New bill may mean more ability to conserve at-risk wildlife species in Arkansas
July 17, 2019
WASHINGTON, DC – Conservation of our nation’s wildlife may see a dramatic boost thanks to a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives July 12 by Representatives Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI). The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 3742) was introduced with bipartisan support to devote additional money to wildlife conservation throughout the U.S.
WRICE Program offers waterfowl more food near public hunting areas
July 10, 2019
LITTLE ROCK — Waterfowl season may be months away, but the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is busy working with private landowners to plant the seeds for food ducks, geese and other migrating birds will need during their migration. A new program is working to increase the amount of leftover crops available to ducks when they arrive in The Natural State.
Turtles taking to the streets; don’t box them in
July 3, 2019
LITTLE ROCK — Turtles are on the move all over Arkansas, and many can be found alongside roads in rural and suburban areas thanks to a wet, relatively cool spring that created excellent foraging areas in ditches and grassy areas beside the hustle of daily traffic. Many turtles are finishing up their annual breeding and egg-laying cycles, which also puts them on the move.
Urban archery hunts offer head start to deer hunting season
June 9, 2019
LITTLE ROCK - The application period for Arkansas’s special urban bowhunts for the 2019-20 deer hunting season is now open. These hunts, which begin Sept. 1, offer bowhunters in Arkansas an early opportunity to get into the woods in order to help maintain white-tailed deer populations at levels which reduce conflicts with homeowners and drivers.
Tagged bass in Crooked Creek worth more than a few dollars
June 3, 2019
PYATT — Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists are collecting and tagging smallmouth bass for angler-based research on Crooked Creek near Yellville. Dozens of smallmouth in this blue-ribbon fishery will sport yellow and red tags inserted alongside the dorsal fin worth a monetary reward.
Monarch butterfly sees population rebound
May 15, 2019
LITTLE ROCK — For the first time in 12 years, eastern monarch populations are up significantly. The overwintering monarch population numbers, released by the World Wildlife Fund in Mexico, show the highest numbers since 2007.
Young deer, other wildlife likely not abandoned
May 8, 2019
LITTLE ROCK — Each spring hundreds of Arkansans likely stumble upon a small batch of rabbits, a helpless looking fawn or other young animals that’s been seemingly abandoned. The first temptation is to scoop these “defenseless” creatures up and try to find someone to care for them, but that may be the worst thing a person can do for that animal’s welfare.