Outdoors

Outdoors

Woolly adelgid endangering state’s hemlocks
A small insect is wreaking havoc on West Virginia's hemlock populations, and it’s spreading into more counties every year.

March 10, 2013
Survey shows hunters buy and buy often
As hunters, we are a group of individuals who buy a ton of gear.

March 2, 2013 1 Photo
‘Three Rivers: The Bluestone, Gauley and New’ premieres tonight on PBS
“Three Rivers: The Bluestone, Gauley and New,” will premiere on PBS at 8 p.m. today and again at 11 p.m.

March 2, 2013
Woodcock sky dance helps usher in spring
In his classic “A Sand County Almanac” (1949), wildlife biologist Aldo Leopold described the male American woodcock’s courtship display as a “sky dance.” I call it my favorite harbinger of spring.

March 2, 2013
It's time to put up nest boxes
Last week, a day after the morning low temperature plunged to nine degrees, the sky cleared and the thermometer rebounded to 45 degrees. That balmy afternoon bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, and Carolina wrens sang with spring-like enthusiasm. It reminded me to get my nest boxes ready because all four species use boxes within 100 yards of my house.

February 23, 2013
Outdoor writing is challenging, fun
I work with the hunting and shooting media on a daily basis. Their requests can be as simple as fetching a photo or setting up an interview or as complex as getting people and gear into the remote Alaskan wilderness. Every day is different and the challenges of keeping up with the demands of those who choose to write outdoor stories for a living is what keeps the job fun and interesting.

February 23, 2013
It’s striped skunk mating season
Have you noticed a putrid smell in the air recently? Or why Pepe Le Pew is associated with love and Valentines Day? And most noticeably, more road killed skunks? The reason for all of the above is that right now is mating season for the striped skunks, which is the species most commonly found in West Virginia.

February 23, 2013
Hanging on until spring comes
I officially have cabin fever. The recent snows and cold weather have forced us to retreat indoors and for me, that’s not healthy. I have dog-eared all the hunting and fishing catalogs to the point the bindings are starting to come loose. To be honest, my bindings are showing a little wear too.

February 9, 2013
Black bear hunters set record in 2012
West Virginia bear hunters had a good year in 2012 as they set a new record with 2,683 bears taken. The previous record harvest was set in 2010, when 2,392 bears were taken statewide.

February 9, 2013
Red and gray foxes are very elusive
Last week I described the wary nature of the wily coyote. I hear coyotes often, but very seldom see them. The same can be said of red and gray foxes, though they are even more elusive. I never hear them, and only occasionally do I see a red fox trotting along the edge of the

February 9, 2013
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August 6, 2010

Helium debate

AP Video