August 23, 2024

First human case of tick-borne Powassan virus detected in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County

Featured, Home Page News, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News, Pennsylvania / Deborah Weisberg

The first human case of the potentially deadly tick-borne Powassan virus disease in Pennsylvania this year was identified in the greater Pittsburgh area in recent weeks.
The Allegheny County Health Department reported that a child who lives in a northern suburb tested positive for Powassan virus after experiencing fever and other symptoms. The child was initially hospitalized, and as of mid-August was recovering at home, according to the department, which declined to identify the specific suburb where the child lives and was infected.

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Minnesota researchers learn about wood duck preferences, patterns

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting, National News, News / Natalie Ryder

As the ping on the VHF radio grows louder from almost an inaudible chirp, Minnesota DNR Bemidji-area wildlife researchers, while driving down the road, know they’re on the right track to finding one of their radio-collared female wood ducks.
Once they get as close as the road will take them, the trek begins into the forested Cass County survey area to find a hen wood duck’s exact nesting location, often far from easy access via road or trail.

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Ohio research aims to better understand the state’s black bears

Featured, Home Page News, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News, Ohio / Jane Beathard

Where do black bears like to hang out? What do they eat? Where and when do they breed and how often? How many cubs do they generally have? Where do they go to hibernate? How long do they live?
Those are some of the questions the Ohio Division of Wildlife hopes to answer so the public will be better informed and more able to avoid future conflicts as the number of bears increases in the state, according to Katie Dennison, furbearer biologist with the division.

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What’s on the menu for bears? It varies across Minnesota

Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting / Joe Shead

Bear hunters know that hunting success is usually linked to natural food availability.
In years of a bumper acorn crop, bears that had reliably hit baits prior to hunting season often disappear once acorns begin to fall, which often coincides with the opening of the bear-hunting season.
Conversely, during years when hard and soft mast crops are marginal, bears come to baits more regularly. But not all bear habitat is the same in Minnesota.

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Sportsmen’s clubs remain the ‘backbone of local conservation’ throughout Minnesota

Featured, Features, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Fishing, National Hunting / Joe Albert

A handful of years back, Tim Olson brought his daughters to Youth Outdoor Activity Day in Alexandria, Minn., thinking it would be a fun way to pass a little time at the end of summer.
It’s funny what a family outing might become. That day served as the catalyst for Olson’s involvement with the Viking Sportsmen club (he’s the current president), which, along with Douglas County Pheasants Forever, hosts the free event that draws more than 2,400 youth participants each year. And it crystallized that you don’t need to blaze trails all over creation to say you went on summer “vacation.”

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Episode 502 – Federal waterfowl survey, military dog training, special fishing regs, bear attack

From The Pages Of MN ODN / Outdoor News

Managing Editor Rob Drieslein and Editor Tim Spielman begin the

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Dan Ladd: Camping in the eye of Tropical Storm Debby

Featured, Nature Page & Night Sky, New York / Dan Ladd

Adrienne and I are getting used to camping in the rain. After nearly three decades of spending at least one weekend a month, and the occasional extended vacation, going on summer camping trips, we’ve resolved ourselves to the fact that somewhere along the way we’re going to get wet.
That’s why most of our trips are three-nighters, which hopefully tips the odds our way for at least some fair weather.

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