Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Crane wrote:TMI, Roger... TMI!!

I agree, Crane, but it's true! We thought it got hit by a car a few nights ago, but, no, this morning I watched the cats freeze on the porch when they went out. Then I looked down, and there it was toddling along next to the herbs by the back porch. I tried with increasingly bigger rocks to stop it from getting under the porch, but it kept moving them. I gave up. I'm assuming it's female, and I'll evict it after the kittens are born and ready to leave. Now to get OT . . . .

I agree with Richard about the Buffalo and small water critters. We sat Saturday night at Bice Bend watching swallows but saw few bats.

Roger and I often count hawks on our way from Russelville to Conway on I-40. You'd be amazed how many we see--sometimes more than a dozen.

The TMI was not about the coon... it was the reminder that y'all are isolated enough that Roger... well, nuff said... not that lack of isolation has ever slowed him down!!

It was a skunk, Crane.

DeBo, did you catch the part about the hawks? Pretty cool! I even saw an eagle near 65/40 in Conway one morning.

Then Roger should know better than to irritate it!! BTW, tomato juice gets the smell out...

Would you believe after all of our close encounters (I almost picked it up one night by accident, thinking it was Tucker!), Skunkie has never sprayed?!? Roger evicted it late this afternoon. He was concerned because it was coming out while it was still light. It came up right behind him and caught him by surprise. And he thought the cats were stalking it. Personally, I've watched the cats around it, and I think they already know what it can do. Anyway, Roger got a REALLY BIG rock this time. I just hope there are no newborn kittens under the porch already. If there are, and they are left alone, we'll need a whole new stink remedy.

So, back OT, other watchable wildlife places we like include the Big Creek wildlife area just east of lovely downtown Wilburn, off Center Ridge Road. You can always see water moccasins down by the creek in the summer, if you want. I know snake people will appreciate that.

I've always been overrun by raccoons in the evening when I've camped at Steel Creek. I don't like it because they steal your food if you aren't watching closely, but I'm sure other people appreciate them.

Tyler Bend is another good place for close encounters of the Racoon kind.

Another way to see wildlife is by participating in wildlife data gathering projects like the Buffalo River All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory project. You can do so by contacting Marc Depoy with Buffalo National River. (870) 741-5443

Lake Ouachita, the water is so clear usually so that it is fun to watch fish. I have observed fish bed or nesting areas. Butterflies, birds, snakes, beavers, otters, raccoons, deer, armadillo. Not to mention incredible wild flower stands. Getting back into the narrow coves seems best.

Have to agree with Bev - Lake Ouachita is outstanding - otters, loons, beavers, eagles, osprey, songbirds, deer. Recommend a week day in summer or a Sunday evening after the weekenders have headed home.

Also - Cane Creek Lake at Cane Creek State Park, Arkansas Post National Memorial (Best Gator Watching site, also excellent birding), and any of the National Wildlife Refuges in the state. Besides paddling ops, many of the NWFs also have nature drives or hiking trails for wildlife watchers.

People should also consider the stream, lake, Arkansas State Park or AGFC Nature Center/Education Center nearest their home. People often mistakenly think they have to be in a wilderness area to see wildlife when in fact much of our wildlife has adapted to human environs. A key to seeing wildlife at any of these sites is to go early in the morning or late in the afternoon, as others have noted. Think dusk and dawn. The visitor centers may be closed but the trails and boat ramps are usually open.

Other tips, go slow or sit quietly for many minutes. Look up down and all around. Let the critters forget your there. Once spotted, try not to stare directly at the animals unless you are concealed. They are attuned to a predator's stare and will take flight. Continue drifting/walking slowly and use your peripheral vision to not scare the animal. Savor the common - crows, blue jays, rabbits, squirrels, insects can be fascinating to watch. Don't get too caught up in numbers or "rare" sightings. Also, becoming familiar with the usual suspects will increase your ability to recognize an uncommon species. Teaching yourself and your children to be observant is developing a skill critical in safety and success in many endeavors.

Hmmmm. Watchable Wildlife

Some of the swampers may know of this one. Plum Bayou down around England ,Ar is an excellent place to see many Otters. My friend and I were there with his son one morning and I had to slap my hand on top of the water for fear the 2 Otters would climb up me rather than go around (were talking 10-12 feet away) .On another trip we watched an Otter in the fork of a cypress eating a large bluegill.
I will second the comment about Big Creek near Wilburn and add that I have followed many deer on Big Creek while wading or floating and fishing (I wasn't concerned with them ,other than watching them and they were not concerned with me).
I would also send my vote for Ouachita Forest around Lake Winona. On a trip down Alum Fork just down from the lake on 5/9/08 I caught a quick glimpse of a bear and saw numerous deer and a couple of snakes.

Ross

There are many wildlife places that I enjoy and frequent often here in NW ARKANSAS; however, I will be similar to the American Indians in NM where it is my secret! Don't want the masses of people coming to my hide-aways to chase away the beautiful wildlife.....i.e. hawk,deer,fox,eagle,...more and more variety of birds.......wildflowers uncrushed by human feet, ..bugs and see thru butterflies.... Have you heard they are closing 5 National Parks in N.J. due to funding! It's a big debate at this time....................hope it doesn't follow us out here!

My favorite short hike with hawks is Hawks CragBill or Whitaker NPS. It's amazing looking out over the many trees and hills to watch hawks glide..............

If ever in the Russellville area, Holla bend wild life refuge might be something to check out, south of Dardanelle 10 miles or so right next to the Arkansas river. There are lots of deer there, late evenings is best time to spot deer in the feilds. The old river channel circles the refuge and has the typical wild life: cranes,geese,mink,ect.. and there are a few crocs there too.

This has been a great thread. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. The Outdoor Hotline show went very well. I got in a plug for the club and the website for people to see all of your great ideas. I don't know if anyone saw the show or not. Our internet went out for about a week just as I was getting ready post the date and time. A lightning strike took out the modem, the router, the telephone and the garage door opener.

Of course Outdoor Hotline was not nearly as exciting as Exploring Arkansas with Team Stupid. So, you didn't miss much.


I totally agree with Holla Bend as a great place to view wildlife. I have seen Northern Harriers cathing mice in the fields and I have had good luck catching snakes and glass lizards there.

Weird wildlife . . .

Yesterday I heard what sounded like a large bird squawking outside my home. I was on the phone, so I looked out the window to see a young black bear emerge from the woods with a tiny spotted fawn in its mouth! The bear paused for a moment on the edge of our yard -- I assume to get a better grip on its prey -- then ambled off again into the woods. I started to go try to help the poor fawn, but decided it would be more humane to let nature take its course (I was afraid it was too late for the little guy and didn't want the bear to abandon it).

I guess this explains why my cats have been acting strange and my dog won't go outside without an escort (it's not Bigfoot after all!). As the bear was little more than a large cub, I'm guessing we have a whole family behind the house. Seems black bears really are carnivores.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Black_Bear:
In Michigan[9] and the state of New York,[10] black bears have preyed on white-tailed deer fawns.

Arkansas can be added to that list.

The state Game and Fish Commission has announced what they'd like to do with the millions of dollars it will be receiving for allowing gas drilling in agency land in the Fayetteville Shale Formation: buy more elk habitat near the Buffalo River. In all, the agency told a legislative subcommittee it wants to buy land or conservation easements on 5,000 acres for elk habitat adjoining the Buffalo River National Park and in the Gene Rush Wildlife Management area. Several other land purchases are also planned the largest under consideration includes about 100,000 acres of pine forest in south and central Arkansas. All should provide more places to watch -- and kill --wildlife.

Nice Article in the Arkansas Times this week regarding the environmental impact of the Fayetteville Shale exploits -- anyone living in the area is becomingly increasingly aware of the environmental challenges in which we are faced. With literally thousands of wells and hundreds of miles of pipeline being placed across some of our landscape (including some very sensitive and beautiful sites) it is going to dramatically alter the Ozarks and our outdoor experiences. And sadly the ADEQ is poorly funded and equipped to handle the task -- the vast majority of the sites impacted by exploration and extraction will never see a single site inspection. The AGFC which is being stuffed with $30 million in royalties has indicated it will be giving ADEQ some $300+ thousand of this money so that they can hire a few more inspectors -- this is less than 1% of the entire proceeds that will go to enforcing the existing regulations. And we already know that Arkansas is literally giving the gas away as if there will be no long term remediation costs. The natural state? Yeah, sure!!

And yes I know this may have little to do with wildlife viewing -- in fact I guess a pipeline right-of-way and drilling sites become a great venue for spotting wildlife giving the number of deer stands that are erected near these clear-cuts but nevertheless I believe the paddling community has a vested interest in our preserving our watersheds and water.