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In the News - February 2008
Chronic spring fever alleviated by hikes in the Natural State
LITTLE ROCK - Arkansans seem to catch spring fever earlier and earlier each
year, and for good reason. The Natural State affords gorgeous vistas of every
type - mountains, valleys, rivers, streams, lakes, forests and fields. If you
are experiencing symptoms such as prolonged gazing out of windows or shopping
for thick socks and hiking boots, you may need to plan a hike to alleviate these
warning signs and experience the plants and animals Arkansas has to offer.
"We have everything from elk, bear and boar to alligators, snakes and turtles
in Arkansas," said Rex Roberg, wildlife specialist with the University of
Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. "In fact, all wildlife in the state is
active by April, plus many non-resident songbirds stop off here on their way to
other areas of the country, so you can see just about any kind of animal when
you’re outside this spring."
The most common types of animals you are likely to see along trails are
squirrels, raccoons, mockingbirds, cardinals, blue birds, doves and meadowlarks.
And, you could see turtles, trout and a snake or two in streams and rivers.
"The Southern Copperhead and the Western Cottonmouth can be found in many
parts of the state," Roberg said. "Those are probably the most infamous, but you
could see the Midland Brown, Redbelly Racer, Western Ribbon and Common Garter
snake while you’re looking around, too."
This vast array of wildlife extends to native plants as well. According to
lesson plans by Ellen E. Turner, a 2000-2001 Butler fellow of the Butler Center
for Arkansas Studies, Arkansas can be subdivided into two distinct regions, the
uplands and the lowlands. The most obvious difference between these two regions
is elevation, but there are other differences including topography and type of
vegetation.
Turner goes on to explain that after examining the geology, climate, soil,
plants and animals of the uplands and lowlands, scientists have identified six
distinct "natural divisions" in Arkansas, including the Ozark Plateau, the
Arkansas River Valley, the Ouachita Mountains, the West Gulf Coastal Plain, the
Mississippi Alluvial Plain (Delta), and Crowley’s Ridge. Because of these
distinct areas, different types of wildlife and vegetation can be found.
"I’ve tried to transplant Paw paws from the bottomlands to the north central
part of the state, but I have had no luck," said Dr. Tamara Walkingstick, an
associate director of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center and forester with the
University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. "However, I do find wild
elderberries and pokeweed when I’m walking through the woods, and I find a lot
of mushrooms popping up on the forest floor and on trunks of trees in the
spring."
But a word of caution: Don’t try eating mushrooms you find in the woods
because they’re potentially deadly and almost impossible to identify,
Walkingstick said.
So when your cabin claustrophobia has deepened into a full-blown case of
spring fever, the only treatment is to get out in the beautiful blue skies and
green lands of Arkansas and see all the wonders of its wildlife and vegetation.
However, it is best only to observe these creatures in their natural settings
without disturbing them or their environment. This ensures they will be there
for your children to experience as they grow up.
For more information about wildlife, visit extension's Web site,
www.uaex.edu,
or contact your county extension agent. The Cooperative Extension Service is
part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.
February 15, 2008
By Kelli Reep
For the Cooperative Extension Service
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialists
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207
ljames@uaex.edu
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