Dangerous critters lurk in the Great Outdoors

This is the second in a series about dangerous and irritating Eastern Washington Critters.

Wolves, other wild critters abound

MOSES LAKE - The series of sounds were haunting and certainly unforgettable. The pitch went up, then down. It sounded again and I knew it was not a coyote, which can be heard frequently around the Columbia Basin. My coyote experiences have the animal voicing a series of barks along with a high-pitched howl.

Payne or Paine found, lost again

The story last week, about Dave Helms finding a sit of shooting sticks at the Boyd Mordhorst Shooting Range, was productive. Payne or Paine called me. He did tell me several of his friends have contacted him about the story in this column last week and he was, indeed, the person in question.

Pygmy rabbit recovery effort renewed in Basin

Renewed field efforts to recover endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits are under way this spring in eastern Washington shrub-steppe habitat.

Blood-sucking and disgusting ticks

This is number seven in a series about dangerous and irritating Eastern Washington Critters.

Spring turkey opener one month away

The 2012 Wild Turkey Spring Season pamphlet is now available in sporting goods stores. The spring season dates are April 15 through May 31. The hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Raffle permit hunt deadline Monday

Here is a chance to do a bit of gambling. The raffle permit hunt ticket purchase deadline is Monday July 15. There are many categories or hunts to select and there is no limit as to the number of tickets a person may purchase.

Access restricted behind Wanapum Dam

The water behind Wanapum Dam is lower than since the building of the dam. This means the area is unsafe. We have heard of one person becoming stuck in sand/mud up to the waist. Take a trip to view this historical event, but stay above normal high-water level. Read on.

Target shooting temporarily banned statewide

OLYMPIA — Target shooting is temporarily banned statewide on all lands managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to help prevent wildfires, the department said in a press release.

Weekly Fishin' Magician Report with Dave Graybill

Part 2: The Nature Conservancy forms new tactics to prevent eastern Washington wildfires

Restoration is one piece, though. Another is prevention.

From threatened to endangered

The decline of Washington’s largest hawk implies greater concerns

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public input on its periodic status review for the ferruginous hawk, as it is recommending a change from threatened to endangered status.

Multi-season hunt deadline March 31

Deer and elk hunters have until March 31 to enter their names into the drawing for a 2020 multi-season tag.

Spring turkey hunting season opens next Thursday

By Dennis L Clay

Legals April 10, 2019

PUBLIC NOTICE The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District Will be making aquatic herbicide treatments beginning in May 2019 and continuing through the end of the 2019 irrigation season. These herbicide treatments will be made pursuant to a Department of Ecology NPDES General Permit for Aquatic Weed Control in Irrigation Systems (Permit No. WAG-991010). The District's service area is located in Moses Lake, Warden and Othello areas of Grant and Adams Counties. The District operates the East Low Canal and its laterals plus some laterals on the Potholes East Canal. 49 locations on various canals, laterals, wasteways and drains within the District's service areas will receive these treatments to control the growth of algae, moss and pondweeds. Frequency of treatments varies from as often as biweekly to as seldom as twice per irrigation season depending on location and circumstances. Permanent signs giving notice of aquatic herbicide treatments have been erected at public road crossing of treated waterways within one mile of the treatment sites. The herbicides being used for these treatments are copper sulfate, Captain Aquatic Herbicide (copper), Endothall and Magnicide H(acrolein) which are registered for such use under the Federal insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Water remains suitable for irrigation use during aquatic herbicide treatments. Treated water is not suitable for drinking or swimming. Individuals desiring additional information about these treatments should contact the East District's main office in Othello at (509) 488-9671 and aSK to speak to the Secretary-Manager or Water Quality Supervisor. Inquires may also be directed to the Department of Ecology Eastern Regional Office in Spokane, (509) 625-5194 East Columbia Basin Irrigation District, 55 North 8th Avenue, Po Box E, Othello WA 99344 #04001/278699 Pub: March 27, 2019 & April 3, 10, 2019

Burke Lake tournament scheduled for tomorrow

We would have brought this to your attention in early February, but just learned about it ourselves. The 2012 Quincy Valley Trout Derby is scheduled to begin tomorrow morning at sunrise and continue until 1 p.m.

Plan now for wildlife viewing, Christmas Bird Count

A favorite family-oriented outdoor activity is wildlife watching. A favorite annual trip for my wife, Garnet, and me is a trip to Steamboat Rock State Park for this very reason.

Fall is a busy time for outdoor-minded people

Special hunting permit applications deadline next Wednesday, May 22

The deadline is near, don't dawdle, dally or otherwise delay in deciding which hunting permits you desire to submit. Read on.

Wolf attacks rise to 15 in eastern Washington

COULEE CITY – Ranchers in northern Washington, from the Cascades to the Idaho border are suffering an increase in wolf attacks.