Campfire & Smoking Restrictions to be Implemented

Photo by Kelly Kramer

A very important message from our friends at the U.S. Forest Service:

Springerville, AZ – May 15, 2013—Campfire and smoking restrictions will be implemented at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, May 23 in Apache and Navajo Counties, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, and within local fire districts located in both counties.

White Mountain area cities, counties, and federal agencies, along with commercial partners that make up Northeast Arizona Public Information System (593 JIC), and the White Mountains Fire Restrictions Coordination Group have been collectively planning for months to implement timely fire restrictions for public lands within the White Mountain area.

With extremely dry vegetation, the risk of wildland fire is extremely high. People who enjoy public lands in Apache and Navajo Counties can reduce the risk of fire by practicing fire safety and by adhering to fire prevention restrictions. The criteria officials consider before implementing fire restrictions include current and predicted weather, fuel conditions, fire activity levels, and available resources. Due to increasing fire danger, the following fire restrictions are deemed necessary to prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public health and safety:

• Fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are allowed in developed campgrounds only.
• These restrictions limit smoking to within enclosed vehicles, buildings, or in developed campgrounds.
• Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns, and heaters that can be turned off are allowed.

The fire restrictions will remain in place until lands within Apache and Navajo Counties receive significant precipitation.

White Mountain visitors are reminded that some campfire restrictions are always in effect, such as in forested areas within city limits of most northern Arizona communities. Additionally, fireworks are never allowed on National Forests. For more information about restrictions on public lands by calling (928) 333-3412 or toll free 1-877-864-6985 or visit (www.593info.org), and also the NEW interagency website: (Firerestrictions.us) created to inform residents and visitors about fire restrictions and closures across the South-west area.

Forest and White Mountain visitors are encouraged to be fire safe and show their commitment to wildfire prevention by going online and taking Smokey’s pledge.

Celebrate Earth Day at the Grand Canyon

Kathleen Reeder | Grand Canyon

 

Earth Day is right around the corner (April 22 is the big day), and if you don’t already have plans to celebrate Mother Earth, why not visit the Grand Canyon? Starting April 19, Grand Canyon National Park is kicking off National Park Week with Earth-friendly activities over the weekend and waived entrance fees all week long.

Check it out:

Grand Canyon National Park will kick off National Park Week with a weekend of Earth Day activities and then will join national park units around the country in waiving entrance fees on April 22 – 26, 2013.

The festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19, with a free screening of the film Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time in the Grand Canyon Visitor Center theater.  On Saturday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Shrine of the Ages, Grand Canyon’s Green Team will host environmental author Mary Ellen Hannibal, who will explore the critical nature of wildlife corridors and review the history of America’s native wildlife habitats, which include natural habitats found within national parks, and share what scientists are doing to combat the gradual loss of these important lands along the spine of the continent.  On Sunday, April 21, an open-house style Earth Day celebration will be held at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center plaza from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include educational activities, demonstrations and games, samples, and information on local and national environmental initiatives.  The day will conclude with a walk and trash pick-up along the rim at 2:30 p.m., volunteers are welcome.  All of the weekend’s activities are family friendly and free of charge.

The fee-free celebration of National Park Week begins the next day.  Visitors who arrive at the Grand Canyon April 22 – 26 will be allowed to enter the park free of charge.  Those who plan to spend time in the park beyond April 26 will need to pay the regular entrance fee for the remainder of their stay.

“This year’s National Park Week theme, ‘Did you know…’, provides a fun way to discover the wonders of America’s national parks,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis.

According to Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga, “Oh, there are some wonderful ‘Did you knows…’ at Grand Canyon!  For instance, did you know the oldest rocks at Grand Canyon are estimated to be about 1.8 billion years old?  Did you know Grand Canyon was once a designated forest reserve, and then a game preserve?  Did you know that the oldest human artifact found at Grand Canyon is about 12,000 years old?  The staff here at Grand Canyon National Park encourage everyone to take advantage of National Park Week to visit one of their national parks free of charge and see what ‘Did you knows…’ they can discover.”

Park visitors are reminded that the fee-free designation applies to entrance fees only and does not affect fees for camping, reservations, tours or use of concessions.  Park entrance stations will have Interagency Senior and Annual Passes available for those who wish to purchase them.

To learn more about Grand Canyon’s Earth Day celebrations, please contact Green Team member Marty Martell at 928-638-7834.  For more on National Park Week, please visit www.nps.gov/npweek or www.nationalparkweek.org. And to learn about the year’s remaining national park fee-free days, please visit: www.nps.gov/findapar/feefreeparks.htm.

More of Mother Nature’s Sweet Sounds

Last week, we shared our video of frogs singing on the Mogollon Rim. Inspired, we decided to ask you to share your YouTube videos of nature’s sounds. Below is a video made in Pat Rullo’s backyard. Thanks, Pat, for sharing, and if you have a video of nature’s sweet sounds, please post to our Facebook wall (sorry, but we won’t consider any videos that weren’t linked from YouTube).

Enjoy!

 

**Please note, wildlife experts recommend that you not feed wild animals. We posted this video only for its background sounds.

The Sweet Sounds Along the Mogollon Rim

Photo Editor Jeff Kida was on the road Monday when he captured this iPhone video of frogs croaking along the Mogollon Rim. Simply put, it’s pure magic.

George Stocking’s 7 Simple Tips for Shooting Wildflowers

Click to enlarge image.

Who couldn’t use a few simple tips when it comes to photographing Mother Nature’s splendor? If you’re getting ready to go on a shoot of our spectacular backcountry (wildflowers are starting to bloom — hint, hint, wink, wink) check out George Stocking’s 7 Simple Tips For Shooting Wildflowers from our March issue. For more photo tips, consider us your go-to source. Our Photo Tips page is filled with information that’ll make your images stand out from the rest.

We can’t wait to see what you come back with, and remember, your photograph could end up as our Photo of the Day.

Enjoy!

Mexican Gray Wolf Arrives at Scottsdale Sanctuary

Courtesy of Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center

She doesn’t exactly have a name, but Fox Mountain F1188, a Mexican Gray Wolf that was recently captured in New Mexico, has finally arrived at the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC) in Scottsdale. Last August, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service issued an order for the lethal removal of F1188 for the depredation of cattle. SWCC offered to pay for her live capture and give her sanctuary at the center. Though she lost her freedom in the wild, F1188 is safe and sound… SWCC is reporting that she’s in good health, eating well and settling into her new environment. Eventually, she’ll be introduced to another Mexican wolf, so she’ll have a companion.

Below, a spokesperson for SWCC talked to us about F1188′s new life and why conservation is so important:

Why was her arrival at the conservation center important? 
Her arrival at the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center was important in several ways.  It was due to the compassion we have for these wild creatures that we offered to trade her execution for a life in captivity at SWCC.  Because, there are so few Mexican wolves in existence, we feel each is a valuable contribution to the gene pool, and the species as a whole. We also hope that her story will inspire people to become aware of the problems, as well as the successes, of the reintroduction program, and to become more involved to ensure a future for these wolves.

What will happen to her over the next few days/weeks?
Over the next few weeks, F1188 will settle down in her new home and become acquainted with her new routine and wolf neighbors. SWCC currently houses 16 Mexican wolves, and we’re an important partner in the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan — although we do not receive any federal or state support for their care. Eventually, F1188 will be placed with another wolf as her companion.

Why is conservation important?
The conservation of the Mexican wolf is important as the species was a key predator that was missing from the landscape for a century. Returning the Gray wolf to the northwestern U.S., especially in the Yellowstone area, has benefited the environment as a whole, and brought it closer to a balanced system. However, restoring wolves in the southwest is a very controversial program with political implications mainly stemming from livestock operations. True recovery of the Mexican wolf will entail compromise among several groups, but the wild lands will be healthier for it. And the wolves will be back where they belong.

What does F1188 look like?
F1188 is a magnificent animal with the features of a classical Mexican wolf. Looking at her photo, you can see the typical coloration of this species. She is on the small side, weighing approximately 50 pounds, but the Mexican wolves have always been the smallest of the gray wolves. She is active and alert, and seems to be adjusting well to her new life. Although we are sad that she was removed from her family and life in the wild, we’re glad we were given the opportunity to offer her sanctuary for the rest of her life.

SWCC tours are guided tours and by appointment only. For more information call 480-471-3621 or visit http://www.southwestwildlife.org.