OUTDOOR CORNER: MISSOURI TO CELEBRATE PUBLIC LANDS MONTH

The month of May has been designated Public Lands Month by the director of the Missouri Department of Conservation. As a thanks to Missourians who have supported the purchase of Conservation lands totaling nearly 900,000 acres, the Southeast Service Center in Cape Girardeau will be offering special programs for the young and young-at-heart in the region.

Forestry Week, May 6-10: This week will be offering programs relating to the foresters and assistant foresters who provide landowner assistance and urban forestry advice to thousands of people statewide. They also manage many of our state forests in the region such as Apple Creek Conservation Area near New Wells, General Watkins Conservation Area south of Benton and Castor River Conservation Area near Zalma. Our good friend from the U.S. Forest Service, Smoky Bear, will also be making appearances throughout this week along with programs featuring tree identification and nature hikes.

Wildlife Week, May 13-17: Did you ever wonder how you would begin a wildlife habitat on one acre or 100 acres? What animals are lurking in your backyard that you may have never noticed before? This week we will offer the opportunity to answer those questions posed to our wildlife biologists and resource assistants.

These individuals offer management advice to landowners on how to improve and/or begin wildlife habitat improvement programs on their property. They also manage many of the wildlife areas found in the region, including the Maintz Wildlife Preserve near Millersville, Duck Creek Conservation Area near Puxico, and Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area near East Prairie. Programs scheduled for this week include bird and bat programs as well as animal tracks program where participants will be allowed to take home plaster casts of animal tracks.

Fisheries Week, May 20-24: For you fishermen in the area, this week's for you. Our fisheries management and aquatic services biologists offer advice ranging from how to treat algae problems to pond stocking questions to "Why did my fish die?" They are in charge of maintaining adequate populations of fish in lakes and ponds found on our department areas.

Currently, a 150-acre fishing lake is being constructed on the new Little River Lake Conservation Area on the Dunklin/Pemiscot County line. The lake, named after former commissioner Jerry P. Combs, is nearing completion and will be open for fishing in about two years. Plans are to stock it with bass, bluegill, and channel cat. Another lake nearing completion is the 93-acre Cypress Lake on the Otter Slough Conservation Area near Dexter. Activities at the service center will include stream table demonstrations and casting clinics.

Protection Week, May 28-31: The month will end with a focus on protection division. This group of individuals are primarily the conservation agents who keep law and order amongst the hunters around the state. They also enforce the regulations regarding the department areas around the region. The programs this week will feature Missouri Department of Conservation history, animal fur programs and two scavenger hunts.

Groups who visit the center during the month of May will receive baggies with souvenirs and weekly attendance prizes will be awarded each Friday. The Maple Hollow Trail is also available for nature walks.

If you would like more information concerning any of these programs, please contact our office in the North County Park at (573)290-5730 and ask for Gaye. Any group is welcome to reserve a spot for a program or come by to visit the center. If you would like a program, please contact us two weeks in advance. No reservation is required if visiting the center without a program.

So make plans now to visit the Southeast Service Center of the Missouri Department of Conservation in the North County Park between Cape and Jackson. Hours for scheduled programs during the week will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The center is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, but will be closed Truman's birthday, May 8, and on Memorial Day, May 27. We are looking forward to seeing you.

~Gay Puchbauer is a public service clerk with the Missouri Department of Conservation in Cape Girardeau County.