NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/581251
NOVEMBER 2015 • NEBRASKAland 17 PHOTO BY JENNY NGUYEN Hunter Survey Project Starts By Caitlyn Gillespie Hunters often know what makes the perfect hunting spot – whether it's the location, the habitat or an abundance of game. Each year, Nebraska's Public Access Atlas provides hunters with the information they need to find a place to hunt on wildlife management areas, waterfowl production areas and private properties enrolled in the Open Fields and Waters program. Publicly available lands are often paid for or leased using funds from hunters and anglers, but how often do hunters actually use those places? And are they providing the experiences that hunters are looking for? Until recently, we had little way of knowing where people were going and why. Now, with the help of hunters throughout the state, researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in collaboration with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, are seeking to understand exactly what it is that creates that perfect hunting experience in Nebraska. To do so, the first thing they need to do is count. Researchers survey areas across the entire state, checking parking areas on hundreds of public sites during hunting seasons. Public access sites seem to be important – last year, they counted over 39,000 cars – but some properties are more popular than others. So to truly know what hunters think, they go straight to the source: in-person interviews will tell researchers what types of game people are seeking, where else they are hunting and the reasons why they chose that site. The information hunters provide over the next two years of the project will help managers improve the opportunities that are already out there, and provide even better experiences in the years to come. So, if you see a "Hunter Survey" sign on a vehicle out there, tell us: how would you rate your hunting experience today? ■ For more information, visit Snr.unl.edu/fishhunt. The White Mole By Jenny Nguyen Ellis Graverholz of Ashland has had it with moles. This small, burrowing mammal leaves unsightly mounds of dirt in his flower beds, and the nonstop tunneling annoys him terribly. In constant search of earthworms and white grubs, the moles have left yellow veins on his otherwise pristine lawn; their burrowing kills the roots of vegetation and trees. Very few people have actually seen a mole, as they rarely come to the surface. Moles are normally covered in velvety brownish gray fur and have oddly huge front paws for digging. Though nearly blind, moles do have tiny eyes that are protected by skin and fur. And their powerful sense of smell allows them to quickly locate and catch food underground. A mole will eat up to 70 to 100 percent of its body weight each day, which explains why they cause so much damage to people's yards. "You try your best to keep your lawn looking nice. When you get one mole, two or three show up – he brings all his cousins and relations to come and help. They are a real nuisance," Graverholz said. In an effort to save his lawn, Graverholz has been using specialized mole traps to control the local population. He has caught many moles in the 67 years he's been married and kept a garden, but Graverholz has never seen a white mole until this summer. Thought to be albino, the mole was actually leucistic, the condition when cells responsible for pigmentation do not function correctly. This was indicated by the dark patches on the mole's fur– albinos are pure white. Though not albino, leucistic moles are still rare. Graverholz has been keeping the white mole in his chest freezer, and despite his past run-ins with the species, he may honor this special find by having it stuffed. ■ PHOT PHOT PHOT PHOTO BY O BY O BY O BY JEN JEN JEN JENNY N NY N NY N NY NGUYE GUYE GUYE GUYEN Ellis Graverholz of Ashland found a white mole while trapping for them in his yard. Moles can cause extensive damage to lawns and flower beds. PHOT PHOT PHOT PHOT PHOT PHOT PHOT HOT OTO BY O BY O BY O BY O O BY O B JEF JEF JEF JEF JEF JEFF KU F KU F KU F K F KU F K F K F K F K RRUS RRUS RU