going(good things) and I will not be able to give this site the attention it deserves. Also, I am contemplating a change in direction and redesign if/when updates resume. I will let you know about a final decision in two months. A few days after this post all comments will be turned off.

I’d like to thank everyone for reading and contributing regardless of any disagreements. I’m glad we were able to have an open forum and exchange ideas in a pleasant and non-insulting fashion. This site is nothing without the contributions from everyone.

Thanks for reading!

-The Wilderness Sportsman

Spooky creature endangered by superstition

Friday, March 26th, 2010

Here’s a story that makes your stomach turn. The “aye aye” is a harmless little animal that feeds on larvae. Locals in Madagascar may kill them on sight because they fear the creature will stab them with its long claw.


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In fact, the animal uses its middle finger to find and harvest insect larvae in trees. It prowls at night, tapping its finger rapidly against tree branches to listen for hollowed-out pockets in the wood that hold grubs.

NASA shocked by balloon images

Friday, March 26th, 2010

Pretty cool story. A private citizen was able to take pictures of the earth for a few hundred bucks.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Slow updates

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

I have been working on other projects the last few weeks. Updates should resume more frequently in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for reading.

The bee problem is getting worse

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

This may come down to the pesticide issue. Carbaryl is one of the widely used chemicals which can completely wipe out bee colonies.

One third of our diet comes from plants that have to be pollinated.

mong all the stresses to bee health, it’s the pesticides that are attracting scrutiny now. A study published Friday in the scientific journal PLOS (Public Library of Science) One found about three out of five pollen and wax samples from 23 states had at least one systemic pesticide — a chemical designed to spread throughout all parts of a plant.

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A giant in the wilderness

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

RIP Stewart Udall.

Stewart Udall served as Secretary for eight years (1961-1969) under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, during which time he successfully pressed for landmark environmental legislation, including the Clean Air Act, the Wilderness Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Under his watch, the National Park Service added over 2.4 million acres to its holdings,

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Wolf caught on camera in nothern Illinois

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

Amazing news! This would be the second wolf in the state. The other was recently killed.

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Michigan’s only known wolverine dies

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

Some sad news. They could never explain where the wolverine came from. The likely scenario is from Ontario. Either way, the wolverine died of natural causes. It probably ate well in the lower thumb of Michigan. The wolverine state loses its last known wolverine.

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Polar bear ban defeated

Friday, March 19th, 2010

An indigenous leader from Canada addressed the conference today, describing how his people have hunted polar bears for generations, mostly for food and furs to use for clothing and shelter. He said they do so in a sustainable way, and vowed to continue the trade.

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3,000 bison counted in Yellowstone

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

According to a recent population survey:

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